Hello!

[kardiokate]

Hi all. I've been browsing here for a while, but I think it's time for me to join and introduce myself properly! There are quite a few (virtual) faces I recognise from Pistonheads where I am an active member, so if you recognise me, Hello!

I'm called Kate, I'm 23 years old, from (near) Hull, studying medicine at Cambridge with a view to becoming a Cardiologist.

A little background on my driving 'career'. I learned to drive in 2006 - I had literally been counting down since I was 5 years old. I passed my driving test on September the 6th 2006, first time with no minor faults. I'm still pretty chuffed with that. I went straight on and did Passplus which although it didn't reduce my insurance premiums much, was absolutely invaluable. My instructor (same one I studied for my test with) suggested I might like to go on and do some more advanced driving courses, and pointed me in the direction of the IAM.

I have done various offroad driving days, skid pan days and a couple of track days too.

Unfortunately in 2009, due to a (non driving related) incident I lost a ton of confidence and my GP suspected I was suffering with a bit of Post Traumatic Stress because of it. Honestly, the most horrible time of my life. I took a year out of Uni, gave up driving apart from local essential journeys, and pretty much stopped socialising completely. I did manage to maintain my job, which looking at things now, was of huge benefit.

Anyway, the point is, my driving went down the pan. I didn't drive on a dual carriageway / motorway or without a passenger between April 2009 and May 2012.

Anyway. I'm back making up for lost time now, and hope to get back into advanced driving and back really enjoying driving! I've a lot to learn and re learn and a lot of confidence to build up in my driving, but I will get there!

Kate.

[MrToad]

Hi Kate

Welcome to ADUK. Not everyone uses the same name as on PH, so there may be more familiar faces here than you thought.

Did you get a chance to look into IAM? If you'd like to know more about it there are plenty here who are involved in various groups, and even some RoSPA people too. Please don't ask which is better though.

We could do with a bit more Northern coverage, so if you fancy organising a driving day...

[jameslb101]

Hello Kate,

Not everyone uses the same name as on PH, so there may be more familiar faces here than you thought.

What he said. Another PHer here (bonus points if you can work out who MrToad and I am...).

You just missed a rather enjoyable day in the Cotswolds (if I say so myself) but do try to make the Brecons day in September. We had one there earlier in the year, and with the quality of roads, it's not one to miss.

[martine]

Welcome Kate and nice to see your'e keen on driving...and how very honest of you in your intro - sounds like you had a dreadful time but remain positive which says more about you than you probably realise.

Rather than organising an ADUK driving day or even attending one, both of which might sound a little daunting, you might like to put a request for a local driving 'mentor' on the forum. See http://www.advanced-driving.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=13

[jameslb101]

I passed my driving test on September the 6th 2006, first time with no minor faults. I'm still pretty chuffed with that.

Only just noticed that - very impressive. I got one minor (which I dispute but that's another story) but that was in 2010 so it must have been much harder

[ROG]

I'm called Kate, I'm 23 years old, from (near) Hull, studying medicine at Cambridge with a view to becoming a Cardiologist.

My 23 year old daugther is at the end on her 1st year as a student nurse (paediatric) and is currently on placement in childrens cardio at Leicester Glenfield hospital