Second Time Lucky

Photo credit: Money On My Mind outfit post

We all have those things in life that we said we would do and it's usually the case of never completing them, putting them off or simply giving up. Well, mine is a mixture of never completing a certain thing because I gave up and therefore have been putting off doing it again. 

What the heck am I on about? Let's swiftly scroll on down...

I decided to learn to drive when I was 19. I was having a rough time and wanted something to concentrate on as a distraction to all the negativity going on in my life. I did the whole process myself: sent off for my provisional, found an instructor, paid for over a year's worth of weekly lessons and started revising for my theory.

I grew confidence every week on the road and it got to the point that my instructor told me I would be ready to sit my test soon so needed to hurry up and crack on with my theory. However, it all changed one day on 23rd November 2012. I woke up, got ready as usual and put on my driving shoes (a pair of battered old vans that had seen better days but I still have them.. shhh!) and met my instructor outside my house. The lesson itself was fine and everything was going smoothly until I was waiting at a junction to join onto a dual carriageway. There was a van fast approaching so it wasn't safe for me to pull out so I waited like a courteous driver.

What happened next?

Crash. BANG. Wallop.

The car jolts forward. My head bangs onto the wheel. My instructor shouts. Everything slows down and I totally forget I am in control of the car and take my feet off the pedals. The car starts rolling forward onto the dual carriage way until my instructor slams his foot down on his pedals and puts the hand brake on.

Initial thought: What the heck just happened?

A guy who obviously wanted to get home for his lunch or down the pub wasn't looking where he was going and crashed right into the back of my vehicle. He was immediately in 'I AM SO SORRY' mode and my instructor kept reassuring me that I did everything right and the whole thing was the other driver's fault. Fortunately, nobody was hurt.

Who remembers my tweet?

Almost two and a half years on, I haven't got back into the driver's seat purely for that scary experience; so I feel like I have wasted so much time and money on learning to drive for absolutely nothing. There are people much younger than me passing their tests every day and it makes me feel ashamed of myself. Even my 18 year old sister has her first lesson booked in next week!

I really would love a second chance to give driving my all, for once and for all! I want to get it all out the way, pass within the next year and buy a small, little, cute car. I am at that age now where it's becoming essential to need to drive. We are possibly moving house soon and I need a car to get me to photography locations.

I am currently blogging and shooting full time so have all the time in the world at the moment to do this. If I don't do it now, I probably never will.

Ocean Finance asked me if I wanted to get involved with a campaign called "Second Time Lucky". It's all about giving yourself a second chance to do something you have always wanted to do but have never done for whatever reason. 

Is there something you would love a second chance at doing? Have you always wanted to fly in a hot air balloon? Maybe you want to take your Mum away on holiday? Always wanted to learn how to do your makeup and want classes? You could win the ultimate prize of being able to do just that! Just fill out this little form and get your friends/family to vote for your entry! There will be one main winner and 7 runners ups!

With a little bit of confidence and self-belief, we can do it together :)  What would you love a second chance at doing? Let me know below!

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