The Adventures of Dysfunctional Dan

I am currently enjoying a week off work as it is the half-term holiday. So far I have eaten lots of food and seen some steam trains with my grandfather. That is besides the point. This holiday marks the half-way point of the academic year and my first in the job. It’s weird how things have changed in that time. A sign that reads “Halfway”. Does this really need a caption? Not really, but I for reasons I cannot explain I have written one anyway. You may have decided that it doesn’t need one either yet you continue to read this caption, hoping there is some point to it. There isn’t. Starting the job in September was a really hard experience for me. Having ultimately failed in my mission to qualify as a teacher my self-confidence was at an all time low. I had become even more socially awkward than I was already and I although I had some experience of working with children with special needs I wasn’t confident that I’d do a good job. Things have changed a lot since then. It turn...

It is all becoming a bit familiar. For the fourth time I am sat nervously in the unpleasant waiting room waiting for my driving examiner to appear. For the fourth time my name is called, complete with surname mispronounced. For the fourth time I read a distant number plate and for the fourth time I turn the ignition whilst desperately hoping I won’t mess up. The reversing manoeuvre seems to usually occur early on in the test and I know it is the weakest part of my driving. This time I’m asked to reverse around a corner. I failed my first test on this. Somehow, after a near panic due to some approaching vehicles, I manage to perform the manoeuvre successfully. The driving test continues. The examiner asks me to stop somewhere and turns up the heating, despite the fact I feel like I am being roasted alive. I keep quiet, not wanting to upset the examiner in the slightest. He gives me some directions for the independent driving part of the test and as usual I have to really concentrat...