Soop's Kitchen Extension

Mr soop is going to take me to a quiet spot ...so that I may get friendly with the newly acquired, automatic car. I've an unblemished motoring record. Have driven a Spitfire convertible, a Humber Hawk, Mitsubishi Colt, Mini and others over a 30 year span. Since moving to Scotland, more than ten years ago, I haven't sat behind a steering wheel let alone driven a car. Now, of course, I'm all dithery. Butterflies galore. Can I do it? Answers on a post card please.

GA I am relieved that you were able to help your daughter. Hope all goes well for you and the little family. What a traumatic time they have been having.

Soop I hope you enjoyed your drive; good for you. Many congratulations to your son, what a talented family

just eaten a rather dry baguette from the supermarket so one of those delicious looking flapjacks would bring a back to my face. Thank you.

LizG ...I haven't had a trial run yet. Mr soop is busy. I'm that nervous at the very prospect of getting behind the steering wheel and turning the ignition key. Aren't I soppy?

Just reminded me about a little prank I played 25 years ago. A friend's son had failed his driving test 3 times and I gave him a "very good calming pill" for his 4th attempt. He passed with flying colours and sttill doesn't know it was a paracetamol.... Take care and have fun soop.

GrannyA I hope all goes well for you all. Your poor daughter must be run ragged.

GA please let us know how your DGS is.

soop just warn us in plenty of time . Seriously, you will be fine, it's sort of like riding a bike!!

Wth your driving history it will be a doddle soop my OH has just gone onto automatic because the car of his dreams was only available in automatic. He loves it although I make him drive mine sometimes so that he 'keeps his foot in' so to speak.

Automatics are wonderful these days. I've driven big 4x4s in the States and I've just inherited my mum's automatic Peugeot 107. It's a lovely little car, so clever. It changes gears much more than I would (has to I suppose, it only has a little engine). Does 70+ to the gallon. Love it.

The only problem is when I get into our other car - and forget to use the clutch when stopping.

Oh GA - very best wishes for your little DGS and for your DD.
To paraphrase the Bard :
" When sorrows troubles come, they come not single spies. But in battalions" Wishing all the Activist family a speedy recovery

Soop I hope you have fun with the car - in my experience the first scratch is always the worst !!!

And hey! the is shining - what a difference that makes

You will do very well with your driving soop if I can pass my first test at 65, in an automatic, and mainly drive on single track roads, you will have no problems

Hello you lovely lot...I imagined that Mr soop would take me to a nearby layby and allow me to go backwards and forwards...just so that I could get the feel of the car. Oh no! I was invited to drive a short distance and then do a few-points-turn in a nice lady's driveway entrance. He had already forewarned her that I might do so. Then, back on to the main road and a short drive to the local layby. I suppose I spent 20 mins out and about. It seemed like forever. My knuckles were white. My mouth was dry. My heart was thumping away. Mr soop kept his cool. When we returned to our rather tricky drive I needed a lot of forwarding and backing to get the car parked neatly. My legs felt like knitting when I extracteded myself from the seat. Mr soop ...and said...more tomorrow.
newist it seems most odd not to have to change gears. I shall persevere.
I would have preferred a baby car. Mr soop wanted something that we could feel comfortable in over long journeys; the sort of trip we hope to undertake next year.
I'm still twitching.

Give your self a very big pat on the back, I do empathise with you, well done

Thank you, newist

Well done Soop! My hubby passed his test in 1976 in an automatic, which he had learned to drive in, and therefore has been limited to automatics ever since, not wanting to re-take his test. They are rather hard to get hold of in Britain though, no such problems when we were in Florida.

GA, best wishes to your daughter and her family, hope things start to improve for them very soon.

number the manual is enormous. There are far too many extras for my liking. I'm a simple soul and would be more than happy in a baby car...in a bright, bold colour...with an ordinary gear box. Sigh! I know that parking in reverse is going to be tricky. Arthritis in my upper spine and neck will limit the amount of back-glancing, over-the shoulder-type manoeuvres, although, as one reverses, a ding-dong sound is forthcoming. It sounded awfully impatient as I attempted to park for the umpteenth time.

It is lashing with rain. Very windy too. I'm wishing you all a very pleasant and peaceful evening. Off to check whether or not Rory's feral, daughter cat is waiting for her supper.

How big is this new car Soop? I should have added there is a problem I have with the 107 - it's too small. The turning circle is so good that when I reverse into a parking space I often nearly end up at right angles to the way I should be!

I hope you are suitably proud of yourself Soop. It all sounds as if it would rack - and wreck - anyone's nerves. I'm not good at automatics. I think I've got too many feet, or the wrong kind. I don't like the way the new ones cut out every time you stop too. We used to call that stalling. Now it's a feature.
Good night to all.

Soop Congratulations to youngest son and to his proud Mum. I hope he remembered to mention that he owes it all to you in his acceptance speech.

Today is our wonderful DGS's second birthday ! How much joy he and his big brother have brought into our lives I can hardly begin to say

Well done with the driving soop. I actually prefer automatic now, not having to think about gear changes at roundabouts and junctions is more relaxing and hill starts are a dawdle.

Very well done to youngest son. He takes after his Mother of course.

Happy driving.

Doddle. . Need more coffee!

I understand you can cut out (pardon the pun, not intentional just too early for brain) the stalling feature icy my husband has and his mpg has fractionally improved too. Not sure about the environment but we do very little in town driving as prefer to use park and ride.

OH is doing the school run today as daughter's foot is still in plaster. Breakfast will be a little late so does anyone mind if I cook up some toast.
To keep myself going? (Would hate to fade away ) Is there any 'real' butter? I fancy spoiling myself . Have a brilliant day everyone.

Oh Soop - you did bring back memories ! My first car was a Spitfire convertable and I just loved driving home from work with the roof down. Oh joy !
As for driving an automatic ........... my friend and I went campervanning in Canada and it was the first time she had driven an automatic. Lets just say that after a few emergency stops I threatened to tie her left leg (LH drive) to the door so she could not use it for the brake.
You will love your new car in a very short time so enjoy!

Great news about No.3 son, Soop... I think he must have inherited your love of words.
Mimsy day today ahead of taking the OG to see a consultant in Salisbury, so a good strong coffee might get me going.
gracesmum happy days