Thursday, January 24, 2008
Something's wrong with my driving skills these days. Not that I have been driving for a long time, but ... it wasn't this bad when i was learning driving, Honestly.
1st
I drove to Orchard Road today. For the first time in my whole life, I'm driving one of Singapore's most congested road, despite it being a weekday afternoon.
Had initially wanted to park in the open air car park beside Orchard building (okays, I guess most of you have no idea where it is. Orchard building is the one opposite cineleisure. If you know California Gym, then you should know Orchard building.) I had wanted to turn left from the road directly outside California Gym, but realised that there wasn't an opening from the road which leads to the carpark.
I had no choice but to turn out. I did the most stupid thing. I turned out of the ERP zone; that means that I paid ERP twice in less than 5 minutes. Gone was 2 bucks.
This time round i was very determined to park in Cineleisure's car park, so I decided to turn in via Meritus Mandarin Hotel. When I finally steered into the car park's entrance, I stupidly realised that I was turning in on a one way street.
Luckily, I managed to swerve quickly into the carpark before I obstructed a car which was coming in the opposite direction.
* God Bless Me*
2nd
When I finally got into the Cineleisure's carpark, I stupidly turned into a dead end with a vacant parking lot, but guess what? The lot was reserved for handicap only. So I had to reverse to get out of that dead end. While reversing, the front right corner of the car got rubbed against the pillar.
When I have alighted from the car (after parking it in a non-handicap lot), I took a glance at the front right corner of the car; there was paint (from the pillar) smudged with a slight scratch. *sSSShhHHhh* Don't tell my parents, because nobody realised it since it was really insignificant. Really!!!
*Hallelujah, Praise the Lord*
3rd
I was driving real slow on PIE and BKE, all because it was after office hours, and there were many Malaysian bikes swerving in and out; all rushing to get back home. I do understand that they would like to get back to Malaysia as soon as possible after a long tired day at work, just to see their families, have a good meal and take a good rest. However, have they thought about the consequences of their reckless driving? It was really dangerous to speed and swerve in between cars and heavy vehicles on the expressway when the traffic was really heavy. Your loved ones may never see you again.
Anyway, I was driving really carefully, constantly looking at my rear and side mirrors for bikes which may suddenly cut into my lane. I do not want to be the culprit for separating their families from them.
(Please note that I do not mean to stereotype Malaysia bikes, neither am I trying to say that Singapore bikes do not speed and serve. I am just stating a phenomenon that I have observed for the past few years.)
*God, Please Bless Us*
4th
While attempting to park my car at this particular lot in Sunshine Place's car park, I almost hit into a stationary car while reversing. Though I am lousy with parking, I think it's the position of the lot & the size of my car, and not my parking skills that caused the 'near-accident'. I think i reversed so closely to the car parked beside the lot (which I had originally wanted to park in), a car which was behind me, had to horn to warn me. How embarrassing can that be.
I am not defending myself. I am honest to admit that my parking skills do indeed suck, however I am very pleased that it has improved in the past one week. It is definately much better when I last drove 6 months ago.
6 months ago, I could never park alone. In other words, someone has got to be beside me before I can park the car. Now, I can park the car by myself; the time taken is getting shorter and the position of the car is getting straighter.
*Please clap for me*
5th
The Finale of the day is the most happening thing of the day.
While driving back from Sunshine Place to Choa Chu Kang, I mounted a kerb (the 4th time in 8 hours). I drove very close to the kerb/fence because I thought the van on my left was driving too near me while making a right turn. I was told that the van was in fact, very far. My judgement was so wrong.
This time, my mounting of kerb is very different from the previous 3 times. There was a very loud sound given off when the back of my car came down from the kerb. I thought the metal portion of my right back wheel got scratched against the kerb or the fence, but when I finally took a good look at my wheel, I realised that ..... tHAT ... THAT ....
THE TYRE PUNCTURED!!!!!
Woah, so happening.
My car's tyre punctured within 5 days of driving. How exciting can that be.
Thank goodness there was an extra wheel in the car boot. Otherwise, I would have been skinned alive. I will have to pay for the tow truck services, and my sisters' transport costs. (What great foresight the manufacturers of cars have. They actually forsee that drivers will sure have their tyres punctured, so they designed cars with a space for wheels. Then again, my mother said it could be the lousy quality of the tyre which caused the puncture. Hahs. I choose to believe my mum. =Þ)
I had witnessed and learnt how to change a car's wheel for the first time in my life. I heard that a wheel will cost at least $100. That sure was an expensive lesson.
* Kaching Kaching* - Money Flies Away.
In these 5 days, I have spent $70 on petrol, $15 on cashcard and $5 on parking coupons. With an additional $100 for the new wheel, I think I should stick to public transport more often.
Final Conclusion
I doubt I will want to drive often.
I-dreamt-of-a-cavalier at 11:53 pm
wishesGALORE
1) Go for Charity Dog Run
2)
Bring the Poochies out!
3) Set up an Adoption Blog
4) Donate money to Charity
5) Convince my friends to donate/volunteer at Charity as my birthday gift
6) Volunteer
7) Go Ubin
8) A Nice Over Night at Sentosa
9) Pudding to Blend in Well
