Now that I have a full time job (fingers crossed...I seem to have passed the drugs test, and now all that remains is my 2 references deliver the goods or contractually they can withdraw the offer of employment at any time) that pays me actual money rather than promises of money or monopoly money I can consider learning to drive. With any luck I'll pass my test (or even have a proper lesson) before fuel is so expensive the country turns to protests turns to riots, loiting and total fucking anarchy.

My mate who is a mobile engineer took me for spin in his van (he doesn't pay for fuel or replacement clutches) in a local car park so I could start getting the hang of clutch control before I had to pay for it by the hour. It's a diesel so it will pull away under the worst driving imaginable but eventually I managed to start and stop with out the risk of whiplash.

Yay.

I can't be in a band or get my own place until I can drive. The fact that my job is shift based means I'll probably never be able to have band practises regularly is neither here nor there. The fact that I work for a well known public transport company and thus get free travel on said company means I probably shouldn't be advocating the car...

Driving is a piss. Passing your test involves skill and anything can fuck it up.