Advanced Driving (IAM) training

First IAM drive out

So my first drive out with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) went well.
On return to start point the observer I went out with gave me a debrief with feedback and explained the scoring system.

Working on a system of 1-5, where 1 is best, he scored me 1-2 pretty much across the board, so I'm satisfied with that. Of course I want to get them all up to ones, particularly the one that was 2-3 (OK, but not advanced level).

Now I've a better understanding what IAM are looking for in the observed drives I can start to implement their advice in my day to day driving.

Observation

An exercise I tried while on my first IAM drive was to vocalise all my observations and decision making as I drive, so literally speaking about everything : "30pm zone, school sign, junction right, car waiting at bus stop " etc. 

It really highlighted how much information is coming in and forces you to really think about what you see, rather than just watching the road. So as I'm driving I'm now doing the same internally to practice.

Gears when slowing down

When I can see stopped traffic or red lights ahead, I've always used my gears to slow down. Dropping to 4th, 3rd, 2nd etc as my speed drops off. 

Why? 

a. I like to know the engine is engaged to pull away again if things start moving

b. the engine can provide a gentle braking effect

Apparently the advanced driving way to do things is to use the brakes at first, then dip the clutch (still on brakes) until you reach a stop. Apply handbrake then come out of gear.

Essentially, remove the gear dropping procedure.

This felt quote alien to me, leaving the gears along until stopped. I feels like I have less control with no power going to the wheels. Hopefully I'll get used to it but I think I will have to discuss the merits of that system vs using gears to slow down with my regular observer.

My observer

So I've now been in touch with a chap called Gary who will be 'my' observer / instructor for the duration of my training. My first drive out with him will be at the weekend, hopefully it will go as well as last drive and I'll continue to learn a lot from him as I progress towards my IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) full membership.

More driving lessons

So something I've been meaning to do for time is get some extra driving training.

More training can't be bad, right?  And it should help reveal any bad habits I've got into since passing my driving test 20 years ago.

Well my partner kindly bought me associate membership to the Institute of Advanced Motorists for Christmas. Tomorrow is to be my first drive out with them.

This could be quite a pressured drive as my driving is assessed as we go I believe.

I'll try and post updates about my advanced driver training here as I progress.

In the mean time, I'd better go get some sleep!

Still alive

Yeah, so I'm not so good at this blogging game. Maybe because not much happens in my life?!

Looking back it seems my last was about leaving orange /Ee through redundancy.

Moved on a bit since then. Contracting didn't work out, in no small part to people not paying bills meaning I had to go find a perm job.

Worked at Hermes for a few years on various websites.

Since moved on again.

I will still pick up occasional small pieces of extra work, such as small business websites.

I bought myself a new car 18 months ago, a 184 bhp diesel Leon. Which I've been mostly pleased with.  Paint seems very easy to chip / scratch which is disappointing.

We're *still* talking of selling the flat to buy a house. Just need to find motivation to get the flat fixed up ready to sell.

Work and stuff

So it's been a number of months since being made redundant and I'm trying to set myself to do contracting for large companies. Using skills with web development in Java, PHP and front end stuff I'm hoping to bring in the beans.

While my CV seems to be bringing in plenty of interest, I've had a few interviews, I've not yet nailed down a firm contract. There is plenty of work out there it seems but trying to convince the interviewers I'm the guys they want is proving hard.

I'm not sure if it's just relative lack of experience compared to others or if I'm selling myself short in face-to-face meetings. I'm getting interviews so I guess recruiters must feel I have something to offer them.

In the mean time I've been trying to do some web sites for smaller companies, there are so many people out there doing that at prices that they can't possibly be living off (at least not if paying taxes) that it is very hard to explain what someone gets by hiring me with over 10 years web development experience vs someone fresh out of college/university.

The potential clients don't know what they are missing and unfortunately nor do a lot of the cheap guys realise where their products need improving.

In other, completely unrelated news, our washing machine has died again. Perfect timing as we start the new university year and have lots of Judo kits to wash!

The battle with weight loss is still ongoing. Holding steady around 92Kg at the moment. I could do with losing another 4Kg or so, but no doubt the marathon training will help.

That's right, since deferring my entry to the London marathon this year because of injury I am hoping to get it done in 2013. Follow my progress at bensmarathon.com or follow my marathon account on Twitter.

Fuming right now

Things are a changing.
As I posted previously, I'm losing my job through redundancy. That comes to an end in about a week now so the monthly cheque stops.

We're considering selling the flat and moving into a rented place. It's dead money, but it does mean we can move fast if/when we find a house we'd like to buy.

To top off the stress and uncertainty of the moment, someone has broken into my car again so now I'm going to lose out in having to replace it. That's right you thieving little oiks it does cost me, the person who actually did some honest work in order to have things. Try it one day.

I didn't see the guy, but it's probably a good idea I didn't. After the last time my car was broken into I wasn't sure how I would react, this time I am pretty sure I would have gone to confront him and probably damaged him.

Another year ends...

Another year closes and I get closer to another birthday. More and more I feel like I've not done much with myself in recent years except the Judo.

I started entering the ballot for the London Marathon 5 years ago, well I finally have a place and in October I started my training for 2012 marathon. I am trying to raise funds for both WWF and Oxfam, both of whom do work that I would like to support.

The charities are not paying anything for me to run, I have my own place and will be paying for my own accommodation etc please if you can, sponsor me a few pounds. Links to sponsor me can be found on bensmarathon.com and info about my training. If you'd like the very latest, follow me on Twitter @bensmarathon

Enough of the chugging for marathon sponsoring now.

I shall be continuing to try and lose weight in 2012, I'd love to get back to the flat stomach I had in my youth but I fear it's too late for that. I can at least get myself to be a little less flabby. Current target is 89Kg which brings me down a weight group in Judo competition, but once I get there I shall review whether I can go further.

New Year = New Start ?
Certainly sometimes, for some they like to try and start something new every year and call it a resolution. A popular resolution is to find a new job. Well in 2012 that is being forced on me - I'm being made redundant in the latest round of re-organisation within Orange.

I think I'll try contracting for a few months to see if I can make it work before looking for a perm role again. So if you know anyone that needs some programming doing point them my way!

I work with Java, Oracle, PHP, MySQL, HTML, Javascript, CSS.

Need a website? ;)

Back to the weight loss (again)

Once again I find myself trying to shed the flubber that has collected around my midriff over the last few years. So I've taken a 3 month membership of the gym, not the first time and trying to reduce amount of crap food I'm eating. Again, not the first time.

Why am I succeeding this time?
A combination of factors/motivations:
- feeling really unfit and noticing the lard more than I used to
- weight got to 105Kg, too much to lose pre (Judo) competition to get under 100Kg
- using software to track food/exercise helps monitor/motivate me

I have recently discovered a website (www.myfitnesspal.com) that helps track calorie intake/expenditure on a daily basis. Great, if you happen to be near a computer all day (just so happens I usually am!) but they also have an application for phones which is a real boon. The phone app synchronises your data to the website so you can build up a historical record of diet/weight loss.

Also on my phone I have a small program called 'libra'. A great little application that plots your weight as a graph. So what, a graph? Well the graph doesn't show a simple plot of daily weigh-ins rather it shows a trend line generated by analysing the data you give it. So while your weight changes day to day you can see how todays weigh in compares to the trend of weight change. Libra also provides a visual projection on the graph of your trend line which means you can see when you might expect to hit your target weight if weight change continues at the current rate. A fantastic little application.

I started this round of weight loss around the middle of June 2011 and after a month I'm still going strong and the weight is coming off. In no small part thanks to the motivation of these weight loss apps.

MyFitnessPal - Free Weight Loss Tools

MyFitnessPal - Free Weight Loss Tools