So I stopped driving on Jan 13th 2016. I kept my car at the time, a VW Golf, convertible, Cherry Red. I kept it for a year but in the Jan 2017, I went to the doctors and they said I was fit to drive again.

I contacted my Occupational Therapist who put me in touch with the driving school. It took quite a while but these were the people who said Yes or No and I really didn’t want it to be ‘No’ Also I did an eye test to see if my peripheral vision was ok and I had to take a copy to the driving instructor. My right eye turned out to be slightly weaker and I gave up and had Verifocals as well ! But apart from that I got a clean bill of health.

I had driven since I was 18 years old, before that as a child I had read maps for my dad to go to Worcester,  I had gone to Chester every month, my family and friends lived 30 miles away, I had travelled Kent and East Sussex. London,France, Germany throughout my career.

This was make or break time.

But suddenly, I was scared, I hadn’t driven for a while, didn’t know what I was driving and it might go wrong and that was that.

For an hour I had to take a test, a really nice lady, sat down and asked about how the stroke had affected me and did a series of test to see how the stroke has affected my driving.  And I had to do a test and also see if I could read a number plate from 20.5 metres away, which I did, so all good, so far.

Then I went outside with a man in the front and the lady sat in the back of the car.  Talk about scary !!! My left foot took over the brakes and my right foot (for a while) was kept out of the way.  My left hand took over the steering wheel spinner and again my right hand stays by my side.

I had to just drive round the car park, to get used to the car, it was really weird !!! It felt like I was driving which was good, then the man said we could go out side on the road……

It was so funny, at first i went down the road at 20 mph, the instructor said I could go faster !!  Anyway, I got used to driving again at the limit for about an hour ( I even did an emergency stop  – very promptly !!!!)

At the end of the session, they told me I had passed, but in order to take another test (and inform the DVLA) I needed at do 6, 1 hour tests and then come back down to do another test and then if everything gets passed,  I can have a car again. Hoorah !!!

A Class – Ian gave me 3, 2 hour tests.  The 1st one I had from home, i was so nervous, not like me ! I sat in the drivers seat with him for 15 minutes, going through what the Stroke had done for me etc etc and then we set off.

We actually drove for an 1hr 30mins to Iwade and back).  When I overtook, I had to look at the space between the car that was coming towards me, for some reason, my right arm was protective and it made me struggle when overtaking.  However, once that was over, that was fine. ( This becomes normal, a little thing becomes a big thing until i can overcome it – and then its fine)

Unfortunately on the first one, right at the end of the first session, a car came towards me on my side of the road as i was about to turn right. I don’t know what happen, but instead of using my left foot and breaking, I switched over and used my right foot !!!!!, Ian took over and braked as well !!! Anyway, it happened in a split second, I don’t believe the man even thought about it. So, lesson learned – Keep your right foot out of the way …..

The second one was from work.  Again I jumped in, Ian said lets go……so, i drove off, unfortunately Ian said pull over……  I was driving using the steering wheel, instead of the steering wheel spinner !! In my head i just thought to the time before the stroke, where I was just driving ? I didn’t think I had to use steering wheel spinner !!!

We went all the way from Medway City Estate to Bexleyheath (the long way round) and then we came down from Damson Park to the A2. Again, suddenly it was scary ! We pushed it up to 50mps, then 60 and then 70mph in the fast lane. However, after 15mins it seemed normal and nice again.

The third time was the big one, we went to Allington, round Maidstone and back through to Nuffield where I was going to end up at the gym. The only thing that Ian commented on was my speed (a little too fast !)

Ian took me down to Larkfield for my test, I was really nervous, Ian made me drive all the way, just to get in the zone. Another 2 instructors took me out for an hour.  We went out of Larkfield and across to King Hill and back again.  The driving instructor said that I had obviously liked driving pre stroke, as i was completely enjoying it and relaxed about it.  I told him that my dad has taught me to drive like he did, enough said lol

He said at the end of the session, that I had passed !!!! and I had to wait for a report to send of to the DVLA to get a new licence but essentially I could drive.

I drove back home, so elated !!! Ian said, go out this afternoon, then go to the gym in the morning and then go to work and back (ready for Monday and text him just to make sure I was all right) Which i did.

I was so nervous after all that time of waiting for an Uber or some one to give me a lift.  I could drive again on the 16th June – 1 year and 5 months after my Stroke.

Things were starting to get back on track……. !