An interview with HG

Transport:

 

1 When did you learn to ride a bicycle? How old were you?

 

I learned to ride a bike when I was 8 years old, later than my siblings due to undiagnosed dyspraxia.

 

2 Did you go to any course on hand signals / road signs?

 

I actually did a course on road safety and cycling proficiency when I was about 10 years old, against my parents' wishes as it involved contact with the outside world and authorities.

 

3 Do you give your bikes a name?

 

No, not normally, although the Blue Bike was originally called Rebecca, I just call it the Blue Bike.

 

4 How old were you when you passed your driving test?

 

I was in my early 20s, my problem was not driving but fear or driving instructors, so when my placid old landlord sold me his old car and sat with me as I drove it around, that solved the driving problem.

 

5 Was it in England or Jersey?

 

England.

6 Did you have lessons, (how many) and how many goes before you passed?

 

Someone paid for a few lessons for me before I took my test, and it was money well spent. 

 

7 Which is the most tricky part of driving? Reversing into a space backwards between two cars, reversing into a sideways space between two cars, or something else?

 

Ah, the dreaded three point turn :)

 

 

8 What’s the fastest speed you have driven?

 

Shh! 

Too fast. But I never speed now, it is a sin according to the Catholic Faith.

 

9 What kinds of cars have you driven? Did they all have names? What were the names?

 

Yeah, Ok, my cars have names. I can't remember the first few, but Anna was the most significan one, named after my old friend Anna, the one who taught me to love music. Anna lasted for years, Warrior was her brief replacement before I was homeless, and now Florence has taken Anna's place. 

Mostly my cars have been Peugeot, and that is what I prefer, the other two were a Rover Metro and an Austin Metro and they were both rather rubbish and didn't last long.

 

10 How do you decide what name to give a car?

 

I have never really thought about it, Anna was always Anna, Warrior was Warrior because he was a boy car, Florence was named for me, she came to me as Florence.

11 What’s the furthest you have ever driven?

 

Probably Hampshire to Scotland or Around New Zealand, although I was sharing the driving that time.

 

12 Do you drive cars with gears or automatic? Which you usually drive, have you ever tried the other?

 

I drive geared cars, I have been offered automatics here and there but to be honest, I am fine with gears, no need to change while I am young and strong, and geared cars are cheaper and simpler to fix.

13 If you could be given any car for free, which car would you like? And why?

 

Ah, just a little Peugeot would do for me, something like Florence but younger so less repairs.