On Wednesday, as mentioned, I passed my driving theory test. Hah! And then I went to Waterstone’s and bought myself books as reward: one Christopher Brookmyre and two Neil Gaimans (Gaimen?).

• A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil, Brookmyre (latest)
• Anansi Boys, Gaiman (latest)
• Smoke and Mirrors, Gaiman (old; collection of short stories; includes the brilliant ‘Shoggoth’s Old Peculiar’, a Lovecraft parody/homage)

So, compared to reading the new Brookmyre book, talking to you guys sucks. Bye! :-P

Better late than never. This Wednesday I passed my driving theory test, with a mixed bag of results. The multiple choice questions were extremely easy, and I got full marks (35/35).

You arrive at a motorcycle accident and the rider is severely injured. What are your priorities (choose two)?

1. Sweep up the debris
2. Check the rider’s breathing and airways
3. Drive carefully round the debris and continue on your way
4. Check for bleeding on the rider
5. Get the registration numbers of all vehicles involved

That was basically as hard as that part got… but they made up for it later. The second phase is Hazard Perception, where they show you video clips of a vehicle driving through ordinary urban and country areas, in different weather and lighting conditions. You have to click when you see a ‘hazard’.

I never really understood what they meant by a hazard, and I don’t think I do yet. I failed this part last time (by quite a margin, if I remember) and no-one’s advice has really done me any good. I’ve done a lot of practice sessions lately and the end result isn’t anything to be proud of: 45/75, where the cut-off mark was 44! Just one point above the pass mark.

But at least I passed and I won’t ever have to do it again.