Passed with 3 minors at the ripe old age of 39.

I can barely believe it, I failed my test a couple of times when I was in my teens and then went to university and from that point on I always thought I'd never be able to drive. Don't know why, just had in my head that I'd never pass, or couldn't afford to learn, and just that driving was something that other people did. When the examiner said I passed I really wasn't expecting it and I'm not ashamed to say that I welled up a bit!

I genuinely thought I'd failed for various reasons. About 10 minutes in I did the forward park manoeuvre, I couldn't see if I was definitely in the line on the passenger side so I corrected but realised that when I reversed I didn't do my observations well enough. I thought that would be a serious error but the examiner put it all down as two minors, one for observation and the other for correcting. My other fault was for not using my mirrors enough on one occasion when turning.

I think I rolled back very very slightly during a hill start at some temporary traffic lights I wasn't expecting but it wasn't mentioned (I did control the car very quickly and checked my mirrors) and I'm almost certain I clipped the kerb at one point but again, it wasn't mentioned. I wasn't sure of the speed limit at one point (and I'm still not sure) so I guessed 20 and I suppose that was correct. There were a few other little errors but the examiner said at the end that it was a "nice little drive that."

Like many have said before, if you think you've failed don't give up and carry on driving safely and confidently. My examiner was lovely and it felt like he wanted me to pass, even gave me a couple of tips about the road ahead.

I ate the banana, didn't do much driving in the lesson beforehand, and tried not to overthink the outcome. Absolutely ecstatic, it feels like a new start for me and my family.