My VANLIFE is OVER Unless I Pass This: Taking My C1 ep50

The roundabout ahead will turn left first exit please. The road round to the right and then on the left-hand side I want you to pull over where it's safe to do so. I thought I did okay and uh yeah I got back to the test center and um morning and today is the day I start my practical of my C1 so it's a three-day course here in Exeter. I think it's like two and a half days of Kind of practical training, so you're driving and practicing moves and getting out on the road and things. I think there's a little bit of classroom as well. Not 100% sure, so I'm kind of looking forward to going in there this morning and actually seeing what the process is for the next few days. The time is currently half seven and the course starts at eight. And I was, I've actually parked up, if you saw my last video, I've actually parked up on this little business park here near the gym. But I've actually decided I'm going to drive there today and park outside just in case I forget anything or I need anything out of the van. It also saves me stressing about like taking food with me and things like that. So I've got my driving theory multiple choice and my hazard perception pass certificates here. So I need to take those with me along with my driving license. And I think that's it. I'm not sure how much of this I'm gonna be able to film. I have actually spoken with HGV driving center and hopefully I'm gonna be able to capture some stuff in the cab and kind of around the yard. And yeah, I'll see what I can put together. Depends how long this video is. If this video is very short, I couldn't capture a lot, but. I hope to be able to capture at least something and give you guys a little bit of an insight into what I'm doing. So obviously I'm probably not going to be able to record my actual test, but hopefully I can actually get some footage of me driving around in a van, a little bit in the yard, maybe of doing some moves and stuff. And yeah, it should be a good few days. I'm looking forward to it. With that said, I'm going to get myself on the road. So I'm literally like five minutes around the corner driving. So yeah, I'm going to get my boots on, take the blinds down and yeah, go see what the first day is all about. I think this is the right place, it's a big place and there's a couple of entrances so hopefully this is the one but I will catch up with you guys in a bit when I've gone in and figured out what the first day entails and hopefully get to show you a little bit of what the course is all about so I will see you guys a bit later. I was trying to do a maneuver I'm into the first but need to go in a second. Yeah, take your time, got it. See I'm watching him, he's slowing to turn around but I'm also keeping an eye on that bus up ahead. If I'm going to go round the left hand corner, I tend to keep to the right and vice versa. Big old van. The idea is... It's a happy medium. Yeah, we're trying to teach people about larger vehicles. So it's giving you the larger vehicle rather than the Tonka toy. Yeah, yeah. The roundabout ahead will turn left first exit, please. I was just about to say, because I can't see. Yeah, like I saw that Ranger go past. Turn right to the traffic lights, please. Right, well, that wraps up day one of my C1 practical training. And it's actually way better than I thought it would be. I thought I was going to kind of be in a classroom with a bunch of other guys, learning some stuff, and then going out in the vans and doing a bit of driving. But actually, it's all one-on-one. So I showed up there, I signed in. Ben, the guy who I was doing my training with, was absolutely sound as a pound. Took me out, showed me the van, ran through what we'd be doing. 10 minutes we were literally on the road and yeah it spent literally four hours driving a five and a half ton Iveco van learning all of the things that I should be doing and trying to get rid of some bad habits that I've picked up over the years and that's just simple things like making sure like you check your left mirror first then your right mirror then look over your shoulder at certain junctions and things making sure you keep your hands at like 10 to 2 on the steering wheel and if you're turning like feed the steering wheel with your hands not actually like you know do the Probably the one-handed move that we all tend to do. It was really, really good. So that was day one. And he actually said the more relaxed I am actually like just, you know, enjoying driving. He said I'm actually way better. It's when I kind of get a little bit anxious. Maybe I'm like right in the city center and you know, there's lots of cyclists and pedestrians and it can be a little bit of a stressful situation at times in a really big van. And that's when I tend to kind of lean forward in the van and kind of, you know, you can see my whole body language change when I'm a little bit more kind of on edge. He said if I just relax into it, then I'll start to enjoy it a lot more and all of the kind of right decisions that I need to make I'll make and I won't make any mess ups on the test so yeah it was a really good first day and then day two tomorrow is going to be on the reversing manoeuvres so I'm going to be doing a bunch of training with someone else reversing the van and doing all that and making sure that I can do all those moves and then I'll be tested that same day by someone else because obviously the same guy who Trains you can't do the exam as well so I'll be trained by one guy tested by another guy and do the reverse moves then and then I think I'm going to be going out in the van again for a few hours tomorrow just getting more practice in and then Wednesday morning is actually my practical exam so I have about an hour to an hour and a half of practice in the morning in the Iveco and then I get driven down to the test center and then that's when I have my C1 practical exam which is an hour It's an hour long. Yeah, it's way better than I thought it was going to be. Like, I thought it was, like I say, going to be with a bunch of other guys and, you know, we were all going to be kind of doing it together. But the fact that it's one-on-one, I really like that and I learn better one-on-one. So, yeah, I'm really enjoying it. I'm excited for tomorrow and then even more excited for Thursday. And, fingers crossed, it all goes well and I end up with a pass at the end of it. I'll see you guys for day two tomorrow. Sound the lights. Yeah, it's a gear. You don't need to signal because you're waiting at the lights or whatever, yeah? Yeah. Or you're going round and round about. Whatever engine motion you're doing, you might have to indicate or wherever you're going. But normally, when you're pulling away from somewhere, if it gets you to pull over on the left-hand side of the road, for example, and brake on, into neutral, right, and wait for further instructions. Okay. Okay? Then you'll say, all right, follow the road ahead, John, right? Carry on. So into gear, mirrors, indicator, over your shoulder. And away. Okay. Yeah? He's just going back to old school. Mirror, signal, manoeuvre. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You might as well jump in, mate. Just enjoy it. Set your seat and everything that you need. So what he's looking for as well is safety. He's two hands on this wheel. Yeah? How you're doing, it's entirely up to you. Yeah? Yeah. But he's looking for two hands on the wheel. Count to four in your head. One, two, three, four, and brake. Yeah? One, two, three, four, and brake. Yeah? Okay. Give yourself like a four second roll. Before handbrake, yeah? Give yourself like a four second roll. Grab a knee to second, yeah. That there is probably a first gear pull away, yeah. So I want to pull over on the left hand side when it's safe to do so. Preferably be behind that van. Bit further, keep on going, keep on going. And that'll do you there now. Into neutral, cancel your indicator. Okay, so when you're ready, John, I'd like you to carry on forward. Good. Yeah, grab to the right, then on the left hand side I want you to do so. Obviously it's told you, you know the score with these signs. Don't go any further forward than that, yeah. Alright so that is day two done. Quick little summary. I started out the morning doing my reversing manoeuvres which was basically driving forwards like however many. feet or meters that was you guys saw it on the video and then I had to kind of reverse back into a box marked out by cones and the rear of the van had to be over kind of the hatch markings at the back so I practiced that like three or four times and yeah it was pretty easy pretty straightforward. I was a mechanic for 15 years and just spent my life reversing vehicles and and trucks and stuff out of workshops. Damn wonder what that was for a second. I parked behind this B&M and it's them moving trolleys around like the big you know metal uh metal trolleys with all the stuff in them. Made me jump. Yeah so anyway I did the reversing. I practiced it like three or four times and then I had the exam on it. You know the test on it. So I had another guy come out and test me on it and yeah I passed. So that one is done. So that's the maneuvers part of the test which is the module 3a. So yeah I've got to take that with me tomorrow and yeah it's tomorrow's d-day. I'm a little bit anxious. I'm a little bit nervous but I'm kind of like just trying to stay completely Completely chilled about it. back a couple of hours ago and I've just been putting together this video and just having a bit of a chill which has been nice and uh yeah I'm going to go down to the training center tomorrow morning probably get there for about quarter past half past seven and then we're going to have about an hour and a half to basically do like a mock route so he's going to take me around uh the guy I was with today he's going to take me around and we're basically going to do kind of an identical route that they do take people on for their test so we're going to do that we're going to practice like pulling over on the side of the road again and you know just double checking. I'm feeling that I've got both hands on the wheel, checking my mirrors, looking over my shoulder, all of the things that I have to remember and then my test is at 9.30 tomorrow morning. So yeah, I'm a little bit anxious but I'm also excited. Manifesting that I do well and I pass and yeah by this time tomorrow I'm going to know whether I passed or not so yeah exciting times. Anyway I'm going to get some dinner on the go then I'm going to have myself a nice chilled evening probably unwind and watch Celebrity Traitors for a few hours and just kind of completely chill out and take my mind off things get a good night's sleep and then tomorrow is the big one so I will update you guys tomorrow when I'm out of the exam or the Test. So it's about five hours later and I basically went in with Danny this morning, got back in the Iveco and drove around Exeter and did like a mock route. It's kind of a route that is known that examiners take you on. So I did that, was just practicing again, making sure I was doing all of the right things and remembering to do everything that I've learned over the last few days. And then we drove to the test center. From there I met my examiner and I went through the vehicle and just answered some basic questions about like making sure my load is safe and secure, checking like where the first aid kit is in the cab and doing a few instrument checks and things and then it was out on the road and I have to say I was like sweating when I started because obviously there's so much that has like gone into this and I'm just so desperate to kind of pass now and just get this done and just kind of move on to the next chapter And yeah, when I kind of set off, I was like, my God, this this one hour right now is like months of kind of work and to get to this point. So, yeah, I was a little bit hot under the collar and had to crack the window open a few times. But the drive itself went really well. I thought I did OK. And yeah, I got back to the test center and I passed. Get in there! So happy, so happy. So yeah, I can now officially drive a seven and a half ton vehicle, which I'm absolutely over the moon about. I don't need to drive seven and a half tons, I just need to drive four and a half, which is this thing, when it's up-plated. I can now officially. up plate this van and legally drive it which is amazing and I'm so happy and like I say so much has gone into this and having failed my theory as well like three times and then passing on the fourth I was just like so nervous coming here and I was like god I really hope I don't fail and then have to come back and then do it again and yeah but I um I absolutely sailed through and I didn't even get any minors which I was completely blown away by so yeah. Passed with a clean ticket and yeah, I'm absolutely over the moon. So a massive shout out to Danny and Ben, my two trainers from the past couple of days. Couldn't have done this without you guys. Really appreciate your time and your expertise and yeah, putting me through my practical training. It's been awesome. I still can't believe it. I'm, yeah, I'm stoked. Absolutely stoked. With all that said, I think I'm going to hit the road. I'm going to get myself back to Bridport. I do have to stop off in Chard on the way back to Bridport. There's something I need to pick up, then go to Bridport. I need to get to the gym this afternoon, get a good workout in, and then I will catch up with you guys later on this evening. Good morning and I am at Charmouth campsite. It's actually been a couple of days since I picked up the camera. I drove back from from Exeter on Thursday and I just kind of crashed when I got back into town. I went to the gym, got a good workout in, did a little bit of food shopping as well and then I just completely crashed out. I think I was just kind of mentally fatigued with everything, with doing the whole driving course and kind of everything that's built up to that. And all the planning with, you know, the upgrades and Scotland prepping and, yeah, everything. It was a lot. And then yesterday morning, I just went to the gym, being Friday morning, and then spent the rest of the day just catching up with a few things. What else did I do? Oh yeah we had a storm, so there was quite a big storm that hit the kind of southwest of the UK. It didn't really come to much here to be honest with you, I was obviously hunkered down in Bridport at the time and yes there were some strong winds during the day yesterday but wasn't really anything, yeah I've experienced a lot worse. And I was kind of umming and ahhing whether to come to a campsite and get myself a pitch and hunker down for a couple of nights because I was kind of in need of water and the batteries could have done with a bit of a charge. So I decided to, yeah, come down to Charmouth, get myself plugged in and spend the night here last night and just kind of recharge myself and the van. And it's funny, I actually had a way peaceful night's sleep here. Then I, oh man, really? Really? Damn. Not too sure why that's done that but yeah my night here last night was a lot more peaceful than uh the last couple of nights I've had actually so the wind has actually been kind of stronger in the town which is weird but there you go and yeah last night was very very peaceful and uh I can just about feel the van starting to rock now I can feel the wind outside it's starting to pick up again yeah there you go But before I leave here I'm probably going to go for a little walk down to the beach, see the sea, get some of that sea air. Then after that I'm probably going to go to the gym, get another workout in and then I'm meeting up with some friends later on today to have a good catch up. I'll tell you what though, since I've been back I have felt an enormous sense of relief since passing my C1. It's such a great feeling and knowing that the only thing left to do now is to the van officially with a company called SV Tech and then the van is upplated it's fully legal i'm insured to drive it and we're good to go and with regards to the whole upplating thing with the van i'm probably going to do a separate video in the next kind of week or two and i'm just going to talk about because i've had a lot of questions regarding the weight of the van why i'm upplating it how much does it weigh surely your van can't be that heavy and also a bunch of people saying about like what's the process like what do i need to do so i'm actually probably going to do Another shortish video about the up plate, the weight of the van and kind of covering all of the questions and all of the bases that yeah, that need to be covered when upplating a van and the company I've used is called SV Tech. I think they're the only company in the UK who can actually do the up plates of vans. And that's all in the process. I should have all that in the post, hopefully on Monday. So but like I say, I'm probably going to do a separate video and I'm going to cover everything including actually Putting the plate on my van, doing all the documents with the DVLA or the DVSA or whoever it is to get it all fully registered. So if you guys have any questions regarding the weight of the van, what's in my van and why does it weigh so much, as well as like the whole process, please drop them in the comments below and then I'll do my best to create that video for you guys, answer as much as I can. And yeah, hopefully it'll help you. And I'll, depending on, you know, what I cover, I'll try and get some resources put together on the website as well. Maybe create a blog. or even a simple page that just kind of gives you a full breakdown of the process so if you're looking to upplate your van you know exactly what you need to do and kind of what order you need to do it in. And I do just want to give a quick shout out as well to the HGV Driving Centre, they've actually partnered with me on this video. So the HGV Driving Centre are actually the people who I went with to do my C1 so I rang them up and they basically booked me in for my medical. From my Medical they then gave me all the theory revision that I needed to actually actually go in and pass my theory. Although it took me a few attempts I was so grateful to have all the revision material to hand and to be able to go online read through everything I needed to read through. I was able to do all the kind of mock exams on there. There was kind of like mini quizzes that I could do as well like on all the different sections and it was so so good. As well as that after I did like all the theory training they were able to book me in for my actual test and then when I passed my test they actually booked me in for my practical test. So it kind It kind of saved me like again I was so short on time and trying to create content all the time and do all the upgrades I'm doing and things to the van like my time is so so limited so to be able to actually have a company that is just doing everything for me and I just you know. Tick all the boxes that I need to and they just take me through the process. It was absolutely awesome so if you guys are looking at doing any kind of lights goods or heavy goods vehicle training and getting licenses for to be able to drive different vehicles and like me uplating my van to a four and a half ton van getting my C1 which enables me to drive up to seven and a half tons then you should definitely check out the HGV driving centre. And if you guys head down to the link down in my description, you can go to a page which will tell you all about it. And then if you give them a call, they will be able to book you on any course that you want. And if you use my code John 50, that will get you £50 off your first course. Massive thank you again to the HGV Driving Centre for partnering with me on this video. Really, really appreciate you guys. And again, thank you for kind of taking the stress out of the equation when it came to arranging all of the training and all of the bookings and everything else. Like, I was really glad to have you guys on my side. So really, really appreciate you. And lastly, I just want to give a quick shout out to my trainers, Ben and Danny. Really appreciate you guys. Thank you so much for your time over the last few days. And they are the trainers at Transplant Training Center. And that training center itself is pretty much the biggest one, I think, in the southwest of England. So if you guys are looking to do that, it's based in Marsh Barton in Exeter. And if you are booking through the HGV Driving Center and you're doing your training in the southwest, that's kind of where you're going to go to do your training. It's a huge problem. place. It's absolutely massive. I think the actual kind of tarmac driving area is something like four acres. It's massive. So again, massive shout out to Transplant Training Centre. Really appreciate you guys for making the whole process super simple as well. And again, Ben, Danny, thank you so much boys, I really appreciate it. I can now officially upplate my van, and yeah, I have my C1 license to be able to drive it, so Scotland, here we come. Now, I was just going to go for a quick walk down to the beach, but it was starting to rain just now, but I think it might be alright. It's spitting with rain, but it's not like pouring it down, so I might put my rain jacket on and just go for a little walk down to the beach. It'd be nice to see the sea and get some sea air, so I think we'll do that, I think we'll head down there. and it's starting to rain. I'll swap my hat over as well because that's just going to get blown off. Cold as well and it's like that sideways rain. At least it isn't as windy as it was yesterday. Look at all the ducks. What's up guys? Morning. Hey bud. Heh heh heh heh. Oh geez this was a bad idea. This was a really bad idea. Okay right in the eyes. Well it's not so bad down here actually, like once we got out of that rain shower we just had, the wind isn't too bad. It's probably because it's blowing through the valley, but that down there somewhere is Golden Cap, where I was a few videos ago, a month ago, something like that. It's there. A lot of people on the beach today, probably because it's half term, but I know When there's storms out and stuff, people do like coming down and get blown away a bit, experiencing it. It's cool. And that over there is Lyme Regis. Hang on. Kind of over there. I think I'm going to turn around. But yeah, I pointed that out to you guys when I was down here in the summer camping. That's when I got that insanely nice pizza from that fish and chip shop in town and brought down on the seafront to eat, which then subsequently put me into a food coma for the next few hours. Well here's the stream right there which is where we can't really get across so I think I'm going to turn around and go back to the van and get myself warm and then head to the gym. And then probably, like I say, I'm meeting some friends this weekend, but I'll probably spend the weekend hunkered down because, yeah, it's not nice at the moment. But as always, I truly appreciate you guys watching. And if you haven't already, maybe consider subscribing as it really does help out the channel. And don't forget, drop me any questions you've got about the number plate of the van, doing the kind of C1, anything in regards to that, and I'll put that video together over the next couple of weeks. And I will see you guys in the next one.