London Taxi Knowledge – 3rd 56 day appearance

First I must apologise for my lack of posts recently. Thankfully it only due to the overwhelming amount of work doing the knowledge takes and not any health issues.

Quick update on my second appearance, which I failed to score. After waiting for ages that day I was finally called in and before I could sit down was asked “Take me from Kings Cross Station to The Dorchester Hotel”. On top of the usual nerves this really got me flustered. I managed to remember Pancras Road and Deanery Street and set off and got to the Dorchester Hotel. Then the fun started. Next run was Borough Station to The Sherlock Holmes Museum. I knew those and then proceeded to drop at the Sherlock Holmes Hotel! Next run was a banker that my Call Over Partner I and I had called loads of times, East Putney Station to St Marys Hospital. Off I went and headed up Baywater Road then for some reason turned left into Queensway as if heading to Paddington Station! I stopped myself and him there the way I wanted. Then the final run! Bermondsey Station to the Cromwell Hospital. Off I went without much thought and after making a mess at the start continued to meander along Southwark Street, Union Street, The Cut and Baylis Road before finally deciding to head over Lambeth Bridge. I then decided to take a rather circuitous route to Pennant Mews. That sealed my fate. I only needed to score 4 out of 10 for that run to get 24 points and a C. I only got 2! Afterwards the examiner said he deliberately rushes students on their second appearance as the first one is more laid back. It certainly messed me up. Take more time to think through the runs was the advice that I received and took good note of.

I was pretty annoyed with myself for failing to score on that appearance but it was all my own fault and I was determined to learn from it. I penned up my lines and refined them and called them over so that I would forever use Abbey Street/Long Lane when heading away from Jamaica Road towards the west in future.

On to my third appearance just before Christmas. My preparation had been slightly messed up because of my Call Over Partner not being around for the last 3 weeks. I dutifully called my Blue Book every day, did the 56 day questions on the daily sheet. I went pointing for new points, ran some more Missing Pieces runs and ran some of the new lines that I learnt along the way. Still I felt the usual doubts and nerves that is part and parcel of all appearances it seems.

I was up early on a Monday and got there in plenty of time and was called in pretty much on time. I was asked what advice I was given in my previous appearance, which reminded me to take my time. Then straight down to business and I was asked for the Whiskey Mist nightclub, then the Panamanian Consulate, before knowing Aspinalls Casino from there to Aspers Casino at Westfield Stratford. I really took my time to think and then went the easy option to leave and went via Hyde Park Corner, Trafalgar Sq, Victoria Embankment, Bank Junction and up Whitechapel Road to Stratford. In hindsight I should of left on the right and used Trebeck, Shepherd and White Horse Streets and gone from there.

Next was the Canal Cafe Theatre to Acton Police Station, (I dropped the Redback Tavern). I contrived to get to the Westway and then down Horn Lane. He wanted me to use the Westway rather than chopping it up.

My third run was the New Horticultural Hall to West Ham Police Station, I dropped the Olympic Park Legacy Company. He let me leave from Elverton Street and I went via the Rotherhithe Tunnel rather than using London or Southwark Bridge to get back over the river.

The final run was the Royal National Institute for the Blind to Action on Hearing (used to be called the Royal National Institute for the Deaf). Thankfully this run had been on the daily sheets the previous week and discussed online so I had called this before and ran it with a little hestitation.

I scored 28 out 40 and got myself and nice C for Christmas. I was so happy with that and would of gone for an early Christmas drink if there was anyone around at 10AM!

So the hard work is paying off. There are plenty of days when the doubt monsters rear their heads but you have to keep reminding yourself how far you have come and focus on what you want at the end of it. Determination and dedication as I was told I picked up the new 2012 Bankers Runs and some Turnarounds to add even more to the ever increasing list of things to revise. I am taking it a little easier for a few days and glad my appearances did not occur between Christmas and New Year. I am heading into 2012 optimistically, ready to work even harder doing the knowledge and hoping for a bit of luck in appearances too.

Good Luck to everyone doing the knowledge or thinking of starting it. Have a Happy and Healthy 2012!