Female Co-drivers

And the truth is that she probably will manage in a real emergency. Most of our wives are more capable than we give them credit.
One problem is that they may feel that if they try and don't get it right, then they will be criticised, so they avoid that by simply not attempting. And don't worry, I still fall into that mistake from time to time!

Allan, you are spot on re women not driving because of the constant coaching bordering on criticism. John seldom does that these days ,but its taken 50 years of "education" lol... and then there is matter of what happens when "the boot is on the other foot". A recent health issue that saw him not driving for 6 months really emphasised how quickly circumstances can change and how important it is to be tolerant of each others skills and shortcomings.

Seriously though the behaviour and language by some (not all) men wrt their wives/partners that is often on display in camp areas, caravan parks, (and even on this forum at times) shows a lack of respect that would be enough to put any woman off driving - or anything else for that matter. I wonder how many men would tolerate being called a "handbrake" or "minister of war" in public.

Cheers,

Val.

Val, If the truth be know, some of us are probably called a lot worse by some of our women folk, they just don't do it in public. :-)

Cheers

How about "My wife" then Sigmund? Well no, I mean "your wife"........ oh, you know what I mean. I had to address the wider readers!
I wince when I read "Minister for War & Finance" and "The Handbrake" etc.

It's complicated hey Allan.

We don't have the bit of paper. I don't like "partner" cos that means various things. "Common law wife" I like better but that's a bit obscure. "De facto" - nah. "Her indoors" - well she's outdoors almost as much as me. "The missus"? She's very much her own person - own career, finances and friends - and shouldn't be labelled in terms of her relationship with me.

As an aside, when we got into 4WDing seriously about a year ago I looked around for basic courses and almost all that were available charged extra if you wanted a family member along. So I went with the guy who didn't and we both got a lot out of it. These days my capacities are waning and it's good to have two minds working on some of the things we face.

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It can be complicated Sigmund. Which is why resignedly I opted for "The Wife". (Note the Capitals)

When someone refers to his "partner" I confusedly think of a 'business partner'. However, to me "wife" means the person that you are spending your life with exclusively, whether married with 'papers' or otherwise. In actual fact, whenever I refer to my Significant Other Person it is always as "Rozzie" as I view her very much as an individual, not an appendage. As with your err, SOP, Roz is "very much her own person". Amusingly, for several years after we were married, Roz retained her 'maiden' name for professional reasons and I introduced her by that name which raised a few eyebrows in our social relationships. Nowadays it is quite common for separate surnames.

As a child, if I used the word "She", my mother would reprimand with "SHE is the cat's mother". I never did really understand that until many years later.
But we digress.

The "love of my Life", "My Soul Mate", "My Best Friend" "My Wife" "The Nagivator" (or whatever other name she goes by) and I have been together for over 25 years.

We are "legally" married. In a church with a white dress and the whole "catastrophe". She even maintained her own surname. She is very much a person in her own right and very much a significant part of me.

She is the Mother of our 2 children and a better one doesn't exsist anywhere. She is the most "selfless" person I have ever met.

We have worked along side one another as teachers for over 25 years. She has been my boss at times and I hers at others.

While we have had professional disagreements, we have never had a fight. We have never slept in another bed unless we are physically in another place. We have never gone to bed angry or upset.

We have been through thick and thin "together". We have been to hell and back medically and have always been there to support one another. When our children were born, due to a horrendous medical condition, Our obstetrician told me I had to make the worst choice a person would ever have to make - My wife or our child!

I think you get the picture - this is the woman I will and want to spend the rest of my life with.I would never say or do anything to deliberately upset or offend her. I have too much respect for her.

In our families, we have numerous nicknames for each person. These are used depending on the circumstance or context.

In our case, when we talk about travelling or four wheel driving my wife goes by "The Nagivator". This is a term she inadvertently gave herself when we were talking to another couple about this very topic - "Does your wife do any of the driving?". Her reply was "No! I'm just the Nagivator."

This is not a "Term of Endearment" it is a "Term of Affection". One that is accepted and brings a smile to our faces when we remember how she came by it and the pleasant memories of the wonderful couple we were with at the time.

Cheers

Anthony

Good for you Anthony. I envy you mate. Well done.

Try gripping the steering wheel at the bottom and turn the same way you want the camper to go.

Regards

Or if reversing in the mirrors, if you see too much of the trailer appearing in a mirror, pull that side of the wheel down.