Cars are status symbol, right? You can tell a lot about a gal by the car she’s hauling. They come in all sorts of colours, shapes and sizes and the motor you’re in says a lot about who you are, so it’s important to ensure your vehicle looks as good as you. Now, this can be tough, especially when you consider the occasional requirement for parallel parking. Let’s face it girls, it’s not a strong point.

Sure, we love cars, why wouldn’t we? They are comfy and have mirrors you can look into everywhere you turn, even behind the sun-guard you flip down to avoid wrinkles on bright days. However, apparently mirrors aren’t just for checking yourself out in. According to the Highways Commission, they’re a great resource when it comes to manoeuvring your vehicle.

I recently test drove a Lincoln Continental, not a first choice ride for me (too big, too butch). Give me a Porsche anytime! My co-pilot for the day was Randy Dagger, an ex-Texas Ranger, who I invited along for the ride on the understanding that he would teach me how to park.

Things got off to a good start. The radio was playing Patsy Kline and I had remembered to wear my lucky lace bra, the one that doesn’t chaff when I perform unconventional manoeuvres. Randy seemed happy to listen in as I told him all about myself. Only occasionally did he loosen his grip on the dashboard to check his seatbelt.

When the time came to practice parking, I was surprised at how stressed Randy got. Sure I was heading for the curb in reverse at 20mph and, okay, I did bump the Ferrari parked behind me a couple of times. But he was sat where I wanted in, go he’s got to take part of the blame.

Randy said I should have been looking in the rear view mirror, but all the effort was making me frown and the worry lines were not what I wanted to see!

Anyway, it was after eight or nine attempts that Randy regained his composure and flung me a nugget of wisdom that I will always remember when it comes to parallel parking: Leave the car at home and just walk, the exercise will do wonders for your toosh.