Just finished my books for week 8 and in spite of telling three pupils to find another instructor, in 8 weeks 42 hours have been cancelled.  
Mortgage paid off and apart from not having to work at all, we just want to be able to afford two holidays per year. So I suppose you could say I work part time as anything over 25 hours a week is a bonus. 
Imagine if I worked the hours other instructor did the amount of cancellations they'd be able to wrack up.

Well done Rebecca Edge passing your Theory/Hazard Perception.
You do realise that with a score of 50 out of 50 in your Theory next time I ask a question, "don't know/can't remember" isn't allowed. 

Is it just in the Greater Manchester area or nationwide where pupils cancel? Talking to other instructors we are all struggling. A good example, first lesson today 9.30, a referral who has been waiting for a space. 
I always get there with five minutes to spare and sit around the corner so I'm not late. 9.25 I get a text, "woke up ill" 
Good start to a first lesson, won't see him again because I've told him he has to pay for today.
Tuesday is my first working day and so far I've lost 7 hours this week.

Something nice for a change. Bought a long arm staples from Staples years ago, been playing up for ages and today I (Sean wife) finally decided to do something. Rather than just buy a new one I asked them to look at it in case I was using the wrong staples. They took it away and gave me a new one for free! How's that for service?
Went mad and bought a new keyboard and mouse, Sean doesn't have any excuse for now using it now this one has letters written on the keys!

Got a phone call a couple of hours ago, very well spoken young lady. "Could you send an instructor to take me for my driving test tomorrow?" My wife explained that we didn't have any spaces to which she replied.
 " I don't want a lesson, just enough time to take my test."
Monday is my day off, but if I was desperate for work the answer would have been the same. But surely no one in their right mind, would expect an instructor to turn up , without even the hour before and take a stranger for their test?
I find I'm asking myself time and again. Is it me? 

Remember the pupil who at the end of the lesson last week told me he couldn't pay because they had to pay the kitchen fitters?  
He got a phone call on Bank Holiday Sunday from his college saying he had to go in at the time of his lesson this week.
Won't now get back the £19 for the lesson  but at least someone else  can have him. The daft thing is when his mum initially phoned I had a full diary but she kept phoning and phoning till eventually she asked to go on a waiting list and waited until I could fit him in!
Doesn't make sense to me.

Insurance.
Was asked yesterday about 'Fronting'  Fronting is, you as a newly qualified driver buys a car and on the insurance, names a parent as the main driver to make it cheaper.
There are a few reasons why it isn't a good idea,
1: It's illegal and as you are the main driver it could invalidate your insurance. The police are wise to it and are very good at asking just the right questions to trip you up.
2: While that parent is named as the main driver you are not building up your no claim bonus  which will eventually make your insurance cheaper.

What I would advise instead is, shop around for insurance, driving instructors have access to insurance companies who specialise in new drivers insurance.

When you do apply for your insurance, if your mum is a driver put her down as a named driver. Mums are good people and will help slightly to lower your insurance premium.

Another option which is becoming more popular is the 'black box' more insurers are offering to fit this to your vehicle, don't know if it's free, but it monitors your driving to determine your premium. The more careful you are the cheaper your insurance.

And finally, don't do what I did when I bought my second car, went to insure it and discovered it cost more than I'd paid for the car. Didn't know that a 'twin carbs' job made it almost a racing car. The chap at the insurance place said. "Never buy a car without checking the insurance cost first."
Remember that.