That's it, the office is closed, wife unchained from the computer and looking forward to a weeks holiday. Hope you and your families have a wonderful Christmas and all the Very Best for 2017.

I'd like to say a BIG thank you to the DVLA, and I'm sure my pupil would also. I'm officially on holiday, was considering spending a few days with friends in other parts of the country. Then a pupil booked his driving test this coming Wednesday and as he has his own car was looking forward to being able to get out over Christmas.

I cancelled my trip and today the DVLA cancelled his test because there aren't any examiners available.

While I was working hard the wife was living it with at GMPs Chief Constables 'do gooders' Christmas Party

Well done to Daniel Bissell on passing his test first time with just three minors. Now he believes me that examiners don't try to catch you out so they can fail you. Drive Safely Dan and thanks for the wine.

Got an email for driving lessons yesterday, not unusual but as I'm old I make sure I only teach very locally so I'm not dashing about. My web site shouts at you that I only teach in Ashton-u-Lyne and Stalybridge yet I still get calls saying to you come to? Yesterday's was much too far, Buckingham Palace Road, London. SW1. Don't people read.

When I first qualified I was given a telephone number by the DSA as it was then, which was for driving instructors only. I'm now having problems with pupils who after almost 2 months still haven't received their Pass Plus certificates therefore today I phoned the Pass Plus department and got a recorded message saying. "Due to technical problems we are three weeks behind issuing certificates." The line then went dead and I decided to try the instructor number, that wasn't recognized. Does anyone have a number assuming there is still an instructor only number? I must say I have very little confidence these day with the Pass Plus department, don't do many but I can't remember when the last one went smoothly, they don't receive my paper work, they've sent the certificate out but it doesn't arrive.

Just renewed the insurance on my car and every year it amazes me the prices some companies come up with. The advice is not to stick to your old insurance, yet I've been with mine for years. As instructors we don't have lots of insurance companies to chose from but the difference in price is astounding. One was 50% up on what I paid last year, while another wanted almost £900 and I was told that was a good deal. My old insurance company came up with the price of just over £400 then eventually after consideration I payed £367. Think of the profit the company asking nearly £900 must be making.

Another First time pass for Green School of Motoring. Well Done to Christian Tomlinson first time pass with just 3 faults.

13/10/2016
Well Done to Ben Higginson, a 1st time pass with Zero Faults, which means 100% perfect drive.

Well Done Margaret. A first time pass with just 1 minor. Hope all goes well with the baby. Drive safely. .

Well done to Lauren Dennison, first time pass today with just 2 minors.

Wish I was there and not having a break from stripping wallpaper in the front bedroom. Have a good Bank Holiday folks.

Just lost a pupil. I've been telling him for months to take his Theory as there is a long waiting time for the practical test. He passed his Theory on Friday booked his test, the soonest he could get is end of October. I tell them all to book but keep looking for cancellation as some do get lucky. After Saturdays lesson he announced he wouldn't be having any more lesson and to just pick him up for his test. I said I wasn't prepared to do that, then he decided on one every four weeks. I said I couldn't afford to do that and how would he feel if for three weeks out of four he was £30 short in his wage. The answer was, 'it's different I have to make a living from my wage plus I only get £10.90 an hour instead of the £20 you get.'

Exciting day yesterday, can't think of any other way to describe it. My diary is full therefore rather than waste people time immediately we answer the phone we tell them I have a full diary and can't take on any more student. The caller said, "don't want any lessons just want to hire your car for an hour for my test." About midday I received a text requesting a lesson for the son at 3.15. Sent back the usual reply, full diary, bla bla bla. Got a reply saying to pick up his son with an address and time for the following day. Didn't reply because I couldn't think of any other way to say I can't take on any more student. 7.20pm I received an email with an address informing me that this young man would start his lessons at 9.30pm Emailed to say not possible and why and he said tomorrow will do then. How do I say I have a full diary and are not able to take on any new students in the near future?

Is anyone else having trouble with Pass Plus? I only do on average one per year. Last years student didn't receive her notification therefore after 6 weeks I had to chase it up. Another student did Pass Plus back in February and contacted me two weeks ago to say he hadn't received anything. I telephoned the powers that be and they didn't have any record of my sending in the paper work therefore needed me to send all his details. Can't go any further because I've text, phoned and even called at his house and put a note through the door asking for his licence details. That aside this is the second time I've had to chase them.

Good idea to introduce bay parking into the Driving Test. The only time in my 16 years I've been able to teach it comfortably was when I was teaching a security guard at a local supermarket. Supermarkets don't like you using their car parks, we have a big cinema complex with overspill parking, where I was told over a loudspeaker at 10 am one morning to leave even though I was the only vehicle there. Of the two test centres I use one doesn't have access for bay parking the other a couple of spaces used by the examiners and owing to the area I can't imagine any of them volunteering to park in the street. My only opportunity so far is if there is a space in the park for a local tram stop.

Right that's me finished work for the next two weeks Will have four slots available for when I return, have lost four of my ladies now confident enough to get behind the wheel. During the past six months I have had as many over 60's ladies who passed their driving test 40 years ago then never drove as I have had teenagers. Having lost four this week I still have three left. Over 60's deciding to get behind the wheel has definitely increased this last couple of years.

Students, when your mates give you driving advice confirm it with me. Two from today, " When you take your test make sure you don't just look into your mirrors. The examiner won't see you if you just glance." Wrong, the examiner won't be very pleased if you take your eyes off the road for so long. "If the traffic light has just gone to red and there is someone behind you don't stop. That's legal, because they might run into the back of you " Wrong, red means stop. I wonder if this is why so many people ignore red lights?

I know I'm an old fuddy duddy and I don't move with the times and one of my old fashioned ideas that everyone laughs at is my insistence of a spare wheel in the car rather than a can of spray. Yesterday a former pupil who passed a couple of years ago called me asking, "Do you still insist on a spare wheel?" Apparently during their holiday, along with his wife and six month old baby they were stranded for over an hour on a deserted road in the Scottish Highlands. A rock had taken out the side of one tyre, the can of spray wasn't any use, they didn't have a signal on their phones and because of the baby were beginning to panic. Eventually a passing motorist rescued them. He called to tell me that as they go out into the middle of nowhere quite often, now back home he's decided to be as fuddy duddy as I and bought a spare wheel.

I would prefer my student not to take their Practical Test at certain time of the day, however I'm now telling them to 'just book it' whatever time of day, then to keep checking for cancellations. Shell was fortunate to get a cancellation but she did almost live on the site. The next available tests at my two local centres aren't until the end of September. Theory test aren't much better either one student had to travel from Greater Manchester to Sheffield to take his Theory rather than wait for the local one to come available.

Shell Rowlinson-Smyth

I passed!! Thank you Sean for your help and advice it was much appreciated.

Shell passed her test first time yesterday, not with me but in her own car. She had been learning to drive in the family car but decided she needed proper lessons with an instructor. Having taught her brother she came to me.

After a few lessons, tidying up the silly mistakes it became apparent she was struggling trying to adapt to driving two different cars so I advised her she should be in the car she felt most confident in.

Therefore I am going to claim just a little bit of credit for Shell's pass.

Drive Safely Shell.

Any members of the IAM who take their insurance be prepared for a shock. My wife renewed our house/contents with then a short while ago after threatening to go elsewhere, whereby they immediately quoted a realistic price. Next was the travel insurance, too expensive and nothing they could do. Then last week my wife's car insurance arrived with a 50% increase from £400 to £600 (no changes at our end). Checking on line with full breakdown cover she was still being quoted around the £400 mark. After complaining, customer service called back and explained they had changed the insurance provider and weren't allowed any leeway to discus quotes. I've been an IAM member about five years and up until recently have enjoyed reasonable priced insurance, now I would say they are pricing themselves out of the market.

Seems some mistakes can follow you for the rest of your life.

Yesterday my wife was at our local police station in her capacity as a HomeWatch Coordinator when a WPC said she knew me. Nora knew I hadn't taught her to drive then she explained she was the copper who saved my life.

A number of years ago there had been some armed robberies, while sat eating my sandwich I noticed something shiny the other side of the fence.

It was a large machete, I'm intelligent so picked it up with my little sandwich bag to deliver to police station.

The barrier opened to let a police vehicle out and I drove in. Couldn't get the door opened into the place when a young lady appeared from the car park. She escorted me back to my car, told me to go to the public police car park and let me out.

You can't miss the public police car park on the main road but I did. Apparently she said she didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to raid a cop shop driving a fully liveried  driving school car and that's why I wasn't pepper sprayed.

Seems I'll never live this down.

Two queries from neighbours has made me realise how misinformed or how little the general public know.
Firstly, if you are a driver and unsure if you should disclose a medical or health condition, you can check online at:
 Gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving 
The second  query is a young lady who had her licence revoked for drink driving, 7/8 years ago. Later had a stroke which she is now recovering and is being told by just about everyone but me that she can apply for a disability car and just get in and drive it! 
Fortunately I think I've managed to persuade her that isn't right.

Congratulation to Alex Mayoh on passing his driving test at his first attempt.

Remember what this boring old man has been teaching you, you are a safe driver Alex, stay that way.

Congratulations to Daniel Clark on passing his driving test with just 2 minors.
Now I have to watch out for him on his bike and in a car. Drive safely Dan.
Unfortunately no photo because Nora forgot to give me the camera. Can't get the staff these days

Greater Manchester Police

· 

Police are appealing for witnesses after two men threatened a student driver and his instructor with a pistol in Bury.

At around 4pm on Sunday 17 January 2016, the victims were sitting in a car on Bridge Street, Bury, when two men emerged from a nearby ginnel and approached the driver’s side of the car.

One of the offenders then removed what has been described as a ‘Mauser pistol’ from the waistband of his trousers and pointed it at the victim sitting in the driver’s seat.

The two offenders then walked off in the direction of Bell Lane, as the man with the gun tucked the pistol back into his trousers.

The shaken victims then drove off in the opposite direction before reporting the incident to police.

The offender with the gun is described as white, between 19 and 25 years old, around 6ft tall with a slim build and brown eyes. He was wearing a light-grey coloured hooded top with the hood up and matching jogging bottoms.

The second offender is described as white, around 30 years old, between 5ft 9in and 5ft11in tall, of slim build and short hair. He was wearing blue jeans and a black body warmer.

Detective Sergeant Ian Partington said: “This is a very strange incident which seemingly has no motive, but must have been incredibly frightening for the people threatened.

“We do not know whether this was, in fact, a genuine firearm, but until we can ascertain that we must treat this as a viable threat.

“The pistol itself is very distinctive and the victim has given a detailed description, which has allowed us to identify what we believe it to have looked like.

“I would ask that anyone who was in the area at the time, or who may have seen these offenders either before or after the incident to contact police.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 170116/1686 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 FREE.

Such an event I thought I'd broadcast it!
I've just done a Pass Plus course, didn't do any in 2015, lots of student considered doing it while in the car with me, but obviously forgot once they had passed.

Not a good start to 2016, Had to have Lady Olivia put to sleep. She spent 16 Years bullying us, wouldn't let me sit in peace of an evening. Now the house is so quiet we're lost.