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.