Happy New Year Everyone
Had a lovely Christmas in Madeira and if it wasn't for the knees I'd consider joining the local dance Troupe.

No matter what you do to protect your identity it isn't always enough.
My wife's 19 year old BMW has been cloned. It was found in our local supermarket car park with all the doors open smelling strongly of drugs.
She's known to the police, (HomeWatch Coordinator)  the copper who picked it up decided something wasn't right.
Being Monday and my day off  her mobile was off at 7am so apparently someone drove round and saw her car parked on the drive.
We later had a visit and got all the details, ours is an unusual green, a special edition which apparently they stopped making 17 years ago. Yet these people had found exactly the same car and put on the wife reg plate.
She has a number she can contact with a Crime Log and the letters have started arriving.  So far jumping a red light and a 38 in a 30 zone.  The speeding she was at home alone all day therefore imagine trying to prove it wasn't you.

Looks like I'll be out of a job I'm useless with technology. On second thoughts, I think someone is dreaming. There's a lot of work to be done I would think to have them on the roads in another 4 years.
Hybrids or electric I'll go along.   

One of my pupils took his Theory and passed with flying colours on Wednesday. Yesterday during his lesson I did what I always do and asked what road marking, street signs mean. Approaching a 'No Entry' I asked what it meant. The answer.
" Don't know but it don't matter now I've passed my theory'
Really????

Parents, your 17 year old daughter may not want to learn to drive!
A few weeks ago a lady phoned for lessons for her  daughters 17th birthday.  She would be getting money and rather than waste it on silly things, it would pay for driving lesson.
She would pay for 10 hours, because she's a very clever girl and would soon pass. Good, you're proud of your daughter.
However, after 17 years of answering the phone my wife was suspicious that driving lessons wouldn't be the daughters choice so persuaded mum into just paying for the first 1½ hours.
The girl was very timid, couldn't get a word out of her and didn't appear interested, after the first lesson mum asked how she was doing? Adding she was a very clever girl.  Second lesson dad wanted to know if she was nearly ready for her test as she's a very clever girl.
After ten hours she was as far forward as you would expect 3rd or 4th hour. to my question of was she enjoying her lessons she shook her head.
I told her I wasn't booking her in next week and to talk to her parents.
Mum phoned the following day to book saying, the instructor  must be more firm with her, she's a very clever girl but needs pushing.
Our answer was we had already sold her space, therefore, we get a bad name and some other poor instructor is going to get her.

Congratulations to Wanda Kelembe who passed his test today with just 2 minors.

Drive safely Wanda and I shall look forward to teaching your wife in the future.

My weekend consists of Sunday and Monday, spent all of it putting wood floor in bedroom because of wife bad chest. Now I can't walk.

Parents, please don't assume your 17 year old daughter wants to learn to drive just because she applied for her licence.
I think after 17 years I can see when someone really shouldn't be having driving lessons. I have just, thankfully lost a pupil, my sympathies go to her next instructor.
Mum phoned to book her in and said how talented the daughter was and as normals asked how many lessons to her test?
At the end of the second 1½ hr lesson, dad met us,  to say she was very talented and would soon be ready for her test!
After 6 hrs we're not much further than the first hour, I asked if she really wanted to learn to drive. When I didn't get an answer I assumed it was a 'no'.
Dad met us as usual at the end of the lesson and wanted to know if she should book her test.
I had to explain that I thought it may be better if she stopped driving lessons for a while and concentrated on her college work. He answer was 'she's a very clever girl she can do both'. We decided perhap it was my fault and she would be better with another instructor.
She's a lovely girl, very quiet but most are to start with, after all what does a 17 year have in common with a 60 year old teacher. Parent assume because their child has brilliant grades they will soon learn to drive, and we all know that isn't so.

A weekend away, remembering my younger, fitter days when we spent the weeks holiday on the Norfolk Broads and always moored overnight outside a pub. In those days I was a big drinker and could manage 2 PINTS per night  not 2 halfs as I do now.

11/07/2017
Congratulations to Alex Elliott who passed his test with just 2 minors after getting in the wrong lane approaching a roundabout. He said he remembered what I keep saying and didn't panic.
The examiner commented that when he realised his mistake, he calmly checked all around and corrected it safely.

Congratulations to Jamie Appleyard who passed his Practical Test  yesterday.

No photo because Jamie was having extra tuition in his mums car and was struggling to pay for lessons so I suggested  he should save his money and use his mums car when he booked his test .

Just had to turn down a recommendation wanting to book a block of 10 hours. I asked who recommended me and it was a young lady who passed last year. Because I work in a very tight area the first question my wife asks is, "can you tell me what area you live in?"
Answer, "Sheffield city centre"
She explained that we were in Greater Manchester and the young lady said that M******* was at uni with her, in Sheffield and had given her my number yesterday.

With holiday time approaching remember,  if you post your holiday photos online advertising your empty house, it could invalidate your insurance if you are burgled.

Michelle Hall reviewed Green School of Motoring — 5 star
May 17 at 4:20pm ·

I signed up for some refresher lessons after 10+ years of not driving. Sean was a great instructor and very patient. I never felt rushed and he gave me time to build my confidence. My husband also had refresher lessons with Sean and we've never looked back! I would highly recommend Sean as an instructor.
Green School of Motoring

Comments
Green School of Motoring
Green School of Motoring Thank you so much Michelle, hope all goes well with the baby.

How long do you keep your pupils? For life it seems in my case. A message on my F/B

Hi I'm an ex pupil and I've got a question for sean. Hey sean  it's Christian thanks for everything you did for us really appreciate it. Due to my insurance wanting 5 grand a year because of my convictions I've put my licence away and got a motorbike for a cupple of years my question is where do I stand on filtering is it legal to do am I in the wrong if I'm filtering and some 1 pulls out on me I wear a helmet cam but I don't no if it's legal or not and I don't just want to follow suit thanks regards Christian

PS He had the points before I started teaching him.

I have a couple of students who are having extra tuition with a parent. This week one parent, after an argument with the son wanted me to confirm that as he was 'just' a passenger in the car it was o.k. for him to use his mobile?

No Sir, it is not o.k. for you to use your mobile while you are teaching your son, technically you, as the qualified driver is in charge of the car, therefore the same rules that apply to drivers apply to you.

25/04/2016

Congratulations to Joe Fletcher who not only passed his test on his first attempt with just 4 minors, the Examiner complimented his saying, "Thank you very much that was a good drive."

Got a new pupil this week who wants to pass his test before his 70th birthday ! In August
Apparently he had two lessons in the Army over 50 years ago.
I suggested, he should get an instructor who teaches automatic Which would get him on the road quicker.
"Naw, naw, don't like em, not a proper car. Bet you wouldn't be seen dead in one wud yea"
That's when I had to tell him than when I'm not working I drive my wife 17 year old 'not a proper car.'
Nevertheless he's carrying on with me in my proper car.

The driving test will change from Monday 4 December 2017 to include following directions from a sat nav and testing different manoeuvres.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed that the driving test in England, Scotland and Wales will change from Monday 4 December 2017.

The changes are designed to make sure new drivers have the skills they’ll need to help them through a lifetime of safe driving.

The changes will only apply to car driving tests to begin with.

The 4 driving test changes

1. Independent driving part of the test will increase to 20 minutes

The independent driving part of the test currently lasts around 10 minutes. During this part of the test, you have to drive without turn-by-turn directions from the driving examiner.

This part of the test will be made longer, so it’ll last around 20 minutes - roughly half of the test.

2. Following directions from a sat nav

During the independent driving part of the test, most candidates will be asked to follow directions from a sat nav.

The examiner will provide the sat nav and set it up. You won’t need to set the route - the examiner will do this for you. So, it doesn’t matter what make or model of sat nav you practise with.

You can’t follow directions from your own sat nav during the test - you have to use the one supplied by the examiner.

You’ll be able to ask the examiner for confirmation of where you’re going if you’re not sure. It won’t matter if you go the wrong way unless you make a fault while doing it.

One in 5 driving tests won’t use a sat nav. You’ll need to follow traffic signs instead.

3. Reversing manoeuvres will be changed

The ‘reverse around a corner’ and ‘turn-in-the-road’ manoeuvres will no longer be tested, but you should still be taught them by your instructor.

You’ll be asked to do one of 3 possible reversing manoeuvres:

• parallel park at the side of the road
• park in a bay - either driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out (the examiner will tell you which you have to do)
• pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for 2 car lengths and rejoin the traffic

4. Answering a vehicle safety question while you’re driving

The examiner will ask you 2 vehicle safety questions during your driving test - these are known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions.

You’ll be asked the:

• ‘tell me’ question (where you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of your test, before you start driving
• ‘show me’ question (where you show how you’d carry out a safety task) while you’re driving - for example, showing how to wash the windscreen using the car controls and wipers

Wasn't happy being 60 but had a great holiday in Madeira and thanks to Pestana going that extra mile, we have come to expect the fizz but the cake was a complete surprise.

22/03/2017

Well Done to Sarah Bradshaw, a first time pass.

Sarah finally passed her test today after having the test cancelled three weeks ago because there wasn't an examiner available.

You will soon get used to to driving without me moaning at you.

Drive safely Sarah.

Once again I'd like to extend  my thanks to the DVLA with a suggestion that all Examiners should become Self Employed.
Just had the 3rd test this year cancelled because the examiner was unavailable!
Not only do I have 6 hours loss of earning so far, the young lady in question has put more effort than normal into getting to test standards as it was imperative, for personal reasons, she is able to drive.