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.

Thought you would like to meet The Boss

Help for Parents. 
On my website I have a page explaining  that if a parent is giving extra tuition I will help them at no extra cost, all I ask is that they phone me in the evening after I've finished teaching.
Some do and their son/daughter fly through lessons because they are teaching the same as I do, others know better.
You always indicate when you stop on the left, you always indicate if you're passing a parked car. On approach to a  mini roundabout you don't have to stop just drive right across, on approach to a normal roundabout you must always stop even if it's clear.
One father about my age argued that his instructor many years ago taught him to release the steering wheel after turning as the car would right itself.
There is also some confusion as to the difference between solid white road marking and broken white road marking.
Could go on for ever.

Rob Cooling got a mug for a present from a grateful pupil, I can go one better.
Well not really, a 45 year old pupil passed a couple of weeks ago then handed me £50. I reminded him he's already paid. £40 for two hours, then he explained. His previous instructor told him, he would need 45 hours because of his age, on top of that a further 44 hours as the DSA advised providing he could get someone to take him out for 20 or so hours extra.
He decided he was too old to learn and packed in for a few weeks, then came to me.
Can't remember how many lesson he had but he picked it up easily and passed in a couple of months, hence the £50 tip.
I wouldn't want a mug because my wife is the most experienced special mug/glass breaker there is. 

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