Joe Marsden passed his test back in January and like most of my pupils was going to do Pass Plus, that is usually the last I hear from them. Not Joe, he drove past me today, waving, flashing lights, with a horn that sounded like an ice cream van, then later I got a text.

Hi Sean it’s Joe, many thanks for helping me pass my driving test and for the friendly service whilst I was learning. I feel I no longer require any more lessons off you now but I just thought It would be right to say that I appreciate your patience and reliability. So yeah have a good one.
Thank You Joe, be safe.

Story told to me by a student yesterday.
Many, many years ago when her husband passed his driving test, he parked his car near a roadside sign that said something like 1 hour, no return within 2 hours. Yes he did, he only wanted to nip into a shop but he walked around for two hours,  got back to his car to find a parking ticket! Apparently he was only 18 at the time.

Thank you Jessica, I wouldn't dare argue with anyone in your position. However, had you done what I told you and not booked the first test of the day in January, it wouldn't have been cancelled because of icy roads.
Be Safe.

First time pass for Jessica Aspinall who finally passed her test yesterday after the first test was cancelled because of the snow. Because of Jessica's job we can't have a photo so instead you have one of my boss.
Thank you for the cards and chocs Jessica.
Be safe.

Gave a young lady a refresher lesson yesterday. She passed her test two weeks ago with another instructor, got herself a little car but can't drive it. It keeps stalling. 
Her friend my pupil introduced us after she told me the story, I explained she had probably had lesson in a diesel car and the instructor to make live easier for him had taught her to start without gas. My highly experienced pupil (six hours),  tried to help her by telling her she had to use the gas pedal. She did  a bit too hard, but got lucky.
Yesterday we spent an hour stopping and staring, even found a little hill and she ended the lesson happy and confident.
I have a petrol car because of this, but why do instructors with diesel not teach them to use the gas?

Sean has just had a lucky escape, got a phone call from a lady, just failed her test in Ashton and has booked another in five weeks time because the examiner told her to rebook right away as she is an excellent driver!
She came to us via I think, Mike in Rochdale who obviously wouldn't teach in Ashton.
She lives in Oldham which is out of our area but was willing to travel by bus to Ashton, right away a no no.. She has been having trouble with instructors they keep p***ing her off by playing the radio and going into shops but she has reported them to the DVSA.
My advise was to find an instructor in Oldham and take her test in Failsworth, nearer. Can't do that, failed loads of times there and reported 4 examiners for their conduct.
Honest it's all true, I might not be able to read but my ears work, thanks Mike.

I always tell my pupils when ready to book their test to go on line then phone my wife. They are advised not to book early test this time of the year, however, there is always one who knows better. Had to get up at 6am this morning, arrived at the test centre in the snow for the first test only to be told as expected it had been cancelled.
So annoying when it could have been avoided, and no I stopped booking tests years ago after a couple of pupils couldn't get time off work for the tests I'd booked.