In your Two examples, there is a big difference between becoming a HGV Driver and becoming a Driving Instructor.

Most HGV drivers are employed, Driving Instructor’s are self employed.

I’m a Driving Instructor and a rough cost of training before actually getting out on the road was £4,000 then same again for a car.

Be careful of getting tied into training deals with providers like the big driving schools ( not naming but one acronym is Bring Some Money and another rhymes with dread….. 😉 ) as a franchise will be at least £200 per week ( car included )

Don’t let that put you off, I’m independent and am turning work away and the ones who will wait for me to have a space are put on a waiting list. It’s a big commitment but I wouldn’t change it.

Let me know if you want any more advice.

I’m not sparky but I’ve just looked at Armoured Cable to run to my outbuilding and the stuff I need is £50 ish for 10 metres.

I’ve not had a definite quote, but my mates mate is a sparky and he has told me to run the cables and he will connect and make sure it’s safe.

I’m thinking around £150 all in with me buying the cable, sockets and LED lights and whatever he needs to sign it off.

Can’t imagine him wanting £500 to sign it off…..

Greater Manchester Police have a few S3’s, there is at least a Blue and Grey one.

About 10 years ago, I drove from Bolton to somewhere in Birmingham for a rolling road day only to find the place locked as it was the day before.

Disgusting driving.

It’s no defence, but that Sky Bus is left hand drive and it looks like a left hander coming up so I’m guessing he has not had full vision, gone stupidly for the overtake, seen the tanker then become a tanker himself by getting too close.

Not good at all.

Rod Ellingworth was the passenger in that team car on Tuesday, wonder if he was in it on this occasion and had full view of what happened ? Would be interesting explaining the Bus drivers actions to Sir Dave….

I only use the horn when they are actually going to hit me these days.

Motorists just seem to turn to instant rage if you sound the horn at them, even when they are in the wrong. A lot of the time it’s just deliberate acts, others it’s them not having a clue.

I’ve calmed down a hell of a lot these days, but I still have my moments when I have a word with other motorists.

The other day, a guy towing a caravan decided on a multi lane roundabout to leave at the same exit as me, despite him being in the lane to continue round. I had anticipated this but it still shocked me as he did it that late I thought he had committed to going round. As he missed the front of my van by a couple of feet, I sounded my horn.

On the dual carraigeway I passed him and he gave me a hand signal that you won’t find in the Highway Code. This wound me up as, if I had done something wrong fair enough but he was just like that because I’d sounded my horn. At the next lights, I was turning left and was at an angle were I could see this clown so I opened my door, hung out and told him not to tell me to …… Off when he was incapable of staying in lane.

I got no response, him and his wife just sat there as if they were in a police photofit. If you are big enough to tell me to …… Off when I’m passing, say it to my face.

My parting message was to his wife saying that she must be really proud of him.

Perhaps I overreacted and should just have let it go, but that’s the first time in a long time I’ve spoken to someone despite being on ten road 10 hours a day sometimes and being cut up a lot.

Best reaction I had ever was some guy who pulled out on me when I was on a national speed limit road doing 50-60 mph. I really had to slam on and I actually thought I was going to hit him as he had just glanced and not judged my speed. Luckily there was nothing coming the other way so I went round him.

Scared the …… Out of me. At some lights, I got out and asked had he seen me. The guy hadn’t got a clue it was a national speed limit road and told me he thought I was doing ” about 30 ” we left on good terms and hopefully I saved him from it happening again.

My usual stop is the Green Frog caravan on Preston Docks, may not be what you are looking for as its only good if it’s not raining or windy.

Good grub and not your usual roadside rubbish.

He had it planned all the way up the climb I reckon.

Wiggo’s just loving this week, he was in one of the last groups up the climb. I was about 100 m from the top and he seemed to just be cruising up. Some of the other riders who were giving it beans looked really in pain.

He had a cheeky grin when he passed me and he had completed the climb and was on the flat when he jumped off and ran. In my opinion, it’s a froomey Mick take and don’t believe anything he says this week.

Not disrespectivley, he’s just in daft mood hence the G&T comment.

Brad’s loving it this week

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/racing/tour-of-britain/bradley-wiggins-runs-tour-britain-climb-282398

I was stood about 100m from the top of the climb and he must have had that stunt planned as he had a really cheeky grin when he went past me 😀

Cav said Today that he had spoke to ” some teenager who was throwing insults ” and had told the lad ” here’s the bike, if you can do any better, do it ” I mean WTF ? Who stands in the rain to throw insults at people who are doing their jobs ?

Watching the highlights now and I’ve not much knowledge of tactics etc so I can’t comment on that, but coming into Kendal, Hugh said 3 times ” the sharp left hander is coming up…..” Which was actually a right hander.

Same finish as 3 years ago. He can’t be doing that much to forget which way the course goes.

I hate ladders. I’ve just been on a ladder upto my bedroom window. That was scary.

To get lower insurance, follow the tips above.

If you want better driving, get a course. The Pass Plus very much depends on the instructor who delivers it and to some extent, the area which you live.

To be Pass Plus registered, a Driving Instructor just needs to register they don’t need any more qualifications. I’m in Manchester area so I’ve got a good mix of motorways, dual carraigeways, city centres to use. If you are elsewhere you may not get the mix. The level of experience of the instructor will also come into play here. I know instructors who had done hardly any miles on the motorway themselves before qualifying and the quailiying test is 1 hour and only includes a bit of motorway, so you can only pass the knowledge on if you have it yourself. 😉

IAM is more of the advanced using police type methods, obviously without the speed. I’ve done it and really enjoyed it and it definatly helped my driving.

Enjoy the time off work.

I went part time at the beginning of the year as I’m a lazy so and so and I’ve not got massive bills to pay out every month.

For me, time and enjoying things are better than having loads of money.

Have you done any training courses recently ?

I once was racking my brains with the same thoughts as you and had completely forgotten about the certificate.

Depends on how much you want to spend. I’ve got a Blackvue setup, front and rear cameras, downloads straight to I phone, very discreet main unit is also the front camera hides behind the interior mirror.

Tiny rear camera. Most students who get in my car don’t know if got it fitted till I point it out.

About £230 but it’s worth every penny to me.

Two 14kg bags of Dog Food.

I ordered something a few years ago, didn’t receive it, rang them they said out of stock, got a refund.

They were the cheapest on that item so I went to Evans and just them to price match Tredz.

Much easier.

I get mine from Next as they come with instructions for the ladies 8)

That CBRD article is now online. Took a bit longer as he had to get permission off NPAS Redhill to use the picture

http://www.cbrd.co.uk/articles/m20-bridge-collapse/

Teaching young people, I’ve been given various E Mail addresses when I’ve signed the students up to online learning.

Highlights I can remember

mainmon1996@ ( if you are not northern, it means the ultimate person )

Livinglegend@

Slippysarah@

These people wonder why they struggle to find work 🙄

Do you ride road with clipless pedals?

No, just flats I’ve never tried clipped in

yes worth going to gp, of course. tho depends on you gp a bit

That’s it, some GP’s don’t have a clue. There is a GP at mine that is a cyclist himself so if it carries on I will get booked him with him rather than the overweight middle aged GP 😉

Wiggo – sound as a pound

Cav – depends on the day, can be fine, can be grumpy,

Luke Rowe – genuine nice bloke.

OK real people off the telly not cyclists.

Joe Pasqualle – ” are you joe Pasqualle ” him in trademark squeaky voice ” yeah mate ”

That really annoying guy off Flog It, Paul Martin think he’s called, tried to have a laugh with him at a antiques fair and he looked at me as if I was something he had stood in.

If anyone is old enough to remember the Houghton Weavers, they had their own BBC 1 show in the 70’s and were massive at the time. The lead singer lives not far from me and his aunt used to babysit me. Speak to him quite often.

On the link above, it says the picture on Streetview was from October 2015 and in those pictures, the blue fencing can clearly be seen.

At least 9 months of them being on there which, I presume, are not the fences that the bridge had when it opened.

So what work was being carried out on it ? Could it have sunk a few inches on the section over the Hard Shoulder ?

Like has been said only a small, firm shove would push that off its supports. I’ve seen a road bridge over a motorway hit really hard by one of those tipper trucks that they use on landfill sites.

The driver of that had not lowered the rear skip thing, gone onto the motorway and hit the first bridge he came to. The tipper ended up lodged at 45 degrees against the road and the bridge. The truck, now reduced to cab and chassis, was about 100 yards further up the motorway…..

Road bridges are stronger.

It’s great if you are going for a pootle with the kids or towing the kids bike behind but it really is busy and badly disciplined.

I did it once, and I’m not fast at all, but I had to go really slow, keep going round people and brake when they just swerve across as they have seen some Rock they want to buy.

Sacked it off, went my mates for a brew then headed back out about 20 mins before they reopened the road. That was fun. Most people had gone home and I was able to get to Bispham and back to South Shore in no time.

Road closures are great. Last years Tour of Britain was in Lancashire and I managed to get between the Police and NEG road block and the peloton at the start in Clitheroe think it was. Nothing to make you go faster than knowing the worlds fastest riders are bearing down on you 😀

The local farmer had an issue with some travellers on his land. He used his most lethal concoction on a neighbouring field that was downwind.

About 30 years ago, one of our local farmers got thrown out of the local pub for having one too many and generally being a pest.

Somehow, he made it home, got his muckspreader and went back to the pub miraculously not killing anyone on the journey back to the pub.

He then unleashed the slurry onto the side of the pub, covering the gable and calmly drove off. Didn’t half take some cleaning and repainting after that.

Good luck OP and isn’t STW a great place when someone needs help or advice. We may argue like kids on here sometimes but when the crap hits the fan the love is here.

My mate has been in a van for around 25 years now and he always gets a bit depressed around MOT and insurance time

Genuine question, not being rude or anything but doesn’t a motorist need an address to get insurance ? Do you just use parents / siblings / mates address ?

My mechanic reckons my diesel car needs specific oil due to the DPF filter so I’m guessing it may be the same for yours ?

I saw this on Autotrader whilst looking for cheap vans.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201608036451336?make=citroen&model=nemo&search-target=usedvans&radius=50&page=1&sort=suppliedpriceasc&searchcontext=default&postcode=bl53pr&logcode=p&adPos=1

Think Tim Peake did less miles 😯

Yeah, they are too lazy to park correctly. Think it’s their given right as most of them will be heading work on the industrial.

Baron, that shop is just down the road from me, it’s an old pub with a massive car park at the back and the lazy so and so’s always park right outside.

I will keep a look out for the idiot in the Q3 and avoid her.

It is a big problem and you will never stop it. Think it’s 10 years or so since the penalties for using a mobile started including points as well as a fine but there are no police to enforce it.

After an incident yesterday, I’ve decided not to get bothered about other drivers again as long as they don’t crash into me.

I was turning into a one way street ( the correct way 😉 ) in my local town centre and encountered a van coming up the wrong way. This has happened before as there is a small car park halfway along it and motorist do miss the One Way sign as they exit the car park as a local trader has a habit of parking his massive van in front of the sign….. ( OK they should remember but we are northern 😉 )

In the past, I have wound the window down and explained to the motorist they are going the wrong way. Everyone has been apologetic and either turned round or gone out really slowly.

Not this character. I got a load of abuse and was told to get out the way and mind my own business. ( I’m not after a ban so I won’t type his exact words )

It would have taken him 20 seconds more to drive around the block to come out the correct way of the one way system. With an attitude like that, these people are just idiots full stop whether it be in a car, queuing at a supermarket, or just general day to day life.

Best to ignore them and get away from them.

Yep, day off as well and there is no way I’m going out in this rain. Not stopped all day.

Just been to the tip with some old wardrobes and I took an old towel with me to dry my hair when I got back into the van. I was soaked. Even the goretex is not standing up to this.

I think is because of the old way of thinking that cyclists should be riding in the gutter, not in a good secondary position.

The motorist thinks there is plenty of space to slot in along side and there is not.

I’ve always wanted a Ford RS either Cosworth, Fiesta etc and never had enough money to own one.

Having kept my eye on the prices on E Bay, they have gone up a few thousand in the last 2-3 years.

A Fiesta RS Turbo a few years ago were about £4-5 k going for £6-8 k now. Cosworths have now gone up to the same money that they were 20 odd years ago when they were brand new for good mint examples.

Glad you got it sorted OP.

project – Member
THEY WANT YOUR CASH FIR A SERVICE, AND TO CHECK YOURE LOOKING AFTER THE CAR IT DOES STILL BELONG TO THEM YOU JUST RENT IT

WHAT?

Think what he’s saying is they want to see the car. I was always suspicious of this when I leased as I always had visions of them looking around it, making note of any damage then they are pre prepared to charge you when they go back.

With the usage my cars get, I’m happy buying.

Mates VW just started counting the days down until they got it serviced.

I don’t blame the lads and girls who do the job, they are brilliant, but it’s the rules and cuts which are the problem.

We are now on 120 litre grey bins on a fortnightly collection.

Bloke I know is a bin man and he’s told me about how the council get fined etc if they drop stuff off at the recycling centre which shouldn’t be in the bins.

I remember once hearing a securicor van shouting “help under attack call police” with 2 sheepish looking guards locked inside

There are traffic lights right outside my house and years ago a G4S Van broke down outside and it’s alarms went off.

Really annoying. The Police came and sat with it until breakdown recovery arrived. It then went off down the road on the wrecker still screaming out ” securicor vehicle under attack ”

My Fiesta does it sometimes but the Brake Discs are getting worn and have quite a lip on them so my mechanic says it’s catching on the disc occasionally.

It’s having new discs and pads next service.

Rivington MTB on Facebook.

Don’t know if they do rides or not, but worth a look. Or nip into Cycle Service Centre in Horwich and ask Jason or Neil if they know of any.