TRC11 DRIVING SCHOOL
  • Lessons
    • Diary
  • Prices
    • Hire
    • Terms
  • Drive!
    • Life
    • Logic
    • Topics
  • Tests
    • Ready
    • Theory
    • Hazards
    • Practical >
      • Centres
      • Routes
      • Advice
      • Car
  • Aids
    • Art
    • Sound
    • Words
    • Sayings
    • Numbers
  • You
    • Your car
    • Your space
    • Your queries
    • Your progress
    • Your comments
    • Your subscription
  • Me
    • My car >
      • Ancillary controls
      • Engine-bay
    • My way
    • My news
    • My photos
    • My vehicles
    • My learning
    • My interests

Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy

25/6/2014

 
Picture
Here's something you don't see every day.  But I did, the other day, at South Yardley test centre.  And young people really learn in these machines?  As if I can talk ...  One punter at a garden centre today, to whom I got talking, did comment (as we discussed his Alfa Cloverleaf and my Focus Cabriolet) how vital it is for learners to "drive properly" in a basic car, before they get all the electronic aids, etc.

That said, most of driving is anticipating what other people are likely to do, and planning a response so you're ready.  But, also,  more and more basic cars in future WILL tomorrow have the gadgets we think of as high-tech today.  Change comes, and ever more quickly.

Do you REALLY want to drive ?

22/6/2014

 
Picture
I was going to, but decided when I woke up to take the coach instead.

Coach travel just ain't what it used to be.  It's so much BETTER.  Fast, efficient, air-conditioned, safe, ecological (eight times more than a train, and heavens knows how much more than a domestic car),  no parking woes; eat, sleep, stretch your legs, read, chat, enjoy the countryside, arrive refreshed ...  The list just goes on.  Oh, and it's sometimes peanuts in cost.

Take  birmingham to London, for example.  Perfect day out.  Cycle to town (Birmingham has good dedicated cycle provision through green spaces, and it's often flat because of the canal network).  Take your seat.  Kindle away the hours (or work / Facebook, as I've been doing on this ipad).  Then look up and, as if by the magic of teleportation,  you're in the heart of the capital.  But without the bumper scuffs, the. Nary taxi drivers, the keys down the side of the car, the congestion charge, ...  Just walk from Victoria, past Buckingham Palace, up The Mall to Traf(fic) Square, turn left up Haymarket, and we're by Piccadilly. Circus and the temporarily-pedestrianised Regent St

Who'd want to drive!?  But then, I DO do that for a living.  (So that would be a ("busman's holiday" ?)

Seriously, though; it is often cheaper and more convenient to make your journey by other means.  Consider a bike (fitness), taxi (speed and convenience, though with t price of being chauffeur-driven), train (refreshments, high-speed excitement?) or even hiring a car (variety being the spice of life, and relatively cheap these days).  And none of these suffer the hidden costs of maintenance hassles and depreciating assets, which go with ownership (typically £1000-1500 per year).  That's a lot of taxi-rides ...

What are the chances ...?

18/6/2014

 
Picture
Picture

ADI declares UDI !

17/6/2014

 
Picture
It is true.  This Approved. Driving Instructor, hitherto a franchisee of the excellent DriversGB in. Selly Oak, has decided after some weeks' consideration, to become independent.

In practice, for my existing clients this means little changes.  For new ones, it may mean new pricing: I haven't decided yet.  My longer term intention is certainly to teach more locally, so in the B14 area rather than B29.

For me and my family, it means I'm at the mercy of The Free Market, and my own abilities as a self-employed worker.  It's just me, at the moment, doing all the thinking, planning, typing, driving, designing, recording, spending and saving.

I must admit, it is very exciting, and not a little daunting.  But, after two excellent years of support from the firm which trained me, I feel it's the right time to "go it alone" and see what happens.

Barely Legal Drivers: quite educational

15/6/2014

 
Picture

Mine's a Champagne Magnum !

11/6/2014

 
Picture
I'm talking ice-cream, of course.  We driving instructors can't do alcohol (lol).  I had a two delightful breaks yesterday,both with fellow ADis: All Saints' Café, then Bournville.  Dessert was at the latter.  If you do get offered a 25th anniversary champagne flavoured Magnum, go for it !

<<Previous

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Fun
    Grumbles
    Ideas
    Info
    News

    RSS Feed

© 2021 by Tim  (see latest MY NEWS).

Photo used under Creative Commons from loop_oh
  • Lessons
    • Diary
  • Prices
    • Hire
    • Terms
  • Drive!
    • Life
    • Logic
    • Topics
  • Tests
    • Ready
    • Theory
    • Hazards
    • Practical >
      • Centres
      • Routes
      • Advice
      • Car
  • Aids
    • Art
    • Sound
    • Words
    • Sayings
    • Numbers
  • You
    • Your car
    • Your space
    • Your queries
    • Your progress
    • Your comments
    • Your subscription
  • Me
    • My car >
      • Ancillary controls
      • Engine-bay
    • My way
    • My news
    • My photos
    • My vehicles
    • My learning
    • My interests