Grumbles from the Gearbox
Ready, Steady..... Jump start - Teach.
Brain on and gearbox into neutral - we have ignition!
I don't mean all the boring goody stuff like phone the pupils either, even though we miss our little treasures that we all love, they will get a mention as we go on, but not today lets be selfish and think about - just us guys. I'm going to talk about the other stuff that we will have forgotten about over the last 3 long months.
How does a computer learn new things ........bit by bit!!
Eyesight. Give yourself an eyesight test to make sure it has not changed over the period we have been off. I am no optician and even had to be careful spelling it but feel pretty sure that as we have been working on short focal lengths for such a long time, eg., watching TV, playing computer games, or reading books, magazines etc we may need a check up.
Remember, our eyes are used to looking into the distance all day quarter mile around town to half a mile maybe on country roads and even a mile or two if on dual carriageways or motorways. A big difference, so lets all find a car and pace out the 20 metres needed and then add another 5 or six metres to make sure. Just as a simple starter try this on-line test at home. I suggest you use a laptop for this one as a phone or tablet may be too small. Eyesight test.
Sleep Patterns. I don't know about you but I have been staying up a little later than usual and so have most of the street I live in judging by the lights on after midnight. I have even spoken to colleagues who have sat up to 3.0 and 4.0am binge watching series on Iplayer, Netflix and others. If we return to teaching where we need our focus and awareness to keep the car safe and stay alive past COVID19 crisis period then let's start winding down the late nights. Did you know that if you are involved in a serious traffic incident the police in their investigation of events will check your phone usage going back possibly for several weeks and your broadband usage to see if you have been getting enough kip and rest.
There was an incident a few decades back where a guy in a Landrover was towing another on a trailer and he left the road, ran down a rail embankment and caused a train to derail very early in the morning. He swore he had been to bed the night before and was feeling fresh and alert when he was driving. When the police checked his online activity they discovered he had had almost no sleep the night before and had been using messenger to his girlfriend for several hours during the night and this had been going on for some time. He received a heavy penalty and a considerable stay at one of Her Majesty's holiday retreats. Just think how hard it would be for him to get another driving job, or insurance when he was released.
Start getting regular sleep sessions, preferably at night, just like you did pre COVID19. This will get you ready for the long sessions in the car and keep you focused. Check out this site for information on sleep patterns
and requirements.
Do you do a wee Pee or Poo? Of course you do, don't we all? All joking aside, this is a serious issue. When you were going out to work on a regular basis you had a 'regular' pattern to your bathroom habits. Since we have been on lock-down we have had the luxury of the bathroom, or loo to be easily and readily accessible within a few paces or seconds away.
Remember the problem with being out on the road, the loos are not that easily accessible and it is very easy to get caught out. Over a period of time we get to know our areas, where the local facilities are - if any and the ones that can be broken down, vandalised or busy when you want them. We almost always know exactly how far and how long to get home. Things change and your body clock changes over 3 months when it is out of the discipline that is needed to do our job. Get your bowels and body clock back into sync with your expected routine and timetable and also don't forget that many councils are not opening their public loos anytime in the near future due to the risk of Covid19 transference.
For more information on this great subject check out happy pooing! being regular will keep you regular for your lessons, otherwise running for a loo could cost a lot in lost lesson time. Get practising. :)
Diet.
Ok, as above we are back to eating a regular time slot for the duration of the lock-down, or we have got used to popping to the fridge or cupboards when we feel the need. This will come to an end when we get back to work, don't be tempted to fill up with expensive junk food.
When we are out on the road we are used to slipping into bad habits and eating badly. Grabbing a bite here, or a snack there and drinking sugary soft drinks. Why not get into a good habit right form the start and take a home made sandwich or snack with you and a flask of tea/coffee or better still a bottle of water. We have lost a lot of time and an awful lot of income and this will save us a huge amount of money while we get the bank balance to have a pulse again and get some colour other than RED to its complexion.
What did the walnut say to the cashew.........."I wall nut let you down." :)
Should you need any free advice from a motoring law solicitor I was passed this by one of our colleagues to share with you. Patterson Law Motoring Solicitors It may be worth having a browse of their site as you never can know too much.
Just a thought!
Donate your empty ink cartridges to charity. I bet you have had to replace one or two while being at home, especially if you have children and doing home schooling.
Tesco will give up to £1.25 for each MT (empty) cartridge you send for recycling to charity and I am sure the other main stores have similar schemes. All you have to do is pick up the free envelope where the sell the cartridges and pop the old one in the post. Great idea to help out and get rid of your rubbish.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to read this I hope you and yours are keeping safe and well. Should you wish to learn more about the AADI
then pop over to our website at www.theaadi.co.uk.
Cheers and keep safe.
The DVsA response to recent media criticism about the current test waiting times is to throw in the kitchen sink - but, is this the right solution?
Are the DvSA morally bankrupt?
Why bother, the job is not what it used to be?
Where on earth does the dvsa thinking come from, we know where it belongs?
The AADI is offering to help the dvsa with its poor public image to help clear up some confusing issues on the driving test for driving instructors and learners in the UK and make their lives easier.
AADI advising the dvsa, and they are at last listening.
Did the dvsa go too far opening new theory centres when tests are not available?
We are all Ambassadors for our chosen profession
Dear dvsa,
DVSA thanks for all the recent emails,... keeping us ADIs up to date. I should like to discuss with you a few of the points that you have raised.
"It is all our fault (the ADI) that the booking system is in chaos and our fault that candidates are not turning up for the test".
how the dvsa fails its customers on a daily basis
