12/11/2020
After lots of soul searching and much consideration it is with regret that I am closing my Driving School business and will not continue to give driving lessons after 11th November, 2020.
There are several reasons that have led to this decision but we are at a time when small businesses are closing down all the time due to Government restrictions and difficulties in trading and I know of several driving instructors who have already left the industry or who haven’t been able to carry on.
I honestly thought my business would not survive after the lockdown but I got it up and running again against the odds but to say that the Government are not supporting self employed businesses would be an understatement The reality is that we are limited as to how many people we can teach and there have been lots of restrictions and conditions imposed on us which have not only made the job difficult but also very stressful and costly.
There are changes being made daily and I literally do not know whether I will be able to teach from day to day such is the daily conflicting and fear based information from the Government and the bodies that control driving standards. I am losing lessons because people are self isolating or their incomes are reduced or are losing their jobs completely and if I am named by somebody who tests positive then I, too, would have to self isolate for 10 days without an income and this could be several times in the year risking fines if I so much as leave the house even without symptoms.
We were originally told we would not be able to work until at least October because we could not socially distance but Jacob Rees Mogg dropped a bombshell in Parliament in June by prematurely and without authorization telling the public that we could start training again which threw us all into panic and a hurried set of restrictions and guidelines including not letting my family use my teaching car and sanitizing my car between every lesson and when we swap sides in the belief that a shop bought anti viral wet wipe will kill coronavirus. I have followed all the guidelines religiously and took a training course on coronavirus and the guidance we were originally given was that masks were not necessary because if we both face forwards there was zero risk of infection and that guidance hasn’t changed but the fear campaign from the Government has.
I restarted my business and managed to grow it again but now the Government are again playing stupid games with people’s lives, especially in the North, and any business cannot possibly look to the future in these circumstances and many many industries and business sectors are affected with many many people at risk of losing their jobs, income, homes and, sadly, even their lives.
The whole situation is not only causing financial difficulties for the self employed and small business owners and employees but is also creating mental health issues for all concerned, both for workers and their families and this is a situation that means I now have to think of my own health and that of my family who have supported me through this situation. There are many people who are much worse off than me and I genuinely feel for them and am not afraid to speak on their behalf at every opportunity having already been in touch with our MP, David Rutley and will continue to do so where social injustice is concerned.
I have had a wonderful 17 years teaching some of the most incredible people knowing that I have inspired them and, just as importantly, they have inspired me and alot of those people have become good friends and are still friends today and I will miss that interaction with interesting and incredible people from all angles of society, it has taught me alot about so many areas of concern and the realization that there is a need for change and how there is a real lack of empathy in the modern world.
I even wrote a book called The Psychic Driving Instructor based on my spiritual awakening and how teaching people to drive was key in that awakening.
I will always be of help to anybody who needs my expertise but it will now be in an amateur capacity after 11th November as I will not be renewing my license when I finish.
I wish everyone well and thank them for an incredible 17 years and will hopefully still be friends with everyone even if only when we bump into each other if the Government allow us to meet friends and relatives again.
I apologize to those who have driving tests booked but I had to make a decision sooner rather than later in fairness to all concerned and for people to have time to find other instructors and I wish them success.
My message to everyone is to stay strong and follow your own intuition, do not let things that you know are wrong become acceptable in your lives and do not be afraid to ask for help, we all need each other in these difficult times and together we can be stronger.
My wishes for a brighter future go out to everybody and it will happen if we are all prepared to work for it and shape the future we want to see.
