Until the 1960s schools spent considerable effort into teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. This included spelling, punctuation, comprehension and mental arithmetic.

Then the word went forth from the 'experts' that it cramped childrens' self expression if spelling and punctuation errors in their work meant marks deducted. Next we had the metric system, calculators allowed in exams etc. etc.... Read more

We have been lucky enough to have been given a second car, a 1997 Honda Civic 1.5. 98,000 miles and six months tax and MOT. The red paint has faded a bit but it goes and stops fine and should last a couple of years. This will prove very convenient for family life but sorting out insurance is proving tricky, and potentially expensive!

I will be driving both cars, but my wife only the Yaris Hybrid as she only has an auto licence. I think that I can only use my no claims (9 years worth) on one policy and one car. And this is where it might get expensive!

If we have my wife as the main driver on the Yaris she hasn't any no claims as she only passed in March. And comparison sites are quoting £1500 with me as a named driver.

If I have my no claims on the Yaris, and my wife as named driver, then that brings the quote down to £300.

But, without my no claims on the Civic, then the quotes just for me is £1100! Which seems a bit much for a car worth a couple of hundred pounds!

Any ideas? Multi car policies don't seem much help. Has insurance shot up in the past year? We had a years free insurance with the Yaris but even before that the Doblo was only £250 a year fully comp. Somebody somewhere is making lots of money! Read more

Hi,

I have recently returned from 6 months working abroad. I had been informed while I was away that my car would not move, I suspected the handbrake had seized sue to cold weather. I since learned it wouldn't start (although it does now), I put the car into gear using clutch and try to accelerate. This does nothing other than rev the engine, I then figured through trying other things that I can freely move the gear in and out without the use of the clutch at all. All this occurs while the handbrake is still seized.... Read more

I am off to Spain for a few weeks in the near future and am looking for some cheap breakdown cover whilst drving through France/Spain, does anybody have any recommendations? Read more

I wonder if the introduction of E10 petrol (with a higher biofuel content) will spoil the small turbo petrols making them even less economical Read more