'keeping your eye in'

[GullWing]

Hi all
Started a PPL course back in June and currently building up solo time in the circuit... ...well I was until Winter came upon us! :( Now Ive had one lesson in the last 6 weeks due to bad weather (rain, crosswind too high for solo, thunder storms etc) and im beginning to get a bit concerned about it!

Being new to all this im not sure theres anything i can do to help the situation - perhaps spend £250 on a flight sim with yoke, pedals etc? (just read with interest the posts about MS flight sim X etc)

What do YOU do to keep your 'eye in' over the winter? How do i keep my newfound skills sharp?

thanks in advance
GullWing :)

[maggioneato]

If the crosswind is out of your student limit, any reason why you can't get your Instructor to handle the home take off and landing, and go do your circuits somewhere else with a different runway orientation. I flew quite a bit like that, or even go visit another airfield for lunch with your Instuctor. Helps with navigation as well once you get to that stage, also keeps the interest going.