Well done Richy. I think that extending yourself is absolutely essential if you are to really learn and gain experience from your flying. The alternative seems to me to be the classic scenario of having flown the same hour x hundred times.
It was a little windy yesterday. I popped over to Le Touquet to lay in a Christmas supply of Perard’s soups. On the way down past Detling I was overtaken by a train on the new high-speed link. I was flat out at 120kts IAS but only doing 95 over the ground and it left me standing. I didn’t see one on the way back, so was unable to go for a re-match with a tailwind.
I stopped at Lydd for some of their nice cheap fuel for those leaving the UK and listened to the wind reports get worse as I got closer. By the time I landed it was 26knots at 50 degrees off the runway heading which resulted in a very wing down approach and called for some caution in taxiing once down.
Le Touquet were using 06 which gives a great view of the town as you come in, though it also puts you through some interesting turbulence over the woods on final approach.
Apart from the wind it was a lovely day for flying though. Only a few days to go now until sunset starts getting later!