HFD, does this mean you are bottling out of flying with Groupie?????
I think a renewal flight test must be better. We all show our true colours when under stress - flying. At least our bad habits that we may have developed subconciously can be ironed out. Just as I think this renewal flight thing for you SEP(L) is a good idea. We all develop bad habits and it takes someone else flying with us to pick them up. Better than sitting in a hotel talking bar stories taking coffee and biscuits.
I think that if you are current as an instructor do the flight test as you should know all the latest gossip as that is part of being an instructor. If you our not a current instructor then I say do the Bull.... talk seminar to catch up on legal stuff and the latest methods, AND then do a flight test.
To many people these days think that they know everything there is to know about aviation. We all learn from each other particularly when flying.
So no boasting off to other instructors in the foyet for me. Try and cut the mustard and realise that we all need brushing up by flying with someone else who normally is much better at it than ourselves. It always is in my case!!!!!