Ed
Sorry to hear of your woe.
When I read that Stik was sending you down the M25 to the QEII bridge I wanted to post that the area is seriously lacking places to put down, if the worst should happen.
But I decided that such talk could be bad karma on a first flight.
I am serious relieved that you had a good field to go into and that you walked away.
You are, however, a lucky lad. Few of us have a mate as good as Stik and even fewer who would get to P2 a Pitts home as consolation.
Stik, you are a good man.
bs