GtE, thanks for the correction on the microlight moniker,
Yakker, didn't mean to disparage your character or efforts, merely that what you wrote was, unfortunately, fairly indicative of the approach most of us take, me included most of the time.
Maz, a group is definitely the way to go, for the camaraderie as much as the flying. If you can't find a group, try to buy an airplane, if you can swing the up front cost, and then advertise for shares - I've been told that's much more successful than trying to get people together to commit to a group and then search for an airplane. But I've always joined groups rather than started them so I'm not really an expert there.
I've found the group thing and the club thing to be the best elements of flying in the UK.
Pitts2112