I've spent hours reading this thread, having just registered for the forum. To catch up on 33 pages is a "bridge too far"!, but from the pages that I have read I can see this will be a great forum to help me. I have just, at the age of 61, started on the long road to (hopefully) achieving my PPL, having just had my 5th hour at the East Midlands Flying School. I THINK these posts have given me some insight into the hard work ahead, but I did go in with my eyes wide open.
Being virtually retired, I have the time for two or three lessons per week, so continuity should be pretty good. A pal of mine flies "big 'uns" for BMI, and he's been suggesting I do this for a long while, and several mates have their own planes (Archers and a rather nice Malibu amongst them).
I've really enjoyed my time in the air so far, and having spent many, many hours on a Microsoft Flight Simulator at home, taking a real plane off myself for the first time was something else!! (I'm training on a PA28 Warrior - evidently at 15 stone and 6'2", I'm too big for the Cessna 152's)!! Charming........
Good flying to you all, and hopefully I'll get a lesson soon in smooth conditions!!