The worst of my flying career was one of the lessons before I mastered the hover. I very nearly gave it all up before it began.
But once I got the hover sorted, the rest was easier. Especially the cross country: Blackpool to Liverpool. Take off. Turn left at beach. Straight across first estuary (whatever you do, don't land at Warton). Follow beach, land at next airport. On return, Take off. Turn right at beach, cross estuary. Turn right just before the big tower thing. Land. Mind you the landing at Liverpool in front of a couple of hundred holiday makers getting off their 757 was stressful - didn't apprciate an audience.