Yaaaaaaaaaahhooooooooooo for me.....I did it.
Today I flew at FL060, yes thats right 6000ft and with no real problem at all.
I'm so delighted with myself and my flying dream is most definitely back on course.
My brilliant 64 year old instructor took us up in gentle rate one climbing turns. We levelled off at 4000ft and then 5000ft. I sat very relaxed with my feet on the floor and my right arm stretched out behind my instructors seat. I think this helped to relax me. Also, with my instructor doing the flying, I had time to relax and have a good look around and I really was wondering what all the fuss was about.
When we reached 5000ft he leveled off and I took control, just some straight and level and some gentle turns. I was very happy and relaxed when he called centre and asked could we go up to FL060 on 1013 for 10 mins, (FL060 is transition altitude/level here), I did feel my pulse raise a little but I soon settled into a nice rate 1 climbing turn again and in no time we're at 6000ft.
The air was so smooth and the vis excellent. After about 10 mins we descended slowly all the way back to the zone entry and then back to the field where I made a nice landing despite the very bumpy approach.
I could have hugged my instructor I was so relieved to have been up so high and felt so relaxed. I will always get sweaty palms but with good positive thought power I will never loose control or be worried again. Three thousand feet is nothing to me now.
Again, many thanks for all the great advice from you lot, I'm over the moon here !