Just go and do the CRI course
In the grand scope of thing 1100 quid is alot but you will learn heaps. proberly make you a better pilot. It doesn't take that long, a couple of weekends and you can proberly do it on your machine as well if you want.
You will be able to check people out with no legal problems.
Sign log books for the 1 hour.
When your in with another member of the group you can both log the time. them as dual you as PIC.
Most insurance includes Instructors so if someone needs a favour you don't have any of the hassels of getting names put on the insurance.
You of course will have to suffer the newbie FI but the rest of the group won't. But you will proberly find there attitude will change when they find out you are a CRI. But if 2 of you fancy it you can check each other.
You will proberly also find that the standards of the group as a whole improve due to the fact that strange ideas don't get injected by outside FI's on every check.
MJ
BTW don't expect anyone to teach you how to fly from the RHS its something your meant to pick up as you go along. You will find that instruments become less and less important to you. Its all done looking out of the window and engine noise.