Guess practice is the answer..only managed 6 hours this year.
I know that not everyone can afford to do lots of hours every year, but if you are only doing 6 hours per year, then you need to understand the limitations that that places on your skill and currency level.
Finding unorthodox solutions to get around the lack of currency is not such a good idea. If you can only do 6 hous per year, then either do all six with an instructor, or do the first 3 with an instructor to get you back up to speed, and shortly after (not months after) do the other 3 solo, now that you're up to speed.
dp