Hi Mark,
I've just finished an intergrated course and it really was on the whole a great time. The best thing has been the people I have met and the friends I have made. For me the groundschool was intense but mostly interesting stuff that I enjoyed studying. The single engine flying was great fun, especially the solo nav sorties. I have to say though that the least enjoyable phase was the section building up to the IR. I found it pretty hard going especially when it seemed that my skills had plateaued and yet I was still short of where I wanted to be. I got told by an instructor that although the IR is a skill test it is actually a test of how much confidence you have in yourself. I couldn't agree more.
My advice for you would be to get your head down and work hard whilst not fogetting that you need to get out and enjoy yourself too.
Look forward to hearing back from you in about 18 months to see what you made of it.
All the best,
JGT.