26 weeks.
That was every weekend committed to it for that period of time during the summer of 1990.
Wet days were spent in books.
Sunny days were spent in the air.
Don't bother with the US. Start your groundwork now, get the exams out of the way and go for it in April. You will be qualified by the end of August.
Don't go to the pub and don't buy a pilot's watch. Buy a decent headset and get to know Trevor Thom like a teenage boy gets to know his right hand. Stay concentrated. There will be days when you wonder why the hell you started it. DON'T give in.
When you have your licence you will be complete and will be able to experience a unique thing whenever you want to.
If I died tomorrow I can safely say that my flying will have given me the most contentment I could ever have found and there's not many who can say that.