Thanks Noggin. The point about PFL's is a good one, (assuming you can find an instructor who is willing to risk a prosecution from the CAA in conducting one.) I suppose I should have made it clear however, that I have more than enough hours, more than enough take offs and more than enough landings and route sectors to meet all of the requirements for both ratings . I would have thought therefore that the flight with an examiner for the MEP would have met the requirements to renew the SEP without a further flight. I am advised however that because the MEP is a different " class" of aeroplane , that the MEP flight cannot be used to revalidate the SEP, (unless I have been incorrectly advised by both AOPA and my examiner who says he checked the matter with the CAA.)
On the subject of route sectors, as far as I can see this is a complete red herring , since an MEP revalidation flight is required regardless of whether one has only one route sector or one thousand route sectors !