You used to be able to do it, so you can do it again. It's quite common to have a mental block over something - nav was fine for me, but flaring at the right time was always a problem. One day it just came to me and it's been ok ever since, and I'm sure the same will happen to you.
You're quite correct not to use a GPS - while they are IMHO the greatest thing since sliced bread, you need to be able to survive without it for when the batteries die or it loses the signal.
In navigation, planning is all. My instructor (hello DB6) used to swear by the 5 P's rule - proper planning prevents poor performance - and he's absolutely right. Make sure you have all the info to hand and easily accesible in flight, draw a wind arrow on the map to help you visualise the wind, draw drift lines at 10 degrees off track to allow you to calculate the drift and correction. Remember the 1 in 60 rule. Stick to your timings and update your estimate at approx halfway. Work out a landmark for your halfway point, and if it's easier to take the halfway point at 4 or 6 minutes in a 10 minute leg then do that - it'll make your revised estimate more accurate. If your aircraft has VOR's, work out the radials for a fix for each waypoint, then all you have to do is dial it up on the VOR at the appropriate point to check. It's easier than working it out in the air - basically anything that reduces your workload in the cockpit will make it easier for you to spot the features and navigate.
Try to find three attributes to identify a ground feature. The higher you are the easier it is to do this. If it's a town, then you might look for a lake to the east, a railway line running North - South and a motorway - something along those lines. Try and pick features that are unique in the area - if you're flying around the midlands for example spotting towns is tricky cos they all look the same, so try spotting rivers and motorways. Don't be afraid to use QDM's, and get a fix on 121.5 sooner rather than later if you're in trouble.
It might be worth taking a flight with someone else flying, and you just concentrating on the nav - even a PPL holder from the club or whatever. If you're in Scotland you're welcome to come with me sometime (bring your own map & sickbag).
Above all - don't give up. It'll seem all the more satisfying when you do pass.
[ 04 January 2002: Message edited by: Chocks Wahay ]</p>