I think what got me in a mess with the PFL was that when the power was cut, we were at 2,000ft and facing into wind. In the pattern Ive been taught, this puts me at my 2,000ft point on the 'crosswind' leg on the centreline of the field I was gonna land in (even tho in this case i was facing into wind already) Seeing as I was already at 2,000ft (and I couldnt figure how id make a whole pattern work picking a field ahead of me) I simply picked a field right under the wing and started turning a pattern around it. I was far too high, tried side slipping but was still way too high.
Examiner got me to climb away and try one more time, because all my checks were spot on he said just fly the pattern, ignore all checks. Still ballsed it up. Flew an ok pattern I thought, but was too high. I turned in towards the field too early, and even with side slip was not getting in. Unfortunately, I didnt decide to try the fields either side, I just kept it coming down, not really accepting the fact that i was too high and wasnt gonna get in. (In back of my mind I was told that if you dont get into the field you choose on test, its a fail).
I was really annoyed with myself, the whole test was really good up to there. I actually was enjoying it. The other 40 mins of the test after PFLs was a nightmare tho, knowing I had already failed. Still, eveything was ok, the only issue he raised being the PFL and a little silly confusion with the VOR tuning. (in that I had the same VOR freq by chance tuned into VOR 1 and 2, but was adjusting VOR 2 whilst identing on VOR radio 1).
I think it is the pattern and realising where I am in the pattern given the wind conditions on the day and my altitude that gets me confused. For example, should you always fly a crosswind, downwind, base final, even if you are into wind and there is a great field ahead but youre too high to get in stragiht and too low to fly the pattern around?
Thanks all, hope I havent confused everyone too much!