I know how you feel Glasswasher, I'm on circuits and was starting to get the hang of everything then off I bimbled today in a dirty big crosswind.
This was my first time in anything other than a light cross breeze in the circuit and I screwed up the crabbing on the first couple of times.
Coupled with the fact I had a new instructor, I felt it wasn't my best of lessons.
At least my instructor picked up on the bits I was doing right and I know where I was going wrong.
I'm sure flying sideways with the ground approaching will get less daunting over time!