Are there a certain number of cross country hours you need to have for the instrument rating though? (correct me if I'm wrong with that).
From
CAO 40.2.1
8.3 The aeronautical experience of an applicant for the issue of a command
instrument rating shall include:
(a)
50 hours cross-country flight time as pilot in command; and
(b) 40 hours instrument time, of which not less than 20 hours shall be
instrument flight time on the category of aircraft for which the rating is
sought; and
(c) 20 hours cross-country instrument time; and
(d) 10 hours dual instrument flight instruction time; and
(e) except for those persons whose licence is restricted to day only
operations,
10 hours night flight of which not less than 5 hours shall be as
pilot in command on the category of aircraft for which the rating is
sought.
If you're a fresh PPL, then it's unlikely that you'll have 50 hours of cross-country PIC time to meet the minimum requirements for the issue of the MECIR.