Thanks for the input guys. My next purchase is a Petzl TacTikka Plus - looks great.
I see what you mean about the need for IFR training (as it happens IMC is next on my list but I need to get the night rating done before the end of Feb otherwise it means waiting till Oct).
I was on 02LH at Shoreham last night and hadn't flown in 3 weeks or done circuits in a long while, so my first couple were a bit rusty. What I found was turning xwind to downwind was OK as you could see some lights/had a bit of a horizon. However, turning base to final was totally different as you're now looking out over the sea (no horizon - straight onto instruments). On one of my early circuits I managed to get the speed up to Vno in the turn. As I realised I had let the nose down I got the standard "more back pressure please!" from my instructor. It just felt so different!
Even though it's "just" a case of following the PAPIs on final, I still found the approach harder than by day (even things like I couldn't just glance at the flap lever to double/triple check the flaps are where I think they are on final), especially in the last few hundred feet.
I guess you've got to get used to it?
Cheers,