@Rebecca Jayne: thanks. Like most people I've been thwarted by recent bad weather conditions - made several trips to the airfield to look at the clouds recently, but little actual flying.
So instead have been making plans for next year and hope to complete the Night Qualification over the winter. I'd like to gain plenty of VFR experience before thinking about IMC, but will be watching the regulatory developments to see if this must be done before 2012.
Good luck with your PPL training and do keep up the momentum if you can. I reckon that the quicker you can do this, the fewer hours you'll need.