Under JAA, as long as the IR had not expired for 5 years or more, I just had to turn up for a proficiency check to get it renewed
Where have you been able to do this?
Under current JAR rules, if you IR is exprired (i.e. > 1 year without PFC), you need to go to an FTO and have them make up a "special" program that must be approved by the CAA.
In reality the CAA approval is no problem and most FTO's has a standard program for this; and - depending on how rusty you are - you'll get the IR renewed after 2-3 hours of flying.