bd01uk,
There's no need to feel embarassed about not flying recently. Most of us can't fly as often as we might wish, due to a lack of time, money, weather, spousal tolerance
, or all of the above.
I don't know how much time has to pass before a 'pilot' becomes a 'former pilot', but it's got to be longer than seven months.
As long as you are renting aircraft, you won't have any difficulties staying well inside legal currency minima, because the school or club will keep you honest. It's only those lucky pilots who own their own machines that have to keep an eye upon themselves when they haven't flown for a while and may 'rusty'.
Good luck with your check-out,
MLS-12D