There I was, joining overhead in a busy circuit after a cross-country jolly. Identified the active runway, deadside, liveside etc. Start into the descent and wonder what on earth these aircraft were doing in the wrong place. Give some consideration to climbing out and figure out what's going wrong. Didn't. Wish I had!! Seconds later an aircraft looms large and a voice on the radio informs me that I have descended live side.
Oh sh!t.
Sort it all out, get on the ground. The guy in the aircraft I nearly hit was rightly not impressed. He took it all more calmly than I would have done. I apologised - what else could I do. Somehow, sorry seems so inadequate when you've messed up so badly.
After a chat with the CFI (friendly, would you believe), he made me go out as P1 with the guy I had frightened to death, and do an overhead join the right way this time. Managed OK, but I'm still pretty jumpy about the whole thing.
What I can't figure out is:
1. I identified the circuit and all the positions correctly, but still screwed it up.
2. When it was all going wrong, it didn't dawn on me that I was the one making a mess of things.
Don't really feel like getting back into an aircraft until I can sort that one out. Any ideas?