So, I got it wrong today
I was flying a 182 on a maintenance snag flight today. It is stunningly well equipped - Fancy new avionics I have never seen before. No problem, airport I know well, not busy, and a perfect flying day. Inbound with no wind change to speak of, the controller assigned me a different runway then my last landing an hour earlier. I missed that (and actually read back the wrong runway - he did not catch that). Then, considering other traffic, the traffic patter in my head was not meshing well with others.
About that time, about mid field, tower asked "XXX, can you make the runway from there?". The light instantly went on... darn, I'd set myself up for a close downwind, rather than right base to the crossing runway assigned to me. This was traffic messy. I (feeling silly), said "Yes, I can make it.". "Okay, you're cleared to land from a right turn overhead.
Though I should not have created the poor opportunity, I made a presentable slipping turn all the way around, and nicely set it on the numbers - Embarrassment mitigated, a little...
As I taxied in, the ground controller called me and said, "Well, it looks like you've done that before". "yes" I admitted "I have set up for the wrong runway before". "No, not that, he said, your landing was super, right on the numbers! I wanted to compliment you!". Wow, nice! "Thank you!".
I taxiied in, paying really close attention to being on the correct taxiway, feeling a little less foolish, and appreciating a thoughtful controller - again. I kind thought and word disarmed an embarrassing situation, but left the lesson to be learned (again).
In hind sight, a little post event review led me to an element of my failure. This aircraft had no DG, but rather a really slick Aspen display. The presentation on that display does not include a full compass card, but rather just an arc of about 45 degrees either side of center. I had looked at it, and not oriented myself, for lack of visualizing myself on the compass card. certainly, I should have recognized this different cockpit information, and planned to compensate - 100% my failure. I just did not give it enough thought, a little life reminder lesson for me.....