Basil, being in the same position as you but retired I think that if the OP had to ask the question in the first place he had his doubts. This is commendable. However if one has doubts, don't do it if you don't have to. As indeed he didn't. That was a good flight safety decision. He was not under commercial or military pressures as I, and you, have been many times.

I'll stick by what I wrote above but also have to agree with Terry & Chris. When I first started flying in single engine aircraft I was happy wherever I flew. I knew the ground over which I was flying quite intimately, more than most of my instructors. Others, being less familiar with area would demand considerably better weather to tempt them out. Only you can decide if the weather is OK being in mind those on this forum are not in the aircraft with you.

PM

I stick to the mantra: If there's any doubt, there's no doubt.

3 line TAF
 

As a rule of thumb, after many years of agonising, I have drawn the conclusion that a 3 line taf is never VFR flyable. Stay in bed.

Sounds like a mate of mine who decides whether or not to eat something based on adding up the E-numbers, and not eating it if the total comes to more than some threshold (his theory being that the higher numbers are newer and/or more obscure chemicals with less of a safety track record).

I think you made the right choice... Mind you I'm very very cautious...

The other day there was a 10kt cross wind, I wanted to practise EFATO, different approaches and then get out in the local area to practise forced landings etc (basically the GASCo list)... The vis and cloud were fine, but for some reason the 10kt crosswind managed to completely put me off. I know the aircrafts limit is 18kt, and well within my capabilities. The airfield I'm at is particularly open and a 10kt wind just seemed particularly concerning... Despite seeing others going out.

Probably wasted a perfectly good flying day/days annual leave when it was flyable... But I wanted less wind for practising those drills... Some may say I' being daft, but I'm still here and will have the opportunity to try another day...

I have been known to say to an instructor;

"Yes I know I'm supposed to be able to land in a 15kt crosswind, and I know I'm supposed to be able to do a glide approach, but both at once? - c'mon now!"

I was joking, of course. If you're willing to go "normal" flying with a crosswind of x you have to be prepared for an emergency with a crosswind of x - the engine won't refrain from failing just because you don't like the wind direction that day.

I always thought that should I not feel the conditions for any particular item in mind, but a good flying day - I would be keen to do some circuits to help build my confidence, then maybe do a departure from the circuit to the local area when I am a little more comfortable and see how it goes. It might have boosted the confidence enough to do what I had initially set out to do!

...but if the engine stops I'll be looking for as near an into wind field as possible.

If you have to ask - then the answer is no.