Thanks everyone for the warm welcome.
Really appreciate the advice, Hauptmann. I have been flying about three weeks now, and have done more or less what you recommended (mostly from fear of losing the drone so soon after buying it!). I put the prop guards on and flew indoors at first, then outdoors for a week with the guards on.
I took the guards off, but still flew in open fields where I could find the drone if I crashed, gradually expanding my range and height, but nothing too adventurous. Even so, had a few scares when my RC disconnected from the phone in mid flight. And again when I got an ESC warning for prop overspeed. With the help of this forum I think I have sorted those two issues out. It was good they happened first with the drone nearby.
The fly out uowind and back downwind is excellent advice. I have had one wind strength warning (due to a gust I think). I have tried to avoid flying whenever it was windy, and mostly going out early morning and late evening when it is calmer, but it has been quite changeable here lately.
i hadn't thought of practicing the "Find My Drone". Great idea! That's my next lesson. Thanks!
