IMC all over the place.  Requested the Special VFR at SMO – made us do 360s over UCLA for 15 mins while they got a bunch of IFR jets out.  Then he moves us over to the highway intersection – “I’m going to need you to get down quickly when I have space for you”.  From circling at 2000′ at 100 kts, it took full prop, 2/3 flaps and a slip to intercept the glideslope.  I was very glad that I regularly practice short approaches at HAF – with solid IMC over the coast a VFR go-around was not going to happen.