Immigrationboards.com

I am sure that this has been asked a million time, so forgive me for asking again.

The 6 month period has to be continuous or they count the days of absence in a cumulative way during the period?

for example if
Considering a period of 5 years from 1/1/2009 - 31/12/2013

leave the UK on 1/1/2010 and return 1/3/2010 (59 days of absence)
stay in the UK from 2/3/2010 until 1/4/2010 (30 of presence)
leave the UK from 2/4/2010 till 1/7/2010 (90 days of absence)
Stay stay in the UK from 2/7/2010 until 1/8/2010 (30 of presence)
leave the UK from 2/8/2010 till 2/9/2010 (31 days of absence)
Then return to the UK and stay for the rest of the year.

the total is 180 days is this considered a 6 months period absence or not because it is not continuous?

Continuity of residence is not affected by
(a)periods of absence from the United Kingdom which do not exceed six months in total in any year

See http://www.eearegulations.co.uk/Latest/ByPage/part1_3

The year runs from anniversary of your entry to UK.

As far as I understand it doesn't matter if it is continuous or not. Can you not consider the period between 3/3/2009 - 3/3/2014 instead? This way you manage to split the absences into separate years.