Finally
My wife's timeline:
SET (0)
Current visa expiry: 23-04-14
Application method: Postal delivery
Date of application: 16-04-14
Date of application received at HO: 17-04-14
Date bio-metrics completed: 17-05-14
Date of decision:29-08-14
Date of originals received: 01-09-14
Date of BRP card:Not received yet.
Also please note that when my wife applied, she had a shortfall of 2 months to complete the 2 year period for settlement. We took a risk, gladly saying that because Home Office is slow in processing the application, the shortfall has been completed inside

So I did not have to pay another fee to extend the visa.
Good luck for everyone, our visa application sagas have now ended, and thanks to everyone on this forum for all their efforts and brilliant advises.