ILR | Absences > 180 Days from UK | Your Experience

Hi everyone - I've been searching through this forum to understand peoples' experiences specifically regarding 180 day rule. I have seen some good threads on the same but still feel that creating a list of ILR experiences specifically where the applicant was absent for more than 180 days might be valuable.

In order to keep this thread to the point and high value please note: this is only for individuals who have been successful in getting an ILR AND had more than 180 days absence.

Here are my questions that I request you to answer:

1) When was your ILR granted?(dd-Mon-YYYY)

2) How did you complete 5 years?
a) Work-Permit / Tier 2
b) Tier 1 G
c) 2(a) + 2(b)
d) 10year residence
e) Dependant
f) HSMP/ HSMP JR
g) any other?

3) How did you apply?
a) PEO
b) Postal
c) Applied PEO but decision not given the same day - eventually got through Post

4) How many days were you absent from UK? Please give the days break-up as per the following categories (excluding travel days):
a) Work / Business related
b) Paid vacation
c) Un-paid vacation / leave of absence

5) How did you determine accurate days of absence?
a) Passport stamps only
b) Airline booking confirmations / e-tickets / paper tickets
c) Subject Access Request from Home Office
d) A combination of the above

6) What documentary evidence did you provide for 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c)?

7) Did your employer endorse each and every business trip?

8 ) Did you provide any reasoning for each and every trip? (other than the categories in (4) above)

Hope the above is clear, many thanks in advance.