Thank you very much for your reply. It does look like I can include the absence before entry if it is less than 180 days.

Hi, I am currently on a Tier 2 (General) visa and have a query on ILR 5-year continuous period calculation. This is in relation to the allowable period between the issue of entry clearance and entering the UK. I received my visa in June 2012 but entered the UK in Nov 2012. To be exact, I entered the ...