Fivel, when I emailed my ARN application, I only had to wait about 3 days before I rang them and they emailed it to me. The letter came in the mail the next week. As for the DAME I saw, he (well mostly his nurse) did eveything that was required except for the eye test which I did a couple of days later and that was it. This was in the last two weeks and the DAME seemed to think there was enough time before march 1st.
Mikethepomme, I'm new to these forum thingies but I will endeavour to pm you when I get home. Too much effort from a mobile!