I passed all my exams first time whilst working full time away from home. It was hard work, it took me a lot longer than I planned (one year), but it was all worth it in the end.
This was at the time when the JAA syllabus was brand new and people were failing left right and centre because the schools didn't know what to teach and the exam papers were full of dodgy questions.
The best advice is not to rush them - if you want to delay, the delay, after all there are exams held every month.