Wilson Wanted Down Under


Wilson

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Transcript


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It's a huge decision to move to the other side of the world

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in search of a better life.

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Especially when it could just be a case of thinking the grass is greener.

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The Wilsons have high hopes of a life Down Under.

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We're thinking about Australia because...a better lifestyle,

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better weather, better living accommodation.

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Just seems to be a lot of "better"s.

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And the dream might just be within their grasp.

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Wow. This is absolutely ideal.

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However, husband Chris knows the pressure's on him to deliver.

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If I can't get a job that comes pretty much on a par with what I'm getting at the minute in the UK,

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I'll be honest, I can't see... I can't see it actually working.

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But could leaving loved ones back home be too painful?

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I can't do this. Sorry.

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It is a lot to think about, yeah.

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A whole lot to think about.

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Mmm.

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Yeah. Sorry.

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So, could their Australian dream come at too high a price?

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Australia's famous laid-back way of life,

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sunny climate and almost 50,000 kilometres of coastline

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have long made it the favourite destination for Brits looking to move abroad.

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But life Down Under doesn't always deliver the paradise new arrivals may picture.

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The Wilsons have an emotional time ahead of them

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as they try out life in Australia for one week.

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At the end of it they'll be faced with a difficult decision -

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to stay in the UK or to move Down Under.

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The pretty village of Wilberfoss near York is home to the Wilson family.

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That's 36-year-old Chris, his wife, Debs,

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and their two black labradors, Beth and Suzie.

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Chris and Debs are toying with the idea of taking their dogs

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and making a life-changing move Down Under.

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But this isn't the first time they've upped sticks and moved.

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Chris has been in the RAF for 16 years and was shunted from pillar to post,

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so he's used to packing up his boxes and moving on again.

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We've moved around a considerable amount -

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something like 12 houses in 14 years.

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It's difficult when you're in the forces. You can't get settled down anywhere.

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As soon as you settle down and make friends, you get posted, and...

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Boxing up again, and we're off.

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So I suppose it's kind of in my blood now

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to get itchy feet every three years, shall we say?

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But now that Chris has left the RAF, they're free to go anywhere they choose.

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And he's set on moving them lock, stock and barrel to the other side of the world.

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Some days I wake up and I'm all excited and think it's going to be the best thing since sliced bread.

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Other days I wake up and panic and think, "Oh, God. It's just too far away.

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"It's all the way round the other side of the world."

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I don't know. It just seems like such a big step to take. It's a big decision to make.

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But after 14 years on the road and their lives on hold,

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Debs is desperate to finally settle down.

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We need to put down roots somewhere, possibly start a family.

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But that's been put on the back burner again.

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The biological clock is a-ticking, so I haven't got much longer to go.

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So I'd better hurry up and make a decision.

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Their dreams of starting a family in the sun

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rely on Australia measuring up, and the key to this is work.

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Chris loves his job in the UK and he won't settle for second best.

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It's critical that I get this kind of work down in Australia, if we were to go.

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It's what I've been trained to do.

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It's what I've known for pretty much my whole working career.

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It's got to be pretty much the same as what I'm doing now to go down there.

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If it's not, then I don't know. It could put a bit of a spanner in the works, so to say.

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But will it prove just too hard to leave friends and family behind

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and jet off into the unknown?

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It's a huge decision,

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because I would miss all my family up in Scotland,

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because I do go and see them quite a few times a year, so I'd miss them.

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I would miss my friends.

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It is a lot to think about, yes.

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A whole lot to think about.

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Mmm.

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Yeah. Sorry.

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SHE SOBS

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It's just such a big decision to make.

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Having moved 12 times in 14 years,

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the Wilsons may be used to packing up and shipping out.

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But if they make the life-changing decision to go Down Under,

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they want it to be permanent.

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So where they settle is crucial.

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They could try Melbourne, the capital of Victoria

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and one of Australia's fastest growing cities.

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Melbourne is famed for its parks and open spaces,

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which would be great for the Wilsons' dogs.

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And with four airports, there should be good job prospects for Chris.

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But the growing population means the housing market remains strong,

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and with prices high, the Wilsons might struggle to afford the home they want.

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Another option might be Adelaide,

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which, as Australia's fifth largest city, is smaller than Melbourne.

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Famed for its Mediterranean climate, and with beaches just minutes away,

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it would offer Chris and Debs the outdoor lifestyle they want.

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But with only two airports, job options for Chris as an aircraft engineer might be limited.

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Or maybe the Gold Coast,

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which offers a range of housing from river-fronted properties to family homes in the suburbs.

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And, with its large expat community,

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Chris and Debs will have no problem meeting people who've made the same move.

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So, where should they go?

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All three locations would offer the Wilsons a complete change of lifestyle.

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We decided the Gold Coast would be the most suitable.

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Smaller than Adelaide and with more affordable houses than Melbourne,

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the Gold Coast offers the benefits of city living

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with long stretches of sandy beaches.

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And with a thriving business community and two local airports,

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there are good job opportunities for both Chris and Debs.

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But absolutely everything has to be right.

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First impressions weren't good.

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-This property is not for us.

-No. OK.

-It's too small.

-Let's go.

-Let's go.

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Will finding work be any easier?

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We have a lot of...high unemployment on the Gold Coast.

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And could leaving friends and family behind just be too much?

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They say the world's getting smaller, but it's still a long away away.

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To be perfectly honest, we don't see a huge amount of each other, but it's just really hard. Yeah.

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AIRCRAFT ENGINE WHINES

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After a journey of 10,000 miles and 21 hours in the air,

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the Wilsons arrive jet lagged and well aware of just how far from home they really are.

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It was probably worth it, but it's just such a long time, isn't it?

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-It's a long flight.

-You never think you're going to get off.

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You've got short haul, long haul. I think you can add "extremely long haul" now.

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But at least the flight hasn't dented enthusiasm for the week ahead.

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Yeah, looking forward to being here,

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seeing everything and finding out what everything's all about,

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and just putting it all together and seeing how it pans out.

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The Wilsons are staying in a rented house in the Coomera suburb of the Gold Coast.

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This is a perfect place to get a taste of what their Australian life could be like.

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The style and layout of this property is very different from what they're used to back in the UK.

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So, what will they think of their temporary home?

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-Hmm.

-Hmm. This is nice, isn't it?

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Yeah. I didn't expect it to, um, go straight into the living room.

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-No. Straight in...

-I thought there'd be a hall.

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Yeah. I don't know if I like the open plan all the way from the kitchen.

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Dining room and living room all as one big open plan. I don't know if I like that or not.

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Not a good start. And Chris is in for a shock, as most Aussie homes are open-plan.

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But there are much bigger issues to face in the week ahead.

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-There's a lot to think about this next week, isn't there?

-Crikey. Loads.

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Everything has got to compare - at minimum - compare with what we've got back home.

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-Of course it has. Or else there's no point moving.

-Mo.

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-Yeah, a lot to think about.

-A lot to think about.

-Going to be intense.

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Chris and Debs have high expectations of what Australia has to offer.

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If they are left disappointed this week, it could mean an end to their Aussie dream.

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Back in the UK, Chris and Debs live in Wilberfoss near York.

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They bought this three-bedroom semi-detached house three years ago for £165,000

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and have made it their own.

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They'll be taking their dogs and all their furniture,

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so finding a suitable home in Australia could be a struggle.

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Yeah, three-bedroom, I think, is realistic for us to begin with.

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Yes, that's realistic. But what would you LIKE?

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Well, I would like a six-bedroom house,

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but, realistically, a three-bedroom house would be enough.

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-Realistically, three bedrooms, then.

-Yeah.

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With a double garage.

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Bungalow. One floor.

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Two storeys.

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Well, it looks like someone will be disappointed.

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-Very much agreed on that one, them.

-Yeah, we are...

-Yeah.

-..not.

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Well, you stay at one end of the street and I'll stay at the other, then.

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There's no doubt finding the right home will help make this momentous decision easier.

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But if Chris and Debs can't even agree on what they want,

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well, househunting is going to be tricky.

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Luckily, the Gold Coast has plenty of styles to choose from.

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Perhaps the city suburbs of the Gold Coast would suit Chris and Debs best.

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This three-bedroom house on the popular Jacobs Ridge estate

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gives them the space they want and even comes with a pool.

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It's on the market for around £350,000, which is beyond their reach.

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However, there are cheaper properties in the area.

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And a quiet suburb like this would be ideal for them

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as it has lots of parks for the dogs and would mean a shorter commute to work for Chris.

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For their budget,

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Chris and Debs probably won't get the type of property they would like

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on the Gold Coast seafront.

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This chic house definitely has the style they're after, but it's on the market for £368,000.

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If they move inland, they might get more for their money.

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This takes us to the country suburbs of the Gold Coast,

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and this designer river-fronted home.

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It's in the exclusive Riverlinks estate and comes with its own jetty.

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But it's a 45-minute commute from Chris's work,

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and with no garden, is less than ideal.

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The Gold Coast has some fabulous houses,

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but the city can be pricey.

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So even with their budget of around £200,000,

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the Wilsons will need to look for something they both like.

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Somewhere with enough space for their dogs.

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Chris and Debs know that being 10,000 miles away from loved ones could be lonely,

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so it's essential they find a comfortable home.

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And they're starting their search in the suburb of Ormeau.

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Property one is on the market for around £214,000.

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It is at the top end of their budget,

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but with three bedrooms, a double garage and a good-sized garden,

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it seems to have everything they want.

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But what will Chris and Debs make of it, given their reaction to the rental property?

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-It's all open-plan.

-Mmm.

-I mean, you've got your kitchen, dining room, living room.

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I'm not sure if I 100% like the whole open-plan thing.

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-But... Just cos I'm not used to it.

-Yeah. I do. I like it.

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Debs seems positive, and is she winning Chris over?

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-It's quite a nice, big living area, isn't it?

-Big, yeah.

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-Plenty of room for the dogs.

-Yeah.

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Hmm.

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It's vital they find a home they like where they could raise a family.

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Chris has some serious concerns about this house.

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We would not get our sized bed in here and our bedside cabinets.

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I just don't think it would be... There wouldn't be enough space.

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Attempting to fit a house to their existing furniture might be a tall order.

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-This is OK. Nice grassed area as well, for the dogs.

-Mmm. It is.

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I think, personally, I'd want something slightly bigger.

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Well, say, double the size of this.

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That's all well and good, but if you're at the top of your budget, a bigger garden might be impossible.

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What do you think?

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-Erm, first impressions weren't good.

-No.

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Don't know why. But outside it just seemed a bit shabby.

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I'm not sure I like the idea of the...one of the bedrooms being straight off the kitchen.

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-There's only a couple of positives about this. One was the double garage.

-Yes.

-I quite like that.

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And two was it's en suite.

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No, for me...for me, this property's not for us.

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-No. OK.

-It's too small. I think...

-Right.

-..that's it, it's not for us.

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-Let's go, then.

-Let's go.

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That's not a great start,

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and if they can't find a house where they feel at home,

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Chris's Australian dream could be a non-starter.

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Will the next property be more up his street?

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-Looks a bit different, doesn't it?

-Yes.

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I can't make out if it's one house or if it's... there's adjoining houses to it.

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Property two is a two-storey, three-bedroom semi-detached house just down the road in Ormeau

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and on the market for £226,000.

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So it's over budget, but what will they think?

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-Oh, this is nice.

-It is nice.

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Actually, I like this, because even though it's still open-plan,

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it's still kind of the kitchen, dining room separate.

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-I like this better...

-Than the last place.

-Yeah. Than the previous.

-Yeah. Yeah, I do.

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That's good. Chris is learning to love the Aussie layout.

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-I don't think it's quite big enough for our furniture to get in.

-It's not.

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How big is this furniture?

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-OK.

-Nice, though.

-Yeah, it is nice. Yeah.

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-What's in there?

-This looks like the master bedroom.

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-So, we'd get our massive bed in here.

-Yeah, with room to spare.

-Yeah.

-Good wardrobe.

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En suite. Big shower. I like that.

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-Mmm, it is big. Marvellous.

-Hmm.

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Mmm. Yeah.

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-And the stairs.

-Brilliant.

-Just what you've always wanted.

-It is - an upstairs.

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This sounds much more promising.

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If they can stretch their budget, could this be the house for them?

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This property is really nice,

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probably because it's similar to houses in the UK in that it's got an upstairs.

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I like the house but I haven't seen the garden yet.

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But judging by the size of the house, I'm assuming that it's got a fairly decent-sized garden.

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That'll be good.

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So, this is, like... This is it here.

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-OK.

-Yeah, this is it.

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-It is...

-It's small.

-It is small, isn't it?

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-I thought it would be slightly bigger.

-So, all you've got is this grass area here.

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-Disappointing.

-Very, very disappointing.

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-Couldn't really call it a garden, could you?

-No.

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-If it had trellising round it, it'd be classed as a window box.

-Yeah.

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Property two isn't for them either.

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But to get a house they like with the space they want,

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they have to pay even more, and their budget is already stretched to the limit.

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Could their hopes of a life in Australia

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be over before it's even begun?

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-Looks nice, doesn't it?

-It does.

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Property three is nice, but it should be,

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with a price tag of £255,000 - that's 50 grand over budget.

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-Oh. This is an improvement.

-Mmm.

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-It's nice and big, isn't it?

-Yeah.

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-Definitely fit the bed in here.

-Certainly will.

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Quite a nice size.

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-We could fit most of our furniture in here.

-Most of it.

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-Probably not all of it.

-Mmm.

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Yeah. Well, if we're not going to fit our furniture in there, we'll certainly fit it in here!

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-We'll have to buy some more furniture.

-Oh, yeah.

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-Cos we haven't got enough now.

-No.

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-It is a nice size room.

-It's a very nice size room.

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-Kitchen's fab as well.

-Great-sized kitchen.

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After a quick tour around the rest of the house,

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it's all looking promising.

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But will this garden be big enough?

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This is a nice-sized garden.

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Wow. This would suit the dogs down to the ground.

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Can you imagine them...? Oh! They would just love this.

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This is absolutely ideal for the dogs.

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I can just see them sat there.

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-Sunning themselves.

-Yeah.

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I'd say, for the size of the grassed area,

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like, the general patio area seems quite small.

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You could have a larger entertainment area.

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Very impressed.

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-Yeah. I like this a lot.

-Yeah.

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Finally, a property they both like, but it's over budget,

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and it would be a real struggle to buy a house like this.

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They're going to have to have a serious rethink

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about what sort of property they can afford.

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Property one just wasn't for them and left them cold.

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Although property two ticked a lot of boxes,

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the tiny garden was a huge disappointment.

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But property three was spot-on on everything except the price.

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So, will they be tempted into a dream they can't afford?

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How will they vote?

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-UK.

-Australia.

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-SHE LAUGHS

-I didn't think you would!

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I thought you would go Australia.

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I've surprised myself a little bit, I think.

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-But...I've been a little disappointed today.

-Right.

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People don't realise in the UK

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is that house prices have massively boomed out here.

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Yeah.

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You don't get as much for your money today

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as what you used to do,

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and that's been reflected today.

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I know, but...I just think you do get more...room for your money.

0:18:270:18:34

Debs may be sold on Australian houses,

0:18:410:18:45

but none of that matters if Chris can't find a job.

0:18:450:18:48

Their move depends on Chris finding work,

0:18:480:18:51

and opportunities in his chosen field are thin on the ground.

0:18:510:18:55

Back in the UK, Chris and Debs enjoy an active social life, helped by two incomes.

0:18:570:19:02

To maintain this lifestyle,

0:19:020:19:05

they'll both need to find work in Australia.

0:19:050:19:07

Debs is an experienced legal secretary,

0:19:070:19:10

but it's Chris's skills as an aircraft engineer that are in demand Down Under.

0:19:100:19:14

The job I have here is exactly what I'm after.

0:19:140:19:18

Working on search-and-rescue is a really rewarding job.

0:19:180:19:22

You know, we're in the business of saving and helping people

0:19:220:19:24

and this kind of work, I would be looking for if we were going to go Down Under.

0:19:240:19:30

After discovering Australian property is more expensive than they thought,

0:19:320:19:36

Chris and Debs now know their budget will be tighter,

0:19:360:19:40

so it's vital Chris is impressed by his work opportunities.

0:19:400:19:43

For me, getting a job down in Australia is absolutely paramount.

0:19:430:19:49

If I can't get a job that comes pretty much on a par

0:19:490:19:54

with what I'm getting at the minute in the UK,

0:19:540:19:57

then, I'll be honest,

0:19:570:19:59

I can't see...I can't see it actually working.

0:19:590:20:02

Also very, very anxious that if the wage structure isn't what we require,

0:20:020:20:09

if the hours aren't quite the same as what I'm working in the UK...

0:20:090:20:12

I think, to be honest, this is going to be make-or-break.

0:20:120:20:16

Chris is determined to replicate his UK job as closely as possible,

0:20:160:20:22

so we sent him to CareFlight search-and-rescue helicopter base in Coolangatta

0:20:220:20:25

to meet pilot Jeremy Ovens.

0:20:250:20:27

-Welcome to Australia.

-Thank you very much.

0:20:270:20:30

-What would you like to see? The hangar?

-That would be great. Let's have a look.

0:20:300:20:34

The air rescue base is expanding its fleet of helicopters and jets,

0:20:370:20:42

which means a lot more work to keep them in the air 24 hours a day.

0:20:420:20:45

Our normal jobs are going to smaller country hospitals

0:20:450:20:48

and bringing the patient back to intensive care units.

0:20:480:20:51

These small hospitals are good.

0:20:510:20:54

A lot of the time, they haven't got the facilities

0:20:540:20:57

to fix the patient.

0:20:570:20:59

But with only a small engineering team,

0:20:590:21:01

Chris needs to be sure there would be work opportunities for him.

0:21:010:21:04

-Peter.

-Chris?

-Yeah, Chris, yeah.

-Nice to meet you.

-And you.

0:21:040:21:07

Originally, we were outsourcing it, but now we're trying to keep our maintenance in-house.

0:21:070:21:12

We get contractors in but what we're trying to do is build up a nice network of staff in-house

0:21:120:21:17

so that we can keep it all in-house and do it ourselves.

0:21:170:21:19

-OK.

-So we're always looking for new guys to come on board.

0:21:190:21:24

It's vital Chris feels the work measures up to his job in the UK

0:21:240:21:27

if he's to even consider the move.

0:21:270:21:29

Chris's thoughts at the moment are kind of up and down.

0:21:290:21:34

There are a lot of things that have been going on in both of our minds.

0:21:340:21:38

It's key for Chris to get a decent job.

0:21:380:21:41

Also for myself to get a decent job as well, but mainly Chris,

0:21:410:21:44

because, obviously, both our salaries are going to determine what type of house we can buy

0:21:440:21:49

and what area we can live in.

0:21:490:21:51

But, yeah, it's very up and down at the moment.

0:21:510:21:53

Back in the UK, Debs works as a legal secretary

0:21:530:21:57

and earns around £17,000 a year.

0:21:570:22:00

But will she be able to match this in Australia?

0:22:000:22:03

We've sent Debs to a recruitment agency to find out what her job prospects are.

0:22:030:22:07

-Hello. Sheryl Johnson. How are you?

-Pleased to meet you.

0:22:070:22:10

Because if Chris can't bring home the bacon,

0:22:100:22:12

their future rests on her shoulders.

0:22:120:22:16

I noticed that you had quite a good legal background. You've done a lot of legal typing.

0:22:160:22:20

It's mainly legal area that I work in.

0:22:200:22:22

I've worked in various departments in the legal sector.

0:22:220:22:25

We have a lot of high unemployment on the Gold Coast.

0:22:250:22:29

However, with looking at your skills and experience,

0:22:290:22:32

you shouldn't have difficulty.

0:22:320:22:34

And I think the thing about the Gold Coast is we've got so many legal practices here.

0:22:340:22:39

There's probably a lot of opportunity.

0:22:390:22:41

Salary's another issue.

0:22:410:22:43

Looking at your resume,

0:22:430:22:45

I would probably say probably anywhere between 40,000 and 45,000.

0:22:450:22:49

OK.

0:22:490:22:50

That's probably about the market at the present.

0:22:500:22:54

It could go up or down. It just depends.

0:22:540:22:56

That's fantastic news.

0:22:560:22:58

Debs could earn £6,000 to £9,000 a year more than in the UK.

0:22:580:23:02

-Hopefully I'll look forward to seeing you when you move here.

-OK, that's lovely.

0:23:020:23:06

-Thank you for your time.

-Have a safe trip home.

0:23:060:23:08

-Will do. Thank you. Bye.

-Bye-bye.

0:23:080:23:11

I think Debs has got very good prospects. She's got a great background.

0:23:110:23:15

Debs's work history is a dream for a recruiter.

0:23:150:23:19

You know, she's worked in medical, legal, in council as well.

0:23:190:23:23

I'm, you know, more than happy to assist her when she gets here.

0:23:230:23:26

After seeing Sheryl, it's just sorted everything out in my mind, because it's always been...

0:23:260:23:32

..not ALWAYS been about Chris and that I've been left out, cos I haven't really,

0:23:320:23:36

but it's always been about Chris's job and where HE'S going to get a job,

0:23:360:23:39

how HE'S going to fit in, what the salary's going to be like.

0:23:390:23:42

So, for me, seeing Sheryl today has just answered 101 questions for me.

0:23:420:23:48

Back at the airport, there's a bombshell waiting for Chris.

0:23:480:23:52

Despite 16 years of experience in the RAF,

0:23:520:23:55

he would need to pass numerous costly exams

0:23:550:23:58

to be licensed in Australia.

0:23:580:24:01

The way we work in Australia, you have a CASA licence

0:24:010:24:03

and you'll either be an airframe engine trade guy

0:24:030:24:06

or you'll be electrical instrument and radio - two separate trades.

0:24:060:24:09

-Are you airframe engine guy?

-Airframe engine, yeah.

0:24:090:24:12

-What you'd have to do is sit your core basic exams.

-Yep.

0:24:120:24:15

CASA would give you the licence specific to that type of...

0:24:150:24:18

It looks like Chris is going to have to hit the books

0:24:180:24:20

if he wants to become a fully licensed aircraft engineer in Australia.

0:24:200:24:24

How will this affect his plans?

0:24:240:24:27

If the opportunity came along for me to apply for a job, and I got the job,

0:24:270:24:30

what kind of salary could I expect to earn?

0:24:300:24:32

For unlicensed engineers, around about the 55,000 to 60,000 a year.

0:24:320:24:38

If you're licensed - that is, you're legally able to work on an aircraft -

0:24:380:24:43

you could probably expect around about the 90,000 mark per year.

0:24:430:24:47

Mm-hm. Right.

0:24:470:24:49

I mean, engineers are... they're sought after everywhere.

0:24:490:24:53

If I was to come to you looking to do my licence, I could do the licence in-house?

0:24:530:24:57

Sure. Yeah.

0:24:570:24:58

It's a lot of outlay - financial outlay - on our behalf,

0:24:580:25:01

so we'd want to see a return of service from the employee

0:25:010:25:04

so that the money's not just thrown away.

0:25:040:25:09

Even as an unlicensed engineer,

0:25:090:25:12

he'll earn £10,000 more than in the UK.

0:25:120:25:16

But Chris was adamant if the job wasn't right for him, the move just wouldn't happen.

0:25:160:25:21

So, after everything he's seen, how will he vote?

0:25:210:25:24

I've met the guys. Great bunch of guys.

0:25:260:25:29

They've told me about the salary,

0:25:290:25:31

which is quite a bit more than the UK.

0:25:310:25:33

But I love my job in the UK. I love the guys I work with in the UK.

0:25:330:25:37

So, weighing it all up,

0:25:390:25:41

I'm going to vote for...

0:25:410:25:43

..Australia.

0:25:470:25:48

This week's already thrown up one big disappointment for Chris and Debs.

0:25:570:26:01

-People don't realise in the UK is that house prices have massively boomed out here.

-Yeah.

0:26:010:26:07

You don't get as much for your money as what you used to do.

0:26:070:26:10

So, even with their salaries on the up, can they really afford their Australian dream?

0:26:100:26:16

The mortgage payment per month...

0:26:160:26:18

-£1,137.

-Ooh!

0:26:180:26:20

That's a lot of money.

0:26:200:26:22

And in the end, will the tug of loved ones back home be too strong?

0:26:220:26:26

The guys that we have met since we've come out here - brilliant.

0:26:260:26:30

But I feel like voting for Australia is betraying our friends that we've got in the UK.

0:26:300:26:34

Well, their work prospects may look promising,

0:26:400:26:43

but can they actually afford to make the move to Australia?

0:26:430:26:47

Heading Down Under will be costly.

0:26:470:26:50

The Wilsons will only be able to afford it

0:26:500:26:53

if they can get the right price for the sale of their UK home.

0:26:530:26:58

Chris and Debs bought

0:26:580:27:00

this three-bedroom semidetached house near York

0:27:000:27:03

three years ago for £165,000.

0:27:030:27:06

We sent a couple of local estate agents round to revalue the property in the prevailing market.

0:27:060:27:11

-It's quite strange, isn't it?

-Yeah!

0:27:170:27:20

Well, it's lovely. It's a very tidy kitchen.

0:27:200:27:23

Little on the compact side but with everything fitting nicely. Very nice.

0:27:230:27:28

-It's a good start, at least.

-Yeah.

0:27:280:27:30

Nicely decorated second bedroom.

0:27:360:27:39

Decorated master bedroom. That's good.

0:27:430:27:46

It's small but that's quite understandable for this sort of property.

0:27:480:27:52

It's tidy. It's neat.

0:27:520:27:54

I'm afraid the suite lets it down a little bit,

0:27:540:27:56

but otherwise fine.

0:27:560:27:58

The suite lets it down?

0:27:580:28:00

It's a well-presented three-bedroom semidetached house.

0:28:000:28:03

It's in a good location with good communications to York and Hull

0:28:030:28:08

and it's got an excellent school, so it'd make it ideal for a young family.

0:28:080:28:12

I'd put this on the market at around 172,950.

0:28:120:28:16

For a quick sale, I think you'd have to be under the 170, start at 169,950.

0:28:160:28:22

I would say the property, for market valuation,

0:28:220:28:24

perhaps should be valued between £160,000 and £170,000.

0:28:240:28:28

-That's interesting.

-Um...hmm.

0:28:280:28:31

160 to 170 just seems a bit too big a gap.

0:28:310:28:35

I'm not overly happy but I'm kind of in the middle,

0:28:350:28:38

cos I did think that they might have said 165.

0:28:380:28:42

I was looking around about the 175 mark.

0:28:420:28:45

-Yeah, semihappy with that.

-Mmm.

0:28:450:28:48

Well, that's more or less what they expected. But do the figures stack up?

0:28:480:28:52

Time to take a closer look at the costs of living in Australia.

0:28:520:28:56

So we've got salary to begin with, which is obviously...

0:29:020:29:06

..your income and then my income.

0:29:060:29:08

The utilities we pay every month are more expensive in Australia

0:29:080:29:13

than they are in the UK.

0:29:130:29:15

-There's a couple of things that are under.

-Mm-hm.

0:29:150:29:19

So now we've got a weekly shop.

0:29:190:29:21

Total for the week for UK is 71.90.

0:29:210:29:26

And then you've got 79.

0:29:260:29:28

I'm surprised. I thought it would have been a lot more.

0:29:280:29:30

-Now we've got property.

-OK.

0:29:300:29:34

-That would be monthly repayments.

-So that's in pounds?

-Mmm.

0:29:340:29:38

-£1,137.

-Ooh!

0:29:380:29:41

-That's a lot of money.

-Bit more than we're paying now, isn't it?

0:29:410:29:44

The biggest property we've been to see, then,

0:29:440:29:47

the mortgage payment per month would leave us with £273 a month.

0:29:470:29:54

Yeah.

0:29:540:29:56

That's not a lot.

0:29:570:29:59

Property number three, on the current wages we're on at the minute, we can't afford.

0:29:590:30:03

However, after me finding out I could potentially earn double my salary than what I earn in the UK,

0:30:030:30:08

and you can earn more,

0:30:080:30:09

all of a sudden, property number three comes way in.

0:30:090:30:12

-At least, then, we have a choice now.

-Yeah.

0:30:120:30:15

Whether we want to come to Australia or not,

0:30:150:30:17

rather than being told, "No, you can't afford to buy a house and you'll have to stay in the UK."

0:30:170:30:21

The outlay each month is much higher than Chris and Debs expected.

0:30:210:30:27

But if they both get good jobs, the move could still be possible.

0:30:270:30:30

Taking everything into account, how will they vote?

0:30:300:30:33

It goes without saying that we have more money in the pot

0:30:330:30:36

if we were to live in Australia,

0:30:360:30:38

so based on that, we're going to vote for...

0:30:380:30:41

-Australia.

-Australia.

0:30:430:30:45

That's another vote for Australia.

0:30:450:30:48

But for two people that have never been Down Under before,

0:30:480:30:52

how can they be sure a new life in Oz really will be better?

0:30:520:30:57

We've arranged for them to have a day out with the Slater family -

0:31:010:31:06

that's John, Annalise and their small boys, Angus and Hamish.

0:31:060:31:09

Oh, you CAN see a bit of the view.

0:31:090:31:11

John is originally from Scotland

0:31:110:31:14

but moved Down Under with his Australian wife two years ago,

0:31:140:31:17

so they know all about raising a young family on the Gold Coast.

0:31:170:31:22

Wow.

0:31:220:31:24

-Mightily impressive, isn't it?

-Well, it's quite nice behind all the cloud there.

0:31:240:31:28

The Springbrook National Park

0:31:280:31:30

consists of 8,000 acres of tropical rainforest

0:31:300:31:33

and offers stunning views across the mountains.

0:31:330:31:37

Chris is loving it, but Debs hates heights and would rather hang back.

0:31:370:31:41

It's a lovely view, Debs. We can all vouch for that.

0:31:410:31:44

OK. Thank you.

0:31:440:31:46

I'm all right here, but I just don't like being right on the edge.

0:31:460:31:50

Cos if it gives way, I can just take a step back and they can all go

0:31:500:31:54

and I'll stop here.

0:31:540:31:57

If Chris and Debs decide to settle in Australia,

0:31:570:32:00

they're keen to start their own family.

0:32:000:32:03

You think, yeah, this is a great place to start a family.

0:32:030:32:05

You look around, you see the facilities, activities, parks for kids to lark in.

0:32:050:32:09

It seems relatively safe.

0:32:090:32:12

And then you start drifting off and thinking about

0:32:120:32:14

my mum and dad and Debs's mum and dad,

0:32:140:32:17

the rest of the family not seeing our child grow up.

0:32:170:32:21

So, yeah, we do think about it.

0:32:210:32:23

We try not to let it weigh on our mind too much because...

0:32:230:32:26

..if it did, we wouldn't do anything.

0:32:260:32:29

We wouldn't think about coming down here.

0:32:290:32:32

Chris and Debs want to learn as much as they can from John and Annalise

0:32:320:32:37

about raising a family in Australia.

0:32:370:32:41

This seems like an OK place to bring up kids.

0:32:410:32:43

Was that a contributing factor when you decided to come back over here?

0:32:430:32:47

I think, in a way, yes.

0:32:470:32:49

I think the one thing that swayed me was when you see a class of kids from the local school

0:32:490:32:54

down at the beach with their surfboards,

0:32:540:32:56

and they're out having a surfing lesson at school.

0:32:560:32:59

-Right.

-You just sort of go, "There's something quite good about this."

0:32:590:33:03

-Yeah.

-ALL LAUGH

0:33:030:33:07

So it's definitely worth the upheaval and the fact that you are...

0:33:070:33:10

Look, there's no denying that it's not an upheaval. It is.

0:33:100:33:13

You move your entire house and life.

0:33:130:33:17

I think you've got to look at your reasons for moving.

0:33:170:33:22

Why do you want to live here? Why don't you want to live in the UK?

0:33:220:33:26

And I think if you tot them all up

0:33:260:33:30

and you come down on the side of living in Australia,

0:33:300:33:32

I think it's a great place to live.

0:33:320:33:35

Back in the UK, Chris and Debs have an active social life,

0:33:370:33:40

but if they move to Australia, they'll be on their own.

0:33:400:33:44

So they've come to the local rugby club social to meet some potential new friends.

0:33:440:33:49

The man of the hour. Chris. Welcome down to the club, mate. How are you doing?

0:33:490:33:53

-Yeah, not too bad. You?

-Not too bad.

0:33:530:33:55

We've got a couple of little fellas lined up for you.

0:33:550:33:57

-See this Fijian fella here?

-Oh, yeah. The small guy?

0:33:570:34:01

Take him up first, you reckon?

0:34:010:34:04

All right, guys. Go 20 push-ups altogether on Chris.

0:34:080:34:10

Chris, you call it. Everybody on Chris. Listen to him. 20 push-ups, Chris.

0:34:100:34:15

Two, three, four, five, six...

0:34:170:34:21

As Chris's love of rugby is put to the test,

0:34:210:34:24

there's one big issue preying on Debs's mind.

0:34:240:34:27

My thoughts about Australia are probably a bit mixed,

0:34:270:34:32

because even though everybody's really friendly,

0:34:320:34:35

mainly my reservations are about leaving my family, my friends.

0:34:350:34:40

So it's still that big decision

0:34:400:34:45

of whether we should come out or not.

0:34:450:34:47

So we've got a lot to think about, but it's definitely the right decision

0:34:470:34:51

coming to have a look at everything and see how things are going.

0:34:510:34:54

And, yeah, we'll just take it from there.

0:34:540:34:57

Good friends you've known for years can never be replaced,

0:34:570:35:00

and the thought of loved ones is obviously tugging at Debs's heart.

0:35:000:35:04

How will this affect their decision?

0:35:040:35:07

Since we've arrived here in Australia, we've met a number of people.

0:35:070:35:10

Really friendly. It's a great atmosphere. It's really sociable.

0:35:100:35:15

But I can't stop thinking about our friends in the UK.

0:35:150:35:18

And therefore, I'm going to vote...

0:35:180:35:20

UK.

0:35:230:35:24

I'm in the middle.

0:35:250:35:28

What are you thinking?

0:35:280:35:30

It's difficult, cos we need friends out here if we live out here,

0:35:300:35:33

but we also still need our friends at home.

0:35:330:35:36

Cos even though we're thousands of miles away, we'll still need them.

0:35:360:35:39

Guys that we have met since we've come out here - brilliant.

0:35:390:35:42

-But I feel like voting for Australia is betraying our friends that we've got in the UK.

-Yeah.

0:35:420:35:46

Whether we come or not, we'll still need our friends in the UK.

0:35:460:35:49

It's just a really difficult decision to make.

0:35:490:35:52

It's definitely difficult to leave people back home. Definitely.

0:35:520:35:55

Anyone in particular you were thinking of?

0:35:550:35:57

Um...

0:35:570:35:59

Yeah.

0:36:000:36:02

Um, there is a few.

0:36:050:36:07

But...

0:36:070:36:09

..to be perfectly honest, we don't see a huge amount of each other,

0:36:090:36:12

but it's just that we're just always on the other end of the phone.

0:36:120:36:16

And I know that that would probably happen here, but...

0:36:160:36:19

We'd be able to phone each other probably just as much.

0:36:200:36:23

But it's just really hard. Yeah.

0:36:230:36:26

Mmm.

0:36:270:36:29

Just the thought of leaving friends and family behind

0:36:300:36:34

is clearly very difficult for Debs.

0:36:340:36:37

Even after 12 moves in 14 years, it doesn't get any easier,

0:36:370:36:43

and it's harder still

0:36:430:36:45

when you're moving to the other side of the world.

0:36:450:36:49

The moment that Debs is dreading -

0:36:490:36:53

hearing messages from friends and family back home.

0:36:530:36:55

-Hi, Debs.

-Hello, Deborah.

0:36:550:36:58

Hi, Chris. Hi, Debs.

0:36:580:37:00

Hi, Debs and Chris. I hope you're enjoying yourself out there.

0:37:000:37:03

I'm sure you are.

0:37:030:37:05

Chris is a loving, caring brother to me.

0:37:050:37:08

He's funny. He makes me laugh. He makes the whole family laugh.

0:37:080:37:12

He's very caring, very thoughtful, very loving,

0:37:120:37:15

and very supportive as a son.

0:37:150:37:17

You couldn't ask for a better son, to be quite honest.

0:37:170:37:21

We're really, really good friends.

0:37:210:37:22

Obviously we're sisters, but we're the best of friends.

0:37:220:37:26

Basically, she's probably my soul mate.

0:37:260:37:28

There's a big age difference - 12 years - but, um...

0:37:280:37:32

Oh, I can't do this. Sorry.

0:37:320:37:34

I can't speak about her.

0:37:340:37:38

Even though we don't see each other often, we are close.

0:37:380:37:41

Um, she's my baby.

0:37:410:37:44

The dogs are immensely important to him and Debs.

0:37:440:37:48

They're a big part of their lives and everything is geared round...

0:37:480:37:53

..what they do is geared round the dogs.

0:37:530:37:57

They've been thinking about starting a family for a while,

0:37:570:38:00

but obviously since they started the process of applying for their visas for Australia,

0:38:000:38:05

it's something they've sort of put to the back of their minds.

0:38:050:38:08

I think if Chris and Debs were to have a family,

0:38:080:38:11

I would miss my niece or nephew, whichever it would be.

0:38:110:38:16

Yeah, that would be a big hole in my heart, I think.

0:38:160:38:18

It's Chris and Debs's life in Australia, and if that's what they want,

0:38:180:38:22

then I'd have to forfeit a little hug and a cuddle

0:38:220:38:26

and make up for it when we did see them.

0:38:260:38:29

And like I say, we'd like to form that relationship one way or another,

0:38:290:38:32

so that at least our grandchildren would know,

0:38:320:38:35

"Oh, it's Grandma and Grandad from York."

0:38:350:38:37

I'd just miss everything about them, really.

0:38:370:38:39

They're both real close and dear friends.

0:38:390:38:42

I'd miss them a lot.

0:38:420:38:44

We're also getting married as well, in September,

0:38:440:38:46

so I'd be absolutely gutted if they were to miss that.

0:38:460:38:49

The thing I'd miss the most about Debs is...

0:38:490:38:51

..well, there's not just one thing.

0:38:510:38:53

It's just everything. I'd miss Debs, full stop. That's it.

0:38:530:38:57

There's nothing more to say about that. I'd just miss her.

0:38:570:39:00

We're obviously going to miss you,

0:39:000:39:02

but, of course, it's your life and all Dad and I want

0:39:020:39:07

is whatever you want.

0:39:070:39:09

And make the most of the life that you've got

0:39:090:39:12

and that's all we can say and we wish you both the best.

0:39:120:39:16

Um, love you to bits.

0:39:170:39:21

Um, I just...

0:39:210:39:23

Can't explain, really. It's just because she's everything.

0:39:260:39:30

We just love her a lot. Mmm.

0:39:320:39:34

It's a long way away.

0:39:350:39:37

It's a long way away.

0:39:370:39:39

They say the world's getting smaller,

0:39:390:39:43

but it's still a long way away.

0:39:430:39:45

You all right?

0:39:480:39:49

Yeah.

0:39:490:39:51

Mmm.

0:39:510:39:52

Yeah, I'm...

0:39:540:39:56

-It's weird, isn't it?

-Mm-hm.

0:39:580:40:01

Seeing them on telly. Not something you get every day.

0:40:010:40:05

They all said, you know, "We'll miss you,

0:40:050:40:07

"but you do what's right for you."

0:40:070:40:10

-Happy that everyone is supportive of whatever decision we're going to make.

-Yeah.

0:40:100:40:15

Um...

0:40:150:40:17

-That thing with Kev, about the wedding.

-Yeah. Yeah.

0:40:170:40:19

They would be gutted if we couldn't make it.

0:40:190:40:21

Yeah.

0:40:210:40:23

It's always tough hearing messages from loved ones.

0:40:280:40:33

For Chris and Debs, will the pain of leaving family behind

0:40:330:40:36

be outweighed by the opportunities of a new life in Australia?

0:40:360:40:41

It's the end of the Wilsons' trial week in Australia

0:40:460:40:49

and there's a lot to think about.

0:40:490:40:52

Chris and Debs started full of hope.

0:40:520:40:54

Looking forward to being here, seeing everything, finding out what everything's all about,

0:40:540:40:59

and just putting it all together and seeing how it pans out.

0:40:590:41:01

But the properties were a let-down.

0:41:010:41:04

First impressions weren't good.

0:41:040:41:05

This property's not for us. It's too small.

0:41:050:41:09

-That's it. It's not for us.

-Let's go, then.

-Let's go.

0:41:090:41:11

And they experienced what Australia could offer the children they so desperately want.

0:41:110:41:16

Mightily impressive, isn't it?

0:41:160:41:18

You think about, yeah, this is a great place to start a family.

0:41:180:41:21

Then you start drifting off and thinking about the rest of the family

0:41:210:41:24

not seeing our child grow up.

0:41:240:41:27

And the thoughts of loved ones left behind proved too much for Debs.

0:41:270:41:31

I can't do this. Sorry.

0:41:310:41:33

Um, love her to bits. She's my baby.

0:41:330:41:37

To be perfectly honest, we don't see a huge amount of each other,

0:41:370:41:41

but it's just really hard.

0:41:410:41:42

Yeah.

0:41:420:41:44

So, will the emotional tug of leaving everyone behind be too great?

0:41:440:41:49

Or will the chance of a new life in Australia

0:41:490:41:52

be too hard to turn their backs on?

0:41:520:41:54

It's time to vote.

0:41:540:41:56

It's been an amazing, fantastic opportunity coming out here.

0:41:560:41:59

The things that we've found out and seen.

0:41:590:42:01

It goes without saying that the weather is absolutely fantastic for us and for the dogs.

0:42:010:42:05

We loved it here and we just think it's fab in all aspects.

0:42:050:42:10

And for that reason we're going to vote...

0:42:100:42:13

-Australia.

-Australia.

0:42:150:42:17

-Yay!

-BOTH LAUGH

0:42:180:42:22

At least we agreed on something, haven't we? Is that the first time or something?

0:42:220:42:27

But even with a big decision made, saying goodbye is hard to do.

0:42:290:42:33

The reservations, probably, about leaving family and friends behind,

0:42:330:42:38

because everything else, for here,

0:42:380:42:40

is just too good an opportunity to miss.

0:42:400:42:43

So, best pack your suitcase and save your money, cos you're coming out for a holiday.

0:42:430:42:48

It's been a week of surprises for Chris and Debs,

0:42:530:42:57

but in the end, they both agree their future lies in Australia.

0:42:570:43:02

Join us again next time when we follow another family

0:43:020:43:06

who are Wanted Down Under.

0:43:060:43:07

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:43:160:43:20

E-mail [email protected]

0:43:200:43:24

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