0:00:02 > 0:00:05If your marriage was at breaking point because of your partner's job,
0:00:05 > 0:00:09how far would you go to save it?
0:00:09 > 0:00:10Back in 2015,
0:00:10 > 0:00:14the Holroyds were struggling to balance work and family life.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17To be honest, me and Simon have come to the end of the road.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21A week in Australia showed that moving there could be the answer.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24When I'm not away, it's bliss, because there's never no arguments.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27It has just been amazing. It's been great to spend time together.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31One year on and we'll find out where the family now call home.
0:00:31 > 0:00:32I says, "You might as well...
0:00:32 > 0:00:35"We might as well give up the idea now."
0:00:55 > 0:00:58More than 30 times bigger than the UK,
0:00:58 > 0:01:00and the sixth-largest country in the world,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Australia is a nation built on immigration -
0:01:03 > 0:01:06with a warm climate, cosmopolitan cities
0:01:06 > 0:01:09and an estimated 50% of the population living less
0:01:09 > 0:01:12than five miles from the coast,
0:01:12 > 0:01:16it's easy to see why thousands of British families emigrate each year,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19in search of their happy ever after in the sunshine.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Simon Holroyd's working away from home five days a week
0:01:25 > 0:01:29had left his and Helen's relationship in ruins.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32All the couple wanted was a normal family life,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35and Helen believed Australia could be the answer.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39After a week experiencing what life there could be like,
0:01:39 > 0:01:43the family faced a life-changing decision -
0:01:43 > 0:01:47whether to stay in the UK or make the move down under.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52The family's trial week began with almost 22 hours in the air,
0:01:52 > 0:01:56flying from Manchester to Brisbane via Dubai.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Dad Simon was relieved when they finally touched down in Australia
0:01:59 > 0:02:01for the first time.
0:02:01 > 0:02:02I'm absolutely worn out.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04This one was sleeping on my lap.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07- Yeah, and she was snoring. You were snoring!- She was snoring, yeah.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09- No, you were snoring. - You were snoring.- You were!
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Harry had already spotted a difference from home...
0:02:11 > 0:02:14To be honest, it's a really hot country.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17..and Mum admitted she was feeling overwhelmed.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19I don't how I feel.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22I'm excited to be here, but I'm nervous, I'm scared...
0:02:22 > 0:02:24It's decision time, isn't it?
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Helen was absolutely right.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32Ahead of the family lay a week that could change their lives forever.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41In 2015, the Holroyds - dad Simon, mum Helen,
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Harry who was eight and Alexa who was five -
0:02:43 > 0:02:45were living in West Yorkshire.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47YELLING AND LAUGHTER
0:02:47 > 0:02:52Simon and Helen met in 2006 and got engaged just five months later.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Our relationship when we first got together was brilliant, wasn't it?
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Simon's job as a full-time welder often took him away from home,
0:02:59 > 0:03:03but, when they became parents, things became harder to handle.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08As soon as we had Harry, that's when it all changed.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Simon had tried swapping welding for a job closer to home, in an attempt
0:03:12 > 0:03:15to be around more, but financially it hadn't worked out.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18After my first month, it was basically...
0:03:18 > 0:03:21- What you earn in a week.- ..what I could earn near enough in a week
0:03:21 > 0:03:23from doing the job which I do now.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27With two children to feed, Simon returned to welding,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30and for the previous five months had been working in central London
0:03:30 > 0:03:32from Monday to Friday every week.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36My alarm goes off on Monday morning at 2.15.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39I generally leave the house at about 2.45,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42travel down to London, and work until six o'clock at night.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44It's horrendous, to be honest.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47While Simon grafted down south,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Helen juggled work with looking after Harry and Alexa...
0:03:50 > 0:03:52It's like being a single mum.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54I know a lot of people who are in the same boat,
0:03:54 > 0:03:55people that are single,
0:03:55 > 0:03:59but I'm not single and it's not how it should be.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04..and Harry and Alexa were missing time with their dad.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08I miss Daddy because he works away every day in the week.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14The ongoing situation was putting Mum and Dad's relationship at risk.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21They have arguments sometimes, because he doesn't come home
0:04:21 > 0:04:24and she wants to see him more.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26I've just had enough of it.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28I just can't stand it.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30I know.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Obviously I don't want to split up, I love him to death,
0:04:33 > 0:04:37but something's got to change...
0:04:37 > 0:04:38before it's too late.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44Inspired by stories from friends who'd already made the move,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Helen thought Australia could be the answer to their problem.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Obviously, we want to go for the nice things,
0:04:50 > 0:04:52the weather and stuff, but the main thing for me is just having you
0:04:52 > 0:04:54- come home every day.- Yeah.
0:04:54 > 0:04:55HELEN SNIFFLES
0:04:55 > 0:04:57That's why I want to go to Australia,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01because I want you to be able to come home all the time.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06Simon was willing to do whatever it took to keep his family together.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09I do love my wife and kids so much, and this is one of the only ways
0:05:09 > 0:05:13we're going to be able to spend that quality time together.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15But much as she was desperate for change,
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Helen was also torn at the prospect of being on the other side of
0:05:18 > 0:05:20the world from her mum.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23I feel torn. I feel like I've got to choose between
0:05:23 > 0:05:26you and the kids or my mum, and it just...
0:05:26 > 0:05:28It's awful.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30It was a heartbreaking choice,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33but after eight years of Simon coming and going,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36the couple were pinning all their hopes on Australia giving them
0:05:36 > 0:05:37the answers they needed.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40We're not really expecting miracles,
0:05:40 > 0:05:44but anything's got to be better than the current situation.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49The way it's been, we could end up splitting up. I... I don't know.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55I'm just praying that Australia works out how we want it to.
0:06:05 > 0:06:06For their trial week down under,
0:06:06 > 0:06:10the family stayed in a rented property in Coolum Beach,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12on the north end of Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17- Here we go.- A swimming pool!
0:06:17 > 0:06:18Oh, wow!
0:06:18 > 0:06:19Things were off to a good start.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22- Imagine having this to live in. - I know.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Inside, their home for the week looked perfect.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- Wow.- Big open plan!
0:06:29 > 0:06:33- Is that what you want?- Yeah.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35As Simon and the children headed straight for the pool,
0:06:35 > 0:06:39Helen was quickly reminded of why she was considering moving
0:06:39 > 0:06:41so far from home.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Seeing Simon and the kids like this is amazing.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46KIDS LAUGH
0:06:46 > 0:06:47This is perfect.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51This is what we want. This is why we've come to Australia.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Simon was already seeing the benefits, too.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55That's what we're searching for, really -
0:06:55 > 0:06:57some good quality time together.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04But Helen was also aware that living a lifestyle like this would mean
0:07:04 > 0:07:06leaving her mum behind.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09- I'd find it hard leaving my mum, but I've got to...- Mummy!
0:07:09 > 0:07:11I've got to think of us.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Difficult choices lay ahead in the next seven days.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19To be honest, me and Simon have come to the end of the road.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21If we don't... If we don't do this,
0:07:21 > 0:07:23I don't know what's going to happen. SHE SNIFFLES
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Back in 2015,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Helen and Simon were renting a three-bedroom townhouse
0:07:36 > 0:07:38in Cottingley, West Yorkshire.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42They had clear ideas of what they'd be looking for in Australia.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Four bedrooms, open plan, lots of space...
0:07:45 > 0:07:46A garage, that'd be nice as well,
0:07:46 > 0:07:48- cos we've always wanted a garage, haven't we?- Yeah.
0:07:48 > 0:07:49Just to put your junk in.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52South-facing garden for the barbecues in the summer.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Obviously, I'd like the swimming pool, but that... That is not...
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- That's a bonus. - It's not on my...on my list.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01With a maximum budget of £1,200 for rent each month,
0:08:01 > 0:08:03a swimming pool might have been out of the question,
0:08:03 > 0:08:06but Helen was prepared to compromise.
0:08:06 > 0:08:07Property is important,
0:08:07 > 0:08:11but it's more important that you come home every day.
0:08:11 > 0:08:12Yeah.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16To find out what kind of house they could actually have in Australia,
0:08:16 > 0:08:18we showed them three properties -
0:08:18 > 0:08:21two on budget and one which could have been their dream home.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26First stop was Sippy Downs, just an hour's drive from
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Queensland's capital city, Brisbane.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Did this three-bedroom house get things off on the right foot?
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Oh.
0:08:35 > 0:08:36Oh!
0:08:38 > 0:08:39Oh, this is gorgeous!
0:08:39 > 0:08:43- I could live in this, couldn't you? - Yeah.- Yeah?
0:08:43 > 0:08:45The open-plan living area was a hit,
0:08:45 > 0:08:48but did outside have the space they wanted?
0:08:48 > 0:08:50All the gardens are so big, aren't they?
0:08:50 > 0:08:52The amount of land that you get...
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Do you like it?
0:08:54 > 0:08:55- Do you like this house?- Yeah.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57It's lovely.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00The spacious master gave Helen something else to get excited about.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03- HELEN GASPS - A big walk-in wardrobe!
0:09:03 > 0:09:06I've always wanted a walk-in wardrobe.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09And, next door, something to make Alexa smile, too.
0:09:09 > 0:09:10Ah...
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Oh!
0:09:12 > 0:09:13Oh, that's nice, isn't it?
0:09:15 > 0:09:19The house was a hit, but with £1,200 for rent every month,
0:09:19 > 0:09:21was it somewhere they could afford?
0:09:27 > 0:09:30- Oh, wow!- Oh!- 890.
0:09:30 > 0:09:31That's cheaper than we thought.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33- That's unbelievable, that.- Mm-hmm.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36I think that that's... That is very doable.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38- Of course it is, yeah. - That's a good price.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40- Shall we go and see what else there is?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- What else we can afford?- Yeah.- Yeah. - I'm excited about it.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46£300 under budget was a great start,
0:09:46 > 0:09:49but would the next property prove as encouraging?
0:09:49 > 0:09:51Also situated in Sippy Downs,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54this traditional four-bedroom house promised plenty of what
0:09:54 > 0:09:57Helen and Simon desired.
0:09:57 > 0:09:58This looks nice.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Nice big double garage there.
0:10:01 > 0:10:02Just what they wanted.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03Oh.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05And stepping inside...
0:10:05 > 0:10:06Oh, this is gorgeous!
0:10:08 > 0:10:11I hate cooking, but I would probably quite like it here.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13- I'd enjoy it more. - Is that a promise, is it?
0:10:13 > 0:10:17Well, no, but we'll see.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19The bedrooms didn't disappoint, either.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23- Oh, what?- Oh, it's gorgeous!
0:10:23 > 0:10:24A dressing room again.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28I can't believe the size of this house.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30I know.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34It definitely wasn't short on space, and just when they thought things
0:10:34 > 0:10:37couldn't get any better, a garden with a pool.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39Oh, my God, I could cry!
0:10:40 > 0:10:43This is just the sort of thing we'd want to come out here for.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45It's amazing! Definitely, yeah.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47- We won't be able to afford this, I don't think.- No.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- This is going to cost a fortune. - No way.
0:10:50 > 0:10:51I want it.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- Do you?- I do.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55I loved the other house, but I love this even more.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Helen had really fallen for this house,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01but was it on the right side of their £1,200 rental budget?
0:11:03 > 0:11:05If we could get something like this, I'm coming.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- Definitely.- Yeah?
0:11:07 > 0:11:08It's a no-brainer.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- Oh, my God!- I was so close.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25- You're joking.- 1,165.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- Unbelievable.- Isn't it?- Ha.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30That is amazing. Wow.
0:11:30 > 0:11:31Yeah.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Yeah, I'm really shocked.
0:11:33 > 0:11:34I know, yeah.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38It had been a great day so far for the Holroyds.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39Next stop was Buderim,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42a small town overlooking the southern Sunshine Coast.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Did this three-storey house hit the spot?
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Wow.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- Wow.- Goodness me.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Spacious and modern, this place was a real show home.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- Wow.- This is unreal.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- It's massive! - SIMON LAUGHS
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- Can you imagine getting in this on a night?- Every day.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05Every day?
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Extensive gardens promised plenty of room for outside living.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11Look at the garden.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14They'd have a whale of a time in all the woods and stuff.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18But moving back inside, Helen worried it might be too big.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21- A lot of cleaning. - HELEN LAUGHS
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Upstairs, things got back on track.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27- Look at the bedroom!- Oh, wow.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29This is the master bedroom here.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34My God.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Just the standard of everything is so much better than back home,
0:12:37 > 0:12:39- isn't it?- I think so, yeah.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42The house had definitely impressed Helen and Simon,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45but did its price tag put it out of reach?
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- One, two, three... - One, two, three...
0:12:49 > 0:12:51- I was the closest.- 1,630.- 1,630.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52Hmm...
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Have we got enough money?
0:12:55 > 0:12:58I think that's a bit over.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00It was more than £400 over budget,
0:13:00 > 0:13:04but Helen and Simon weren't too disappointed.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06- Personally...- No, I know.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08- ..I preferred the other house a lot more...- Yeah, I did.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10- ..and it's cheaper.- Yeah.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Discovering the local property market had been
0:13:13 > 0:13:15a largely positive experience for the Holroyds.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Property one was a hit with the whole family and well within budget.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Property two bowled them over with the pool Helen wanted,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29and at a price they could afford.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Delivering the wow factor,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34the final property of the day was the ultimate dream home.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Even discovering it was over budget
0:13:36 > 0:13:39wasn't enough to dampen Helen's spirits.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43So, how did the Holroyds vote when it came to choosing between homes in
0:13:43 > 0:13:44Australia and the UK?
0:13:54 > 0:13:56- ALL:- Australia!
0:13:57 > 0:13:59- Yay!- Yay!
0:14:01 > 0:14:02- High five!- Yeah.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13The unanimous vote for Australia had got the Holroyds' week off
0:14:13 > 0:14:15to a promising start,
0:14:15 > 0:14:19but Helen and Simon both knew the Australian dream could quickly fade
0:14:19 > 0:14:23unless Simon found a job that enabled him to be home every night
0:14:23 > 0:14:25and fund the lifestyle they wanted.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Back in the UK, his job as an arc welder meant Simon worked
0:14:31 > 0:14:34away from home every Monday to Friday.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36I really enjoy my job. I do.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38When I started doing the job, I...
0:14:38 > 0:14:41I was single. It's...
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Obviously, working away from home, it was...
0:14:43 > 0:14:45It was brilliant.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48But now with a family, the single most important thing was
0:14:48 > 0:14:51finding a similar job closer to home.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54I don't mind doing a lot of hours, as long as I could get to go home
0:14:54 > 0:14:56on a night to spend time with my family.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58That's the whole point of this.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00Helen loved her job as a classroom assistant,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03but she was prepared to put family above work.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07The most important thing for us is for Simon to get the correct job.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10I am willing to sacrifice my job for us to have the family life
0:15:10 > 0:15:13that we've wanted.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15While the children were looked after by a childminder,
0:15:15 > 0:15:19the couple set out to explore work options down under.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22With the majority of skilled workers on the Sunshine Coast commuting to
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Brisbane, we arranged for Simon to meet Joe and Martin Lewandowski
0:15:26 > 0:15:30at their industrial welding firm on the south side of the city.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33- Simon.- Hello. - Martin. Nice to meet you.
0:15:33 > 0:15:34Nice to meet you, Martin. I'm Simon.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- This is Joe, the director of Hitec. - How are you? All right?
0:15:37 > 0:15:40The pressure was on for Simon to make an impression.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45Meanwhile, Helen was meeting with teacher's aide Heila Greeff
0:15:45 > 0:15:48at Matt Flinders Anglican College in Buderim.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50It's absolutely huge, this place.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52- It is a big place.- Yeah.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53All the facilities here are pretty good.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57- Yeah. Oh, it's fantastic. - We certainly have everything here.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01- It's so much different to where I come from, completely.- OK.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03It was a good start for Helen,
0:16:03 > 0:16:07but back at the welding company, Simon's wasn't as promising.
0:16:07 > 0:16:13What I see - you have just only very basic welding.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16It looks like his skills weren't the perfect fit for this company,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19but Martin reassured Simon all was not lost.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26Um... We could get you to do TA work or labour around the yard
0:16:26 > 0:16:27or in the workshop.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32You know, we could ease you into the welding side of things slowly.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34- Yeah, yeah.- Yeah.
0:16:34 > 0:16:40So, if you were to give me an opportunity,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43what would the wage expectations be?
0:16:43 > 0:16:48At first start, you'll be looking at probably 22 to 24,
0:16:48 > 0:16:52because we'll have to really invest with you.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57The hourly rate meant an annual salary of around £25,000,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00but that would increase once fully trained.
0:17:00 > 0:17:07Then you will probably look at between 28 and probably 38.
0:17:07 > 0:17:08Right.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Even longer term, that was just slightly more than what
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Simon already earned in the UK, but the big difference was
0:17:14 > 0:17:17he'd be able to go home when his day's work was done.
0:17:17 > 0:17:18I just want to be at home.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20I don't want to work away any more, you know?
0:17:20 > 0:17:23If you do get to work here with us,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26then you will be with your wife and kids.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29That was exactly what Simon wanted to hear.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Back at the college, Helen was getting a handle on
0:17:32 > 0:17:35her prospects down under.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38So, what kind of qualifications would you need?
0:17:38 > 0:17:42Most teacher assistants here have a TAFE qualification.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44And is that something that I could do over here?
0:17:44 > 0:17:46- You definitely could.- Yeah.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50And you might even find that you would get recognition for your
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- experience and the other course that you've already done.- Right.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Qualifying could take up to two years, but Helen wasn't put off.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59That's great.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01So, assuming she could find a paid job,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04all she needed to know now was how much she could earn.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08For a teacher assistant that works the full five-day week,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- we're at about 35,000 per year. - Right.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14- That's quite a lot more than what I'm on.- Is it? OK.- Yeah.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18That was the equivalent of around £17,500,
0:18:18 > 0:18:22almost double what she was earning doing the same job in the UK.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Helen was impressed.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28I would love my children to come to a school like this,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32and I would love to work in a school like this. It's just amazing.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34It had been an informative day for the couple,
0:18:34 > 0:18:38achieving a better work-life balance would come at a cost for Simon,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41but was it a price he was willing to pay
0:18:41 > 0:18:45when it came to choosing between work in Australia and the UK?
0:18:48 > 0:18:50- Australia!- Australia!
0:18:52 > 0:18:53- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:19:00 > 0:19:05Having Simon home every night would be enough to transform family life.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07To give them a glimpse of how they could spend
0:19:07 > 0:19:08their new-found spare time,
0:19:08 > 0:19:12the Holroyds set off on a typically Aussie day out.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16The family took a ferry to Fraser Island,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19the largest sand island in the world.
0:19:19 > 0:19:20Massive.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25Almost 75 miles long and 14 miles wide, there was plenty to see.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29This is like paradise.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33After a short trek through it, the family stopped off for some lunch.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36So, what do you think to Australia altogether, then?
0:19:36 > 0:19:37- Really good.- Do you like it?
0:19:37 > 0:19:39- I love it.- Mm-hmm.- I really do.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42The day was rounded off on the beach,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45giving everyone an opportunity to dip their toe in the water
0:19:45 > 0:19:49and find out if typical Aussie living was really for them.
0:19:51 > 0:19:52Definitely ten out of ten.
0:19:52 > 0:19:53It's just been amazing,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55and if we can get this every weekend,
0:19:55 > 0:19:57it's a no-brainer, isn't it?
0:19:57 > 0:20:00The day had given the couple a chance to reflect on
0:20:00 > 0:20:03their relationship and how much a move could mean to them.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07You sort of lose touch with each other
0:20:07 > 0:20:09and, obviously, with him working away, it's just not the same,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12but being over here, it's...
0:20:12 > 0:20:14We're kind of falling in love again.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19When I'm not away, it's bliss, because there's never no arguments.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23And as for the kids, it's great to spend good quality time together
0:20:23 > 0:20:25as one big unit, really.
0:20:25 > 0:20:26Yay!
0:20:28 > 0:20:32But living this life would mean Helen saying goodbye to her mum.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35I'm not going to start crying again, but...
0:20:40 > 0:20:41..it would be difficult.
0:20:44 > 0:20:45The decision is huge.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50It's massive. It's leaving everything that we know behind.
0:20:50 > 0:20:51Erm...
0:20:51 > 0:20:53It's going to be difficult - very difficult.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58Helen faced a heart-wrenching choice come the end of the week,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00but for now, it was time to see if the family would choose
0:21:00 > 0:21:03a lifestyle in Australia or the UK.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13- ALL:- Australia!
0:21:15 > 0:21:17- Have we all got the same? - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- That was going to be a definite, wasn't it?- Definitely, yeah.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21Fab.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32The whole family were enjoying what Australia could potentially offer,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35but Simon and Helen knew their chances of getting the life
0:21:35 > 0:21:38they wanted could be washed out to sea
0:21:38 > 0:21:41if finances didn't work out in their favour.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45While the children played outside, Mum and Dad sat down to compare
0:21:45 > 0:21:47living costs in Australia with the UK.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51They started with their weekly food shop.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52All right. 3p difference on carrots.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54That's neither here nor there, is it?
0:21:54 > 0:21:58OK, butter - £2 cheaper.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59£2 cheaper?
0:21:59 > 0:22:00Yeah.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03That's a bonus, cos I love butter.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04A quick run through the shopping list
0:22:04 > 0:22:07revealed how much more they'd pay for food down under.
0:22:10 > 0:22:11£17.24.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14I thought it was going to be a lot worse than that, actually.
0:22:14 > 0:22:15That's not so bad at all.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Almost £17 more per month didn't faze the couple,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21but moving on to the bigger monthly bills...
0:22:21 > 0:22:23The rent - we're going on that second house,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25the one with the swimming pool that we preferred.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27- Yeah, that's... - It's quite a bit more.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- It's about double, that.- Yeah.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Overall, the couple's outgoings would be
0:22:32 > 0:22:37£2,708 every month in Australia -
0:22:37 > 0:22:41almost £800 more than they were spending in the UK.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43That is a lot.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47It was a huge amount of money, and things went from bad to worse.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56In the UK, they had £1,300 left over after bills every month,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59but in Australia, they'd be £20 in the red.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01That's... Yeah, that's fine.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05Well, it's not, but what about once we're qualified?
0:23:05 > 0:23:07- Once we're qualified... - You know, if we're doing the jobs
0:23:07 > 0:23:10that we both want to come out and do.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Desperate to make the finances work,
0:23:12 > 0:23:16the couple recalculated based on Simon being a welder
0:23:16 > 0:23:18and Helen a classroom assistant.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22When the sums were done, the result was much more favourable.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24That's £1,700 better off.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29£415.73 more than what we've got back home.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Yeah, more than what we already save.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Right.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37- That's good.- So, £415.- Mm-hmm.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40In the long run, the couple would be financially better off,
0:23:40 > 0:23:42but had the figures done enough to make them
0:23:42 > 0:23:44choose Australia over the UK?
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Are we going to make a vote?
0:23:52 > 0:23:53Australia.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57- Undecided? - It's just the money, isn't it?
0:23:57 > 0:23:58So that's why I'm...
0:23:58 > 0:23:59Yeah.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07They'd been united all week,
0:24:07 > 0:24:10but fearing for their short-term finances had left Helen undecided
0:24:10 > 0:24:14about the move, and the greatest hurdle was still to come.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20Harry and Alexa had chosen to join Mum and Dad to watch messages from
0:24:20 > 0:24:22their loved ones back home.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24- Go on, then, get the remote, Harry. - Yeah.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30- Hi.- Hi, Helen and Simon.
0:24:30 > 0:24:31Hi, Harry and Alexa.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Hi, guys!
0:24:33 > 0:24:35We wish we could be there with you.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Hope you've had a great time in Brisbane this week.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43As a family, I think they are pretty solid.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Helen's very family-orientated.
0:24:46 > 0:24:47The kids are very important to her.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Simon's one of me best friends.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52He's a good lad - a really good lad.
0:24:54 > 0:24:55Selfishly, I would hate it if they went...
0:24:55 > 0:24:58- Yeah.- ..but I think it'd be an amazing experience for them,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01and I think it would change their lives.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03I think the main thing is going to be leaving her mum.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Yeah.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Ever since she talked about Australia,
0:25:07 > 0:25:11deep down I've known that she'll do it - that she'll go.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13And it's the right thing for them.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17It doesn't mean it's the right thing for me.
0:25:19 > 0:25:26I won't see them in real life again.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30They've said we can go out there for a holiday,
0:25:30 > 0:25:35but with my various health problems, we've no chance.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38CRYING
0:25:43 > 0:25:47I don't want her to go,
0:25:47 > 0:25:49but I know that's being selfish.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57I know there are some ways of seeing them every day,
0:25:57 > 0:26:01but it's not the same as holding your child in your arms
0:26:01 > 0:26:03and holding your grandchildren.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05HELEN'S MUM SOBS
0:26:05 > 0:26:08Follow your heart. If you think it's right, then do it.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10You've got to give it a go.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Just take this opportunity and just grab it with both hands.
0:26:14 > 0:26:19If your life's going to be better, go for it for, love.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22We'll support you every step of the way.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24I'll always be here.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26I love you, all of you.
0:26:28 > 0:26:29Bye.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33HELEN SOBS
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Yeah. Come on, Alexa.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38I'd miss everybody so much.
0:26:38 > 0:26:39What about your mum and dad?
0:26:41 > 0:26:43I didn't expect that at all.
0:26:43 > 0:26:44I thought...
0:26:44 > 0:26:46I thought they would come over and see us,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49but she's saying that they probably wouldn't be able to
0:26:49 > 0:26:51because of her health.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53HELEN SNIFFLES
0:26:53 > 0:26:56We're going to go back and see them. Don't worry.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02Hearing from loved ones had proved heartbreaking
0:27:02 > 0:27:05for both Helen and Simon.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08As the family prepared to choose where they'd spend their future,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11could the human cost of moving mean the dream life,
0:27:11 > 0:27:15and potentially Simon and Helen's marriage, was over for good?
0:27:18 > 0:27:22The family's trial week had more than lived up to expectations.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Bringing the kids to Australia,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28it definitely offers a lot more than what...
0:27:28 > 0:27:31what they're getting in the UK, at the moment.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Yesterday just proved the sort of fun we could have.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36The kids miss their dad.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38That's why we want to come out here,
0:27:38 > 0:27:40so we can spend more time as a family.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44But while the week had shown what life could be like,
0:27:44 > 0:27:48it had also reinforced Helen's angst over choosing between what was best
0:27:48 > 0:27:50for her family and leaving her mum.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52I'm so confused at the moment.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55I feel if we don't... If we don't make this move,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58then our marriage might end.
0:28:01 > 0:28:06But then again, if we come out here, am I going to be so
0:28:06 > 0:28:10devastated that I'm away from my family that we'll just argue anyway?
0:28:11 > 0:28:14To be honest, this is what we do really need.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21We do need a definite change from the UK life, that is...
0:28:21 > 0:28:22that is 100%.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24We need something to change.
0:28:26 > 0:28:27It's difficult.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Why does Australia have to be on the other side of the world?
0:28:32 > 0:28:33With emotions running high,
0:28:33 > 0:28:37the time had come for the family to choose once and for all if Australia
0:28:37 > 0:28:40really was the answer to their prayers.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49- Australia!- Australia!
0:28:49 > 0:28:50Yay!
0:28:52 > 0:28:55- Oh, I wasn't sure whether you'd vote Australia, Alexa.- No.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59- I thought you might... I thought you might say you wasn't sure.- Yeah.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02- Definitely Australia?- Australia. And you, Harry, yeah?
0:29:02 > 0:29:04- Yeah.- Yeah.- Brilliant.
0:29:04 > 0:29:05I'm glad we've all chosen Australia.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08I do... I do think it was a hard decision.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10I'm going to start crying again in a minute.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12Do you think this has got everything to offer, then?
0:29:12 > 0:29:15- And more, yeah.- Definitely, yeah. - Definitely, yeah.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19I think... I think, if we don't give it a go, we'd regret it.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22- Definitely, yeah.- Definitely. We need to give it a shot, don't we?
0:29:22 > 0:29:24- Especially for these two, don't we? - Yeah.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26- Yeah?- Yeah, definitely.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28- Come on, let's go. - Let's go. Come on.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33It had been a life-changing week for the Holroyds,
0:29:33 > 0:29:36and it looked like they were all set to take the leap
0:29:36 > 0:29:39and start afresh on the other side of the world.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46So, 12 months later,
0:29:46 > 0:29:51it's time to find out if the family are now living at home or away.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57It's September 2016 and the Holroyds are living in...
0:29:57 > 0:30:00West Yorkshire in the UK,
0:30:00 > 0:30:04but they're currently in the process of packing up their lives to move to
0:30:04 > 0:30:06the other side of the world.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09Right. What else do we need to do? Take these pictures down, look.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12The trial week had convinced Helen and Simon Australia was where
0:30:12 > 0:30:14their family's future lay.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16It gave me a really good insight into what Australia
0:30:16 > 0:30:18would be like to live for real.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20It went really well, to be fair.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23Time spent down under saw the country capture everyone's hearts.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26I love the swimming pools, the beaches,
0:30:26 > 0:30:29and eating ice creams every day.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31The weather was great.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33We spent a lot of time down at the beach.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35And all the people were really kind.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37And I can't wait to go there again.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40We were just all really happy. It was really good.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42When the whole family voted for Oz at the end of the week,
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Helen couldn't quite take it in.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47It was quite emotional, again, for me,
0:30:47 > 0:30:49cos that's all I seem to do.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51It was a relief, to be honest, knowing that we're...
0:30:51 > 0:30:54You know, we all wanted to do the same thing.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58After the trial week, the family stayed on to explore further.
0:30:58 > 0:31:02We basically moved in with our friends for ten days.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05- Yeah, yeah. - Ten days, an extended stay.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07We had their car and we had a key to the house,
0:31:07 > 0:31:08and so it was just like...
0:31:08 > 0:31:10We pretty much lived how we would live.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12Yeah, yeah, in the same kind of house that we'd have
0:31:12 > 0:31:14- and all that kind of stuff.- Yeah.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17- So, that was a good insight, wasn't it, to what we'd do?- Yeah.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19Yeah, I think we had a good sample of...
0:31:19 > 0:31:22- Australian living.- ..the Australian way of life, to be fair.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27The Holroyds headed back to the UK convinced the country could
0:31:27 > 0:31:30offer them the normal family life they've been craving,
0:31:30 > 0:31:33but the long journey home gave Helen pause for thought.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37I think we had three plane journeys and it was...
0:31:37 > 0:31:39It was just forever, absolutely forever.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43She decided on the way back that she didn't think she'd be able to do it.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46All I kept thinking is, "I can't. I can't. It's too far."
0:31:47 > 0:31:51However, her doubts were soon dispelled when the reality of life
0:31:51 > 0:31:53in the UK hit home.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56I went back to work, he was working away,
0:31:56 > 0:31:59and the weather started getting bad again and...
0:31:59 > 0:32:02She phoned me up a couple of days after she been back at work
0:32:02 > 0:32:03and pretty much said...
0:32:03 > 0:32:06"I don't want this. I don't want to live like this any more."
0:32:06 > 0:32:08"I want to get out of here." I want to give it a go."
0:32:08 > 0:32:10So, we got straight on with it, didn't we?
0:32:10 > 0:32:13We just started planning straight away.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Decision made, they started the lengthy process of
0:32:16 > 0:32:17applying for a visa.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19They knew it wouldn't be easy,
0:32:19 > 0:32:22but fortunately, things were made slightly less difficult
0:32:22 > 0:32:25by Simon's work moving closer to home.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29He's been in Manchester, so he's been coming home every night,
0:32:29 > 0:32:30which has been amazing.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32We've had that little bit of quality time,
0:32:32 > 0:32:36which is pretty much what we're looking forward to when
0:32:36 > 0:32:37we arrive in Australia, yeah.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41He's here every night to help bath the kids and have tea with us.
0:32:41 > 0:32:42All that kind of normal...
0:32:42 > 0:32:46the normal lifestyle that we've wanted for ages.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52Now Daddy's at home, it's a lot better, cos there's no arguing
0:32:52 > 0:32:54with Mummy and Daddy all the time.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56All right, love. Mwah!
0:32:56 > 0:32:57- Are you OK?- Yeah, good.
0:32:57 > 0:33:04My mum, and me, and Alexa needed Dad to help us out.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08Having Simon back in their daily lives has helped confirm
0:33:08 > 0:33:10they've made the right decision.
0:33:10 > 0:33:15That has not had any impact on me at all about changing my mind.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17We've seen Australia now and it's...
0:33:17 > 0:33:18We've got it set in our sights.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20110%, I want to go.
0:33:20 > 0:33:21Yeah. Definitely, yeah.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28The couple decided to apply for a skilled working visa,
0:33:28 > 0:33:31which would give them permanent residency.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34As the main breadwinner, the onus was on Simon.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37First up, he had to sit an English language exam.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40A little bit daunting, having left school 20-odd years ago,
0:33:40 > 0:33:43having to go back into the classroom.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45He was really, really worried about that.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47Well, I even said to Helen, I says, "You might as well...
0:33:47 > 0:33:49"We might as well give up the idea now."
0:33:49 > 0:33:52So we got him some English tutoring.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54Helen, she was quite encouraging.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57She says, "You can do it. You're not as daft as you look."
0:33:59 > 0:34:00Helen was right.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03- We were in bed, weren't we, when we got the results?- Yeah.
0:34:03 > 0:34:04It was about seven o'clock in the morning.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06They came through and it said what we needed
0:34:06 > 0:34:09and you didn't believe me, did you? I was like, "We've done it!"
0:34:09 > 0:34:10Well, "You've done it!"
0:34:10 > 0:34:13- I pretty much passed it the first time round.- Yeah.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15But that was just the first step.
0:34:15 > 0:34:20Having learnt his trade on the job, Simon had no formal qualifications
0:34:20 > 0:34:24and so was faced with the arduous task of having his skills verified.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28We pretty much had to prove I had all the experience
0:34:28 > 0:34:32which was required to get the Australian qualification,
0:34:32 > 0:34:37which was also required for...to go for the visa.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39That's when we had to get an agent involved, and pay an agent to do it,
0:34:39 > 0:34:42- cos there was a lot involved, wasn't there?- Yeah.
0:34:42 > 0:34:47So, then we had to go back 20 years to when he first started welding.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50I went back and seen a couple of old work colleagues,
0:34:50 > 0:34:55who I worked with at the time, and they did some statements.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58That got sent away and then we had to wait 12 weeks.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03Simon had to authenticate at least eight years of work in order to
0:35:03 > 0:35:05qualify for a visa.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07I mean, that wait was the worst wait ever, wasn't it?
0:35:07 > 0:35:08To be fair, yeah.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11Cos if they'd have come back saying, "He's got six years,"
0:35:11 > 0:35:13then it would have been game over, wouldn't it?
0:35:13 > 0:35:16You're thinking, "Are we going to get it, or are we not?"
0:35:16 > 0:35:19And obviously you pay all this money
0:35:19 > 0:35:22and they could still turn around and say,
0:35:22 > 0:35:23"No, you're not having one."
0:35:23 > 0:35:25But all the hard work paid off,
0:35:25 > 0:35:28and, on July the 4th, 2016,
0:35:28 > 0:35:31the good news finally came through.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33I was... Well, I was just about to go to work
0:35:33 > 0:35:35and we got a call from the agent.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38Erm, it was... It was just surreal.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41I was just over the moon. Absolutely over the moon. Brilliant.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43I still have to pinch myself now, actually.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46It was like the best feeling in the world, wasn't it?
0:35:46 > 0:35:47Yeah.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52With visas approved, Helen wasted no time in moving things forward.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55She had flights booked before Simon got home from work
0:35:55 > 0:35:56that same evening.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59I spoke to him on the phone and I was like, "This date or that date?"
0:35:59 > 0:36:01You know, and he just went, "It's up to you."
0:36:03 > 0:36:06Leaving day is the 6th of November, 2016.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10With the move imminent, there hasn't been a minute to waste.
0:36:10 > 0:36:11It was all systems go.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14We had to start selling stuff in the house.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17Car-boot sales, we downgraded our cars...
0:36:17 > 0:36:19You don't realise how much is involved.
0:36:19 > 0:36:24Yeah, I can just...carry it.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26We booked the shipping company to come in, as well.
0:36:26 > 0:36:31Pretty much here for 12 hours, wrapping and packing the house away.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35Which then, it's pretty much one of the points when you realise just
0:36:35 > 0:36:38exactly what you are doing.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42- So, we've been in this house empty, haven't we, for two weeks?- Yeah.
0:36:42 > 0:36:43- It's been like camping in an empty house.- Yeah.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45The kids have loved it, haven't they?
0:36:45 > 0:36:49It felt really weird, because we've never really lived like that before.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51We're sleeping on blow-up beds.
0:36:51 > 0:36:52We've got one TV.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55- Proper glamping.- Yeah, yeah, it is.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58Simon and Helen have already been making inroads
0:36:58 > 0:37:01on the work front down under.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05Erm, hopefully, I'd love to, you know, get a job back in a school.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07That'd be ideal.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09But to start with, I'm going to work with my friend for a bit.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11They've got their own business,
0:37:11 > 0:37:13so I'm going to be working with her straight away,
0:37:13 > 0:37:15so that'll bring some money in.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18Simon's been busy applying for work online.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20I'm on quite a few job sites at the moment.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23Hopefully, I want to get a job before I get there.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25- It's just to take that little bit of pressure off.- Yeah.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29Even if it's just part-time or anything like that,
0:37:29 > 0:37:32- just so you know you've got a little bit of something coming in.- Mmm.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34There's lots of work out there for him, so,
0:37:34 > 0:37:38one of them jobs has got his name on it. Definitely.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40Helen's adamant there'll be no question of
0:37:40 > 0:37:43him working away from home.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45He's not going to do it. He is not doing it.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49He's already said. It's, you know, it's a massive move.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51It's a whole new life change.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53You know, he'll do whatever's...whatever's offered.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55It doesn't have to be welding -
0:37:55 > 0:37:58as long as he's coming home every day and having that family time,
0:37:58 > 0:38:01he'll do anything. So, yeah.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04Surfing. Surf shop on the beach, or...
0:38:04 > 0:38:06In his dreams.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09They've also been busy on the house-hunting front.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13We've been looking at houses, well, for the last 18 months really.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17We're going to look at Sippy Downs, where we stayed before.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19We're going to try and look for a house before we go.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21If that doesn't happen,
0:38:21 > 0:38:23then obviously we'll be house-hunting straightaway.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27And they've already identified a school for the children.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30The kids are going to be going to school probably about a week after
0:38:30 > 0:38:33we get there, because they break up then for six weeks,
0:38:33 > 0:38:36so we want to get them into school before they break up.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Just so they can get to know a few people
0:38:38 > 0:38:40and, sort of, break them in steadily.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44- Yeah.- Because, even for them, it's going to be a huge move.
0:38:44 > 0:38:49Harry and Alexa are looking forward to their new lives down under.
0:38:49 > 0:38:54I can't wait to visit the school, the beach, the sun...
0:38:55 > 0:38:57This is slugby!
0:38:57 > 0:39:00I just can't wait to visit Australia full stop.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02I'm looking forward to living in Australia,
0:39:02 > 0:39:08because it's hot weather and the ice creams there are really nice.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15I'm looking forward to, as well, eating my lunch outside at school.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17So, it'll be nice, warm weather.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22Plans are in progress for some special send-offs.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25Well, we've got two - we've got one for the children and one for us.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28We've even written some nice invitations out
0:39:28 > 0:39:31with a little Australia flag with flip-flops on.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35Just to get everyone together, really - a final, final farewell.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39It's all happy times now, isn't it?
0:39:39 > 0:39:41- Course it is, yeah.- So, yeah.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47Helen may be putting on a brave face for now,
0:39:47 > 0:39:49but she knows, when it comes to the crunch,
0:39:49 > 0:39:52saying goodbye to her mum will be a huge wrench.
0:39:52 > 0:39:53I'm not crying.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55THEY LAUGH
0:39:57 > 0:39:59HELEN SOBS
0:40:01 > 0:40:03I knew I would end up doing this.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06There's going to be a lot of tears.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13The family are moving in with Helen's mum for a few weeks
0:40:13 > 0:40:15before they leave.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17Ooh, what have you got in here?
0:40:17 > 0:40:19My life is in this bag.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23I'm going to miss her so much - miss them all so much.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26Being under the same roof will make it even harder when the time comes
0:40:26 > 0:40:28to say goodbye.
0:40:28 > 0:40:34Oh... When I think about it, I get real butterflies in my tummy.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36It is hard for her, I know it is,
0:40:36 > 0:40:39but deep down she knows we're doing the right thing.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43Yes, I'd like to cry buckets, but I can't at this stage,
0:40:43 > 0:40:47because I can't let them see how devastated I am.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51It is absolutely devastating.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56I'm not saying goodbye to her, I'm just...
0:40:56 > 0:40:58"See you soon," you know?
0:41:02 > 0:41:05Helen's mum has already booked her flight to visit down under,
0:41:05 > 0:41:09but for Simon's family, that's not quite so easy.
0:41:09 > 0:41:14Unfortunately, my mum, she can't really get insured to fly
0:41:14 > 0:41:18cos she's got all sorts of different medical reasons.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23My dad has always said he'd probably come out...
0:41:23 > 0:41:27like, on his own, but it's...
0:41:27 > 0:41:30Obviously, they come as a pair, don't they?
0:41:30 > 0:41:35So, as the move fast approaches, are there any last-minute nerves?
0:41:35 > 0:41:39Yeah, maybe somebody wanting to come back home, maybe me,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42but I'm going to try not to.
0:41:42 > 0:41:43Smile.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45We're going to make it work.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49I'm not saying we've had a bad life,
0:41:49 > 0:41:52- but we've had issues and blah-di-blah, haven't we?- Yeah.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54And the future is just...
0:41:54 > 0:41:55It's just bright.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57Really bright, isn't it?
0:41:57 > 0:41:58Yeah.
0:42:00 > 0:42:04Despite everything and everyone they'll be leaving behind,
0:42:04 > 0:42:07the couple can't wait to start their new life down under.
0:42:07 > 0:42:12I am really confident that our future lies within Australia.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14We might even renew our wedding vows again.
0:42:14 > 0:42:15Might we?
0:42:18 > 0:42:19Eh?
0:42:19 > 0:42:20Maybe.
0:42:20 > 0:42:21Where?
0:42:21 > 0:42:24- In Australia, on the beach. - Oh, right.
0:42:24 > 0:42:25Yeah.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29We've even spoke about having another baby, but...
0:42:29 > 0:42:30I think...
0:42:30 > 0:42:31It might happen.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34I don't know. It's, erm...
0:42:34 > 0:42:36Dirty nappies again...
0:42:36 > 0:42:38Watch this space.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40We'll see.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42We've got a lot to look forward to.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45- Is that the right way round? - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48No? Which way does it go? That way?
0:42:48 > 0:42:50We're just waiting now, just waiting to get on that plane.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53This is where we're going to be living.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59Helen and Simon have decided to put their relationship
0:42:59 > 0:43:02and Harry and Alexa's future happiness first -
0:43:02 > 0:43:05a real case of love conquering all -
0:43:05 > 0:43:08and we hope the family go on to make many happy memories together
0:43:08 > 0:43:11when they embark on their new life down under.