0:00:02 > 0:00:05If starting a new life halfway around the world
0:00:05 > 0:00:08promised your family more quality time together,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11you might be sorely tempted,
0:00:11 > 0:00:15but what if it meant having to leave one family member behind?
0:00:15 > 0:00:20That was the dilemma facing the Cornish family back in 2014.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23We've caught up with them two years later to find out if they
0:00:23 > 0:00:25took the plunge or stayed put.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Pulling pints and being a travelling teacher meant James and Lisa Cornish
0:00:30 > 0:00:33hardly ever saw their two little boys...
0:00:33 > 0:00:36I would absolutely love for us to feel like a family again,
0:00:36 > 0:00:40and for me to feel like I'm a mum and a wife again.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42..so they were considering moving lock, stock and barrel
0:00:42 > 0:00:44to the other side of the world...
0:00:44 > 0:00:46I'll get more time to spend with the boys in the evenings.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49I'll be less tired because I won't be working 100 hours per week.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53..but moving to Australia would mean James saying goodbye to his daughter
0:00:53 > 0:00:55for months at a time.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58This week in Australia is going to be really important,
0:00:58 > 0:01:02because it's going to change our lives, really,
0:01:02 > 0:01:03whichever way we choose.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07Two years on, where do the Cornishes call home?
0:01:07 > 0:01:09It's something we've done before,
0:01:09 > 0:01:13but we're still, kind of, learning what it means for us here.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42With more than a quarter of its population born abroad,
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Australia's long been a dream destination for people in search of
0:01:46 > 0:01:48a better life.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53Around 34,000 UK residents flock to the country every year,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57hoping the healthy, outdoor lifestyle and prosperous economy
0:01:57 > 0:01:59will improve their standard of living.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04James and Lisa Cornish were desperate for more time together
0:02:04 > 0:02:06with sons Sammy and Louis,
0:02:06 > 0:02:10and believed Australia could be the answer.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13However, moving would come at a price,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16as James's daughter from a previous relationship would be
0:02:16 > 0:02:19left behind in the UK.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Even if the family could persuade Lauryn to visit regularly,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25James faced the prospect of being separated from her
0:02:25 > 0:02:27for most of the year.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32The Cornishes' journey began with a 10,000-mile flight from London to
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Melbourne via Dubai.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37It was the family's first time in Australia,
0:02:37 > 0:02:41and the reality of just how far they'd come had hit home.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44It really puts it into perspective how far away Australia
0:02:44 > 0:02:45is from England.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48The flight had taken its toll on Sammy and Louis,
0:02:48 > 0:02:50but Lisa and James were raring to go.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52We're really excited about the week.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54It'll be nice to see everything in the flesh,
0:02:54 > 0:02:56so we've been looking forward to it.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58If the week went according to plan,
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Lauryn faced the 20-hour flight on a regular basis.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07It means I get to see what they're doing, and be a part of their lives.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09The family faced a life-changing decision
0:03:09 > 0:03:11come the end of their trial week.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16In 2014,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19James and Lisa Cornish lived above a pub near Sheffield with
0:03:19 > 0:03:22son Sammy, who was then five, Louis, who was two,
0:03:22 > 0:03:26and James's daughter Lauryn, who was 13.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29James had been running the pub since 2013 after taking
0:03:29 > 0:03:31voluntary redundancy as an accountant,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34but being a landlord had proven much harder
0:03:34 > 0:03:35than anyone had predicted.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40I've been working much more than we expected -
0:03:40 > 0:03:42up to, sort of, 100 hours per week.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46For James, the pub has completely took over his life.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50If he's not running the business, nobody is.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Lisa's job, as an accountancy lecturer at colleges
0:03:52 > 0:03:55across the country, meant she was also missing out
0:03:55 > 0:03:57on quality time with the children.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02There have been weeks when I've left the house on a Sunday evening,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04and I haven't seen the kids until the Thursday evening.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07And there was no let-up at the weekends.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10With Lisa drafted in to help James behind the bar,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Sammy and Louis had to stay with their grandparents.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17It's a horrible feeling to feel like somebody else is...
0:04:17 > 0:04:21enjoying spending time with your kids all the time.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23The couple had reached breaking point.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26It does upset me that I can't spend the time with the boys.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30It does cause tension, just because we've both been so tired,
0:04:30 > 0:04:35erm, and so stressed with everything that it's unavoidable.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Desperate for more quality time together,
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Lisa and James were considering a drastic change -
0:04:42 > 0:04:44moving to the other side of the world.
0:04:45 > 0:04:50It might be slightly naive, but, at the moment, Australia,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53to me, I'm...
0:04:53 > 0:04:56I feel as though it's going to give us that family life together that
0:04:56 > 0:04:58we just don't have here in the UK.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01And it will strengthen our relationship
0:05:01 > 0:05:03and bring us all closer together.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06But while Australia could reunite James and Lisa with their boys,
0:05:06 > 0:05:10it would mean James leaving a daughter behind.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Lauryn's my daughter from my first marriage,
0:05:12 > 0:05:16and she spends half the time with us and half the time with her mum.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19If we do decide to move out to Australia,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22she will stay here until she's 18.
0:05:22 > 0:05:2513-year-old Lauryn was faced with the prospect of spending
0:05:25 > 0:05:29months at a time without seeing her dad and his family.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33It's just... It's not ten miles down the road any more,
0:05:33 > 0:05:35it's across the world.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37I'd miss them a lot if they went.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41But she understood their life couldn't carry on as it was.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44I want them to have a better life than over here.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47James and Lisa faced an agonising decision.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49Being a father to her and to the boys,
0:05:49 > 0:05:53it makes my decision much more difficult.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59I would miss her, and I think the boys would miss her more so.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03I think the boys really dote on her.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Lauryn could spend holidays down under,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07but if she didn't like Australia,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Lisa and James's dream could be over.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14That would be, like, a game-changer, really,
0:06:14 > 0:06:20because I don't think that I could, erm...
0:06:20 > 0:06:21spend my life without her.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26James knew something had to give if he was to spend quality time
0:06:26 > 0:06:28with his wife and young sons,
0:06:28 > 0:06:30but, to make a move work,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33he had to persuade Lauryn Australia could be her home for part of
0:06:33 > 0:06:37the year, and come to terms with being separated from her
0:06:37 > 0:06:38for months at a time.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47The family visited Melbourne,
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Australia's second most populated city
0:06:49 > 0:06:52and capital of the state of Victoria.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Their temporary home was a three-bedroom house in Williamstown,
0:06:55 > 0:06:59a popular coastal suburb 15 miles from the city centre.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Wakey-wakey!
0:07:05 > 0:07:08It was the family's first chance to see what living on
0:07:08 > 0:07:11the other side of the world could be like.
0:07:11 > 0:07:12It looks lovely.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15- Let's go in and have a look. - Come on, then.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Oh!
0:07:17 > 0:07:18It looks lovely. Open-staired.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Yeah. It's really modern, actually. I like that.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24First impressions were good, but then...
0:07:24 > 0:07:27I'm not so sure there that would be enough space.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29- No, we're used to more space than this.- Long-term.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33Upstairs, Lauryn wasn't impressed with the views.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- It's not unique.- There's no...
0:07:36 > 0:07:40real wildlife or anything to look at.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43They had just arrived, but James and Lauryn's thoughts
0:07:43 > 0:07:46were already turning towards possibly being separated.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50It's something that we've, kind of, put on the back-burner to say,
0:07:50 > 0:07:54"How do we all really feel about
0:07:54 > 0:07:57"spending four or five months apart at a time?"
0:07:57 > 0:08:00This week in Australia is going to be really important,
0:08:00 > 0:08:04because it's going to change our lives, really,
0:08:04 > 0:08:05whichever way we choose.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14It was a case of upstairs-downstairs for the Cornishes in the UK,
0:08:14 > 0:08:16living above the pub James managed.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18We've got three bedrooms.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21The boys share a room, and Lauryn's got her own bedroom as well,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23but we don't have a huge amount of space.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25It doesn't really feel like home to us.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29Whenever we sit upstairs and get any time off,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32it feels like people are in your house.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36More space was at the top of James' wish list for a property down under.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41Modern, spacious, with four or five bedrooms.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Plenty of room for the kids to play.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50James and Lisa had a budget of £250,000-£300,000
0:08:50 > 0:08:51for a home in Australia,
0:08:51 > 0:08:56but could possibly stretch further depending on their salaries.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58To give them an idea of Melbourne's property market,
0:08:58 > 0:09:00we showed them three houses -
0:09:00 > 0:09:02two based on their budget,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05and a third based on everything they wanted.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Only after they had seen each one did they find out its value.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16The search began in Werribee, a suburb 20 miles west of the city.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19With good commuting links, plenty of schools and green spaces,
0:09:19 > 0:09:23it's a family-friendly area which could have been perfect
0:09:23 > 0:09:24for the Cornishes.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26I really like the area, kind of, driving through.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29The outside wasn't overly impressive.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32It looks quite...dated.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35But appearances can be deceptive.
0:09:35 > 0:09:36Oh.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39Oh, this wasn't what I was expecting.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Now... I want to see the rest of it now.
0:09:42 > 0:09:43Yeah, I do, too.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47The property had the open-plan interiors Lisa wanted,
0:09:47 > 0:09:49but did it have the space James craved?
0:09:49 > 0:09:52I think once we get the kids' toys in here and everything,
0:09:52 > 0:09:54I think we'd struggle for space and we'd feel cramped again.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57The kitchen wasn't perfect either.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00- Certain parts of it...- Yeah. - ..feel modern and updated,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02and other parts don't.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04The house did have five bedrooms, though,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07meaning Sammy and Louis could have their own rooms,
0:10:07 > 0:10:09and Lauryn, too, if she visited,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12and there was plenty of room for storage, too.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Wow! This is a walk-in wardrobe and a half.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21It's just that everything at home is so cramped.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24So, did the house have all the space needed?
0:10:24 > 0:10:25Oh, gosh.
0:10:25 > 0:10:26- Wow.- Wow.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Not in every sense. LISA LAUGHS
0:10:29 > 0:10:31I don't know who was going to fit in that bath.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33- Louis.- Louis!
0:10:33 > 0:10:35- LAUGHTER - Oh, I can't take this seriously.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41Fortunately, the garden wasn't quite as cramped.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44This is far more what we were looking for.
0:10:44 > 0:10:45You like this one, don't you?
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Yeah, and from the windows upstairs,
0:10:47 > 0:10:51you'll have a view of the garden and the trees and things.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54The house was somewhere Lauryn could call a second home,
0:10:54 > 0:10:59but could the family afford it on their £250,000-£300,000 budget?
0:10:59 > 0:11:02OK, how much do you think this one's worth?
0:11:02 > 0:11:04210,000.
0:11:04 > 0:11:10It's going to go under the 200 mark, maybe something around 185, 190.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12I'm going to say 230.
0:11:12 > 0:11:13230?
0:11:13 > 0:11:16- OK.- Shall we have a look? - Yes, go on, then.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18- Oof!- Oof!- Oh, dear.
0:11:18 > 0:11:19Wow. 262.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21That's a lot more than I was expecting...
0:11:21 > 0:11:25- That's not justifiable, to me, at all.- No.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28It was within budget, but James and Lisa were clearly hoping for
0:11:28 > 0:11:30much more for their money.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Would property number two fit the bill?
0:11:35 > 0:11:37It was situated in Tarneit,
0:11:37 > 0:11:41just 15 miles from Melbourne's central business district.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Offering parks, schools,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46shopping centres and the modern style of housing Lisa was after,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49it could have been a perfect match.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50That's way bigger!
0:11:51 > 0:11:54- This looks nice and big. - It looks lovely.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Straight away, the property looked more promising.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- Oh, gosh, James, it goes back quite a way as well.- Wow.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04After living over a pub, all that room was definitely a bonus...
0:12:04 > 0:12:06It's got three living rooms.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10..and there was one space James was more than happy with.
0:12:10 > 0:12:11Oh, wow! This is my room!
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Yeah, so I can see, sort of, like, a little bar area in the corner.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17But the garden wasn't ideal for everyone.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Yeah, there's loads of space - it's just not two-year-old friendly.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24The house inside, though, is fantastic.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26I'm a little bit disappointed with the outside.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Downstairs had provoked mixed reactions, but, upstairs,
0:12:29 > 0:12:34the master bedroom with a balcony appealed to both Lisa and James.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37It's not like it's got an amazing view or anything like that,
0:12:37 > 0:12:40but it's green and it's pleasant.
0:12:40 > 0:12:41This is a lovely en-suite.
0:12:41 > 0:12:42His and hers sinks.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44His and hers sinks...
0:12:45 > 0:12:48This house would also give Lauryn her own bedroom,
0:12:48 > 0:12:52and that could seal the deal when it came to persuading her to visit,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56but, with a budget of between £250,000 and £300,000,
0:12:56 > 0:12:58was it affordable?
0:12:58 > 0:13:01OK, so what do you think it's worth, then?
0:13:02 > 0:13:06I'd say probably about £270,000.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09I was going to say a little bit more than that.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11I think round about £290,000, £300,000.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13- Shall we have a look?- Yeah.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Let's have a look.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Wow!
0:13:19 > 0:13:23- Spot-on.- 295.- You get a lot for your money.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26I think if we had the dream,
0:13:26 > 0:13:31it would be a new build with this space and a bigger garden.
0:13:33 > 0:13:38Next up, the dream property, a house that, if money was no object,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41could offer everything the Cornishes wanted.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44The four-bedroom bungalow was in Sanctuary Lakes,
0:13:44 > 0:13:48one of 20 modern estates making up the semirural but family-friendly
0:13:48 > 0:13:50suburb of Point Cook.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53And first impressions were good.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Every single house in this street I'd quite happily live in, I think.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Lisa was sold already.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Oh, wow.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04That is just stunning.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Oh, James!
0:14:08 > 0:14:10- Oh, my God.- Crikey.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13- And this is just the en-suite.- Yeah.
0:14:13 > 0:14:18Further down the hallway, something everyone could enjoy.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Oh, wow.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Oh, it's a proper cinema room.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Just imagine when that's got projected.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- I'd definitely come out and visit! - With everyone impressed,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32James was already wondering how he could afford it.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35I think I'd get two jobs to get this house.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- It is a dream house.- It's perfect.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41And outside, a chance for the boys to dip their toes into what life in
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Australia could be like.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48- Tickles!- How would you like to live here and have this in your garden?- Yeah!
0:14:48 > 0:14:51The house offered everything James and Lisa wanted,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54but would Lauryn be happy with it as a second home?
0:14:54 > 0:14:57It'd be worth not living with you!
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Well, it wouldn't, but
0:14:59 > 0:15:01it would at the same time,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05knowing that I'd get to come out to this for two or three months, yeah,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- maybe more.- With everyone won over,
0:15:08 > 0:15:13they were keen to find out if their £250,000 to £300,000 budget would
0:15:13 > 0:15:15be enough to buy a house like this.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22- It's going to be a lot.- I think it's going to be nearer £550,000.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25- £550,000?- Yeah.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Time to see who was right.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33- £404,000.- Oh, that's unbelievable!
0:15:33 > 0:15:35It was £100,000 over-budget.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38But... Oh, we could still have that.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40That almost makes me cry!
0:15:40 > 0:15:43I'm completely and utterly speechless that we could get
0:15:43 > 0:15:48this house in this location for that amount of money.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52It had been a day of real ups and downs for the Cornishes.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Property one was bang on budget, but short on space.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58Property two had plenty of room,
0:15:58 > 0:16:02but it just wasn't the house James and Lisa had based their dreams on.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05But property three had everything the family wanted,
0:16:05 > 0:16:09and with the right salaries could still be affordable.
0:16:09 > 0:16:14So, based on the houses that we've seen in Australia, we're voting for...
0:16:24 > 0:16:26- Australia!- Undecided.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29No surprise that we voted for the same thing,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32given how pleased we were with the last house.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34We could never afford that at home.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43Lauryn would take a bit more work,
0:16:43 > 0:16:47but seeing the dream house had got Lisa and James excited about a
0:16:47 > 0:16:49potential future in Australia.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Still, the couple knew that to afford the property,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55they'd need to be pulling in a good income.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01In the UK, Lisa had spent 11 years as an accountant before becoming an
0:17:01 > 0:17:03accountancy lecturer.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06It was a job she loved and hoped to continue Down Under.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09I'm fortunate enough to be able to teach them all levels through their
0:17:09 > 0:17:11accountancy qualification,
0:17:11 > 0:17:15and eventually see them leaving as a fully qualified accountant.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19James planned to call time on being a landlord and return to accounting.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23And research had given him confidence work would be available.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26Mainly we've looked at sort of the central government roles,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29which is what we're used to here in the UK.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Melbourne's a leading financial centre in Australia,
0:17:34 > 0:17:36which was good news for the couple.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39But Lisa knew just how much was at stake.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Unless we can find a job at the right salary level, there's no way
0:17:42 > 0:17:45on Earth we're going to be able to financially make the move.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50We had arranged for visa applicant Lisa to visit Box Hill Institute,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53a college east of Melbourne, where she met Colin Hardie,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Head of the Business Studies Department.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58To get a teaching job here,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01the minimum qualification is a certificate in training and assessment.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04That will take you about a month.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08You have certainly more than the minimum to get employed as a teacher.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10However, in the current environment,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13we would highly recommend more qualifications,
0:18:13 > 0:18:15higher level qualifications, breadth and depth,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18and that will maximise your chances of employment,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20and also maximise your salary.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24It sounded like Lisa might be back at school herself if she was to
0:18:24 > 0:18:27stand out from candidates chasing lecturing roles.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31Which meant more pressure for James to find the perfect job.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34To get to the bottom of accounting opportunities,
0:18:34 > 0:18:38he met Susan Drews from one of the city's prominent recruitment companies.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41So, really, looking at your experience,
0:18:41 > 0:18:45your skills in government, I believe could be very transferable into
0:18:45 > 0:18:47the state government here or a public sector environment.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49James could be in demand.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53Back at Box Hill, Lisa was keen to hear her potential salary
0:18:53 > 0:18:54if she found a job.
0:18:54 > 0:18:59Some of the jobs that I'd been looking at were in the region of £80,000 to £100,000.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01I estimate at least that you would come in at about the middle of the
0:19:01 > 0:19:07lecturer range, which would be a salary of about 60,000 to 70,000 per year.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11It was a massive £50,000 less than Lisa had hoped for,
0:19:11 > 0:19:14which could signal the end of her and James's dream.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18We would want the standard of living that would offer the boys and
0:19:18 > 0:19:21ourselves a much better lifestyle.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25If James's potential earnings weren't high enough,
0:19:25 > 0:19:29it looked like leaving Lauryn might not be an issue after all.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33So, what sort of salary do you think I'd be able to command in Australia?
0:19:33 > 0:19:37Look, I think realistically you'd be looking at anything at about that
0:19:37 > 0:19:39sort of 80,000 mark.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Which, to be honest with you, is more than what I was on in the UK.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46Lisa and James had had completely different experiences.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48So, how did it affect their vote?
0:19:48 > 0:19:52Did they choose work in Australia or the UK?
0:20:02 > 0:20:05BOTH: Australia!
0:20:05 > 0:20:09Although the salary expectations in lecturing are immediately a lot
0:20:09 > 0:20:13less, it just means that we'll have to have a rethink and maybe look at
0:20:13 > 0:20:16some different opportunities for me in the short term.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21In terms of what it'll give us as a family, moving away from the pub,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23and everything that goes with that,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26I still think we'll be better off out here.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37With Lisa prepared to consider different options,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39the couple's dream was still intact.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43But James needed to establish if the benefits Australia offered his
0:20:43 > 0:20:47family would outweigh the time he'd be spending apart from daughter Lauryn.
0:20:47 > 0:20:52A day sampling Australia's lifestyle could make all the difference.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57The Cornishes spent the day at Latrobe Golf Park in Bundoora.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02Before becoming consumed with running the pub, James was a keen golfer.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05And he hoped that if he and Lisa got more time with Sammy and Louis,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08they could all practice the sport together.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Yay!
0:21:12 > 0:21:15It was a reminder of what the move was all about.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18We don't spend a huge amount of time together as a family
0:21:18 > 0:21:23and moving to Australia would offer us the opportunity to have that time
0:21:23 > 0:21:26back, and for us to feel like a family again.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28This is fun!
0:21:28 > 0:21:31It was a real taste of what life could be like.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34And James was delighted to get quality time with his boys.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37I can honestly say I've never really seen them that happy,
0:21:37 > 0:21:39as they have been this week.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41They can go and play together,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44and even myself and Lisa are getting involved in that,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47and it's not something we can do at home.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50The family rounded their day off at the driving range.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53And James and Lauryn enjoyed some father-daughter time,
0:21:53 > 0:21:58and the chance to discuss what moving would mean for their relationship.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00So, how would you feel if we came out here?
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Well, I'd be upset, but...
0:22:03 > 0:22:05I'd be happy for you as well.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09You'd be happy to see us for two or three months per year
0:22:09 > 0:22:11rather than every week?
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Oh... I'd get used to it.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Just like I got used to not seeing you and Mum together.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21And you're not abandoning me.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- Really? Are you sure?- I'm saying that because that's how I feel.
0:22:26 > 0:22:27OK.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30It had been a fun and thought-provoking day.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34So when it came to choosing between lifestyle in Australia and the UK,
0:22:34 > 0:22:36what did they opt for?
0:22:41 > 0:22:42ALL: Australia!
0:22:42 > 0:22:46It's just nice to be able to spend time together as a family.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57A unanimous vote for Australia was all well and good,
0:22:57 > 0:23:00but with Lisa's projected salary much lower than expected,
0:23:00 > 0:23:05the family needed to find out whether they could afford to make the move.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07We had provided a breakdown of their living expenses,
0:23:07 > 0:23:10starting with their fortnightly grocery shop.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Quite a lot of the vegetables and things doubled.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Beef's a lot cheaper, chicken's a lot cheaper.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20Most things are more expensive, though, aren't they, let's face it,
0:23:20 > 0:23:24as we go down the list. 73% more expensive.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28£135 per month more on food wasn't a deal-breaker,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31but how did the bigger figures stack up?
0:23:31 > 0:23:35James and Lisa based calculations on the second property they viewed.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Gas is half the price.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40The childcare would be more expensive because we wouldn't have
0:23:40 > 0:23:43grandparents looking after the kids.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48Overall, Lisa and James would spend £600 more per month in Australia.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52The dream would live or die on their potential salaries.
0:23:52 > 0:23:57My salary would be £543 more.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Yours would be £2 less.
0:23:59 > 0:24:05We would be £70.85 better off per month in Australia.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07If Lisa lectured Down Under,
0:24:07 > 0:24:10the family would be around £70 better off each month.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15Not bad, but not enough to pay for regular flights for Lauryn.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17If I went back into accounting,
0:24:17 > 0:24:23we'd be £10,606.20 per year better off.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Even if we had the dream house,
0:24:26 > 0:24:30if I was in accounting, and you were too,
0:24:30 > 0:24:35then we'd still be £5,326 better off per year.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37It's a huge difference.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- I can't believe that. - It's a huge difference.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Lisa and James could afford the life they were desperate for,
0:24:42 > 0:24:44and flights for Lauryn.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46So how did they vote?
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Australia!
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- Are you happy? - Yeah, I'm happy again!
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Financially, Lisa and James's dream seemed achievable.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09But what about the emotional cost?
0:25:09 > 0:25:12While Sammy and Louis were looked after by a childminder,
0:25:12 > 0:25:16the rest of the family were keen to watch messages from loved ones in the UK.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Hope you're having a fantastic time.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22We don't want you to come back with a tan because we don't want to look
0:25:22 > 0:25:23pasty next to you!
0:25:23 > 0:25:27As a family, Lisa and James are really, you know, hard-working,
0:25:27 > 0:25:29dedicated to their family, to the kids.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32James is a top bloke, and, yeah, if you were to go,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34I'd miss him very much.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Lisa doesn't just do something, she overdoes it,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41if you know what I mean. She really looks into things.
0:25:41 > 0:25:46She's very sort of like, confident in herself, and the things she does.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49Because I lack in that area, it's nice, because that bit
0:25:49 > 0:25:52rubs off and then I feel confident enough to go and do things.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56So it's nice. I don't think she realises that she does that.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Lauryn's a lovely young girl.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02She has sprung from being a little girl at the beginning of last summer
0:26:02 > 0:26:05to being quite a young lady, really, hasn't she?
0:26:05 > 0:26:09And she's, yeah, she's a really good big sister to the boys, isn't she?
0:26:09 > 0:26:14Our Sammy, you know what, like, I've said to James and Lisa, you lot go,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16but leave Sammy here with me because I don't want him to go,
0:26:16 > 0:26:18I really don't!
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Louis is lovely. Louis is coming on smashing.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24I can honestly say that
0:26:24 > 0:26:26since I knew...
0:26:28 > 0:26:31..I've been the saddest that I've ever been in my life.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38I'd miss the physical contact,
0:26:38 > 0:26:44and although we'll be able to see them on Skype and talk to her
0:26:44 > 0:26:46and everything like that...
0:26:47 > 0:26:50..I would look forward to the cuddles when I do see them,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53so they'd have to save them all up.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57I know it's going to be hard when they go, if they do go.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02It's a fantastic opportunity, and if you think you can make it work,
0:27:02 > 0:27:06- then do it, because it might be one of the best decisions you've ever made.- Yeah, definitely.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10We know we've told you we'll miss you,
0:27:10 > 0:27:13but we've also said that we wouldn't stand in your way if you went,
0:27:13 > 0:27:15if you made the decision to go.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17I will really, really miss you.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Obviously I know it's going to be hard. Especially with Lauryn.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25But I want you to do what's best for you and be happy.
0:27:25 > 0:27:30Just make sure, James and Lisa, that you look at everything...
0:27:31 > 0:27:35..before you make any decisions whatsoever.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37And come back safe.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45I can see now how much it is going to affect
0:27:45 > 0:27:49me and everyone else, but I could see that before.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54It's just... How I will cope with it.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Lauryn had given her blessing for the family's move to Australia,
0:28:04 > 0:28:08but James still needed to decide if the lifestyle he and Lisa yearned
0:28:08 > 0:28:12for with their sons was worth the time he'd lose with his daughter.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Had Australia lived up to the dream?
0:28:16 > 0:28:22It's been fascinating to see the Australian culture and look round
0:28:22 > 0:28:24some fantastic houses.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Experience what Australia has got to offer for us.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30There's parts of the week that have been really good,
0:28:30 > 0:28:34parts of the week that have put my mind into doubt as to whether a move
0:28:34 > 0:28:36to Australia is right for us.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40James was still wrestling with the positive and negative implications
0:28:40 > 0:28:45- of a move, too.- This thing for me with the decision is Lauryn.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49She's my daughter, she's my first-born,
0:28:49 > 0:28:51and she means everything to me.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Obviously I'd be sad if they did choose Australia,
0:28:54 > 0:28:59but I'd much rather them be happy than to have to
0:28:59 > 0:29:01stop and...
0:29:01 > 0:29:04crush their dreams.
0:29:04 > 0:29:09It was time for the whole family to decide where their future lay.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21ALL: Australia!
0:29:23 > 0:29:25- Has everyone put Australia?- Yeah!
0:29:25 > 0:29:28- Cool.- Wow!
0:29:28 > 0:29:31The writing's on the wall for us to come out here.
0:29:31 > 0:29:36I voted Australia for you and for coming out here twice a year,
0:29:36 > 0:29:39maybe when I turn 18 I could come out and have a year out.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42- Did you vote UK or did you vote Australia?- Australia.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45- Australia! Shout it out.- Australia!
0:29:56 > 0:30:00With Lauryn happy to spend months at a time in Australia,
0:30:00 > 0:30:04James had decided a move Down Under could give the rest of his family
0:30:04 > 0:30:07the time together they were missing in the UK.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10So, two years on,
0:30:10 > 0:30:14it's time to find out where the Cornishes are now calling home.
0:30:14 > 0:30:22It's April 2016, and the family are living in Point Cook, Australia.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25James, Lisa and the boys moved into their modern four-bedroom house in
0:30:25 > 0:30:30this western suburb 60 miles from Melbourne days after arriving back
0:30:30 > 0:30:32in the country a year ago.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34We landed on the Wednesday evening.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37We went viewing rental properties on the Saturday,
0:30:37 > 0:30:41which is the kind of common day for open houses in Australia,
0:30:41 > 0:30:44and we got a phone call first thing on the Monday morning to say that
0:30:44 > 0:30:47we'd been accepted for a rental property,
0:30:47 > 0:30:50and we could come and collect the keys that afternoon.
0:30:50 > 0:30:55So it was less than a week between landing and moving into our house
0:30:55 > 0:30:56that we're in now.
0:31:00 > 0:31:04The area's where the family viewed their dream home during the trial
0:31:04 > 0:31:07week, and they couldn't be happier in their new surroundings.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10And this is our kitchen area.
0:31:10 > 0:31:11James does most of the cooking.
0:31:11 > 0:31:16I can bake, but he does most of the evening meals for the family here,
0:31:16 > 0:31:19and the cooker's great, because we can fit two lots of
0:31:19 > 0:31:21Yorkshire puddings in there, if we want to.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23The house that we've got now, you know,
0:31:23 > 0:31:27we couldn't really ask for much more. It's huge.
0:31:27 > 0:31:28All the kids have got their own bedrooms,
0:31:28 > 0:31:31Lauryn's got her own room when she comes and visits,
0:31:31 > 0:31:34and we've got a huge master bedroom with ensuite.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41So one of the really great things about this space is something that
0:31:41 > 0:31:46we never ever heard in the UK, and that's our walk-in wardrobe.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49And James gets 50% of this, which I think's really unfair.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53I think we take for granted a lot of the time what we've got now,
0:31:53 > 0:31:55but looking back to what we had in the UK,
0:31:55 > 0:31:58and particularly what we had when we were living over the pub,
0:31:58 > 0:32:01it's a million miles away from what we were used to back them.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05This is my bedroom, and it's got lots of toys in it.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12We love the lifestyle here.
0:32:12 > 0:32:13It's just set up for living.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16We've got a golf course on the doorstep, tennis courts,
0:32:16 > 0:32:20golf driving range. We've got a swimming pool, we've got a gym,
0:32:20 > 0:32:23all within two minutes' drive of the house or ten minutes' walk.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26We are right next to the coast, so if we want to go to the beach,
0:32:26 > 0:32:28we've got that on the doorstep, as well.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31The lifestyle they had glimpsed during the trial week has become
0:32:31 > 0:32:34their reality, and, looking back,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37James and Lisa were never in any doubt that it would.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40We'd fallen in love with Melbourne, we'd fallen in love with Australia,
0:32:40 > 0:32:43and if someone had told me at that point in time, you stay here,
0:32:43 > 0:32:47we'll pack up your bags in England, I'd have done it in a heartbeat.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51We both actually said to each other that it felt like we were leaving
0:32:51 > 0:32:54home when we got on the plane to go back to the UK.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57We started the visa application process pretty much as soon as we
0:32:57 > 0:32:59got off the plane back in the UK.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01There was a lot of work to be done,
0:33:01 > 0:33:03in terms of wrapping up the business and applying for jobs,
0:33:03 > 0:33:05and planning the move out here.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10They also had to tell loved ones they were going.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13They knew deep down this was going to happen.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17It wasn't an easy task to break the news to family and friends,
0:33:17 > 0:33:19by any means,
0:33:19 > 0:33:22but most of them understood the reasons why.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Their visa was through just six months later.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27And before leaving the UK,
0:33:27 > 0:33:32Lisa had been fortunate enough to secure an accountancy job at Melbourne University.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36And I did all of my interviews over video, over the internet, for that.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39It was a very strange process for me,
0:33:39 > 0:33:42sitting in the kitchen at 9.30pm at night with my tablet stacked up on
0:33:42 > 0:33:44cookery books so that it was at the right height.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48But I was fortunate enough to eventually get the job.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51The family left the UK in April 2015,
0:33:51 > 0:33:55after a bit of a do to mark their departure.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58We had in Australia themed party.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02One of our closest friends made a huge Australia flag cake.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05We had shapes from Arnott's,
0:34:05 > 0:34:08and all sorts of Tim Tams and things like that.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10It was great fun.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14But not everything was as enjoyable.
0:34:14 > 0:34:19James still had to face the reality of putting 10,000 miles between him
0:34:19 > 0:34:21and his daughter, Lauryn.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24The last goodbye to Lauryn on the morning that we came away was really
0:34:24 > 0:34:28difficult. We were both in tears, you know,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31it was up until half an hour before we were laughing and joking,
0:34:31 > 0:34:33and then it all of a sudden became real.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35You know, when we said goodbye, and sort of waved her off,
0:34:35 > 0:34:38as we drove off down the road. It was really, really difficult,
0:34:38 > 0:34:42and probably the first couple of days after that, it was really raw.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48Good boy, well done.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50It was a difficult time for everyone.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53However, once back in Australia,
0:34:53 > 0:34:56the family threw themselves into setting up their new life.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03Our first week here was really fast-paced.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06Obviously, I started work really quickly,
0:35:06 > 0:35:10and during that time period we also needed to get the boys registered
0:35:10 > 0:35:14into childcare, and into school, get Medicare cards,
0:35:14 > 0:35:15get driving licences sorted.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19It felt like we were doing something, if not 20 things, every single day.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22It was a real whirlwind.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24Well done. He's doing well, isn't he?
0:35:24 > 0:35:26We literally had nothing when we came here.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29We had 24 boxes on a ship somewhere,
0:35:29 > 0:35:31with kids toys and clothes and things,
0:35:31 > 0:35:33but that was everything that we'd brought.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36So we had to set up a new house, and a new home and a new life.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40Fortunately, it didn't take Lisa long to settle into her new job as a
0:35:40 > 0:35:43business intelligence manager.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51I love my work. I really enjoy working for the university.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55Work was a concern to me during the trial week,
0:35:55 > 0:35:57because I loved the job that I did in the UK.
0:35:57 > 0:36:02In retrospect, I could never have imagined how brilliant
0:36:02 > 0:36:05the job that I've got here would be.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11James spent the first few months getting Sammy and Louis settled
0:36:11 > 0:36:15Down Under, and now they're delighted with their new homeland.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18Perfect. Go on, knock daddy's out the way, Louis.
0:36:20 > 0:36:25I like Australia because it's got nice, hot places and kangaroos are really funny.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32The boys are really well settled. Sammy's in school.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34He's doing great in school,
0:36:34 > 0:36:38and Louis goes to kinder, and also day-care.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40He's in a fantastic place as well, he absolutely loves it,
0:36:40 > 0:36:44and they're both learning languages, so Sammy's learning Japanese,
0:36:44 > 0:36:47and Louis is learning a little bit of Chinese at the moment.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50And Sammy's learning guitar at school, as well,
0:36:50 > 0:36:54and we're getting them more and more involved in sports.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04The whole family have made lots of new friends.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06Early on when we first got here,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09there were a lot of informal arranged meet ups at parks,
0:37:09 > 0:37:15where families were openly invited to turn up with the sole purpose of
0:37:15 > 0:37:16meeting new people.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20And we got a lot of friends out of that initially.
0:37:20 > 0:37:26And some of who we are really, really close with now, and who we'd
0:37:26 > 0:37:29state are our closest friends.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31Two months after they'd arrived,
0:37:31 > 0:37:33Lauryn made her first trip out to visit them.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35I was really excited to see her.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37She walked through the doors, and obviously we ran up and gave each
0:37:37 > 0:37:41other a big hug, and she was here for around seven weeks,
0:37:41 > 0:37:43and in that time I wasn't working.
0:37:43 > 0:37:48It was fantastic to be able to spend quality time with her.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51Sammy was delighted to have his sister back, too.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55I miss Lauryn because she's really nice and helpful.
0:37:55 > 0:38:00James and Lisa made sure Lauryn's first visit was as memorable as possible.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04We were conscious that she was leaving the UK summer behind and
0:38:04 > 0:38:08coming out to the Australian winter, so we decided to take a drive,
0:38:08 > 0:38:11and jumped in the car and drove up to the Gold Coast,
0:38:11 > 0:38:13which was a long trek.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16We had a week up there in the sunshine.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25- Hello!- Thanks to technology,
0:38:25 > 0:38:29the family regularly stay in touch with loved ones back home, too.
0:38:29 > 0:38:33Oh, we saw that on the forecast this morning. It was going to snow.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35It said eight degrees...
0:38:35 > 0:38:39Lisa's mum and dad have already been out to visit, and plan to return for Christmas.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41We've got a lot of visitors this year.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44Lauryn will be out here three times this year, in total,
0:38:44 > 0:38:48so we're going to see a lot of her, as well, which is great.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52So it's going to be a busy house. So I'm grateful for the extra space.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56My dad and stepmum have been out already, and they had a great time.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00My mum and stepdad are planning to come out in June this year.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03We've always got somebody coming through the door and visiting us
0:39:03 > 0:39:05so it's good fun.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09Meanwhile, James has just started his first permanent job in Australia,
0:39:09 > 0:39:13working as a finance manager, also at Melbourne University.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15- PHONE RINGS - Hello, James speaking.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19It's the perfect job for me. It's exactly what I was used to in the UK,
0:39:19 > 0:39:22in terms of business partnering and budget management,
0:39:22 > 0:39:26and I think there's a lot of scope to build the role.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29So, yeah, I can see myself being here for a long time.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33It has another added bonus in the fact that I actually work with Lisa
0:39:33 > 0:39:36in the same office. Our roles are interconnected,
0:39:36 > 0:39:39so we work very closely together.
0:39:39 > 0:39:44Mixing business with pleasure doesn't seem to be a problem for the Cornishes.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47It's something we've done before,
0:39:47 > 0:39:51but we're still kind of learning what it means for us here.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54But the best bit is they've finally
0:39:54 > 0:39:57managed to address their work/life balance.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01My boss gives me an amount of flexibility with my start times and
0:40:01 > 0:40:05finish times, which allows me to manage the childcare,
0:40:05 > 0:40:09and for James and I to alternate drop-offs and pick-ups,
0:40:09 > 0:40:12so that we both get to spend time with the kids on a morning and an
0:40:12 > 0:40:17afternoon, and it's a far better lifestyle than we had in the UK.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26The couple have also recently celebrated another milestone Down Under.
0:40:26 > 0:40:28When James and I first got married,
0:40:28 > 0:40:32we made a commitment to renew our wedding vows every five years.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34We spoke with one of the local pubs,
0:40:34 > 0:40:39and arranged to have our vows renewed by one of our friends unofficially,
0:40:39 > 0:40:42and had a Neighbours-themed wedding,
0:40:42 > 0:40:45where Lisa and I got dressed up as Scott and Charlene,
0:40:45 > 0:40:49and we had all the guests came as various characters from Neighbours.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51It was a lot of fun, and it
0:40:51 > 0:40:54allowed James and I to renew our wedding vows,
0:40:54 > 0:40:58and also mark the fact that this was our first year here in Australia.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03- On your marks...- Set... Go!
0:41:03 > 0:41:05It's been a hectic 12 months,
0:41:05 > 0:41:09but all in all it sounds like moving Down Under has been everything Lisa
0:41:09 > 0:41:11and James hoped it would be.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15The best thing about life in Australia for us is the family time that we
0:41:15 > 0:41:18get together, and the weather, and what that enables us to do.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20It's quite a nice night tonight.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23It's lovely. We wouldn't be doing this back in the UK.
0:41:23 > 0:41:24- No.- There's no chance of that.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28Weekends now are spent going out to zoos and to beaches and parks,
0:41:28 > 0:41:32and to people's houses for barbecues and things like that.
0:41:32 > 0:41:37It might sound stereotypical, but this is genuinely what we do.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40And having recently purchased some land,
0:41:40 > 0:41:43they already have plans to build their own home.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46The house that we're building will be our dream house,
0:41:46 > 0:41:50so we've built it with a cinema room in there, we've got
0:41:50 > 0:41:53a huge master bedroom for us, we've got...
0:41:53 > 0:41:56All the kids have got their own rooms with walk-in wardrobes,
0:41:56 > 0:41:58huge play area for the kids.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00And we've also
0:42:00 > 0:42:03made provisions for building a swimming pool in the back garden,
0:42:03 > 0:42:07so the kids can enjoy that, as and when they want to.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11Having come 10,000 miles for the life they wanted,
0:42:11 > 0:42:14it looks like the Cornishes will be staying put.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17I would definitely say that our family's future lies in Australia.
0:42:17 > 0:42:22It just feels like home, and it has since we first got here.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28THEY LAUGH AND SHOUT
0:42:31 > 0:42:34The only thing that could make it better now would be if Lauryn was
0:42:34 > 0:42:36here on a permanent basis,
0:42:36 > 0:42:40but we both appreciate that that's not a possibility at the moment.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44But, yeah, I think all in all everything on balance,
0:42:44 > 0:42:46we're pretty much living the dream.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49How about a seagull?
0:42:53 > 0:42:57It's been an eventful few years for the Cornishes,
0:42:57 > 0:43:00and while leaving Lauryn in the UK hasn't been easy for anyone,
0:43:00 > 0:43:05it seems the move really has given Lisa and James more quality time
0:43:05 > 0:43:07with Sammy and Louis.
0:43:07 > 0:43:11We wish the whole family a very happy future together in the country
0:43:11 > 0:43:14they have so quickly made themselves home in.