0:00:02 > 0:00:05Time spent travelling on the other side of the world
0:00:05 > 0:00:07when you're footloose and fancy free
0:00:07 > 0:00:09can often leave you longing for more,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12but when your bachelor days are behind you
0:00:12 > 0:00:15and you've a wife that's happy at home,
0:00:15 > 0:00:18is it a move you can realistically make?
0:00:18 > 0:00:22In 2015, Greg and Jenni Wallen
0:00:22 > 0:00:25spent a week in New Zealand to find out.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Today we'll discover where they are now.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Ever since backpacking in New Zealand,
0:00:31 > 0:00:35Greg Wallen had been bent on making a permanent return.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39I want to make a home in New Zealand more than anything in the world.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42In 2015, his wife was willing to be convinced.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44It's always been his dream,
0:00:44 > 0:00:47it's been what he wants to do and he put all of that on hold for me.
0:00:47 > 0:00:48I owe him to try.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52However, when a trial week in the country didn't quite go to plan...
0:00:52 > 0:00:54It's cold, the floor feels damp.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56It's not the image that I had in my head of moving to New Zealand.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59I'm worried, Jen, really, really worried.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02One year on, is there a happy ending for both of them?
0:01:02 > 0:01:05I'm not convinced that we are on the same page.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Lying nearly 1,000 miles from its neighbour Australia,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34New Zealand's home to the southernmost capital in the world.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38A third of the country is designated as national parks and reserves and
0:01:38 > 0:01:41inhabitants are never more than 80 miles from the sea,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44so it's easy to see why every year
0:01:44 > 0:01:467,000 adventure-loving Brits
0:01:46 > 0:01:48choose to make the country home.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53Greg Wallen was all set to return to the land he loved as a backpacker
0:01:53 > 0:01:55when a dabble in online dating
0:01:55 > 0:01:57bought his plans to an abrupt halt.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Fast forward to 2015,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04and Greg still believed New Zealand was where he should be living,
0:02:04 > 0:02:05but to make the move,
0:02:05 > 0:02:10first he needed to convince wife Jenni it was a realistic option.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15The Wallens' trial week began with more than 22 hours in the air,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17flying to Auckland via Hong Kong.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24For Jenni, who was three months pregnant,
0:02:24 > 0:02:26the journey was a particularly gruelling one.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31My morning sickness, which lasted...
0:02:31 > 0:02:3327 hours,
0:02:33 > 0:02:34was not great!
0:02:34 > 0:02:38The long trip had given Jenni plenty of time to think about the distance
0:02:38 > 0:02:40she was putting between family.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44I kept thinking about how often my mum would likely come over,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47and it all just got a little bit overwhelming, didn't it?
0:02:48 > 0:02:52For Greg, touching down on Kiwi soil was moving, too.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54I got a bit emotional when I landed, actually.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57It was kind of like, almost like an "I'm home" feeling.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Whether New Zealand would become his home would depend on Greg persuading
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Jenni in the coming days.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08In 2015, the Wallens - Greg,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Jenni and Evie, who was three,
0:03:11 > 0:03:12were living in Sheffield.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Five years earlier, as a young, carefree bachelor,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Greg had fallen for New Zealand while backpacking.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23The thing I liked most about New Zealand was the people, the culture,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25I think, of the country.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30When his travel visa expired, Greg had reluctantly returned to the UK,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33but smitten with everything New Zealand had to offer,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36he immediately began planning to move there for good.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40I had about a six-month, tops, target in my head and then go back.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44But fate intervened in his New Zealand plans
0:03:44 > 0:03:47when he dipped his toe in the waters of online dating.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50I wasn't looking for anything serious, I wasn't looking for love,
0:03:50 > 0:03:51I wasn't looking for marriage.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56I don't think either of us really went into it thinking that...
0:03:56 > 0:03:58"This is going to be a long-term relationship".
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Within two weeks of meeting,
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Greg begged Jenni to join him for a new life in New Zealand,
0:04:04 > 0:04:06but as their relationship blossomed,
0:04:06 > 0:04:08it was clear her heart lay in the UK.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11I fell in love with Jen and the more I was falling in love with Jen,
0:04:11 > 0:04:13the more the dream was slipping away at the same time.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Then Jen was going, "Stay, don't go back, we can have a good life here".
0:04:17 > 0:04:20I was just, obviously, I was torn.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Choosing love over the Kiwi lifestyle,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27Greg settled into home life with his new-formed family.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31But when the couple married in 2013,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35his dream of a life in New Zealand hadn't disappeared.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37When I lived in New Zealand, I felt it was perfect for me.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40I remember walking through towns, parks, beaches,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42kids everywhere and they were all incredibly happy.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44And I remember just thinking to myself all the time,
0:04:44 > 0:04:48"This is a brilliant place to raise a family".
0:04:48 > 0:04:50When Jenni was pregnant in 2015,
0:04:50 > 0:04:54the couple were outgrowing their current home and Greg seized
0:04:54 > 0:04:56the opportunity to kick-start his dream again.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02If we can make it work, finance, job wise, quality of life wise,
0:05:02 > 0:05:03now would be a good time.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07But Jenni was already losing sleep thinking about leaving her family
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- behind.- I'll wake up in the night,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14or I'll be talking to one of my family or friends who are saying,
0:05:14 > 0:05:18"Oh, we're going to miss you," and I crumble and go,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20"I don't know if I can do this!"
0:05:21 > 0:05:23And taking Evie away from her grandparents
0:05:23 > 0:05:25was also causing concern.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28It's one of the things that holds me back,
0:05:28 > 0:05:31thinking that Evie's not going to have that relationship with
0:05:31 > 0:05:35her grandparents that I really want her to have.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Leaving loved ones would be hard for Greg, too.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41He'd only recently been reconciled with his mum.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44The hardest person for me to leave behind would probably be...
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Sorry, it's probably...
0:05:49 > 0:05:50It's probably going to be my mum.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54I hadn't talked to my mum for a number of years, and, um...
0:05:55 > 0:05:58..since meeting Jen, we've kind of got our relationship back,
0:05:58 > 0:06:02so...I'm kind of nervous about chucking that away again.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04That's tough for me.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09For four years, Greg had been desperate to make a permanent return to New Zealand.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Now, he had one week to see if the country he fell for
0:06:12 > 0:06:15as a backpacker was as good as he remembered,
0:06:15 > 0:06:20and convince his wife to start again on the other side of the world.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24To move to New Zealand is a risk, it's a massive risk, it's a gamble,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27- I'm not going to lie about it. - The rest of our life feels on hold
0:06:27 > 0:06:29until we've made that decision.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41Greg, Jenni and Evie spent their trial week in Auckland,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44home to a third of all New Zealanders.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Their base for the week was situated in Milford,
0:06:46 > 0:06:48on the city's North Shore.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Did her first taste of Kiwi living work its charms on Jenni?
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Wow, it looks lovely!
0:06:57 > 0:06:58As they settled in,
0:06:58 > 0:07:02Greg was overjoyed to have finally got Jenni to New Zealand.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05It's took four years to get Jenni to this point,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08I can't believe it's all boiled down to this.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11But she was anxious about the week ahead.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Deciding on the rest of my life at the end of this week is...
0:07:14 > 0:07:16..quite a scary prospect.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19And in no mood to bow to pressure.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21He's going to have to allow me time to think.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26He needs to not try and force his viewpoint onto me.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Greg had an uphill struggle on his hands
0:07:30 > 0:07:33if he was to finally make his dream come true.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36This is it, this is like, make or break for me.
0:07:36 > 0:07:37The following week would decide
0:07:37 > 0:07:40where the family would spend the rest of their lives.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47In 2015, the Wallens were living in
0:07:47 > 0:07:49a two-bedroom house in Sheffield.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53We do like living here and we do like the area we're in, but...
0:07:53 > 0:07:56it's just not big enough for our needs any more, we've outgrown it,
0:07:56 > 0:07:57- haven't we?- Yeah.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Jenni was fond of an aspect of their current home that
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Greg felt could help his cause.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06I like the open-plan living, I like the fact we've got two toilets.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09You'll like New Zealand then, that's very open-plan living.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13- Yeah, that's good.- But there could have been a difference of opinion on
0:08:13 > 0:08:15what a Kiwi home had to have.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18At least three bedrooms, two bathrooms,
0:08:18 > 0:08:20preferably one of those is ensuite.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22A wood burner.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- It's a must.- We can put one in!
0:08:24 > 0:08:26We can't change sizes of rooms.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33With £250,000 to spend on a Kiwi house,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36we showed the Wallens three properties,
0:08:36 > 0:08:37based on what they wanted
0:08:37 > 0:08:39and what they could afford.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42The search began in Waiuku, close to
0:08:42 > 0:08:44a park and a local primary school,
0:08:44 > 0:08:45this four-bedroom property
0:08:45 > 0:08:48could have been a good fit for the Wallens.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51The house's kerb appeal got the viewing off on the right note.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55- What do you reckon, love? - It looks very nice.
0:08:55 > 0:08:56Ahh.
0:08:56 > 0:09:01It looked like a good start, until they stepped into the first bedroom.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03- I don't like it.- Why?
0:09:03 > 0:09:05I reckon the place has got rising damp, it needs a rewire.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08I don't know, I just don't like it - full stop.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11And the next room didn't help, either.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13I don't like the feel of it, Jen.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18We've got to come 12,000 miles, both find new jobs, with two children,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21integrate into life, and then we've got to sort the house out as well.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23So you don't want a renovation project?
0:09:23 > 0:09:26- It's going to be too much for me, Jen.- OK.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Two further bedrooms were downstairs.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Oh, this is nice.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34This is lovely, I like this exposed brick.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38It was an improvement, but Greg's expectations just weren't being met.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41It's just not the image I had in my head of moving to New Zealand,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44it's far from it. This is... Oh, God...
0:09:45 > 0:09:48I'm actually really scared this is not going to work.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Upstairs, the sitting room showed more promise.
0:09:52 > 0:09:53Well, this is much better.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57It's got the log burner, it's one of your requirements, a log burner.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01- I know, but we're going to need a log burner.- Was it a log burner you wanted?- Yes, it was, dear.- Was it?
0:10:01 > 0:10:03I wasn't quite sure, you've not said it enough!
0:10:03 > 0:10:06And the kitchen also came up trumps.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09- Nice, big kitchen. - It's nice, isn't it?
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Until electrical engineer Greg spotted some dubious wiring.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16Oh, my God, look at that!
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Back home, that would be uninsurable.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21This house clearly wasn't the one for the Wallens,
0:10:21 > 0:10:26so just how close did it come to the family's £250,000 budget?
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Right, the moment of truth.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34Come on, think positive. £165,000.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Go on, do it.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40£261,000.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44It was £11,000 over budget.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48- It's looking bleak at least, isn't it?- I'm glad we're not moving for the house!
0:10:48 > 0:10:51This has made me feel sick with worry about the rest of this week,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- to be honest.- But with the price
0:10:53 > 0:10:55of Auckland property hitting home for Greg,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58would the next house be more up his street?
0:10:58 > 0:11:02It was in Pukekohe - a town offering a relaxed way of life,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05yet within an hour's commute of Auckland city centre.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Wow, look at this front garden!
0:11:09 > 0:11:12I definitely like this area more, it's got a much better view.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17- Inside...- This is a nice little hall, this feels more modern.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19..Greg's mood continued to life.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Yeah, this is nice.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23Positive first signs, doesn't feel damp, doesn't feel cold.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25And Evie was happy, too.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Really, really, really good!
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- Yay!- This house may have been winning Greg's approval,
0:11:32 > 0:11:34but the floor plan was a stumbling block for Jenni.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36I'm glad there's a third bedroom,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40but I'm not sure how I feel about it being off the dining room.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42And she was no happier in the kitchen.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44I'd redo it.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46The lot?
0:11:46 > 0:11:47- Yeah.- Really?
0:11:47 > 0:11:48Yeah.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Outside, the garden didn't impress, either.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54This is a bit pokey, isn't it?
0:11:54 > 0:11:57So basically, the garden for the kids is at the front.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00- It's not enough, is it?- No.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04The house had won praise and criticism in equal measure,
0:12:04 > 0:12:06but could Greg and Jenni afford it
0:12:06 > 0:12:08with their budget of £250,000?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10For us, to flip that card over
0:12:10 > 0:12:13and keep the dream alive, it's got to be...
0:12:13 > 0:12:17under 200, I'm thinking 180-ish.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Based on the last property, I'm going to say about 250.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Go for it.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30251,000.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33It was £1,000 over budget.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35No, absolutely not.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Maybe I was thinking the grass is definitely greener on the other side.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Now, I'm kind of like,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43if I'm brutally honest, "Oh, my God, what have I done?"
0:12:43 > 0:12:46The possibility his dream could be slipping away
0:12:46 > 0:12:49proved too much for an emotional Greg.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56The property hunt had brought both doubt and disappointment,
0:12:56 > 0:13:00but there was still one more property to view. Also in Pukekohe,
0:13:00 > 0:13:04we found what we thought could have been Greg and Jenni's dream home.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Would it be the one to turn around their property fortunes
0:13:07 > 0:13:09and get Greg's dream back on track?
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- Wow.- OK.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15- This is much better.- This is much more like what I would like.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19It looked like Greg's expectations were being met at last.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23- This is the image that I had in my head, this is what I wanted you to see, spot-on.- Lovely.- Perfect.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27The spacious kitchen with its granite worktops
0:13:27 > 0:13:29had both Greg and Jenni excited.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31That's amazing, isn't it?
0:13:31 > 0:13:34This is such a nice finish.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37- Nicely laid out.- Nicely laid out, large enough.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41And a second living room hit the spot.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43- This is huge.- Wow.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47I have noticed the one thing it doesn't have that you wanted...
0:13:47 > 0:13:48- Log burner?- Yeah.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51I'm willing to sack the log burner off.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Fair compromise, Greg!
0:13:53 > 0:13:56The first three bedrooms continued to impress.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- This is nice.- This is nice. - I would say I'm sold.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Well, well yeah, it's a lovely sized room.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03Nice window looking out over the back garden.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05It ticks every box and more.
0:14:06 > 0:14:07But Greg was beginning to worry
0:14:07 > 0:14:10if they could afford to call this house home.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13I've got a feeling we're going to get absolutely smashed on price.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Money worries seemed a distant memory, though,
0:14:16 > 0:14:18as the master bedroom sealed the deal.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Oh, this is perfect.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23It was a room that just kept on giving.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27- Walk-in wardrobe...- A walk-in, not just a built-in!
0:14:27 > 0:14:28Oh, wow.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Mind-blowing.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34En suite! Oh, this is nice.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36I'm absolutely still speechless!
0:14:36 > 0:14:38It's perfect.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42And outside, the garden was picture perfect.
0:14:42 > 0:14:43That view is stunning.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48This property looked like it could have been
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Greg and Jenni's dream home.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54But was it within reach of their £250,000 budget?
0:14:54 > 0:14:59If we flip this card over now, it comes in £350,000, £400,000...
0:14:59 > 0:15:02If it works out financially and the lifestyle is good...
0:15:02 > 0:15:03- We're on!- Even if,
0:15:03 > 0:15:08EVEN IF this costs us so much that we couldn't really afford at least
0:15:08 > 0:15:12in the short term to be saving up to go home,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15I like this house so much that I'm thinking...
0:15:15 > 0:15:18- We'll deal with it for the time being.- We'll deal with it for the time being.- Right,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21this is it, darling. £400,000!
0:15:26 > 0:15:29£331,000!
0:15:29 > 0:15:31- Really?!- That is cheap!
0:15:31 > 0:15:34It was £81,000 over budget.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36It's looking positive, at that, isn't it?
0:15:36 > 0:15:38If we can get a decent wage,
0:15:38 > 0:15:42that is all my dreams and more and everything I could ever have hoped for come true.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Greg was delighted.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48If he could secure the job to pay for this property,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51his dream really could be back on track.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53Property one had caused concern
0:15:53 > 0:15:56with potential damp issues and outdated wiring.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58House number two failed to impress,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01with the garden deemed far too small.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05But property three had raised the bar with wow-factor living areas
0:16:05 > 0:16:07and scenic views.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09So when it came to New Zealand houses,
0:16:09 > 0:16:11did the family vote Home or Away?
0:16:11 > 0:16:12Three, two, one...
0:16:14 > 0:16:15- UK.- Undecided.
0:16:17 > 0:16:18Where do you want to live?
0:16:18 > 0:16:19Er...
0:16:20 > 0:16:22My house!
0:16:23 > 0:16:26That last house we saw was just ideal.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30And in England, we would never be able to afford that.
0:16:30 > 0:16:35But, if the finances over here means that we could afford that,
0:16:35 > 0:16:37then I would be New Zealand.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40I need to put my thinking, logical head on,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42and my logical head at the moment says to stay in the UK.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53Greg may have found the perfect pad,
0:16:53 > 0:16:55but if the couple were to afford it,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58finding well-paid jobs would be vital.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03Back in the UK, Greg was an electrical engineer,
0:17:03 > 0:17:07running his own business fitting and testing electrical safety equipment.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Absolutely love it.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Used to work for a company which I enjoyed, but I thought,
0:17:12 > 0:17:14"I can do better on my own".
0:17:14 > 0:17:16And business at the moment is really, really busy.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18I'm currently booked out for the next sort of three months solid.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22But in New Zealand, he was keen to become an employee again,
0:17:22 > 0:17:25hoping that would improve his work-life balance.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29I hope kind of to work around the 40-50 hours a week in New Zealand
0:17:29 > 0:17:32for a company, weekends and evenings off, ideally,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34so I can get some more time with my family,
0:17:34 > 0:17:36which I currently don't have, always.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41Jenni worked as a social worker dealing with child protection.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44I love, in my job, the thought of helping people.
0:17:44 > 0:17:49I'm helping children to make sure that they have the greatest start in
0:17:49 > 0:17:52- life they can.- To sign off on a move,
0:17:52 > 0:17:56she'd need to be sure her career prospects wouldn't be hindered.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58The next step forward, if I was to remain in the UK,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00would be looking at a management role.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04And that's what I would be looking for maybe in New Zealand.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10The couple set off to investigate their work prospects down under.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12First up, Greg met Dave Burt,
0:18:12 > 0:18:16who ran an electrical company fitting out a new housing complex.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20This here is a block of probably the first 15 apartments that we've just
0:18:20 > 0:18:25- started pre-wiring.- Greg wanted to know what his chances of finding a job might be.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29I would say that a qualified electrician is normally never out
0:18:29 > 0:18:33- of work. A good one is never out of work.- It was a positive start.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36What about the all-important work-life balance?
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- Generally it's a 40-hour week... - Yeah.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42..but because most of the guys work a nine to ten-hour day, you know,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45you can easily knock on 50 hours per week.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47The hours were what Greg had hoped for,
0:18:47 > 0:18:51but what about the bottom line on his potential earnings?
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Between the 60s, and you could easily go up into the 80-plus.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57At around £35,000,
0:18:57 > 0:19:01that was about £10,000 more than Greg currently earned at home.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04That's good. That's a bit more kind of what I was hoping for.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Encouraging news for Greg.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Across town, Jenni was visiting
0:19:08 > 0:19:11a charity providing social work services.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Senior manager Elizabeth Walker
0:19:13 > 0:19:17gave her the lowdown on what her prospects might be.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20So you would come in at a senior practitioner level.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25It starts at 53 and moves up to around 63, the mid-60s.
0:19:25 > 0:19:26Even at the top of the bracket,
0:19:26 > 0:19:32Jenni would have seen her income fall from around 31 to £27,000.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35How sought-after are social work roles?
0:19:35 > 0:19:38It has become extremely competitive.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42My last recruitment effort, we had one social work vacancy,
0:19:42 > 0:19:44we had 72 applicants.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Catching up with Greg, Jenni broke the bad news.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52I wouldn't be earning as much as we thought, basically.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55It wasn't what Greg had been hoping to hear.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57But his prospects softened the blow.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59I'd be looking at about 60-65,000.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03If I did overtime, I'd be looking at about 80,000.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05So actually, in one respect,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08it's not as good news for me, but it's much better news for you
0:20:08 > 0:20:10- in terms of finances.- Yes.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14So after a day of mixed fortunes,
0:20:14 > 0:20:16how did the couple vote when it came
0:20:16 > 0:20:18to work in New Zealand versus the UK?
0:20:23 > 0:20:25BOTH: New Zealand!
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Your news actually makes me think, well,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31maybe I could be the one who works part-time,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34and you could be the one to work full-time.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36I'd have to do a few more hours than I was hoping to,
0:20:36 > 0:20:39but we've always done what we have to do to make it work.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51After a shaky start to the week, a vote for New Zealand from Jenni,
0:20:51 > 0:20:52despite a drop in salary,
0:20:52 > 0:20:56meant Greg's dream could have been back on track.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59New Zealand's famed for its family-friendly lifestyle,
0:20:59 > 0:21:02so would a day sampling some of Auckland's activities
0:21:02 > 0:21:04land another vote in his favour?
0:21:04 > 0:21:07The family kicked things off with a visit to a French market
0:21:07 > 0:21:10in Parnell, just east of the city centre.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13It's been voted one of Auckland's best food markets,
0:21:13 > 0:21:15and they soon tucked in.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17- Mozzarella.- Mozzarella?
0:21:17 > 0:21:18Mm, that's nice!
0:21:21 > 0:21:24It was the kind of family day out Greg was hoping could be a regular
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- occurrence.- Today's going absolutely swimmingly.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Seeing Evie here in New Zealand and how she's been the last couple of
0:21:30 > 0:21:34days, wow, you know, it's tears of happiness, not sadness.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Seeing your children happy makes me happy.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40And the market was a place
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Jenni could imagine making a regular haunt.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47Come here, have breakfast, get some fresh produce...
0:21:47 > 0:21:50some wine and champagne to go in our hot tub
0:21:50 > 0:21:53that we're going to have out the back of our house!
0:21:54 > 0:21:56- Are you...- Why am I trying to convince you?
0:21:56 > 0:21:59I know! Are you beginning to change your mind a little bit? This is good, this is progress.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01INDISTINCT
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Next stop, a trip to Auckland Zoo,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09where Evie soon displayed her wildlife knowledge.
0:22:09 > 0:22:10Ostrich!
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Penguins. Look, zebra poo!
0:22:15 > 0:22:16Oh, dear me!
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Thinking of Evie's future,
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Jenni's view on moving to New Zealand seemed to be softening.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Evie is loving New Zealand.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27And I think I am starting to feel
0:22:27 > 0:22:32very much that this would be ideal for her and for our other child.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36And Greg was beginning to feel confident his wife could be coming round.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41As the week has gone on, she's become more and more towards New Zealand.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43I reckon the dream's still alive.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46I kind of feel it's job almost done, but not quite there.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48I've still got a little bit of apprehension.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Leaving loved ones, though,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53could still have been an issue for both of them.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Mum's kind of been really, really supportive about the whole thing.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00She keeps saying, you know, "We're only a day away, worst case scenario".
0:23:00 > 0:23:02Wow!
0:23:02 > 0:23:04You know, I need to do what's best for my family.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06And ultimately, that's what I need to do.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09It's very easy to get caught up in the whole lifestyle,
0:23:09 > 0:23:14"Wouldn't this be great, wouldn't this be brilliant for us and for Evie?"
0:23:14 > 0:23:17But I've not yet really started to think about
0:23:17 > 0:23:20the impact of leaving family and friends.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24The day out had given the family food for thought.
0:23:25 > 0:23:30So, did the lifestyle in New Zealand prove a winner for Greg and Jenni?
0:23:31 > 0:23:32Time to vote!
0:23:40 > 0:23:43- New Zealand!- New Zealand! - New Zealand!
0:23:43 > 0:23:44Good girl!
0:23:44 > 0:23:47We've not been constantly worrying about the weather,
0:23:47 > 0:23:49even though we're in autumn, nearly winter over here.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51And it's not been too costly.
0:23:51 > 0:23:52You can't fault this, can we?
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Can't fault it. Can't fault it, it's beautiful.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03With two votes from Jenni for New Zealand,
0:24:03 > 0:24:07it looked like Greg's dream was almost within reach.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10But for it to stand any chance of becoming reality,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13it was vital the finances stacked up.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18The couple thought their house in the UK was worth around £110,000.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Did two local estate agents agree?
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Nice open plan living space.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24Neutrally decorated.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Nice windows that overlook the garden.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30The kitchen looks well looked after, and also nice and modern as well.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35So it's a nice, low-maintenance garden with the access out to your rear parking.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Good sized bathroom, and again, another contemporary look.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41I'll fix the bath now!
0:24:42 > 0:24:45In today's market, I'd value this property at a guide price of 110 to
0:24:45 > 0:24:47£120,000.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51For a quick sale, I'd value the property at £105,000.
0:24:51 > 0:24:52In today's market,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55I'd value this house at around about 110,000.
0:24:55 > 0:24:56If the owners wanted a quick sale,
0:24:56 > 0:25:00then I'd suggest a price between 100,000 and 105,000.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03- I'm not shocked about that. - No shocks, I'm quite happy with that as well.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07With the valuations on target,
0:25:07 > 0:25:09the couple moved on to examine
0:25:09 > 0:25:12how their finances would fare in New Zealand.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15We provided a comparison of costs,
0:25:15 > 0:25:17starting with the weekly food shop.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Ketchup, £1.23.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Meatballs, £2 - she's not going to be having THEM any more!
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Which means it's £57.27 dearer.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Over £200 more per month
0:25:28 > 0:25:31was double what the family currently spent on food,
0:25:31 > 0:25:33but Greg wasn't daunted.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36It's more, but it's not terrible,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38is it, if we're honest with ourselves?
0:25:38 > 0:25:41Well, we need to put it into context with wages.
0:25:41 > 0:25:42Looking at the bigger bills,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46Greg and Jenni based their sums on the dream house they'd seen.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47GREG WHISTLES
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Sorry, that's just jumped straight out at me, the cost of the mortgage,
0:25:50 > 0:25:52- compared to at home.- Yes.
0:25:52 > 0:25:53That's...
0:25:53 > 0:25:54That's a biggie.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58- Phone/internet, £20 at home.- Yep.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00£40 here.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05What's the difference? £1,796.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Yep.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10In total, the couple discovered they would spend
0:26:10 > 0:26:13around £1,800 per month more in New Zealand.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16And taking their potential wages into account
0:26:16 > 0:26:19only improved things slightly.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22- We're £654...- Worse off.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25The couple would have been almost £8,000 per year worse off
0:26:25 > 0:26:27IF they made the move.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29But while Jenni wasn't impressed,
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Greg wasn't giving up.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35- I don't think that's bad.- Basically, we'd have to go for a house
0:26:35 > 0:26:38which was like property one or two.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Yes, but it wouldn't be forever, would it?
0:26:41 > 0:26:45But when it came to voting on finances in New Zealand versus the UK,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48was the compromise one they'd both be happy to make?
0:26:54 > 0:26:55- UK.- UK.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00- Are you a bit gutted about that? - Massively.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03We probably could still make it work financially,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06but I think it would be more of a struggle.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09I'm not going to lie, after seeing that, I am questioning myself.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11That's massive, for me.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18While New Zealand's lifestyle had been everything Greg remembered,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21achieving the life he dreamed of would have required significant
0:27:21 > 0:27:26sacrifice. And the emotional cost of emigrating could still prove
0:27:26 > 0:27:28the biggest barrier to a move.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30With Evie looked after by a childminder,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33the couple sat down to watch messages from home.
0:27:33 > 0:27:34Hi, Jenni, hi, Greg.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37I hope you're having a wonderful time in New Zealand.
0:27:37 > 0:27:38Hi, Jenni, Greg.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Hello, Auntie Jenni and Uncle Greg.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Hiya, guys, I hope you've had a good week.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45On the whole, they seem to be...
0:27:47 > 0:27:48..a match made in heaven.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Hilarious is the word to me that sums Jenni up.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54She's got a lot of friends, she's sociable, she's popular.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57He's very much a family man.
0:28:02 > 0:28:03Family's really important.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Evie's a really bubbly little girl.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08My granddaughter,
0:28:08 > 0:28:11I do spoil her.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13But if they go, I'll miss her.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19If they left, I think it would leave a big hole...
0:28:20 > 0:28:22..in everybody's life, not just in mine.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Obviously, yeah, it would be a massive wrench,
0:28:24 > 0:28:26because you've got my mum and dad,
0:28:26 > 0:28:28then you've got me and Jenni.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31The family would be halved because my sister's gone,
0:28:31 > 0:28:33so it would just be me and my kids.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37You make a decision based on what you think is best for you and your
0:28:37 > 0:28:41family. We'll always love you, and we'll always be here for you.
0:28:43 > 0:28:44We'll all really miss you,
0:28:44 > 0:28:46we'll miss the times that we spend together.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48We'll miss seeing Evie grow up.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52We know that all your other friends will feel the same,
0:28:52 > 0:28:54but you've got to do what's right for you.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57You know that I love you, you know that I'll support you.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01But please make the decision which is right for you.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07It's really making the question whether I've got...
0:29:08 > 0:29:11..the guts to...
0:29:11 > 0:29:12go through with it.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15We are going to have to be very selfish
0:29:15 > 0:29:17when we make that decision and not
0:29:17 > 0:29:20think about others, because I think if we thought about others,
0:29:20 > 0:29:23the answer would fairly clearly be, "No, we're not going".
0:29:28 > 0:29:30Greg's long-held dream was hanging in the balance
0:29:30 > 0:29:34as the couple faced the biggest decision of their lives.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39The trial week had more than lived up to Greg's bachelor day memories.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41It's infinitely better in my opinion
0:29:41 > 0:29:43than what we would have back in the UK.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45And despite her initial reluctance,
0:29:45 > 0:29:49a taste of what New Zealand could offer had also appealed to Jenni.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53The experience I've had this week that has won me over the most...
0:29:53 > 0:29:55is...
0:29:55 > 0:29:57is the lifestyle.
0:29:57 > 0:29:58But their week had also shown
0:29:58 > 0:30:01the reality of everyday life in New Zealand
0:30:01 > 0:30:03hadn't been quite what Greg had envisaged.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07I'm not going to lie, I thought we'd fare a lot better than we did.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10He is having to come to terms with the fact that things aren't as
0:30:10 > 0:30:14picture-perfect as he initially thought out here.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18Greg was also struggling to come to terms with leaving family behind.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21I know that I need to make the decision for my family,
0:30:21 > 0:30:23but, you know...
0:30:25 > 0:30:27I kind of care about everyone else, as well.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30As the final vote inched closer,
0:30:30 > 0:30:33the couple wrestled with emotional turmoil.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36I can feel it, I can feel an internal conflict,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39of arguing with myself over it.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41I'm playing with the rest of my family's life.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44With one final turn of the cards,
0:30:44 > 0:30:47it was time to find out if Jenni would green-light Greg's dream.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00- New Zealand! - New Zealand.
0:31:01 > 0:31:02Home!
0:31:02 > 0:31:06There's some negatives, but there's also a lot of positives and I think
0:31:06 > 0:31:08that we've got to give it a try,
0:31:08 > 0:31:11because I think otherwise we'll always be wondering, "What if?"
0:31:11 > 0:31:15This is all my birthdays, all my Christmases,
0:31:15 > 0:31:18everything I've wanted since I came back.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29The week had given Greg the result he was hoping for
0:31:29 > 0:31:32and with Jenni signed up to the move, it looked like he could be
0:31:32 > 0:31:35on his way back to New Zealand soon.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37We visited them one year later,
0:31:37 > 0:31:40to find out where in the world they are now.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43It's September 2016
0:31:43 > 0:31:48and the Wallen family are living in...Sheffield in the UK,
0:31:48 > 0:31:51and after Jenni's terrible sickness en route to New Zealand for the
0:31:51 > 0:31:55trial week, the latest addition to their family has happily arrived.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59Ethan was born on the 15th of September 2015.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06Ahh, cuddles.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09It was a very quick birth, which I was very pleased about.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12Fortunately for everyone,
0:32:12 > 0:32:16the baby slotted into family life pretty swiftly, too.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18He's such an easy-going child, he's so happy.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Clap, clap!
0:32:21 > 0:32:22Clap, clap.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25He's an absolute joy.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28What would you like, then, you want chocolate spread on bread?
0:32:28 > 0:32:30Yes, please!
0:32:30 > 0:32:33Big sister Evie couldn't agree more.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36I love my baby brother because he's cuddly
0:32:36 > 0:32:38and very funny.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40He really has completed our family, hasn't he?
0:32:40 > 0:32:44Yeah. Yeah, he was definitely like the missing, the missing piece.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49With the new addition, it's been a busy few months.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51In a lot of respects life's gone on as normal,
0:32:51 > 0:32:54but in other respects, it's completely changed.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58Obviously the birth of Ethan was kind of, that's a massive,
0:32:58 > 0:33:00massive change for anyone.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02Feed my baby...
0:33:02 > 0:33:04What are you going to do your baby for breakfast?
0:33:04 > 0:33:07Now, I'm going to feed you some water and wee your nappy.
0:33:07 > 0:33:11While the subject of emigrating to New Zealand has been an ongoing
0:33:11 > 0:33:15conversation, and the pair can still vividly recall their trial week
0:33:15 > 0:33:18- down under.- Definitely lived up to my expectations,
0:33:18 > 0:33:22in the fact of how clean it was, how nice the people were and, you know,
0:33:22 > 0:33:26just what a genuinely great place it was to live.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28Despite its ups and downs,
0:33:28 > 0:33:32the week had opened Jenni's eyes to the possibilities of a move.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34It really did help me to...
0:33:36 > 0:33:40..envisage whether we could actually live out there and have a good life.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Her vote for New Zealand, in the end,
0:33:42 > 0:33:45felt like a dream come true for Greg.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48All my Christmases come at once, all my birthdays come at once,
0:33:48 > 0:33:50I was like, "Right, we've cracked it".
0:33:50 > 0:33:53After a brief stay with some friends,
0:33:53 > 0:33:54Greg and Jenni left New Zealand
0:33:54 > 0:33:56convinced it was only a matter of time
0:33:56 > 0:33:59before they returned to make it their home.
0:33:59 > 0:34:04We got back, told all our friends we all voted yes, we're going to do it,
0:34:04 > 0:34:06we're going to start getting plans in place.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08The couple agreed they would stay in the UK
0:34:08 > 0:34:10until after the baby was born,
0:34:10 > 0:34:12which turned out to be the right move
0:34:12 > 0:34:15as Jenni's pregnancy wasn't all plain sailing.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20I started to feel increasingly unwell.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22She had the most terrible morning sickness...
0:34:22 > 0:34:24Well, I say morning sickness,
0:34:24 > 0:34:26it was just all-day, all-night sickness.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28She really, really struggled.
0:34:28 > 0:34:29You slept for a little bit?
0:34:29 > 0:34:31A little time.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Only about 20 minutes.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Fortunately, friends and family rallied round.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40With childcare, coming to see me,
0:34:40 > 0:34:44keeping things stable and secure for Evie.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46Greg was grateful for the support,
0:34:46 > 0:34:50and the experience left him contemplating the reality of leaving
0:34:50 > 0:34:54loved ones if they moved to the other side of the world.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58The whole thing was made massively easier with the support that we had
0:34:58 > 0:35:00from friends and family at that point.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02You're going to mess up the carpet.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06'And without having...that,
0:35:06 > 0:35:08'we would have struggled a lot more.'
0:35:09 > 0:35:10As the weeks went by,
0:35:10 > 0:35:13Greg also began to have more practical doubts
0:35:13 > 0:35:16about the cost of making his dream move.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19When you started working out the finances of moving and the money
0:35:19 > 0:35:23you'd be earning out there, it just wasn't really a viable option.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27We started talking about pushing it back further and further...
0:35:29 > 0:35:31..until finally Greg kind of admitted
0:35:31 > 0:35:35that actually, he wasn't so committed
0:35:35 > 0:35:38to the idea of going any more.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41After all his efforts to get Jenni on board,
0:35:41 > 0:35:44Greg had lost faith in his own dream.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47My heart was saying this is a perfect place to raise my family,
0:35:47 > 0:35:50and then my head's kind of pulling me in the other direction, saying,
0:35:50 > 0:35:54"Well, is it really going to work?"
0:35:54 > 0:35:58You know, you need at least one of you to be really positive
0:35:58 > 0:36:00and focused and want to do it.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05But if you're both sat there saying, "Ooh, I'm not sure,"
0:36:05 > 0:36:07then it's probably not the best decision.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11Letting go of the dream wasn't easy.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16It was quite a heart-wrench, it was tough,
0:36:16 > 0:36:18it was actually really tough to sort of...
0:36:19 > 0:36:21..sort of digest that.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23In my quality of life perspective,
0:36:23 > 0:36:26New Zealand would be infinitely better than we have here in the UK,
0:36:26 > 0:36:30however, unfortunately, as with life, you need money to back this.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Despite their plans not working out as hoped,
0:36:34 > 0:36:37it's fair to say the Wallens' time down under
0:36:37 > 0:36:39has inspired Greg and Jenni to make
0:36:39 > 0:36:42some really positive changes to their lives in the UK.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48The trial week has really, really helped us to adjust
0:36:48 > 0:36:50and to start focusing
0:36:50 > 0:36:52on what's important in life.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55Greg has started to realise that...
0:36:56 > 0:36:58..he doesn't need to work all the hours,
0:36:58 > 0:37:01that it is just important to have family time.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03What colour would you like to be, Daddy?
0:37:03 > 0:37:04Yellow, please.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06I go first!
0:37:07 > 0:37:09- One, two.- Thank you.
0:37:09 > 0:37:14It's made me think the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
0:37:14 > 0:37:19There's things here that I think as a family we can adapt to make things
0:37:19 > 0:37:23better here to what I thought it would've been like in New Zealand.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25Three.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27That's rubbish again, I'm back on it!
0:37:27 > 0:37:29One, two, three...
0:37:29 > 0:37:31Oh, Daddy got a ladder!
0:37:31 > 0:37:33I'm not playing!
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Since spending more time together in New Zealand,
0:37:38 > 0:37:40and then since we've got back,
0:37:40 > 0:37:43we started to set up a few routines for ourselves.
0:37:43 > 0:37:44So we'll have...
0:37:44 > 0:37:48Evie and Greg will go out for an afternoon once a month,
0:37:48 > 0:37:51myself and Evie will go out for an afternoon once a month
0:37:51 > 0:37:54and then once a month, we'll all go out together as a family.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56I feel better in myself as a father
0:37:56 > 0:37:59and as a husband than I did before and I think that was also maybe,
0:37:59 > 0:38:02like, another missing piece to the family puzzle.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10Having moved from Devon to be with Jenni, Greg had found himself often
0:38:10 > 0:38:12feeling isolated and lonely in Sheffield.
0:38:12 > 0:38:14But taking up a new hobby has proven
0:38:14 > 0:38:17a positive step in the right direction.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21I've taken up boxing now.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25So that plays quite a large role in my life and I really enjoy it.
0:38:25 > 0:38:29All the guys at the gym that I've met have been so welcoming and I've made some really good friends.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35Keep it nice and long on the jabs, yeah?
0:38:37 > 0:38:39Greg's feeling a lot more settled.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44He's really started to forge some links, some relationships here.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46He looked almost like, gaunt, like he had...
0:38:46 > 0:38:48- Yeah.- Like his cheeks were, like, dead.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52- Yeah, you could see it, couldn't you? Now, he...- Looks natural, yeah.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55I kind of feel more cemented here in the UK.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57Having my outlet in boxing...
0:38:58 > 0:39:02..I have my life as me as well as my life as a husband,
0:39:02 > 0:39:05my life as a business owner and my life as a father.
0:39:08 > 0:39:09No, you're the scaredy-cat.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13- Alfie!- And there are some more changes on the horizon.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15Now a family of four,
0:39:15 > 0:39:18life's proving a bit of a squeeze in their two-bedroom home.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22When it was just me, Jen and Evie, it was kind of just about doable.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25But kind of my work office space
0:39:25 > 0:39:28is now kind of in our bedroom, so it's all a little bit cramped.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31I get annoyed at Jen because she chucks clothes on my desk
0:39:31 > 0:39:33and I'm trying to work and stuff like that,
0:39:33 > 0:39:36so it's a bit tight, so we've decided we need to move.
0:39:36 > 0:39:37We are now...
0:39:38 > 0:39:44..just about in a position in the next few months or so to be moving.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47Buying a house together, our family home.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52As far as the right house in the UK goes, Jen would be able to list a
0:39:52 > 0:39:54million and one things of what she wants from a house.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56More space.
0:39:56 > 0:39:57More rooms.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59Children can have a room that we can shut the door on them,
0:39:59 > 0:40:01adults can have a lovely lounge,
0:40:01 > 0:40:04which isn't constantly full of toys.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06I don't really get a lot of choice in the matter, to be honest,
0:40:06 > 0:40:09I'll just be the one that's probably paying for it!
0:40:09 > 0:40:12But I'm sure it's going to be a hell of a lot easier to make that move
0:40:12 > 0:40:16as a family here in the UK, than it is to a certain extent
0:40:16 > 0:40:18go it alone in New Zealand so I think, once again,
0:40:18 > 0:40:20100%, right decision.
0:40:20 > 0:40:21Come to Grandma.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27Deciding to stay in the UK has been welcome news for loved ones.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32We're very happy to see them stay.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35I mean, we've got a beautiful new grandson
0:40:35 > 0:40:37who we're just getting to know.
0:40:37 > 0:40:38Hi, Grandad!
0:40:40 > 0:40:45I welcome it and it gives us extra time with the two children.
0:40:45 > 0:40:46Peepo!
0:40:48 > 0:40:49Peepo!
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Peepo!
0:40:51 > 0:40:54They are very happy and they were all saying,
0:40:54 > 0:40:57"Oh, well, we're really glad.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59"We wouldn't have wanted you to go,
0:40:59 > 0:41:03"we would have supported it, but we wouldn't have wanted you to have."
0:41:03 > 0:41:06And now they just ignore it like it's never actually happened.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11- Cartwheels!- However,
0:41:11 > 0:41:15the door's not completely shut on the down under dream.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18Having had a taste of what New Zealand can offer,
0:41:18 > 0:41:21Jenni is keen to keep the option open for the future.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23Ethan!
0:41:24 > 0:41:27In my head, it is only a postponement.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30If I think about us never going to New Zealand...
0:41:31 > 0:41:34..I do get quite sad.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41Jenni's hoping they might revisit the idea in five years' time,
0:41:41 > 0:41:43but with their full and busy life in the UK,
0:41:43 > 0:41:48Greg's more than happy to stay settled in Sheffield for the foreseeable future.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51- Auntie Claire's going to get her shoes.- Come on.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59I get the occasional moment where I think,
0:41:59 > 0:42:02"Oh, have made the right decision or have I not?"
0:42:02 > 0:42:07And then I quite often sort of set my mind back to when we kind of did
0:42:07 > 0:42:10the reality check out there in New Zealand and we had the prices and everything,
0:42:10 > 0:42:12what it would cost to eat, what it would cost to live.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15My mind sort of skips straight back to that and I think...
0:42:16 > 0:42:19..yeah, I have made the right decision.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23I'm not convinced that we are on the same page!
0:42:23 > 0:42:27I do feel we might regret the decision in the future
0:42:27 > 0:42:29if we don't even give it a try.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38I think New Zealand would have been a good place...
0:42:39 > 0:42:43..but I don't think the UK's a bad thing for us, either.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48I'm happy where we are and I'm happy with where we're at as a family.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53It's been an eventful year for the Wallens,
0:42:53 > 0:42:56but it looks like it could be a while longer
0:42:56 > 0:42:59before Greg and Jenni are in total agreement.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10Wherever their final destination may be,
0:43:10 > 0:43:14we wish the whole family a very happy future.