0:00:02 > 0:00:06They say it's not where you live but who you live with that's important.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10But what if you and your partner are at loggerheads over where to spend
0:00:10 > 0:00:15your future and that's threatening to ruin your relationship?
0:00:15 > 0:00:20One year ago, Shari and Karie Atkins faced just that situation.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Today, we'll find out what happened next.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Having arrived in the UK 15 years ago,
0:00:28 > 0:00:32Shari Atkins was desperate to return to Australia.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37As much as home is here now, there's part of my heart in Australia.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41But husband Karie couldn't bear to leave the life he loved in the UK.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44There are family, there are friends, there are finances, you know,
0:00:44 > 0:00:46the reality of it all.
0:00:46 > 0:00:53A trial week down under was crunch time for Shari's dream and marriage.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56If Karie voted to stay in the UK,
0:00:56 > 0:01:00that's really going to put a nail in our coffin because I do think...
0:01:00 > 0:01:03I think I'll be done with waiting.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06So, a year down the line, where are they now?
0:01:06 > 0:01:09It's not gone quite to plan, let's put it that way.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36The flattest and lowest landmass on Earth,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Australia is a nation people have called home for over 40,000 years.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Offering stunning landscapes and a fabulous climate,
0:01:44 > 0:01:47in more recent times, it's been considered a land of plenty
0:01:47 > 0:01:51for British families on the move, with recent figures showing
0:01:51 > 0:01:55an estimated 34,000 people emigrate there every year.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03When Shari Atkins arrived in the UK from Australia in 2001,
0:02:03 > 0:02:05it was meant to be a temporary trip.
0:02:05 > 0:02:1015 years on, however, despite repeated promises from husband Karie
0:02:10 > 0:02:12to make the move down under,
0:02:12 > 0:02:17she was still living in Wales and the issue was putting their marriage
0:02:17 > 0:02:20under pressure. In 2015,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Shari had one week to convince Karie to follow her home
0:02:24 > 0:02:28or face the possibility of losing her forever.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33The couple's return trip to Australia started with a flight
0:02:33 > 0:02:36from London to Dubai and then on to Perth.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41And Karie was exhausted when they finally touched down.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45The journey was very long, didn't get much sleep.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Shari was delighted to be back on Aussie soil.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51I'm just excited to be home, to be fair.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53But Karie was more anxious.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55'I'm pretty nervous.'
0:02:55 > 0:02:57There's a bit of pressure on me this week.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Their emotions were conflicting,
0:02:59 > 0:03:03but the couple agreed on the importance of the next seven days.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05There's a lot riding on this week.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Yeah, there's a massive amount riding on this week.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10I guess it's us, at the end of the day, that is riding on this week.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12Pretty much.
0:03:12 > 0:03:13As the couple headed into Perth,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16they knew their marriage could be on the line if they couldn't agree
0:03:16 > 0:03:18come the end of the week.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Back in the UK, Karie and Shari Atkins lived in Chepstow
0:03:25 > 0:03:27in South Wales. Born in Australia,
0:03:27 > 0:03:32Shari was considering travelling the world when, in 2001,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35the flip of a coin changed her future for ever.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37It came up heads and I literally walked out the door,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40went straight to the closest travel agent
0:03:40 > 0:03:42and booked a one-way flight to the UK.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Five years later,
0:03:45 > 0:03:50Shari was just six months from returning home when she met Karie.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Having hit it off, she temporarily delayed her return to Australia
0:03:53 > 0:03:56on the understanding if Karie remained in her life,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59he'd eventually go with her.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03It was a non-negotiable deal.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07When the couple decided to tie the knot three years later,
0:04:07 > 0:04:09Karie promised Shari a future down under.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12When we got engaged, Karie had said that we would,
0:04:12 > 0:04:16at some point in the future, move back to Australia.
0:04:16 > 0:04:21Despite his promises, Karie had concerns about a move.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26I'd need to be confident that there was a job there for both of us,
0:04:26 > 0:04:28that we could afford a house.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30To know that we could at least match
0:04:30 > 0:04:33the kind of life that we have in the UK.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36And also, that I could fit into the lifestyle.
0:04:36 > 0:04:41He was also worried about leaving family in the UK.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44I do love them very much and it just...
0:04:44 > 0:04:48it would be a real struggle for me, I think.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52But after nine years of waiting, Shari had run out of patience.
0:04:52 > 0:04:59So desperate to return home, she was contemplating going on her own.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03I've realised that I've got to give it a go so that's...
0:05:05 > 0:05:07..that's where it's come from.
0:05:10 > 0:05:11Sorry.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18The couple faced a week that would make or break their relationship
0:05:18 > 0:05:23as Shari tried to convince Karie to follow her home once and for all.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Blatantly, I've not come through on my promise.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28I do feel bad about that.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Just giving it a go, that's all I'm asking.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Not, you know... Not the world, just give it a go.
0:05:36 > 0:05:37- Be fair.- I know.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Shari and Karie spent their trial week
0:05:49 > 0:05:51in the coastal port of Fremantle,
0:05:51 > 0:05:55just 12 miles from central Perth in Western Australia.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Their temporary home was a one-bedroom cottage
0:05:58 > 0:06:00on a leafy street close to the beach,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03but did it live up to Shari's memories of Australian living?
0:06:03 > 0:06:05- Oh!- Here.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Oh, wow!
0:06:07 > 0:06:10The quirky interiors appealed to Shari straightaway.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13I could live with something like this. I'd be very happy. Yes.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15But Karie wasn't sure.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18It's like, kind of not Australian, but...
0:06:18 > 0:06:20I don't know. You know what I mean?
0:06:20 > 0:06:23- It's probably not what you were expecting.- Exactly.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Outside, Shari spotted something that would appeal to Karie.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29- Shed. Yeah.- Off you go.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Yeah, I know where I'm sleeping.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that, but as they made themselves at home,
0:06:36 > 0:06:41Shari's enthusiasm for being back on home turf was unsettling Karie.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44You know, there is a bit of pressure there for me to kind of like things
0:06:44 > 0:06:47and want to feel the same way.
0:06:47 > 0:06:52But I've got to look at it with a clear mind and see what I think,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54and see what's possible.
0:06:54 > 0:06:55The week ahead was crucial
0:06:55 > 0:06:59if Shari and Karie were to have a future together.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02I know ultimately that I want to be here and I'd like Karie to be,
0:07:02 > 0:07:04but if he chooses not to then...
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Well, I guess we'll just have to
0:07:06 > 0:07:09cross that bridge when we come to it. Hopefully not, so...
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Back in the UK, Shari and Karie
0:07:20 > 0:07:25lived in a two-bedroom terraced cottage in Chepstow, South Wales.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27It was our first home as a married couple
0:07:27 > 0:07:28so it has great importance to us.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Shari was prepared to give it up
0:07:30 > 0:07:33to return to the country where she was born.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36The couple's property budget was £330,000
0:07:36 > 0:07:39and they agreed on what they wanted.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Oh, I would love a big backyard.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44A small house on a big piece of land.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Three bedrooms would be great.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49- Shed for you. - Yeah, a shed or garage.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52Close to the beach.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55In an ideal world, it would also be quite close to some wooded area
0:07:55 > 0:07:57so you could go off and do some biking.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03To find out what kind of house they could have,
0:08:03 > 0:08:05we showed Karie and Shari three properties,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08two based on their budget and a third,
0:08:08 > 0:08:10which could have been their dream home.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14After they'd seen each one, we showed them what it cost.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16House-hunting got underway in Bayswater,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20just over three miles north-east of central Perth.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Stretching along the banks of the Swan River,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26the area offered plenty of open space for running and cycling,
0:08:26 > 0:08:27which was perfect for Karie,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29but was it the house to persuade him
0:08:29 > 0:08:33to make Shari's wish to return home come true?
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Oh! This is nice, isn't it?
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Nice open plan, straight into the landing.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41I wasn't expecting that actually.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Karie didn't sound sold.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48I like the layout, but not so keen on the look of the kitchen.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51But the master bedroom was a hit.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Wow! It's beautiful.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57- That's not a bad size, is it? - Absolutely beautiful.- Yeah.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00For a while.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04It's kind of weird for me having a bedroom at the front of the house.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Well, British houses are upstairs, downstairs aren't they?
0:09:07 > 0:09:08Aussie houses are a bit more...
0:09:08 > 0:09:11You always have bedrooms at the front.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13The layout could take some getting used to,
0:09:13 > 0:09:15but with three good-sized bedrooms
0:09:15 > 0:09:18the house had the space the couple wanted.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23Moving outside, the huge garden was a big hit with Shari.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Whoa, that is awesome!
0:09:27 > 0:09:31This is exceeding my expectations at the moment.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34An additional space for bikes and sporting equipment
0:09:34 > 0:09:36left Karie speechless.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40If this fits with the budget we've got in mind, wow!
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Would you move in tomorrow? I'm not joking.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45I know. I know you're not joking.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49It looked like the property could tempt Karie to swap Chepstow for
0:09:49 > 0:09:54Perth, providing their £330,000 budget was enough to buy it.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58It was time to find out.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09Wow. £343,200.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11That is amazing.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- OK, it's over our budget... - Yeah.- But it's not that much over.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16That's really impressive.
0:10:16 > 0:10:22Just over £13,000 over budget wasn't enough to dent the couple's
0:10:22 > 0:10:26enthusiasm. Encouraged, they moved onto the second property of the day.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30It was situated in Karrinyup,
0:10:30 > 0:10:34a well-established suburb 15 miles' drive from the city.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Properties along here are not cheap.
0:10:36 > 0:10:37It's by the coast. It's going to be...
0:10:37 > 0:10:39- The coast is there, right there.- Yeah.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Close to one of Perth's most popular beaches,
0:10:41 > 0:10:43the area appealed to Shari
0:10:43 > 0:10:46and plenty of green area suited to running and cycling
0:10:46 > 0:10:49made it perfect for Karie, too.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51But was the three-bedroom cottage
0:10:51 > 0:10:53somewhere the Atkins can make themselves at home?
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Oh, wow! This is quite a nice little sitting room, isn't it?
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Front lounge. It's much bigger than ours.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Yeah, huge compared to ours.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08The recently renovated interiors had plenty of charm
0:11:08 > 0:11:12and the master bedroom won Shari over, too.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15- Really, really nicely done, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19Unlike the last house, though, the bedrooms weren't as big on space.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23The rooms might be a bit smaller but it's quite nice because you've got
0:11:23 > 0:11:25the character of the property in it.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Not just boxes.
0:11:27 > 0:11:28Yeah.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32But outside was less to Karie's taste.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Right, you've got a house right there.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38But look at this. This space is beautiful.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42But I was expecting maybe a little bit of greenery.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45But, think, no mowing the lawns.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48- There's no gardening that you have to do.- Yeah.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Shari skilfully kept Karie on side.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56Now, all they needed to do was find out how much the house cost.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Their budget was £330,000.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01I reckon this is going to be, like, £400,000.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03- Yeah, I'm going to go 440.- Yeah.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05So was anyone right?
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Oh, my God! 353?
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Yeah, I wish that was kind of nearer the 300,
0:12:15 > 0:12:19but we were expecting 400 so that's a really good surprise, isn't it?
0:12:19 > 0:12:22A good way to think about it. I'm really impressed with that price.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30£23,000 over budget could still be achievable with the right salaries.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37To see the final property, the couple headed for Doubleview.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Six miles north-west of central Perth,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42this thriving suburb offered a good compromise
0:12:42 > 0:12:44between beach and city living.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48But would this immaculately presented three-bedroom house
0:12:48 > 0:12:50be the couple's dream home?
0:12:50 > 0:12:52I mean, it's sort of a bit terracotta.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54I'm not sure about the style of it.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59It lacked kerb appeal for Karie, but was inside more desirable?
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Here we go.
0:13:01 > 0:13:02OK.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05It's a little bit more bright and airy in here
0:13:05 > 0:13:07than I thought it was going to be.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11The main living area had plenty to offer.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15- This is good, though.- This is a brilliant area, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Open plan, looking out on to the garden as well, which is cool.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20The couple could see potential,
0:13:20 > 0:13:24but the main family bathroom proved distinctly average.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27It's not a wow factor, but is very...
0:13:27 > 0:13:30- It's nice, it's tidy... - Practical.- It's practical.- Yeah.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Inside evoked mixed reactions.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34And outside...?
0:13:34 > 0:13:35Ha!
0:13:35 > 0:13:39- A Jacuzzi.- Or a very, very tiny swimming pool, yeah.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44The manicured north-facing secret garden was perfect for entertaining,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47but not quite what they were expecting.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49- It's quite...- Interesting. - Quite weird.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52It is quite private, but I'm not too sure about it.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55It wasn't Shari or Karie's dream home,
0:13:55 > 0:13:57but with all the space they needed,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00was it somewhere they could afford on their £330,000 budget?
0:14:02 > 0:14:04- Let's have a look.- Ready?- Yeah.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10- 379...- OK.- ..700.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13Around £50,000 over budget.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Yeah, OK. I think this is all about location.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21If we were going to go nearly 50K over our budget,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24- I'd want it to be a bit nicer than this.- Yeah.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28It wasn't the perfect end,
0:14:28 > 0:14:32but house hunting had given Shari and Karie plenty to consider.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Property one was almost perfect,
0:14:35 > 0:14:37with huge garden Shari dreamt of
0:14:37 > 0:14:40and the shed Karie longed for.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43The interiors of property two won the couple over
0:14:43 > 0:14:46and despite initial reservations about the garden,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Karie could see himself settling in.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54The location of property three was perfect,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57but at almost £50,000 over budget,
0:14:57 > 0:15:01the house fell short of being the couple's dream home.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05So, had the day done enough to make both Shari and Karie pick Australian
0:15:05 > 0:15:07property over their home in the UK?
0:15:18 > 0:15:21- Australia.- Australia.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Wooo! That's good.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27I'm really impressed with the houses we've seen today.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30I'm really, really stoked you chose Australia.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39A vote for Australia from Karie
0:15:39 > 0:15:42meant Shari's crusade was off to a flying start,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44but to keep him by her side,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48laying his job concerns to rest would be crucial.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Back home, Karie was a programme manager
0:15:55 > 0:15:57looking after aircraft equipment repair contracts.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59It would be really important for me
0:15:59 > 0:16:03to find something that is akin to what I do in the UK.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09Shari ran her own business providing public relations for utility
0:16:09 > 0:16:13companies, but she was ready to give it up to move back home.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16I am quite open to the fact that I haven't got haven't got contacts
0:16:16 > 0:16:19behind me so I might have to work for somebody else for a change.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23But I'm quite excited about something new really.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27Karie, on the other hand, wasn't as flexible.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31I think it would be really hard for me to consider a move without having
0:16:31 > 0:16:34the ability to see that I could get
0:16:34 > 0:16:37a good job and a good wage in Australia.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42To gauge work prospects in Perth,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45we had arranged for Karie to meet Amy Nichols,
0:16:45 > 0:16:48an executive consultant in the recruitment department of one of
0:16:48 > 0:16:52Australia's largest transport logistics companies.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56After a look around, Karie was ready to talk business.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58You've seen my CV. I'd like to know whether I have transferable skills
0:16:58 > 0:17:01- that could work for this company.- Absolutely.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04The industry that you worked in is quite specialised,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06but the skills that you have in that role
0:17:06 > 0:17:09are quite generic and transferable.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12It was just what Karie needed to hear.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15But was the outlook as promising for Shari?
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Wanting to gain some experience in the local market before possibly
0:17:18 > 0:17:20setting up her own business,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23we'd arranged for her to meet Peter Harris,
0:17:23 > 0:17:28managing director of a global public relations consultancy.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32Shari welcomed the opportunity to look around and explore her chances
0:17:32 > 0:17:35of securing a job down under.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39At the moment, there isn't any specific placements,
0:17:39 > 0:17:45but I would say that someone of your experience and skill sets,
0:17:45 > 0:17:49I believe you'd have a very strong chance of securing employment
0:17:49 > 0:17:52in that particular sector in WA.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55That is absolutely brilliant news.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Shari might not walk into a job straightaway,
0:17:58 > 0:18:03but knowing she'd be a desirable employee was encouraging news.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07Back at the logistics company, Karie had discovered his best option
0:18:07 > 0:18:10might be to look outside the aviation industry.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12I would see you in the future
0:18:12 > 0:18:15- looking to get towards a project management role.- OK.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18However, you might have to take a bit of a step back to get some of
0:18:18 > 0:18:19your Australian experience,
0:18:19 > 0:18:23understand the culture and the way that they work out here.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24Karie was encouraged,
0:18:24 > 0:18:28but was the potential salary for a junior role as promising?
0:18:28 > 0:18:32If you went in to a project coordinator role, 40-45,000.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35You're probably looking at 60,000-plus for a project manager.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37- OK.- Pounds.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40That's really impressive wage, actually.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Karie earned around £38,000 in the UK,
0:18:43 > 0:18:46so even though he'd be doing a different role down under,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49his prospects look good.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51Meanwhile, Shari was investigating
0:18:51 > 0:18:54her earning potential as an employee.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58The starting point for someone with your experience, I would suggest,
0:18:58 > 0:19:04would be in the approximate range of 57 to £60,000,
0:19:04 > 0:19:08but then increasing as you gain further experience
0:19:08 > 0:19:10of the local marketplace.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Outside, Shari admitted the salary
0:19:12 > 0:19:16made working for someone else an attractive option.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18It was almost double what I earn in the UK
0:19:18 > 0:19:23for what seemed similar hours. And the conditions are brilliant.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25So that was a real plus for me.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28It was positive all round,
0:19:28 > 0:19:32but would Karie's research be enough to see him fly the Australian flag
0:19:32 > 0:19:35when it came to choosing between work at home or away?
0:19:47 > 0:19:49- BOTH:- Australia.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Awesome. I didn't think you would go with that.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54I may have to take a step down in Australia initially...
0:19:54 > 0:19:58But, you know, I really want this to work for us and if I need to make
0:19:58 > 0:20:00some compromises then...
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- Yeah, I think I can. I think I can do that.- Yay!
0:20:09 > 0:20:13Bowled over by Perth's properties and buoyed by potential job
0:20:13 > 0:20:18opportunities, one by one Karie's concerns were being laid to rest.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22So would experiencing the Australian lifestyle Shari longed to return to
0:20:22 > 0:20:25be enough to tempt him further?
0:20:25 > 0:20:28The couple enjoyed an outdoor lifestyle in the UK
0:20:28 > 0:20:31and keen to add water sports to their repertoire,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34the pair headed to Lake Leschenaultia, in Chidlow,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37to start their day with some canoeing.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40After a quick safety briefing, they were ready to go.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44- Here we go.- You ready?- Yeah.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Just 45 minutes from the city, this former railway dam
0:20:47 > 0:20:50was the perfect place to enjoy some time on the water.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Lovely, isn't it?
0:20:52 > 0:20:56Karie looked like he could have found a new sport.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59I do canoeing in the UK, but the weather is fantastic.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01It's autumn...
0:21:01 > 0:21:03And Shari was right at home.
0:21:03 > 0:21:09It just reinforces what I've always remembered Australia to be.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12Next, the pair hit the popular mountain biking trails
0:21:12 > 0:21:14of nearby Paulls Valley.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18An avid mountain biker back home,
0:21:18 > 0:21:22Shari hoped the day would convince Karie there is plenty of scope for
0:21:22 > 0:21:26cycling down under. And it looked like she was in luck.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31You know, I can't really have a bad word to say about it, you know?
0:21:31 > 0:21:33- Yeah?- Don't push me off!
0:21:33 > 0:21:38The afternoon had worked wonders on Karie and rounding their day off
0:21:38 > 0:21:40with a picnic on Gooseberry Hill,
0:21:40 > 0:21:44Shari seemed more determined than ever to come home.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47If Karie chooses not to want to come back I will be gutted because this
0:21:47 > 0:21:51is... You know, it is everything that I want for us.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56But as the sun set over Perth, Karie wasn't so sure.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01These aren't just the things that I have to consider, there are family,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04there are friends, there are the finances, you know?
0:22:04 > 0:22:06The reality of it all.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09The couple would face some tough decisions,
0:22:09 > 0:22:13but had the lifestyle seduced Karie into choosing Australia over the UK?
0:22:21 > 0:22:23- BOTH:- Australia.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26- Did you? Really?- Yeah, yeah.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30Just today has started to underline that we can potentially
0:22:30 > 0:22:35have a life in Australia that can match up equally, or if not better,
0:22:35 > 0:22:39- than the UK. So...- Yay! Cool!
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Karie's consistent votes for Australia were Shari's clearest
0:22:48 > 0:22:51signal she could return home with her husband by her side.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55But she still needed to prove the move wouldn't rob them of financial
0:22:55 > 0:22:57stability. If she succeeded,
0:22:57 > 0:23:02the couple hoped to sell their house in Wales for around £150,000.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05We'd arranged valuations from two estate agents
0:23:05 > 0:23:07to see if that was possible.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Oh, wow! Lovely room.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13- Oh, OK.- 'Nice and bright. Nice floor.'
0:23:13 > 0:23:17Oh, nice space. This is really impressive and they've done a good
0:23:17 > 0:23:20job with the decor. It can be a bit dark but they've really made it nice
0:23:20 > 0:23:22- and light with these colour schemes.- Awesome!
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Oh, what a nice garden. Plenty of storage space.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Really nice.
0:23:28 > 0:23:35In the current market, I would value this property at £166,500 and,
0:23:35 > 0:23:41for a quick sale, I would value the property for 166,000.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43- That's great.- That was a quick sale.
0:23:43 > 0:23:44On the open market today,
0:23:44 > 0:23:49I'd value this property at £185,000 and for a quick sale,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52I'd say £174,000.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55- BOTH:- NO!- That's awesome!
0:23:55 > 0:23:58- 180!- I know.- That is incredible.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Feeling positive, the couple sat down to work out
0:24:01 > 0:24:04how much living in Australia would really cost,
0:24:04 > 0:24:08starting with their weekly food shop.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Vegetables seem to be a little bit more expensive here.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13- Eggs?- Eggs are more expensive.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15- Tuna, a lot more expensive. - Tuna, wow!
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Chopped tomatoes are way more expensive.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19That's weird, isn't it?
0:24:19 > 0:24:21The items revealed they would spend
0:24:21 > 0:24:24around £10 more on groceries every week.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Next, the couple moved on to bigger bills,
0:24:26 > 0:24:31basing their mortgage repayments on the first property they'd viewed.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34It would be £1,000 more a month, our mortgage.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37But I guess, at the end of the day, we're upgrading, aren't we?
0:24:37 > 0:24:41Fortunately, there were savings to be made elsewhere.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Gas and electricity...
0:24:43 > 0:24:45- Look.- Cheaper here.- Gas is.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Electricity is more.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Our monthly cost would then be...
0:24:50 > 0:24:54- Oh.- 4,166.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59That was £828 more than they spent in the UK.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02- That's not good.- No, it's not good.
0:25:02 > 0:25:07Everything rested on the couple's potential salaries down under.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11In Australia, our wages would be, combined, £5,587.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16- OK.- And in the UK they are £5,058.
0:25:18 > 0:25:19Wow!
0:25:19 > 0:25:22That was £829 more in Australia.
0:25:23 > 0:25:31So, we would be one whole pound better off here.
0:25:31 > 0:25:32OK.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34£12 a year better off wasn't life-changing
0:25:34 > 0:25:36but Shari was relieved to prove
0:25:36 > 0:25:39they could afford the lifestyle she wanted.
0:25:39 > 0:25:44This is starting to dawn on me that, actually, we can have an upgrade.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47No-brainer, surely? Surely?
0:25:47 > 0:25:50I can't argue with you on this, can I?
0:25:50 > 0:25:52It's there in black and white.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56So, had the figures done enough to put the couple on the same page
0:25:56 > 0:26:00when it came to choosing between finances in Australia or the UK?
0:26:08 > 0:26:10- BOTH:- Australia.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12SHE CHEERS
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Yay!
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Convinced the finances could work,
0:26:17 > 0:26:21Shari's attempts at selling her homeland to Karie were paying off.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24But there was one more fence to clear.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Sitting down to watch messages from loved ones at home,
0:26:27 > 0:26:31Shari knew this could be the thing that kept Karie rooted to the UK.
0:26:33 > 0:26:34Hi, Karie and Shari.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Hope you're well and having a fab time in Australia.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40- Hello, Karie and Shari.- BOTH:- Aw.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Hi, guys. Hope you're having an amazing time.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- Hope the sun is shining. - And hi from Austin. Hi!
0:26:46 > 0:26:47BOTH: Aw!
0:26:47 > 0:26:49They bounce off each other.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52- Both full of energy, brilliant couple.- Aw!
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Karie, as a man today, is very caring,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58but I don't think you could meet a nicer man.
0:26:58 > 0:26:59BOTH: Oh!
0:26:59 > 0:27:03Shari is great. She's really welcoming, she's very friendly.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07I think it must be the Australian-ness in her.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Shari is one of the best friends you could possibly ask for.
0:27:10 > 0:27:11Aw!
0:27:11 > 0:27:13He was my first grandchild, you see?
0:27:13 > 0:27:17So, he's always been a little bit special.
0:27:17 > 0:27:18Yeah, I shall...
0:27:18 > 0:27:23really upset myself before he goes.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Karie and Shari, you probably mean more to me then you know you do,
0:27:27 > 0:27:31but at the same time I think this is an incredible opportunity for you...
0:27:31 > 0:27:33- Good work, Bambi.- 'And I think you should go for it.'
0:27:33 > 0:27:36I'm going to miss you guys more than you can believe,
0:27:36 > 0:27:38but I truly want you to be happy.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Shari, I think we already know you've made up your mind so,
0:27:41 > 0:27:45'Karie, it's down to you, mate. We will miss you.'
0:27:45 > 0:27:48I just want you to know that whatever you decide
0:27:48 > 0:27:52then I am 100% happy.
0:27:52 > 0:27:58Well, Karie and Shari, I shall miss you very, very much
0:27:58 > 0:28:00and you know how much I love you.
0:28:04 > 0:28:09- Yeah. Likewise.- Oh, bless your gran.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11That was quite a hard watch, wasn't it?
0:28:11 > 0:28:14- Yeah.- Are you all right? - Yeah, sorry.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17They're not going to go away. We're not going to lose them.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22It's going to be a real big thing to overcome, I think, for me.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25- This was always going to be the hardest bit, wasn't it?- Yeah.
0:28:25 > 0:28:26Always.
0:28:28 > 0:28:29The prospect of leaving family
0:28:29 > 0:28:32had always been a stumbling block for Karie
0:28:32 > 0:28:37and hearing heartfelt messages from home magnified his concerns.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41After being consistently sold on Australia all week,
0:28:41 > 0:28:44would his strong emotional ties to the UK
0:28:44 > 0:28:47now see Shari's dream for their future unravel?
0:28:49 > 0:28:50When they'd arrived a week ago,
0:28:50 > 0:28:54Shari was on a mission to convince her husband they could make a great
0:28:54 > 0:28:57life for themselves in her native country.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01The last seven days had shown plenty of potential.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03I've felt exceptionally at home.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07It's reinforced everything that I've believed about Australia.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11But the reality of putting half a world between him and everyone
0:29:11 > 0:29:14he loved back home was playing on Karie's mind.
0:29:14 > 0:29:18I've got a fantastic wife that I love very much.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20But I've also got a family in the UK.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22It's a real dilemma for me, this.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26A flip of the coin almost 15 years ago meant Shari met the man of her
0:29:26 > 0:29:33dreams. Now a turn of flags will decide if she had a future with him.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36I love her so much and I don't want to lose her.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39Whatever decision I make, I don't want to lose her.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43If Karie voted to stay in the UK, I just think...
0:29:43 > 0:29:45I think I'd be done with waiting.
0:29:52 > 0:29:53Sorry.
0:29:55 > 0:30:01It was crunch time for Shari to find out if she'd been moving home with
0:30:01 > 0:30:03or without her husband by her side.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16- BOTH:- Australia.
0:30:16 > 0:30:17Did you really?
0:30:17 > 0:30:20THEY LAUGH HAPPILY
0:30:21 > 0:30:28Seeing it with my own eyes and kind of experiencing it all with you
0:30:28 > 0:30:30has just made me realise, like...
0:30:31 > 0:30:35This will make me happy as much as it will make you happy.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37It just... It just means the world.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43- It means the world to me, too. - I know.- You mean the world to me.
0:30:43 > 0:30:44Bless ya!
0:30:54 > 0:30:57It had been a long time coming,
0:30:57 > 0:31:01but nine years after those early discussions about Australia,
0:31:01 > 0:31:06Karie was finally ready to sign up to Shari's dream of returning home.
0:31:06 > 0:31:11So, 12 months on, has the couple finally made the move?
0:31:11 > 0:31:15It's May 2016 and the Atkins are...
0:31:15 > 0:31:17on opposite ends of the world.
0:31:17 > 0:31:22Shari is in the city of Ballarat, 65 miles west of Melbourne
0:31:22 > 0:31:26and Karie is still in Chepstow in the UK.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29But fingers crossed, it's only a temporary split.
0:31:29 > 0:31:33I guess the current plan is that we will both be in Australia at some
0:31:33 > 0:31:38point. But it's not gone quite to plan, let's put it that way.
0:31:38 > 0:31:44I think the events over the last 12 months have really kind of shown me
0:31:44 > 0:31:47that it's not as easy as black and white.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50After a great ending to their trial week,
0:31:50 > 0:31:54Shari started putting the feelers out for work in Australia straightaway.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58And a few weeks after returning to the UK, she was offered a senior
0:31:58 > 0:32:02management role in a government department in regional Victoria.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04It was really weird when I got the job offer from Australia
0:32:04 > 0:32:09because I cried. I cried and I was really upset about it.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12I think it all came crashing home that this was it now.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15At the same time, I was very, very excited because this was
0:32:15 > 0:32:19one step closer to the Australian dream that we would have.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22Although they wanted to move to Perth,
0:32:22 > 0:32:26Shari viewed the job as a means to boost her Australian work experience
0:32:26 > 0:32:29and the coming days were a bit of a whirlwind.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32When I heard the news that Shari had got the job it was like...
0:32:32 > 0:32:34OK. Erm...
0:32:34 > 0:32:37So things are going to have to move really very quickly.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39What am I going to do?
0:32:39 > 0:32:43How... How is this going to work, really?
0:32:43 > 0:32:47It turned into being a quite frantic adventure because I got the offer
0:32:47 > 0:32:49and then, literally, had about three weeks to
0:32:49 > 0:32:51then return back to Australia.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54So it was all go, go, go after that time.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58It was just crazy. It was just crazy times.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00Karie still needed to arrange his visa,
0:33:00 > 0:33:04so the couple agreed Shari would leave the UK on her own and he would
0:33:04 > 0:33:07follow her as soon as he could.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10I really didn't want Karie to take me to the airport.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12I just wanted to do it by myself cos I didn't want the, kind of,
0:33:12 > 0:33:17goodbye, goodbye. Long, sweeping, crying kind of mess.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20But that's what happened! And...
0:33:20 > 0:33:23Yeah, it was hard. It was hard getting on that plane.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26It was really emotional in the airport.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30It was pretty horrible really, to be honest.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32And, erm...
0:33:32 > 0:33:34Yeah, I...
0:33:34 > 0:33:37We had a pretty tearful farewell.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40And, erm... Yeah, I think I ended up
0:33:40 > 0:33:47just sitting in a coffee shop for half an hour when she left,
0:33:47 > 0:33:49just to get myself together before I drove home.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52It was pretty full-on.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56Shari arrived in Ballarat in August 2015,
0:33:56 > 0:33:59but despite belonging to be back in Australia,
0:33:59 > 0:34:02the reality wasn't as planned.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06I didn't feel like I was home and that surprised me because I always
0:34:06 > 0:34:09thought the time that I came back, I'd be home.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12But I just didn't have that feeling inside.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15Scheduled to start work just two days after arriving,
0:34:15 > 0:34:17it was a challenging time for her.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20The first few weeks were really, really difficult
0:34:20 > 0:34:22because I had moved to Ballarat.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24I'd never been here before, I didn't know anybody,
0:34:24 > 0:34:30I started quite a high-pressure new job, I didn't have anywhere to live,
0:34:30 > 0:34:33I didn't have any transport, I was riding around on a bike.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36And I was missing the UK.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39It was the depths of winter, it was cold, I was lonely.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41I just hated it.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44We had some sad times in that period really.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47And I really didn't like hearing that she was, you know,
0:34:47 > 0:34:51struggling and not getting on very well, you know.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53Back in the UK,
0:34:53 > 0:34:56Karie was readjusting to life without his wife, too.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02It was quite a change,
0:35:02 > 0:35:05quite a struggle for probably a good couple of months
0:35:05 > 0:35:07to get into a different routine.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11Although he admits he's had it easier than Shari.
0:35:11 > 0:35:12You know, I wouldn't say
0:35:12 > 0:35:13'it's been plain sailing for me,
0:35:13 > 0:35:18'but I think, you know, I'm here in our home.'
0:35:18 > 0:35:24It's been a struggle to adjust, but she certainly had the...
0:35:24 > 0:35:26had the lion's share of the stress.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34Living in a B&B and working round-the-clock,
0:35:34 > 0:35:38Shari also had to find a suitable Aussie home for her,
0:35:38 > 0:35:41Karie and their beloved dog, Pickle.
0:35:41 > 0:35:42After three months of knockbacks,
0:35:42 > 0:35:46she finally found what she was looking for.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50When the first house popped up that would allow dogs,
0:35:50 > 0:35:53I took it and I'm very fortunate, it's a beautiful house.
0:35:56 > 0:36:01Shari moved into this single-storey Victorian style cottage soon after.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04With three bedrooms and open-plan living,
0:36:04 > 0:36:06it had everything she needed,
0:36:06 > 0:36:11but the best bit was she'd finally got the big garden she'd dreamt of.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16This is my favourite area of this house. It's a backyard
0:36:16 > 0:36:19and it's something I've always really dream about
0:36:19 > 0:36:21whilst living in the UK. Over the summer,
0:36:21 > 0:36:25I did spend a little bit of time out here on my hammock.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28One of the things just missing from this backyard is having Karie here,
0:36:28 > 0:36:31and Pickle, because I know both of them would absolutely love
0:36:31 > 0:36:33having this space around them.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36But less than a week after moving in,
0:36:36 > 0:36:39Shari was hit with more disappointment.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43The first weekend I was here, I went down to Melbourne for the day
0:36:43 > 0:36:45and when I returned I'd been broken into.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48So that was just devastating for me.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50Yeah, it was...
0:36:50 > 0:36:53It almost sent me home.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56I couldn't take any more and it was so much pressure on me.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00I felt like the world was at me and I was trying so hard to make a go of
0:37:00 > 0:37:04something and to make it all right, to make it all good,
0:37:04 > 0:37:07and just everything was against me.
0:37:09 > 0:37:14Karie was devastated when Shari called to say what had happened.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17'Hearing about that was just horrendous.'
0:37:17 > 0:37:20It just was really not nice to hear
0:37:20 > 0:37:23and obviously I was really feeling for her and I couldn't help.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26All I could do was be on the end of the phone, really.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29So that was really horrible.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32I love you and I hope you have a lot better night's sleep
0:37:32 > 0:37:34and get back on track.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36Shari didn't give up.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38But not bowled over by Ballarat,
0:37:38 > 0:37:42the couple decided Karie should stay in the UK until Shari's contract
0:37:42 > 0:37:45ended and set their sights on being reunited in Perth.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47It would have been nice to have Karie out here,
0:37:47 > 0:37:51but it wouldn't have been how I would want him to move to Australia.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55I don't think he would have liked Ballarat.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59And I wasn't prepared to have him give up his job and make the move
0:37:59 > 0:38:03if it wasn't 100% right and, for me, it didn't feel 100% right.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06So, for him, it wouldn't have felt 100% right.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10Fortunately, Shari has found a way to vent her frustration
0:38:10 > 0:38:12when things aren't working out.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15I put a boxing bag in purely for some exercise
0:38:15 > 0:38:18and because I was getting pretty frustrated
0:38:18 > 0:38:20with everything that was going on.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28Shari's contract has since been extended by another few months
0:38:28 > 0:38:30and things have started to get easier.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34'I have been in Ballarat now for approximately nine months.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36'I think the first two months I cried every night.'
0:38:38 > 0:38:44But then that changed and I got sick of crying and, yeah...
0:38:44 > 0:38:46I just kind of got on with it.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50'I've got to know the town'
0:38:50 > 0:38:53a little bit better. I've started to make some friends.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55A selection of sweet and savoury.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58And some traditional scones with jam.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01INDISTINCT CONVERSATION
0:39:01 > 0:39:02And summer came along.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04So, summer makes everything better.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07- BOTH:- ID!
0:39:15 > 0:39:19Karie has found a routine to fill his time apart from Shari, too.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22Working, walking the dog, you know,
0:39:22 > 0:39:25and trying to fit a few other things in.
0:39:25 > 0:39:30Friends, family and things like that. That keeps me busy.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34And realising they were going to be apart for longer than first thought,
0:39:34 > 0:39:37Shari has been back to the UK twice.
0:39:37 > 0:39:41I went back for Easter and that was great being back in the UK.
0:39:41 > 0:39:42I felt at home.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45I remember driving over Severn Bridge crying my eyes out,
0:39:45 > 0:39:47going, "I'm home!"
0:39:47 > 0:39:49I was excited to be back.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52It was great, obviously, just to
0:39:52 > 0:39:55be back together for a little while.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59Unfortunately, the visits passed too quickly and with Shari back in
0:39:59 > 0:40:00Ballarat once again,
0:40:00 > 0:40:04the couple admit living on the other side of the world from each other
0:40:04 > 0:40:07hasn't been easy on their marriage.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09- How's things since you got back? - OK, yeah.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13- So, are you feeling a bit tired? - Knackered.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17Yeah. He's having a cuddle here, isn't he? Bless him!
0:40:17 > 0:40:18Jealous.
0:40:18 > 0:40:23'I think just being apart, you know, and the whole strain of'
0:40:23 > 0:40:24that is really...
0:40:24 > 0:40:28It has had some impact on our relationship, definitely.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31I've been fortunate enough to have too many other things to think about
0:40:31 > 0:40:35so I don't generally have time to think about our relationship
0:40:35 > 0:40:39and what my move here has done to it, but it's definitely...
0:40:39 > 0:40:43it's definitely put a lot of pressure on it, yeah.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45What are you doing now? Are you just chilling?
0:40:45 > 0:40:47- Watching a bit of TV and stuff? - I'm going to go to bed
0:40:47 > 0:40:49because I'm pretty tired.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51'It's been a long time, you know,'
0:40:51 > 0:40:52a long time apart.
0:40:52 > 0:40:58You know, that's been pretty stressful, pretty,
0:40:58 > 0:41:00you know, lonely at times.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03Shari still thinks Karie should stay in the UK until she's found
0:41:03 > 0:41:07alternative employment, hopefully in Perth.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09But almost a year down the line,
0:41:09 > 0:41:12they know they can't continue as they are.
0:41:12 > 0:41:17'It's very much in limbo at the moment. It's just, yeah...'
0:41:17 > 0:41:20It's just uncomfortable really. It's a bit...a bit, yeah,
0:41:20 > 0:41:25like we've taken one step forwards and two steps back.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Once Shari's contract comes to an end,
0:41:31 > 0:41:33the couple plan to reunite for a holiday in Asia
0:41:33 > 0:41:35before returning to the UK.
0:41:35 > 0:41:40But where they go from there is still up for discussion.
0:41:40 > 0:41:46I think that if Shari comes back and things perhaps don't go
0:41:46 > 0:41:50towards what she would like and what I would like,
0:41:50 > 0:41:55which is really to kind of get to Perth or somewhere in that vicinity,
0:41:55 > 0:42:00then, you know, there's a chance there could be some time in the UK.
0:42:00 > 0:42:04Whether that's a long time or whether that's a short period,
0:42:04 > 0:42:07I don't know, but there's always that outside chance.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16I know that I've doubted Australia,
0:42:16 > 0:42:20only because of the rubbish start I had with it all.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24So I think my doubts have projected onto Karie quite significantly.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27I think I've made him doubt the whole Australia move,
0:42:27 > 0:42:32so I genuinely don't know whether or not we're going to be out here
0:42:32 > 0:42:34and live happily ever after.
0:42:37 > 0:42:42And I just hope that we can be, finally, really happy together.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58It's been a challenging few months for Shari and Karie
0:42:58 > 0:43:03and it looks like where they finally call home is still far from certain.
0:43:03 > 0:43:08We hope it won't be too long before they are reunited once and for all
0:43:08 > 0:43:12and wish them both a very happy future together,
0:43:12 > 0:43:15whether that be in the UK or Australia.