0:00:02 > 0:00:03After years on the move,
0:00:03 > 0:00:06Mathew Royle-Evatt was searching for somewhere to call home...
0:00:06 > 0:00:10I don't feel as a part of this house as the dog, to be honest.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13..and believed that could be Australia.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15We're moving to Australia now.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Let's go find a house.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Did a week down under see fiancee Phillipa Rowley
0:00:19 > 0:00:22put up a fight for life in the UK...?
0:00:22 > 0:00:26I don't think Mathew appreciates the gravity of what he's asking.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29..or bind her partner's vision for their future?
0:00:29 > 0:00:32It's not as straightforward as, like, "Do you like the weather?"
0:00:32 > 0:00:34It's so much more than that.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38So the big question is, where are Phillipa and Mathew now -
0:00:38 > 0:00:41in the UK or Australia?
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Whether it's for stunning natural scenery,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08an outdoors lifestyle or the climate...
0:01:10 > 0:01:14..Australia continues to attract people from across the world.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16But it's the unique bond the Commonwealth country shares
0:01:16 > 0:01:19with the UK that sees over 30,000 Brits
0:01:19 > 0:01:22making the move there every year.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30Mathew Royle-Evatt joined the army when he was just 16,
0:01:30 > 0:01:33but after ten years of active service, he was ready to swap
0:01:33 > 0:01:37his military career for married life
0:01:37 > 0:01:39and believed Australia was the place to do it.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42But for fiancee Phillipa Rowley,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45the thought of leaving everyone she loved in the UK
0:01:45 > 0:01:48to start a new life on the other side of the world
0:01:48 > 0:01:50was a scary prospect.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54So was a week sampling everything the country had to offer
0:01:54 > 0:01:57enough to help destroy Phillipa's defences
0:01:57 > 0:02:01and secure Mathew the future he so desperately wanted for them?
0:02:02 > 0:02:06The journey began with a 20-hour trek from Manchester to Perth
0:02:06 > 0:02:09via Abu Dhabi.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12And although Mathew was used to travelling,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16both he and Phillipa were relieved when they finally touched down.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18The flight was very long and challenging,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21especially for Phillipa, because she couldn't sleep.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25All that time in the air had given Phillipa plenty to contemplate,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28being so far from family in the UK.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31When my mum dropped me off at the airport, I was really emotional.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35It's really far away and the flight definitely reiterated just the fact
0:02:35 > 0:02:37that it's at the other side of the world.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40But Mathew had his eye firmly on the target.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43But we're in Perth now, so I've just got to push it to Phillipa
0:02:43 > 0:02:46to tell her why we've got to live here, really.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48- We'll see. - HE LAUGHS
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Meet Phillipa, Mathew and their pet doggie, Ollie.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Childhood sweethearts, Phillipa and Mathew first met at school,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00but with Mathew signing up to the army a few months later,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03their relationship got off to a rocky start.
0:03:04 > 0:03:10Mathew's job has had, like, a huge impact on our relationship,
0:03:10 > 0:03:15because Mathew is away, like, 80% of the time.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19As soon as we got together, I was off to Afghanistan for seven months.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21I didn't have a date of when I was coming home.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24We didn't know what was going to happen, did we?
0:03:24 > 0:03:26True love blossomed, though, and the couple were convinced
0:03:26 > 0:03:28they'd found their soul mates.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31I think we do complement each other quite well.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Like, we're good at what we're good at
0:03:33 > 0:03:35and then other is good at the stuff the other isn't at.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38- They're good at. - No, that made sense.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40I'm not sure it did.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44With plans for their wedding underway,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Mathew was ready to give his army career the boot in pursuit of a more
0:03:47 > 0:03:51stable life with Phillipa and believed that could be in Australia.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55I joined the army to get away from England
0:03:55 > 0:03:59and then somebody decided that she'd steal my heart
0:03:59 > 0:04:02and now I want to steal her away from her family
0:04:02 > 0:04:05and take her to Australia with me.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Mathew fell for the country during a brief visit with work a decade ago
0:04:09 > 0:04:12and Phillipa had been hearing about it ever since.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15I've never been to Australia, but Mathew goes on about it
0:04:15 > 0:04:16all the time.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20It's the most wonderful place in the world, according to him.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25I just liked the place, how warm it was, the climate,
0:04:25 > 0:04:27everyone seemed really friendly.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31But Phillipa wasn't convinced it was where their future lay.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34I'm kind of the only thing really in his way.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38Besides the weather,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41I don't think he's got any actual real-life reasons
0:04:41 > 0:04:44how it would be better.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Mathew knew he had a battle on his hands to get his fiancee onside.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50In order for Phillipa to be convinced to move
0:04:50 > 0:04:54to the other side of the world, I need to have an all-singing,
0:04:54 > 0:04:56all-dancing job where I can come home every evening,
0:04:56 > 0:05:02have the weekends to ourselves and it be for at least a little bit
0:05:02 > 0:05:05more than what I'm on in England.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08And he was prepared to fight for what he wanted -
0:05:08 > 0:05:10not just for him and Phillipa, but for future children
0:05:10 > 0:05:12they might have, too.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14A family out there would benefit a lot more
0:05:14 > 0:05:18from the Australian way of life than England.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21After we're married, at some point, we would like to start a family,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24so wherever we are, we need to be settled.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26But the prospect of starting a new family
0:05:26 > 0:05:29thousands of miles from the people she already shared her life with
0:05:29 > 0:05:32was too much for Phillipa to comprehend.
0:05:32 > 0:05:38They've been there for me this whole time and if we now leave
0:05:38 > 0:05:42and just I don't have them in my life at all,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44I will find that really difficult.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47And she knew leaving would break her dad's heart.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49My dad constantly jokes that I'm not going
0:05:49 > 0:05:53and he won't even enter into a conversation with me about it.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57- You don't actually tell me anything. - There's nothing to tell.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Every time I speak to him about it, it's like, "You're not going,
0:05:59 > 0:06:03"you're not going." So, I think it will be difficult for my dad.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Ultimately, the choice for Phillipa was between the man she was about to
0:06:07 > 0:06:10spend the rest of her life with and her family.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13I think it would be very important for us to start married life on the
0:06:13 > 0:06:16same page, rather than I'm kind of leaning towards one thing,
0:06:16 > 0:06:19she's leaning towards another.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22It's a big deal, really, that I've got to make that decision
0:06:22 > 0:06:24for the both of us.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35To find out if Australia could offer the couple the lifestyle Mathew was
0:06:35 > 0:06:39dreaming of, they've visited the country's western capital, Perth.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43Their base for the week was the coastal suburb of Hillarys,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46just a 30-minute drive north of the city centre.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50But what did Phillipa think of her first taste of Aussie living?
0:06:50 > 0:06:52I'm happy. Are you happy?
0:06:52 > 0:06:54- Yeah.- You're never happy!
0:06:55 > 0:06:58- I'd probably just redo the whole thing.- Really?
0:06:58 > 0:07:02Phillipa's lack of enthusiasm suggested Mathew's Australian
0:07:02 > 0:07:05campaign might struggle to get off the ground.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10If this was all grassed off, it would be much more appealing to me.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13And I think everything as a whole has just been a bit,
0:07:13 > 0:07:14like, "meh".
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Like, it's not really done anything for me.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23It was ten years since Mathew was last on Aussie soil.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27I'm concerned whether it's going to be as good as I remember
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- it to be.- You're a different person now as well.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32I wasn't thinking about properties...
0:07:32 > 0:07:33It's different priorities.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36..I wasn't thinking about jobs or anything like that, but now I am.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39But I'm hoping for a good result in my favour.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41And the week ahead was his one and only chance
0:07:41 > 0:07:44to make Phillipa share his dream.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47For me to leave my whole family...
0:07:47 > 0:07:49I know I could speak to them every day
0:07:49 > 0:07:51and see them over the computer and whatever,
0:07:51 > 0:07:53but it literally has to tick every box.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01In the UK, Mathew and Phillipa live in a two-bedroom terraced house
0:08:01 > 0:08:04in the Rossendale area of Lancashire.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07I don't feel as a part of this house as maybe Phillipa
0:08:07 > 0:08:09or even the dog, to be honest.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13With Mathew's army career often taking him away,
0:08:13 > 0:08:18he wanted Australia to give him the feeling of home he'd been missing.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20In the next house, when I'm actually living there,
0:08:20 > 0:08:24I'll be able to command a bit more of a say.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27So what was their ideal home down under?
0:08:27 > 0:08:30I'd need a big garden, an outside seating area.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34I'd like it a bit more modern, with a little kitchen diner,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- maybe a separate lounge. - You don't want much.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Oh, and three bedrooms as a minimum, please.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43"Please" at the end!
0:08:43 > 0:08:44At least you've got manners!
0:08:44 > 0:08:47To find out what kind of house they could have,
0:08:47 > 0:08:49we showed them three properties,
0:08:49 > 0:08:53two on budget and a third as a possible dream home.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Only after they have saw each one did they find out its value.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Mathew and Phillipa had set themselves a budget
0:08:59 > 0:09:03of between £180-190,000.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08The search began in the coastal suburb of Alkimos,
0:09:08 > 0:09:1040 minutes outside of central Perth.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15They viewed a house in the new-build Shorehaven estate.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18So, did this three-bedroom property hit the spot?
0:09:18 > 0:09:20The front garden is quite small.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23I don't think we need a front garden, anyway, do we?
0:09:23 > 0:09:25No, I just hope that there's a back garden.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Hmm, fingers crossed!
0:09:27 > 0:09:30First, was the inside...
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Nice bright entrance, isn't it?
0:09:32 > 0:09:34- Yeah.- Nice and big.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37..which was about as positive as it got from Phillipa.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41I find it strange that the main bedrooms are at the front.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43- Yeah.- Is that just me?
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Possibly, but Mathew was not giving up.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Was the open-plan living a selling point?
0:09:49 > 0:09:51Much better shaped than our kitchen.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54And you could be washing up while I'm eating my tea.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00You won't be getting any tea!
0:10:00 > 0:10:02This is definitely not an upgrade to what we've got, is it?
0:10:02 > 0:10:04You wouldn't move across the world for this.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Mathew may have been fighting a losing battle
0:10:07 > 0:10:10but did the main bedroom improve Phillipa's mood?
0:10:10 > 0:10:14- It's got an en-suite. - Oh, well, that's just what we need.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17I hope there's another bathroom because I'd want a bath.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Yeah, obviously a separate bath and shower
0:10:20 > 0:10:23for the potential children we might have.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25One step at a time!
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Mathew's excitement was short lived, though,
0:10:27 > 0:10:31when even he couldn't muster the enthusiasm for the bathroom.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Rental properties' bathrooms are bigger than this.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38- That's not very big.- And the outside didn't fare much better either.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43- It's quite small, isn't it? - It doesn't feel like it's a garden.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47- No, it's just like a little patio sort of situation.- Yeah.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- I don't know, it feels quite claustrophobic, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Phillipa's mind was made up.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54We need better than this to move.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56But how much change, if any, would they have got
0:10:56 > 0:10:59from their £190,000 budget?
0:10:59 > 0:11:04Well, I'm guessing £156,000.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06I'd be happy to pay about £140,000 for this.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08- Shall we find out?- Yes.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Wow. It's quite expensive.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17That was at the lower end of their budget.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20We don't really need to see anything else because if that's what we can
0:11:20 > 0:11:22afford then it's not...
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- There's no point, is there?- No.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29Disappointment all round, really.
0:11:29 > 0:11:30Oh, well.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- Well, we can see the others. - Yeah, thanks!
0:11:35 > 0:11:39It may have been affordable but neither Mathew nor Phillipa
0:11:39 > 0:11:41believed this house was good value.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46The next property was in the much sought-after Vines area,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49a wine-growing region around 20 miles from central Perth.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51But did this three-bedroom house harvest
0:11:51 > 0:11:54a better reaction from the couple?
0:11:54 > 0:11:56It looks more like a home.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58It sounded promising.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- Oh, this is much nicer. - That is really nice.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05- It's got a fire. It looks like it might be pretend but...- Yeah.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07..but the fact that it's there is good.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Was this the house to get Phillipa fired up about Mathew's dream?
0:12:11 > 0:12:15This is definitely a million times more homely than the last one.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- Yeah.- And a million reasons for Mathew to be happy, too.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22You cook, you eat, you sit down and chill out, don't you?
0:12:22 > 0:12:23Yeah, I suppose.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26And then you go outside for a suntan.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30I really hope that the rest of the house, kind of...
0:12:30 > 0:12:32- The theme continues.- Yeah.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35- This is more like it, isn't it? - And it did.
0:12:35 > 0:12:36En-suite.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39The door's a bit annoying, though, it's next to the shower and that
0:12:39 > 0:12:41but I think I'd just remove the door.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44- I'd like a door.- Right, OK.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47Slightly encouraged, Mathew went in for the kill.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Would you move for this bedroom?
0:12:49 > 0:12:52If all the other boxes were ticked then, yeah, this bedroom's lovely.
0:12:52 > 0:12:53That's what we're after.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57Unfortunately, the bathroom was a wash-out for Phillipa.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59- Oh, no bath.- No. Very small.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Do Australians just not like bathing?
0:13:02 > 0:13:04I don't want a house where there's not bath.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06I didn't realise this was one of your things.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10I didn't but I didn't think there would be a house without a bath.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13And outside, the mood really took a plunge.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- It's a bit small.- It is a bit small.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Obviously we've got Ollie, the dog, so if we were to get chickens
0:13:19 > 0:13:23as well, then they'd need that whole area.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Well, we just won't get chickens then.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28- Simple.- I want chickens.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31I think this outside space is fine.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33Just like the fact that there's no bath is fine.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37I think we'd get over it.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41- We would?- Yeah.- OK.- I'd move out here for this house.- OK.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Bye, then!
0:13:45 > 0:13:47It didn't look good for Mathew's dream,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49but would the price make a difference?
0:13:49 > 0:13:53I think it's going to be about £211,000.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56I'm going to say £195,000.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- OK.- OK, let's have a look then.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03- Oh! What did you say?- Winner!
0:14:05 > 0:14:08That was almost £6,000 over budget.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12I think that's a decent price, especially compared to the last one.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14- Yeah.- You're getting a lot more for your money.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17I don't know if I'd move to the other side of the world
0:14:17 > 0:14:22for this house, for that price, but it's definitely an improvement.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25Property two proved to be better quality and,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28with the right jobs down under, possibly affordable.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31But it still wasn't quite perfect.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35The next house, however, we thought might be their dream home.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38It was in the family-friendly suburb of Aveley,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40but did the house win over Phillipa?
0:14:42 > 0:14:44- Oh, wow.- This is massive.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47This is much more what I expected
0:14:47 > 0:14:51- from an Australian home. - Yeah, the expensive one!
0:14:51 > 0:14:55Mathew was already fearful that his dream was beyond their reach.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57This is unbelievable.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58You see, that's a kitchen.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02- Very, very, very nice. - Yeah.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05This is the kind of kitchen I had in my mind
0:15:05 > 0:15:07as to why we should move out to Australia.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10But then Phillipa started worrying about the price, too.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14This could be, like, if we worked really, really hard.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18We just won't ever be able to afford to have children.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20- Or a life!- Or a life.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23They were equally impressed with the main bedroom.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25- Wow.- Oh, wow.
0:15:25 > 0:15:26That's really big.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30And it leads out on to that outside patio area...
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- Yeah, that's lovely. - ..which is really nice.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35This is a dream house for us, isn't it, really?
0:15:35 > 0:15:38I think this house is amazing.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40They were both bowled over, but there was something
0:15:40 > 0:15:42there just for Phillipa.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46- Oh, look, Phil, there's a bath. - Yay!
0:15:46 > 0:15:48See, that's not much to ask for, is it?
0:15:48 > 0:15:50How can you not want this?
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Before Phillipa got too comfortable, though,
0:15:52 > 0:15:55a turn of the card was required to see
0:15:55 > 0:15:59if their £190,000 budget would pay for this property.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03- How much do you think it's worth? - 210.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08I'd say a little bit more. £224,000.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10- Shall we find out?- Yeah.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15I don't think we could afford this!
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Right now, anyway.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- Maybe in the future. - Maybe.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24At almost £100,000 over budget, it was something to aspire towards
0:16:24 > 0:16:29if they could secure the right work and salaries down under.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31Property one came in bottom on the couple's budget
0:16:31 > 0:16:36but it lacked outdoor space and they felt it wasn't good value for money.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42Priced at almost £6,000 over budget,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45property two had the right location but its narrow back yard got the
0:16:45 > 0:16:48thumbs down from Phillipa.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Despite another small garden,
0:16:50 > 0:16:54house number three got both Mathew and Phillipa excited,
0:16:54 > 0:16:56but at almost £100,000 over budget,
0:16:56 > 0:17:00it was the kind of house they could have aimed towards in the future.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05So, how did they vote between property in the UK and Australia?
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Based on the properties we have seen today, our vote goes for...
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- Australia.- UK.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Why have you voted for the UK?
0:17:18 > 0:17:23I just think that we'd genuinely get so much more for that money at home.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26I think we'd only get maybe a bit of outside space
0:17:26 > 0:17:31which we wouldn't be using anyway because the weather's so bad.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34At the moment, I just think we could afford more at home.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43Phillipa's vote for the UK didn't completely surprise Mathew,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46but it placed even greater emphasis on the importance
0:17:46 > 0:17:49of them finding good jobs.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53Back in the UK, Mathew was an engineer in the army.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56I fix predominantly the electrics on armoured vehicles.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00I've been all over the world including Ghana and Afghanistan.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02But he was ready for change.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05I've been in the army since I was 16 and I am actually looking
0:18:05 > 0:18:09- for my next career.- Phillipa was to qualify as a teaching assistant,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12hoping to work with children with learning difficulties.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15If you spent ten minutes, half an hour,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18speaking with a child and you can see the difference
0:18:18 > 0:18:20that's made to them, it makes you feel
0:18:20 > 0:18:22like it's a bit more worthwhile.
0:18:22 > 0:18:23As the main visa applicant,
0:18:23 > 0:18:27the pressure was on Mathew to secure the right job,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30ideally one that would give the couple more time together.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34My Australian job will hopefully be more nine to five sort of thing,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36not having to travel as much.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Yeah, I just really want to spend more time with her and just have a
0:18:39 > 0:18:40better life, really.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Hoping to work with life-saving medical equipment in Australia,
0:18:45 > 0:18:50we arranged for Mathew to meet engineering manager John Pereira
0:18:50 > 0:18:52at Perth's Fiona Stanley Hospital.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54How come that one's not yellow?
0:18:54 > 0:18:56- Because they're off-line at the moment.- Right, OK.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58After a tour of the facilities,
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Mathew got straight to the heart of the matter -
0:19:00 > 0:19:02were his skills transferable?
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Most of your English qualifications will be recognised over here but you
0:19:06 > 0:19:08have to apply for that recognition.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09Knowing your skill level,
0:19:09 > 0:19:11I'd probably look at being a field service engineer.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13In a field service job,
0:19:13 > 0:19:15would I be based here or would I be based somewhere else?
0:19:15 > 0:19:18No, field service, by its definition, is a field service,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21so then you would actually be moving from place to place.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23That wasn't good news.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Travel was something Mathew hoped to avoid.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Next was the hours.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30I'm currently working five days away from home
0:19:30 > 0:19:34so I don't get to see my partner very often.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36What's it like being in Australia working?
0:19:36 > 0:19:38We do try to keep the work-life balance correct
0:19:38 > 0:19:40so that you do get your family time.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43But if you're a field service engineer, it's a bit more varied.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46You can probably be working some longer hours,
0:19:46 > 0:19:48you might have to do some weekend work.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52Variable hours were also far from ideal.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Meanwhile, Phillipa went to Hillarys Primary School
0:19:55 > 0:19:58to meet with associate principal Gary Deere.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00We have about 19 education assistants
0:20:00 > 0:20:05here at this school looking after the kids who have special needs.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08So would my qualifications be transferable here?
0:20:08 > 0:20:11You don't need a qualification to actually start.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Most of the education assistants we have here would have started off as
0:20:14 > 0:20:18- people who came in and did some relief work in the school.- Yeah.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Well, that's kind of how I've started as well so...
0:20:20 > 0:20:22- That's right.- And the salary?
0:20:22 > 0:20:26Between 35-38,000 Australian dollars,
0:20:26 > 0:20:29which is probably around £18,000.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34£18,000 was the same amount Phillipa would start on in the UK.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38But what were her chances of getting a job down under?
0:20:38 > 0:20:43I think with your background that you'd be quite a good candidate.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Your prospects are quite good to find employment here.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50The future looked bright for Phillipa on the work front.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52For Mathew, however, he still needed to know
0:20:52 > 0:20:56if his earning potential was comparable to pay in the UK.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Obviously, you haven't got the direct experience so they'd probably
0:20:59 > 0:21:02put you on a junior level, about £45-50,000.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06As you progress, £60-70,000.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Even at the lower end, that would be more than what I'd be expected
0:21:09 > 0:21:11to get in England, so that's really good.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Well, this is Australia!
0:21:14 > 0:21:19The potential to earn over £10,000 more a year than he did in the UK
0:21:19 > 0:21:23was great news, which left just one question.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26If I were to come to Australia today, would I get work?
0:21:26 > 0:21:29Absolutely. The sky's your limit, really.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31Both Mathew and Phillipa were encouraged
0:21:31 > 0:21:33by their prospects of work down under,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36but was it enough for them to both vote for Oz?
0:21:36 > 0:21:38So after our day looking at what jobs
0:21:38 > 0:21:42we could possibly get in Australia, our vote goes to...
0:21:46 > 0:21:48- Australia.- Australia.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52I'm quite surprised you chose Australia.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55It's nice to hear you sounding so happy about something
0:21:55 > 0:21:59outside of the army, like, looking forward to something else.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01I'm just happy that you're happy, really.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05Obviously, you've got job opportunities as well
0:22:05 > 0:22:07so it makes it good for both of us, really.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17With such positive news on the work front leading to Phillipa's first
0:22:17 > 0:22:22vote for Australia, Mathew's dream was back on track.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26And a day together sampling all that a lifestyle down under could offer
0:22:26 > 0:22:28was hopefully the best way to keep it there.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31So this is how you start it.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33- This is the red one to stop the engine. OK?- Yeah.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36After the required safety briefing,
0:22:36 > 0:22:38it was time to jet ski off into the lifestyle
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Mathew had been promising Phillipa.
0:22:43 > 0:22:48The day got off to a great start and Mathew played the advantage.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51We're moving to Australia now. Let's go find a house!
0:22:52 > 0:22:55And he didn't give up over lunch.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58So can we move to Australia now, please?
0:22:58 > 0:23:00- We'll see.- Still no "yes"!
0:23:00 > 0:23:02No definite "yes"!
0:23:02 > 0:23:05I've had really enjoyable day spending the day with Mathew,
0:23:05 > 0:23:10but it's just really, really strange to think that...
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Like, I wouldn't be able to do this with my family.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19Mathew knew what he was asking her to give up but he didn't back down.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21She's always talking about contacting her family.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Well, I'm just trying to explain to her
0:23:23 > 0:23:27that this is better for us and better for our future family.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31I've just been brought up constantly around all these people.
0:23:31 > 0:23:38I just think I don't want any children of mine to think
0:23:38 > 0:23:41well, I've took that away from them.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43With family firmly in mind,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46was Phillipa able to vote for an Australian lifestyle?
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Based on today's activities, we're going to vote for...
0:23:52 > 0:23:54- Australia.- Australia.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Why did you vote for Australia?
0:23:57 > 0:24:01It's important for me to think about us and our future and the fact that
0:24:01 > 0:24:04we want to start our own family one day.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06I just can't really think of a better place to do it.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16Another vote for Australia was a great result for Mathew,
0:24:16 > 0:24:20but he knew the move needed to add up in more ways than one.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22To help work out how they would fare financially,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25we've provided a cost of living comparison,
0:24:25 > 0:24:27starting with the weekly food shop.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30That's mushrooms, they're more expensive.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34- £1 more.- We actually eat quite a lot of mushrooms, really.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37So far it looks like our shop here would be more expensive, doesn't it?
0:24:37 > 0:24:45So in Australia we would be £18.10 worse off.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Which isn't dramatic, is it?
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Next, they looked at the bigger monthly bills,
0:24:51 > 0:24:55basing their mortgage repayment on the second property they viewed.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Water's a bit more.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Electricity is a bit more.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03- It's just when everything's a bit more, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05And it soon adds up.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09All in, they would be paying out almost £80 more per month
0:25:09 > 0:25:10in Australia.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14But Mathew's higher earnings soon put a positive spin on things.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18That's £671.64 extra a month,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21which is obviously a lot of money.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23See, that would make a huge difference.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Together, their joint income would be almost £1,000 more.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29That's like another person.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32- I'm quite happy with that. - Well, yeah!
0:25:32 > 0:25:35That will sort us right out, wouldn't it?
0:25:35 > 0:25:37The sums confirmed they would have a sizeable amount
0:25:37 > 0:25:39of surplus cash down under.
0:25:39 > 0:25:46Overall in Australia, every month we'll be better off by £877.32.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49- That's mad.- Write that down on that piece of paper.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53That's £10,000 more every year and Mathew was ecstatic.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55I'll ring the estate agent now and put a deposit down.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58OK, then, you go and do that! Make me a brew whilst you're there.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01- All right. - With such positive figures,
0:26:01 > 0:26:03there was very little doubt when it came to the vote.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07After working out our earnings and potential cost of living here
0:26:07 > 0:26:09in Australia, our vote goes to...
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- Australia.- Australia.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18No-brainer, isn't it?
0:26:21 > 0:26:24The realisation they could thrive financially in Australia
0:26:24 > 0:26:29was encouraging, but Mathew was all too aware that the big hurdle
0:26:29 > 0:26:32for Phillipa was the prospect of leaving her family.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35Are you ready to see what our families think, then?
0:26:35 > 0:26:38I'm ready. Are you?
0:26:38 > 0:26:41- Yeah, I think. - OK.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45- BOTH:- Hi, Phillipa, Mathew! - How you doing?
0:26:45 > 0:26:46Hi, Phil, hi, Matt.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Hope you're having a good time.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50I've walked the dogs, fed the chickens,
0:26:50 > 0:26:51so you don't have to hurry back!
0:26:53 > 0:26:57She is my eldest and she's incredibly fierce.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59There's no-one more loyal and protective.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02She is like my second mum.
0:27:02 > 0:27:03She looks after me.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05She is the absolute go-to girl.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08If you need any help, it's Phillipa all day long.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12Mathew would probably drive her crazy because she's very,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15I would say, organised, whereas Mathew,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18although he's in the army,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- is a little bit disorganised. - Cheers, Dad!
0:27:21 > 0:27:25I think it will be really strange if Phil and Matt do decide
0:27:25 > 0:27:26to stay out there.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28So it would be really strange not to talk to them day-to-day
0:27:28 > 0:27:30and see how they're doing.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35The thought of Phillipa having a grandchild of mine and me not being
0:27:35 > 0:27:38around, it doesn't bear thinking about.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41I'd hate to see her go.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43Just the thought of it...
0:27:48 > 0:27:53We really are close and it will be such a big change
0:27:53 > 0:27:56that it will be hard to deal with it,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59but I think it will be a good change for Phillipa,
0:27:59 > 0:28:01so I'm happy.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Just make sure, Phillipa, that you think long and hard
0:28:04 > 0:28:07about what you do and that it's right for you,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09and both of you.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Good luck with whatever decision you make.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14Well, if Phillipa and Matt do decide to go,
0:28:14 > 0:28:19I'd be really pleased for them, even though I'd be devastated.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21I couldn't even think about it.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25How do you feel about that, then?
0:28:25 > 0:28:27It was...
0:28:27 > 0:28:29Even though I know...
0:28:29 > 0:28:34I obviously know how they all feel, it's quite strange
0:28:34 > 0:28:36to hear them saying it like that.
0:28:36 > 0:28:37Everyone thinks we should do it.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41Maybe on a personal level, your dad doesn't.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45Yeah, it would be difficult but I know we've got their support.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51A blessing from her family to follow her heart may have made the final
0:28:51 > 0:28:54vote for Phillipa even more difficult
0:28:54 > 0:28:58because now she had to truly contemplate whether or not a move
0:28:58 > 0:29:01down under was what she wanted.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04Right now I think Phillipa's
0:29:04 > 0:29:06seriously debating on whether we should come out here.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09I think she's got more demons to wrestle with than I have.
0:29:10 > 0:29:14I'm one of, like, 16, 17 cousins and stuff,
0:29:14 > 0:29:19there's loads of us, and for my, you know, potential children
0:29:19 > 0:29:22to not have that, I just think is really sad.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25I think we have been on a journey this week.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27To come out and see the job prospects that we have,
0:29:27 > 0:29:31the environment we could be bringing up our family in, our future family,
0:29:31 > 0:29:33I think it's been invaluable.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35Even with her doubts,
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Mathew believed Phillipa would come to terms with the distance.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42I still think she can be persuaded to move out here based on the good,
0:29:42 > 0:29:45positive feedback we've had from the rest of the family.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48Hopefully it's Australia, that's where I think we should be.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51I just hope whatever decision we both make,
0:29:51 > 0:29:54we're both happy with it and we just support each other
0:29:54 > 0:29:56in whatever we both decide.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59The couple had to choose.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02Do they pursue the life in Australia Mathew wanted for them
0:30:02 > 0:30:06or stay close to Phillipa's family in the UK?
0:30:06 > 0:30:11After a fantastic week in Perth, our final decision is...
0:30:15 > 0:30:17- Australia.- Australia.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23I didn't think you were going to vote for Australia then.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25I don't know if I did but...
0:30:25 > 0:30:26Yeah, I want to do it,
0:30:26 > 0:30:31I want to start this next chapter of our lives here.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33Good. Me too.
0:30:33 > 0:30:38- Not just for me and you, for the future, obviously.- Yeah.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49Mathew was confident he could persuade Phillipa
0:30:49 > 0:30:53Australia was the best place to start their married life,
0:30:53 > 0:30:55and he was proved right.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59With the potential to find well-paid jobs and enjoy more time together,
0:30:59 > 0:31:02it looked like the couple had found the perfect place
0:31:02 > 0:31:05to start the next chapter of their lives.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07So, 12 months later,
0:31:07 > 0:31:13it's time to find out if the couple are living at home or abroad.
0:31:14 > 0:31:19It's summer 2017 and Mathew and Phillipa are living in...
0:31:19 > 0:31:21..Lancashire, but it might not be forever
0:31:21 > 0:31:25as they have their sights firmly set on a life down under
0:31:25 > 0:31:28following their experience of the trial week in Perth.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30The trial week was awesome.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33It was genuinely better than we could have hoped for
0:31:33 > 0:31:35or expected, really.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38You hear about these kind of postcard places and you just think,
0:31:38 > 0:31:40"Oh, it can't be that good," but it really, really was.
0:31:40 > 0:31:45I really enjoyed it and there was no kind of side of it where I thought
0:31:45 > 0:31:49that wouldn't be for us, or anything like that.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54I thought that she was always, always thinking about her family
0:31:54 > 0:31:57and maybe not thinking about our future family
0:31:57 > 0:31:59as much as I maybe was.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03But she said Australia in the end
0:32:03 > 0:32:06and I think she must have also realised
0:32:06 > 0:32:09that we did have such a good week,
0:32:09 > 0:32:14and we've just had a really good opportunity
0:32:14 > 0:32:18and a chance to experience what it could be like.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22And I think she was just sold by the week.
0:32:22 > 0:32:27When I flipped that card for Australia, it was me saying,
0:32:27 > 0:32:31"I am willing to put 100% in giving it a go."
0:32:31 > 0:32:35No-one can ever say, "Yes, I'm going to move there forever."
0:32:35 > 0:32:38You know, you might get hit by a bus tomorrow so there's no point...
0:32:38 > 0:32:40You can't say anything is going to happen tomorrow,
0:32:40 > 0:32:45all I can say is that I will, hand on heart, give it my best shot.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47After the trial, they spent a further week down under.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49We wanted to stay longer, to be honest,
0:32:49 > 0:32:52but we only just about managed to get the two weeks off,
0:32:52 > 0:32:54because obviously Mathew was still in the army.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58We went to different places like Rottnest Island and went to the zoo.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02- We saw wildlife stuff, really.- Yeah. - It was quite interesting.
0:33:02 > 0:33:07The thing that struck me is just how when we were there it was winter,
0:33:07 > 0:33:11and we were just in a vest top and shorts, like...
0:33:11 > 0:33:13It was just so nice to be outside.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16- I mean, here, when we're out walking Ollie...- Head down.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18..you can't... Yeah, you can't talk to each other!
0:33:18 > 0:33:20You can't appreciate it.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22You can't hear each other for the wind.
0:33:22 > 0:33:27We'd literally be able to do it all year round over there.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30But on their return to the UK, life quickly took over
0:33:30 > 0:33:33at a head-spinning pace, leaving them with little room
0:33:33 > 0:33:34to contemplate a move.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37We kind of had to switch on, really and, like,
0:33:37 > 0:33:40kind of put it to one side because I was getting out of the army,
0:33:40 > 0:33:42I kind of needed a job.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45We had the wedding coming up, hen do, stag dos -
0:33:45 > 0:33:48we had a lot of things coming thick and fast.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51At one point they even considered
0:33:51 > 0:33:55whether the cost of a wedding could be spent in a different way.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57We had the discussion, you know,
0:33:57 > 0:34:00we've got this pot of money that we've saved for the wedding,
0:34:00 > 0:34:03but this money could get us to Australia.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07Like, we could literally start tomorrow, the process,
0:34:07 > 0:34:09we could nip to a registry.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11It's the same outcome, you're married.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13You know, it is what it is at the end of the day.
0:34:13 > 0:34:14We could have a holiday.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17You know, we're in Australia so that could be the holiday anyway.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20But to do this would have stopped them enjoying their planned
0:34:20 > 0:34:23wedding with both families together in Cyprus.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26This would most probably be the last holiday
0:34:26 > 0:34:29with the likes of my grandad and, you know...
0:34:29 > 0:34:31Having all the family together.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34Having the family together, yeah, you know?
0:34:34 > 0:34:40So it was that that kind of prompted us to go ahead with it.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43So they chose to use the money to pay for the wedding
0:34:43 > 0:34:47later in the year and then start saving again for Oz.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50But before they could start filling this Australian purse,
0:34:50 > 0:34:55Mathew had to leave the army and find a job on Civvy Street.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59Yeah, trying to get a job outside the army is a bit daunting
0:34:59 > 0:35:02really at first because you don't know whether your skills
0:35:02 > 0:35:07are transferable and it's a way of trying to tell the civilian company
0:35:07 > 0:35:11that you've done similar sorts of things,
0:35:11 > 0:35:15but, obviously, like, tanks are a lot different
0:35:15 > 0:35:17to electronic producing, er, machinery.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20When he discussed with me that he was thinking of leaving the army,
0:35:20 > 0:35:23you know, I was a bit wary of it
0:35:23 > 0:35:26because it is kind of the most secure job
0:35:26 > 0:35:29you can probably have, you know?
0:35:29 > 0:35:32And it was a massive decision.
0:35:32 > 0:35:37I knew, kind of, what could possibly happen and, you know...
0:35:37 > 0:35:39I don't know, I was just really wary of it.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41But he was kind of insistent.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44But he couldn't take just any job,
0:35:44 > 0:35:46as Mathew knew that if they were to move down under,
0:35:46 > 0:35:50his skills in electronic engineering were their only way to get a high
0:35:50 > 0:35:53enough income to be able to fulfil the dream.
0:35:53 > 0:35:58I did apply for quite a few jobs as well and sometimes you don't hear
0:35:58 > 0:36:01anything back so it's a bit difficult, like...
0:36:02 > 0:36:04Morale-wise, you're looking at it and it's like,
0:36:04 > 0:36:06"Why have I not heard anything back about this?
0:36:06 > 0:36:08"I thought I was perfect for that job."
0:36:08 > 0:36:09And then you're thinking,
0:36:09 > 0:36:12"Oh, am I going to be good enough for, like,
0:36:12 > 0:36:14"any sort of job whatsoever?"
0:36:15 > 0:36:19The pressure of finding a job was not the only strain.
0:36:19 > 0:36:21Mathew's departure from the army
0:36:21 > 0:36:23was nothing less than a culture shock for him.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26Because I've never really lived with Phillipa properly,
0:36:26 > 0:36:28it's always been flying visits on a weekend,
0:36:28 > 0:36:31maybe the odd, "Oh, right, you're here for two weeks now."
0:36:31 > 0:36:35And she'd try to book time off to spend time with me, two weeks,
0:36:35 > 0:36:38and we'd go gallivanting or do something else.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41But this is actually, like, proper home life,
0:36:41 > 0:36:44this is actually, like, proper living and things like that so...
0:36:45 > 0:36:47It was a shock to the system.
0:36:47 > 0:36:51He was really, really anxious about the fact that he needed a job
0:36:51 > 0:36:54sorted straightaway for when he's left.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57I mean, we had savings, it wasn't a huge issue.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00I mean, obviously it would have been nice but he was really, really...
0:37:01 > 0:37:06He'd had a job 24/7 since the age of 16,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09you know, and not the easiest job in the world.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12It's a difficult job.
0:37:12 > 0:37:18So the prospect of him not working, he gets fidgety, and, you know,
0:37:18 > 0:37:20"I'm not doing anything, I need to be doing things."
0:37:20 > 0:37:25So I was just, sort of, like, stewing in my own self-pity, really.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28So that wasn't great and obviously she was getting annoyed with me
0:37:28 > 0:37:31because I was constantly, "Isn't this rubbish, blah, blah, blah."
0:37:31 > 0:37:33She's like, "Yeah, it's been rubbish for quite a while now but..."
0:37:33 > 0:37:39So it was quite emotional getting back to grips with things.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41But get a grip they did.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43As a young couple forging a life together,
0:37:43 > 0:37:46they faced the unknown and took that leap of faith.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57And after a short time, Mathew settled and life began to look up.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00Very graceful!
0:38:00 > 0:38:03Since he's come home, it's...
0:38:03 > 0:38:05It is just so much better.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08I feel like I can support him a lot more.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11And he can support me as well. We're there...
0:38:11 > 0:38:13Even just doing the weekly shop together,
0:38:13 > 0:38:15like, we never did things like that before.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20You know, it would all be there when he got home and
0:38:20 > 0:38:23it's nice just to do these boring kinds of things together.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26- You're alive! - I didn't die!
0:38:26 > 0:38:31And a few months before the wedding, Mathew had some good news.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34I managed to get a job working for an electronic component-producing
0:38:34 > 0:38:38factory in Oldham.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43So I maintain and repair the equipment that makes the electronic
0:38:43 > 0:38:45components now.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48Life was on the up and up and with Australia back to the
0:38:48 > 0:38:50forefront of their minds,
0:38:50 > 0:38:53they booked their wedding in Cyprus along with an extended holiday for
0:38:53 > 0:38:55their families there.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59We did come to the conclusion that, you know, actually,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02if we do make it to Australia, this will be the last family
0:39:02 > 0:39:05holiday we have with them.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09So we just decided it was worth it to do it that way.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11The wedding was amazing, really.
0:39:11 > 0:39:16We had 17 days in Cyprus in a 5-star hotel.
0:39:16 > 0:39:21It was genuinely perfect in every way for me.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23It was just brilliant.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26We had the church wedding that we wanted still,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28we had the sunshine, you know, everyone was...
0:39:30 > 0:39:33Everyone knows that when it's sunny, it makes people happy
0:39:33 > 0:39:36and it was a wedding day as well,
0:39:36 > 0:39:39so everyone was smiling and you weren't having to worry about
0:39:39 > 0:39:42wind and cold.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44Yeah, it was just really, really nice.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49And whilst, for some, the wedding may have been tinged with sadness
0:39:49 > 0:39:53at the thought of them emigrating, there was now,
0:39:53 > 0:39:55especially in the case of Phillipa's dad,
0:39:55 > 0:39:58more of an acceptance for their move.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01Well, initially when they first said it,
0:40:01 > 0:40:04it's really powerful for someone to say that.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06Yeah, and it was hard then.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09But now we've sort of come to terms with it a little bit more.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12It's... Yeah, it's a good thing that they're doing.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14If that's what they want to do then,
0:40:14 > 0:40:18then the world's a small place now so, yeah, good luck to them.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21But there is still one thing holding them back.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26We kind of had the discussion that if we did one to Australia,
0:40:26 > 0:40:30you know, got pregnant whilst we were over there and then,
0:40:30 > 0:40:33I just said, I would kind of put money on the fact that
0:40:33 > 0:40:36- I'd just be straight back. - No support from anybody.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Yeah, like, I work with children, I've been around children
0:40:39 > 0:40:40all my life but that's just...
0:40:40 > 0:40:42I mean, I've never done it before
0:40:42 > 0:40:45and it's just a completely different kettle of fish.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48We're not, like, putting pressure on ourselves saying we want a baby
0:40:48 > 0:40:51by X, Y, Z date, or whatever.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54I think we want to try and have a baby in this country
0:40:54 > 0:41:00before moving to Australia, just so at least our families
0:41:00 > 0:41:05can, like, meet the child first off and get to know them
0:41:05 > 0:41:08and just so we can have them there for support and help,
0:41:08 > 0:41:10more than anything.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12But of course this plan does have a flaw
0:41:12 > 0:41:15which both Phillipa and Mathew are aware of.
0:41:16 > 0:41:21The idea of taking a child away from grandparents might be a bit...
0:41:22 > 0:41:27..hard for them. We might find it difficult just...
0:41:27 > 0:41:29- Well, when I introduced... - ..just for the child really,
0:41:29 > 0:41:32if it's not going to have a relationship and things
0:41:32 > 0:41:36and then obviously grandparents might get annoyed and upset.
0:41:36 > 0:41:42I would like to think that my motivation for giving that child
0:41:42 > 0:41:47and our family the best kind of life would override...
0:41:47 > 0:41:50- And they're not going to lose... - Feelings of parents.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Yeah, they're not going to lose out completely.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54We will come back and...
0:41:56 > 0:41:58Family will go over there.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02Regardless of the support that we'd want, I wouldn't...
0:42:02 > 0:42:05I mean, I'm saying I'm going to take them away, I suppose,
0:42:05 > 0:42:08but I'd want my family to be there for that, you know,
0:42:08 > 0:42:10that first period initially.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14- Yeah.- Just so they can meet their grandchild
0:42:14 > 0:42:16and then we'd take them away again, can't we?
0:42:16 > 0:42:20- They'd obviously meet them... - "Hey there. See you later!
0:42:20 > 0:42:22- "We're going now!"- Hmm.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25The plan clearly needs some more finessing,
0:42:25 > 0:42:28but where do they see themselves in five years' time?
0:42:28 > 0:42:31I would say in five years' time
0:42:31 > 0:42:35- about to board the plane to Australia.- Really?
0:42:35 > 0:42:38- I don't know.- I'd say we're already there.
0:42:38 > 0:42:42By that point we'd have hopefully had a child, you know,
0:42:42 > 0:42:45hopefully, all being well,
0:42:45 > 0:42:48and we'd be over there and we'd just be getting on with it, really.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52- And we'd be booking the flights. It would be...- For your mum.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54Yeah, they'd be boarding the flight to come and see us.
0:42:54 > 0:42:59- We'll book it but she can pay! - Will you stop?!- No!
0:43:04 > 0:43:07Phillipa and Mathew have clearly set their sights
0:43:07 > 0:43:09on making down under their home.
0:43:09 > 0:43:13With so much ahead of them and so many plans,
0:43:13 > 0:43:16it promises to be a life rich with love,
0:43:16 > 0:43:20adventure and frequent visits from family!
0:43:20 > 0:43:23We wish them all the very best for the future.