0:00:02 > 0:00:06Back in 2010, the Wilson family had high hopes of a life down under.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08We are thinking about Australia because a better lifestyle,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11better weather.
0:00:12 > 0:00:17Better living accommodation, just seems to be a lot of betters.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20And the dream might have been just within their grasp.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Wow! This is absolutely ideal.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26However, husband Chris knew the pressure was on him to deliver.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31If I can't get a job, that comes pretty much on a par with what I'm getting at the minute
0:00:31 > 0:00:36in the UK, I'll be honest, I can't see... I can't see it actually working.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38But could they bear to leave loved ones back home?
0:00:38 > 0:00:39Or would it be too painful?
0:00:40 > 0:00:42I can't do this, sorry.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45It is a lot to think about, yeah. A whole lot to think about.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Mm...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Yeah, sorry.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56So, the big question is, where are the Wilsons now?
0:00:56 > 0:00:58In the UK or living down under?
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Australia's famous laid-back way of life,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29sunny climate and almost 50,000 kilometres of coastline have long
0:01:29 > 0:01:34made it the favourite destination for Brits looking to move abroad.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37But life down under doesn't always deliver the paradise new
0:01:37 > 0:01:39arrivals may picture.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43The Wilson family wanted to find out if emigration could offer them
0:01:43 > 0:01:45a better life.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49But a move down under inevitably meant leaving loved ones behind.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52And after a trial week in Australia,
0:01:52 > 0:01:54they were faced with the huge decision of
0:01:54 > 0:01:58whether to stay in the UK or make the move down under for good.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04In 2010, the pretty village of Wilberfoss near York was
0:02:04 > 0:02:06the home to the Wilson family,
0:02:06 > 0:02:1036-year-old Chris, Debs, 35, and their two black labradors,
0:02:10 > 0:02:11Beth and Susie.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14They were keen to explore the idea of taking their dogs
0:02:14 > 0:02:18and making a life-changing move down under.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21But this wasn't the first time they'd upped sticks and moved.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Chris has been in the RAF for 16 years.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27And was shunted from pillar to post,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30so he is used to packing up his boxes and moving on again.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32We've moved around a considerable amount.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Something like 12 houses in 14 years.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39It is difficult when you are in the forces, you can't get settled down anywhere.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43As soon as you get there and settle down, you make friends, you get posted and...
0:02:43 > 0:02:45That's it. Boxing up again and we are off.
0:02:45 > 0:02:50- I suppose it kind of in my blood now to get itchy feet every three years, so...- Yeah.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Since Chris had left the RAF, they were free to go anywhere
0:02:53 > 0:02:55and Chris was set on moving them lock, stock
0:02:55 > 0:02:58and barrel to the other side of the world.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Some days I wake up and I'm all excited
0:03:00 > 0:03:03and think it's going to be the best thing since sliced bread.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Other days, I wake up and panic and think, oh, God,
0:03:06 > 0:03:07it's just too far away.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11It's all the way round the other side of the world.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14And I don't know, it just seems like such a big step to take.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15It's a big decision to make.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Debs and Chris both dreamt of a life in the sun.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26And the key to that was work.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30Chris loved his job in the UK and he wouldn't settle for second best.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34It's critical that I get this kind of work down in Australia,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37if we were to go. It's what I've been trained to do.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41It's what I've known for pretty much my whole working career.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45It's got to be pretty much the same as what I'm doing now
0:03:45 > 0:03:48to go down there. If it's not, then I don't know,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50it could put a bit of a spanner in the works, so to say.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55But would it proved to be just too hard to leave friends
0:03:55 > 0:03:58and family behind and jet off into the unknown?
0:04:00 > 0:04:03It's a huge decision because I would miss all my family
0:04:03 > 0:04:06up in Scotland because I do go and see them quite a few times a year.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10So I'd miss all of them. I would miss my friends.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15It is a lot to think about, yeah. A whole lot to think about.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Mm...
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Yeah. Sorry.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26It's just such a big decision to make.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34The Gold Coast, famed for its Mediterranean climate,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36with beaches just minutes away,
0:04:36 > 0:04:40could offer the Wilsons the outdoor lifestyle they wanted.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44It also had a thriving business community and two local airports,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47so there were good job opportunities for both Chris and Debs.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01After a journey of 10,000 miles and 21 hours in the air, the Wilsons
0:05:01 > 0:05:05arrived jet-lagged and keenly aware of just how far from home they were.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10It was probably worth it but it's just such a long time, isn't it?
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- It's a long flight.- You just never think you are going to get off.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17You've got short haul, long haul, you can add extremely long haul now.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21But the flight hadn't dented their enthusiasm for the coming week.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Yeah, looking forward to being here, seeing everything
0:05:24 > 0:05:26and finding out what everything is all about.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29And just putting it all together and seeing how it pans out.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32The Wilsons were staying in a rented house in Coomera,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35a suburb of the Gold Coast.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39It was a perfect place to get a taste of what the Australian life could be like.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45The style and layout of this property was very
0:05:45 > 0:05:48different from what they were used to back in the UK.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50So, what would they make of their temporary home?
0:05:52 > 0:05:55- Hm.- Hm. - This is nice, isn't it?
0:05:55 > 0:05:59Yeah. I didn't expect it to go straight into the living room.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02- No, straight in... - The hall.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05I don't know if I totally like the open plan all the way from
0:06:05 > 0:06:08the kitchen, dining room and living room, all as one big open plan.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10I don't know if I like that or not.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18Things were not off to a good start and Chris was in for a shock.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21There is a lot to think about this next week, isn't there?
0:06:21 > 0:06:22Crikey. Loads.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Everything has got to compare at minimum,
0:06:24 > 0:06:29- compare with what we've got back home.- Yeah, course, or else it's... There's no point moving.
0:06:29 > 0:06:34- So, yeah, there's a lot to think about.- A lot to think about.- It's going to be intense, isn't it?
0:06:34 > 0:06:38Chris and Debs had high expectations of what Australia had to offer.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40If this week left them disappointed,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42it could mean an end to their Aussie dream.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Back in the UK, Chris and Debs lived in Wilberfoss, near York.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54They had bought this three-bedroom semidetached
0:06:54 > 0:07:00house in 2007 for £165,000 and made it their own.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02They had wanted to take their dogs
0:07:02 > 0:07:04and all their furniture to Australia,
0:07:04 > 0:07:08so finding a suitable home down under could have been a struggle.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12Yeah, three-bedroom, I think is realistic for us to begin with.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Yes, that's realistic, but what would you like?
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Well, I would like a six bedroom house,
0:07:17 > 0:07:21but realistically, three-bedroom house would be enough.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Realistically, three bedrooms then, with a double garage.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Bungalow. One floor.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29Two storeys.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Well, it looked like someone was going to be disappointed.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- Very much agreed on that one then. - Yeah, we are.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39Well, you stay at one end of the street and I'll stay at the other then!
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Chris and Debs knew that being 10,000 miles away from loved ones
0:07:44 > 0:07:48could be lonely, so it was essential that they find a comfortable home.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Their search started in the suburb of Ormeau.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56Property one was on the market for around £214,000.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59That was at the top end of their budget,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02but with three bedrooms, a double garage and a good size
0:08:02 > 0:08:05garden, it seemed like it had everything they wanted.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07But what would Chris and Debs make of it?
0:08:09 > 0:08:13It's all open plan. You got your kitchen, dining room, living room.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17I'm not sure if I 100% like the whole open plan thing.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19But... Just because I'm not used to it.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Yeah. I do. I like it.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26Debs seemed positive and it looked like she was winning Chris over.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28It's quite a nice big living area, isn't it?
0:08:28 > 0:08:31It's big, yeah. Plenty of room for the dogs.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Yeah. Hm.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Well, the dogs would be fine
0:08:35 > 0:08:39but Chris had found some serious concerns about this house.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43We would not get our size bed in here and our bedside cabinets.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46I just don't think it would be... There wouldn't be enough space.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Attempting to match a house to their existing furniture
0:08:49 > 0:08:52looked like a tall order.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53This is OK. This bit.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Nice grassed area as well for the dogs.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00I think, personally, I'd want something slightly bigger.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Double the size of this.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05That was all well and good but if you were at the top
0:09:05 > 0:09:08of your budget, a bigger garden was impossible.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12What do you think?
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- First impressions weren't good.- No.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Don't know why. But outside just seemed a bit shabby.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22I'm not sure I like the idea of one of the bedrooms being
0:09:22 > 0:09:25straight off the kitchen.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28There's only a couple of positives about this. One was a double garage.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32- Yeah.- I quite like that. And two, its en suite.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- Now, for me, this property is not for us.- No, OK.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38It's too small. And I think that's it. It's not for us.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40- Let's go then.- Let's go.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43It hadn't been a great start and if they couldn't find a house where
0:09:43 > 0:09:48they felt at home, Chris' Australian dream would be a nonstarter.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Was the next property more up his street?
0:09:50 > 0:09:54- This looks a bit different, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58I can't make out if it's one house or if it's adjoining houses to it.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00No.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Property two was a two-storey three-bedroom semidetached
0:10:03 > 0:10:06house, in Ormeau.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10And it was on the market for £226,000.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13That was over budget, but what did they think?
0:10:15 > 0:10:19- This is nice.- It is nice. - See, I like this because even though it still open plan,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22it's still kind of the kitchen, dining room, separate.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25I like this better than the previous.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27The last house. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I do.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32That was good. And the Aussie layout seemed to have grown on Chris.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36- I don't think it's quite big enough for our furniture to get in. - It's not.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Just how much furniture had they planned on bringing?
0:10:39 > 0:10:43- OK.- Nice, though.- Yeah, it is nice, yeah.- Nice and airy.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47This looks like the master bedroom. We would get a massive bed in here.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- Yeah, with room to spare.- Yeah.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54- Wardrobes.- En suite. Big shower. Like that.- It is big.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- Marvellous.- Hm.- Hm, yeah.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01- And stairs.- Brilliant.- What you've always wanted.- It is, an upstairs.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04That sounded much more promising.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08If they could stretch their budget, was this house for them?
0:11:08 > 0:11:10This property is really nice.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Probably because it's very similar to the houses
0:11:13 > 0:11:15we have back in the UK, in that it's got an upstairs.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18I like the house but I haven't seen the garden yet.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20But judging by the size of the house,
0:11:20 > 0:11:23I'm assuming that it's got a fairly decent sized garden.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25So, that will be good.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30So this is like... This is it, here.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- It will go.- Yeah, this is it.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37- Small.- It is small, isn't it?- I thought it would be slightly bigger.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39And so all you've got is this grass area here.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43- That's disappointing. - Very, very disappointing.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45- Couldn't really call it a garden, could you?- No.
0:11:45 > 0:11:51- If it had like trellising round it, it would be classed as a window box. - Yeah.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Property two wasn't for them either, but to get a house that they
0:11:54 > 0:11:58liked with the space they wanted, they'd have to pay even more
0:11:58 > 0:12:01and their budget was already stretched to the limit.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Was their hopes of a life in Australia over before it had begun?
0:12:04 > 0:12:07- This looks nice, doesn't it? - It does.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Property three was very nice.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13But it should have been, with a price tag of £255,000.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16That was 50 grand over budget.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20- This is an improvement.- Hm. It's nice and big, isn't it?
0:12:20 > 0:12:24- Yeah.- Definitely fit the bed in here.- Certainly will.- Yeah.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Quite a nice size.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29We could probably fit most of our furniture in here.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31- Most of it. Probably not all of it. - Mm.- Yeah.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35Well, if we are not going to fit our furniture in there, we are certainly going to fit it in here!
0:12:35 > 0:12:40- We'll have to buy some more furniture.- Oh, yeah.- Because we haven't got enough now.- No.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43- It is a nice size room though. - It's a very nice sized room. - And the kitchen is fab, isn't it?
0:12:43 > 0:12:45- Great size kitchen.- Yeah.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47After a quick tour around the rest of the house,
0:12:47 > 0:12:51it all looked promising, but was the garden big enough?
0:12:51 > 0:12:54This is a nice sized garden. Wow!
0:12:54 > 0:12:57This would suit the dogs, down to the ground.
0:12:57 > 0:12:58Can you imagine them...? Oh...
0:12:58 > 0:13:00They would just love this.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03This is absolutely ideal for the dogs.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07- I can just see them sat there. - Sunning themselves.- Yeah.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10For the size of the grassed area,
0:13:10 > 0:13:14- like, the general patio area seems quite small.- Mm.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16You could have a larger entertainment area.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20- Yeah. Very impressed.- Yeah, I like this a lot.- Yeah.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Finally, a property they both liked, but it was over budget
0:13:23 > 0:13:27and it would have been a real struggle to buy a house like this.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30They were going to have to have a serious rethink about what
0:13:30 > 0:13:32sort of property they could have afforded.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36Property one just wasn't for them and left them cold.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Although property two ticked a lot of boxes,
0:13:38 > 0:13:42the tiny garden was a huge disappointment.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46But house number three was spot on, on everything except the price.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49So, were they tempted into a dream they couldn't afford?
0:13:49 > 0:13:50And how did they vote?
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- UK.- Australia.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01I didn't think you would. I thought you would go Australia.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04I've surprised myself a little bit, I think.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- But I've been a little disappointed today.- Right.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11People don't realise in the UK that house prices have
0:14:11 > 0:14:13- massively boomed out here.- Yeah.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16You don't get as much for your money today as what you used to do.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- And that's been reflected today. - I know, but...
0:14:21 > 0:14:24I just think you do get more room for your money.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Back in the UK, Chris and Debs enjoyed an active social life,
0:14:36 > 0:14:39helped by their two incomes. To maintain this lifestyle,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42they would have both had to have found work in Oz.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45Debs was an experienced legal secretary, but it was Chris'
0:14:45 > 0:14:49skills as an aircraft engineer that was key to their move down under.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53The job I have here is exactly what I'm after, working on search
0:14:53 > 0:14:56and rescue is a really rewarding job, you know.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59In the business of saving and helping people.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02And this is the kind of work I would be looking
0:15:02 > 0:15:04for if we were going to go down under.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10After discovering Australian property was more expensive than
0:15:10 > 0:15:13they thought, Chris and Debs knew that their budget would be tighter,
0:15:13 > 0:15:17so it was vital for Chris to be impressed by his work opportunities.
0:15:17 > 0:15:23For me, getting a job down in Australia is absolutely paramount.
0:15:23 > 0:15:28If I can't get a job that comes pretty much on a par with what
0:15:28 > 0:15:34I'm getting at the minute in the UK, then I'll be honest, I can't see...
0:15:34 > 0:15:37I can't see it actually working.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41I'm also very anxious that if the wage structure isn't
0:15:41 > 0:15:43what we require,
0:15:43 > 0:15:45if the hours aren't quite the same as what I'm working
0:15:45 > 0:15:51in the UK, I think to be honest, this is going to be make or break.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53Chris was determined to replicate his UK
0:15:53 > 0:15:57job as closely as possible, so we sent him to Careflight Search and
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Rescue Helicopter Base in Coolangatta to meet pilot Jeremy Ovens.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04- Nice to meet you, mate. - Welcome to Australia. - Thank you very much.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08- What would you like to see? Do you want to see around the hangar? - Sure, yeah, that would be great.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09Yeah, let's have a look around.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15The air rescue base was expanding its fleet of helicopters
0:16:15 > 0:16:19and jets, which meant more work to keep them in the air 24 hours a day.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23Yeah, normal jobs are going to smaller country hospitals.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26- And bringing the patient back to intensive care units.- OK.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28These small hospitals are good.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31A lot of the time they haven't got the facilities to fix the patient.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35But with only a small engineering team,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Chris needed to be sure there would be work opportunities for him.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43- Chris?- Yeah, Chris.- Nice to meet you, Chris.- And you. - Originally, we were outsourcing it
0:16:43 > 0:16:45- but now we are trying to keep our maintenance in-house.- OK.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48So, we get contractors in, but what we are trying to do is we are
0:16:48 > 0:16:51trying to build up a nice network of staff in-house,
0:16:51 > 0:16:54- so that we keep it all in-house and do it ourselves.- OK.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58So, we are always looking for new guys to come on board.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00It was important Chris felt the work matched up
0:17:00 > 0:17:05with his job in the UK, if he was to even consider the move.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Back in the Yorkshire, Debs worked as a legal secretary
0:17:08 > 0:17:11and had earned around £17,000 a year.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13But would she be able to match it?
0:17:13 > 0:17:16We sent Debs to a recruitment agency to find out what her job
0:17:16 > 0:17:18prospects were like.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- Hello, Cheryl Dobson, how are you? - Pleased to meet you. - Did you find us OK?
0:17:21 > 0:17:25- Yes, I did, thank you.- Come on through. I noticed that you had a good legal background.
0:17:25 > 0:17:30- You've done a lot of legal typing and things like that.- Yes, it's mainly legal area that I work in.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33I've worked in various departments in the legal sector.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36- We have a lot of unemployment on the Gold Coast.- OK.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39However, with looking at your skills and experience,
0:17:39 > 0:17:43you shouldn't have difficulty. And I think the thing about the Gold Coast is we've got
0:17:43 > 0:17:49- so many legal practices here. - Right.- So there's probably a lot of opportunity.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Salary's another issue. Looking at your resume,
0:17:52 > 0:17:57I would probably say anywhere between 40 and AU45,000.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00- OK.- That's probably about the market.- OK.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04At the present. It could go up or down, it just depends.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07That was great news.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Debs could earn £6,000-£9,000 a year more than in the UK.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Hopefully I'll look forward to seeing you when you move here.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16- OK, that's lovely. Thank you so much for your time. - All the best. Have a safe trip home.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Thanks. Will do. Thank you. Bye. After seeing Cheryl,
0:18:19 > 0:18:23it's just sorted out everything in my mind because it's always been...
0:18:23 > 0:18:27Not always been about Chris and that I've been left out because I haven't really.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31But it's always been about Chris' job and where he's going to get
0:18:31 > 0:18:34a job, how he's going to fit in, or what the salary is going to be like.
0:18:34 > 0:18:40So, for me, seeing Cheryl today has just answered 101 questions for me.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44Back at the airport, there was unwelcome news for Chris.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Despite his 16 years of experience in the RAF, he would need to
0:18:48 > 0:18:52pass numerous costly exams to be licensed in Australia.
0:18:52 > 0:18:57The way we work in Australia, you have a CASA license, then you'll either be an airframe engine trade
0:18:57 > 0:19:01- guy, or you'll be electrical instrument and radio.- Right. - Two separate trades.- OK.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06- Are you an airframe engine guy? - Yeah, airframe engineer.- You'd have to set your core basic exams.- Yeah.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09And then CASA would give you the license specific...
0:19:09 > 0:19:12So it looks like Chris was going to have to hit the books if
0:19:12 > 0:19:16he wanted to become a fully licensed aircraft engineer in Australia.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18What effect did that have on his plans?
0:19:18 > 0:19:20If the opportunity came along for me to apply for a job
0:19:20 > 0:19:23and I got the job, what kind of salary could I expect to earn?
0:19:23 > 0:19:29For unlicensed engineers, around about AU55-AU60,000 a year.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32If you are licensed, that is...
0:19:32 > 0:19:35You are legally able to work on an aircraft,
0:19:35 > 0:19:40you could probably expect the roundabout AU90,000 mark per year.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44I mean, engineers are sought after everywhere.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47If I was to come to you looking to do my licence,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50- I could do the licence in-house? - Sure. Yeah.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53It's a lot of outlay, financial outlay, on our behalf,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56so we would want to see a return of service from the employee.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00So that money is not just thrown away.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05Even as an unlicensed engineer, he'd earn £10,000 more than in the UK.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08So with everything he'd seen, how did he vote?
0:20:08 > 0:20:11I've met the guys, great bunch of guys.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13They've told me about the salary, which is
0:20:13 > 0:20:15quite a bit more than the UK.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19But I love my job in the UK. I love the guys I work with in the UK.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25So, weighing it all up, I'm going to vote for...
0:20:29 > 0:20:31..Australia.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39With Chris' vote for Australia, Debs'
0:20:39 > 0:20:42dream of a life down under was a step closer.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45But would they actually be better off living there?
0:20:45 > 0:20:46To help them figure it out,
0:20:46 > 0:20:49we had prepared a breakdown of their everyday living costs.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54So, we've got salary to begin with,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57which was obviously your income and then my income.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00The utilities that we pay out every month are more
0:21:00 > 0:21:04expensive in Australia than they are in the UK.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07- There's a couple of things that are under.- Hm.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10So now we've got a weekly shop.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14The total for the week for UK is 71.90.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Then you've got 79. That surprises me.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20I thought it would have been a lot more.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22- We've got property.- OK.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25That would be monthly repayments.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27- So that's in pounds.- Mm.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29- £1,137.- Ooh!
0:21:29 > 0:21:32- That's a lot of money.- More than we're paying now!- Yeah.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36The biggest property we have been to see then,
0:21:36 > 0:21:44- the mortgage payment per month would leave us with £273 a month.- Yeah.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48That's not a lot.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Property 3, on the current wage system we're on the minute,
0:21:51 > 0:21:55we can't afford, however after me finding out I could potentially earn
0:21:55 > 0:21:59double my salary than what I earn in the UK and you can earn more,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01all of a sudden property number 3 comes way in.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03At least now we have a choice
0:22:03 > 0:22:06whether we want to come to Australia or not rather than being
0:22:06 > 0:22:09told you can't afford to buy a house and have to stay in the UK.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11Uh-huh.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Their monthly outlay was much greater than expected.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20But if they both got good jobs, was it still possible?
0:22:20 > 0:22:22So how did this affect their votes?
0:22:22 > 0:22:26It goes without saying we'd have more money in the pot if we
0:22:26 > 0:22:30were to live in Australia, so based on that, we're going to vote for...
0:22:33 > 0:22:34- Australia.- Australia.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42To give the Wilsons a taste of the Australian lifestyle,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44we had arranged a day of activities for them,
0:22:44 > 0:22:48starting with a hike with the Slate family, Annalise, John
0:22:48 > 0:22:49and their two small boys.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52John was originally from Scotland
0:22:52 > 0:22:55but had moved down under with his Australian family in 2008.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Wow!
0:22:57 > 0:23:00That's really impressive, isn't it?
0:23:00 > 0:23:02- Is quite nice behind all the cloud there.- Yeah.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06The Springbrook National Park consisted of over 8,000 acres
0:23:06 > 0:23:09of tropical rainforest with stunning views of the mountains.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Chris loved everything about it but Debs, slightly
0:23:12 > 0:23:15afraid of heights, decided she'd rather hang back.
0:23:15 > 0:23:16It's a lovely view, Debs.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- We can all vouch for that.- OK, thank you.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24I'm all right here but I just don't like being right on the edge.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28If it gives way, I can just take a step back and they can all go
0:23:28 > 0:23:30and I will still be here.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Back in the UK, Chris and Debs had an active social life
0:23:34 > 0:23:37but if they were to move to Oz, they'd be on their own
0:23:37 > 0:23:39so they went to the local rugby club social to meet
0:23:39 > 0:23:41some potential new friends.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45The man of the hour, Chris. Harry Lyman, welcome down to the club,
0:23:45 > 0:23:48- mate, how are you doing?- Yeah, not bad, you?
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Not too bad. We've got a couple of little fellows lined up for you.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Yeah, so I understand!
0:23:53 > 0:23:56- See this Fijian fellow here?- Yeah, the small guy.- Yeah.- Yeah, yeah.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00- Take him out first, do you reckon?- No!
0:24:01 > 0:24:06OK, guys, 20 push-ups altogether, on Chris. Chris, you call it.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Everybody on Chris, listen to him. 20 push-ups, Chris?
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Two, three, four, five, six...
0:24:15 > 0:24:18As Chris's love of rugby was put to the test, there was
0:24:18 > 0:24:21one big issue that preyed on Debs' mind.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27My thoughts about Australia are probably a bit mixed.
0:24:27 > 0:24:32Because even though everybody is really friendly,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35mainly my reservations are about leaving my family, my friends,
0:24:35 > 0:24:41so it's still that big decision of whether we should come out or not.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45So we've got a lot to think about but it's definitely the right
0:24:45 > 0:24:47decision coming over to have a look at everything
0:24:47 > 0:24:52and see how things are going and yeah, we'll just take it from there.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Good friends you've known for years can never be replaced
0:24:55 > 0:24:58and the thought of loved ones was obviously tugging at Debs'
0:24:58 > 0:25:00heart but would this affect her decision?
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Since we arrived here in Australia we've met a number of people.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Really friendly. It's a great atmosphere.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09It's really sociable
0:25:09 > 0:25:12but I can't stop thinking about our friends in the UK.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14And therefore I am going to vote...
0:25:18 > 0:25:21- UK.- I'm in the middle.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25What are you thinking?
0:25:25 > 0:25:27It's difficult because we need friends out here
0:25:27 > 0:25:30if we live out here, but we also still need our friends at home
0:25:30 > 0:25:33because even though we are thousands of miles away, we'll still need them.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36The guys we have met since we came out here are brilliant
0:25:36 > 0:25:37but I feel like voting for Australia
0:25:37 > 0:25:40- is betraying our friends that we've got in the UK.- Yeah.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Whether we come or not we are still going to need our friends in the UK.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Yeah. It's just a really difficult decision to make.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51It's definitely difficult to leave people back home. Definitely.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Erm, yeah...
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Erm, there is a few.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04But...
0:26:04 > 0:26:07To be perfectly honest, we don't see a huge amount of each other
0:26:07 > 0:26:10but it's just that we are always on the other end of the phone.
0:26:10 > 0:26:15I know that would probably happen here but we would be able to
0:26:15 > 0:26:19phone each other probably just as much but it's really hard.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Yeah.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Upset at the thought of those they would be leaving behind,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35it was time to watch messages from friends and family back home.
0:26:35 > 0:26:36- Hello.- Hello, Deborah.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37Hi, Chris. Hi, Debs.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Hi, Debs and Chris.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Erm, I hope you're enjoying yourselves out there.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43I'm sure you are.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Chris is a loving, caring brother to me.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50He's funny, he makes me laugh, he makes the whole family life.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54He's very caring, very thoughtful, very loving
0:26:54 > 0:26:56and very supportive as a son.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00We couldn't ask for a better son to be quite honest.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03We really really good friends, obviously we're sisters
0:27:03 > 0:27:05but we are best friends.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07Basically, she is my soul mate.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10There is a big age difference, 12 years but, erm...
0:27:10 > 0:27:12I can't do this, sorry.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15- SHE SOBS - I can't speak about her.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20Even though we don't see each other often, we're close.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22Erm... She's my baby.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27The dogs are immensely important to Chris and Debs.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29They are big part of their lives
0:27:29 > 0:27:32and everything is geared round, what they do,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35is geared around the dogs.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38They've been thinking about starting a family for a while
0:27:38 > 0:27:42but obviously since they started the process of applying for their
0:27:42 > 0:27:43visas for Australia,
0:27:43 > 0:27:46it's something they have put out to the back their minds.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49I think if Chris and Debs were to have a family,
0:27:49 > 0:27:53I would miss my niece or nephew whichever it would be.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56Yeah, that would be a big hole in my heart, I think.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59It's Chris and Debs' life in Australia.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03If that's what they want, then I'd have to forfeit a little hug
0:28:03 > 0:28:07and a cuddle and make up for it when they did see them.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Like I say, we'd like to form that relationship
0:28:10 > 0:28:12one way or another so that at least our grandchildren would
0:28:12 > 0:28:15know, it is grandma and grandad from York.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17I'd just miss everything about them really.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22They're both real close and dear friends so I'd miss them a lot.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24We're also getting married in September.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28- So I'd be absolutely gutted if they were to miss that.- Yeah.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30The thing I would miss most about Debs is well,
0:28:30 > 0:28:31there's not just one thing.
0:28:31 > 0:28:35It's just everything. I'd miss Debs.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38That's it. There's nothing more to say about that. I'd just miss her.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41We're obviously going to miss you.
0:28:41 > 0:28:46But of course it's your life and all Dad and I want is whatever
0:28:46 > 0:28:50you want and make the most of the life you've got.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54That's all we can say and we wish you both the best.
0:28:56 > 0:28:57Erm, love her to bits.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01Erm...
0:29:01 > 0:29:02But I just...
0:29:04 > 0:29:09I can't explain really, it's just because she's ours and...
0:29:10 > 0:29:13..we just love her a lot.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16It's a long way away.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18It's a long way away.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22They say the world's getting smaller but it's still a long way away.
0:29:26 > 0:29:27You all right?
0:29:27 > 0:29:31Yeah(!) Mm...
0:29:32 > 0:29:35I am.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40- It's weird, isn't it?- Mm-hm.
0:29:40 > 0:29:41Seeing them on telly.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44It's not something you get every day.
0:29:44 > 0:29:49They all said we'll miss you but you do what is right for you.
0:29:49 > 0:29:54- I'm happy that everyone is supportive of what decision we're going to make.- Yeah.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58The thing with Kev about the wedding as well.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01- Yeah, they would be gutted if we couldn't make it.- Yeah.
0:30:03 > 0:30:04I don't know.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13It was the end of the Wilson's trial week in Australia
0:30:13 > 0:30:16and the outcome was by no means certain.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18Chris and Debs have started full of hope.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20Looking forward to being here, seeing everything
0:30:20 > 0:30:23and finding out what everything is all about
0:30:23 > 0:30:26and just putting it all together and seeing how that pans out.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29- But the properties had been a let down.- First impressions weren't good.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33- This property is not for us.- No, OK.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36- It's too small. That's it, it's not for us.- Right. Let's go then.- Let's go.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39And the thoughts of loved ones left behind proved too much for Debs.
0:30:39 > 0:30:45- I can't do this, sorry.- Erm, love her to bits. She's my baby.
0:30:45 > 0:30:46To be perfectly honest,
0:30:46 > 0:30:50we don't see a huge amount of each other but it's just really hard.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52Yeah.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56So was the emotional tug of leaving loved ones behind too great
0:30:56 > 0:30:59or was the chance of a new life in Australia too hard to
0:30:59 > 0:31:02turn their backs on? It was time for them to vote.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07It's been an amazing, fantastic opportunity coming here,
0:31:07 > 0:31:09the things we have found out and seen.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11It goes without saying that the weather is absolutely
0:31:11 > 0:31:13fantastic for us and for the dogs.
0:31:13 > 0:31:18We loved it here and we just think it is fab in all aspects
0:31:18 > 0:31:21and for that reason we are going to vote...
0:31:23 > 0:31:26- Australia.- Australia.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28Yay!
0:31:30 > 0:31:33At least we agreed on something, haven't we?
0:31:33 > 0:31:35Is that the first time or something?
0:31:37 > 0:31:41But even with the big decision made, saying goodbye was hard to do.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44Reservations probably about leaving family
0:31:44 > 0:31:49and friends behind because everything else for here is
0:31:49 > 0:31:52just too good an opportunity to miss so best pack your suitcase
0:31:52 > 0:31:55and save your money because you are coming out for a holiday.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05It was a week of surprises for Chris and Debs
0:32:05 > 0:32:10but in the end they agreed their future was in Australia.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13So seven years later, it is time to find out
0:32:13 > 0:32:15if the Wilsons are living at home or away.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21It's 2017 and the Wilsons are living in Perth,
0:32:21 > 0:32:24on the opposite side of the Australia from the Gold Coast.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28When we did our trial week on the Gold Coast over east, yeah,
0:32:28 > 0:32:31we did that, it was really good.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34We got the house valued, didn't we?
0:32:34 > 0:32:36- We thought about it a bit more, I think.- Yeah.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40Then we eventually put on the market and thought it was going to
0:32:40 > 0:32:44sell straightaway, like everybody does and it didn't.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46No.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Things started to lull a little bit
0:32:48 > 0:32:51and although we were ready to go to Australia, we couldn't actually go
0:32:51 > 0:32:54until we had sold the house and then when the house actually sold that was it.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57It was like, yes, we're going.
0:32:57 > 0:33:01Then we flew out on February 17, 2012.
0:33:01 > 0:33:06It was strange as well like, putting our notice in for work and that.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09All my friends at work, we were both in really good jobs,
0:33:09 > 0:33:11- really enjoyed them.- Yeah.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16The guys at my work were like, "My God, what are you doing?"
0:33:16 > 0:33:19You know like, some people talk about doing stuff
0:33:19 > 0:33:22- and we are actually doing it. - Yeah, yeah.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25It was like, walking out that last day at work, you know,
0:33:25 > 0:33:26- we are doing this.- Mm.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30Well, I cried pretty much the whole last day at work.
0:33:30 > 0:33:31I think it had finally hit me.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Once I had left work that was it,
0:33:33 > 0:33:36"Oh God, we're actually going."
0:33:36 > 0:33:40But since their trial week, the couple had decided on a new destination.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46Going to Perth because we had never been before was a bit of a risk,
0:33:46 > 0:33:49but looking back now, I don't think we even thought about it.
0:33:49 > 0:33:50So we arrived in Perth
0:33:50 > 0:33:55and we had already arranged with friends who had just moved
0:33:55 > 0:34:01over here about 10 months before that, they came and picked us up.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06While staying with friends for a few weeks,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09they encountered a problem straight away.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12Literally when you went to a rental property inspection where
0:34:12 > 0:34:16everybody comes at once, there was like 50 or 60 people would go to
0:34:16 > 0:34:19one house because everybody was looking for a rental.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23In 2014, Perth was in the middle of a rental market boom
0:34:23 > 0:34:26and competition for suitable properties was tough.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29They have like open half hour houses where you go for half
0:34:29 > 0:34:32an hour and have a look at the property.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35If you like it you make an application and hand it in.
0:34:35 > 0:34:40So there was probably about 50 people turning up at each rental open house.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45How it works is,
0:34:45 > 0:34:49the estate agent picks what they think are the three best applicants.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52- How you become the best applicants, I don't know.- I don't know.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Then they give those three to the landlord and the landlord chooses.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57Yeah.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00We had maybe been to about 10 and then Chris ended up going
0:35:00 > 0:35:06with Anne our friend while I was at work.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10I hadn't seen it but Chris had seen it.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14I didn't like it.
0:35:14 > 0:35:19But it was a house so we moved in and I just hated it
0:35:19 > 0:35:21the whole year that we were there.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25There was just something about the house that I just didn't like.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28The whole situation was making Debs very homesick.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32Debs was quite homesick.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34She was finding it hard.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37The job she was in wasn't really the job she wanted.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40The house we were in wasn't the house she wanted it.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44It kind of puts a bit of a strain on things,
0:35:44 > 0:35:47especially when you are on the other side of the world.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52You haven't really got family to go and see and friends,
0:35:52 > 0:35:56lifelong friends to go and see and talk things through.
0:35:58 > 0:35:59Yeah, that was a hard...
0:35:59 > 0:36:03That was a hard time, really, because I was...
0:36:03 > 0:36:07..I was positive, I was happy, things were going along nicely,
0:36:07 > 0:36:11and, er... Yeah, not so for Debs at the time.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13I kind of had a reality check,
0:36:13 > 0:36:15and it just kind of hit me one day
0:36:15 > 0:36:17that I was on the other side of the world,
0:36:17 > 0:36:21and it just really turned me upside down.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24So, probably for a good year after that,
0:36:24 > 0:36:25I was, um...
0:36:27 > 0:36:30Yeah, there was a lot of the time, probably more than Chris knows,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33but a lot of the time, I really could have packed my bags
0:36:33 > 0:36:35and gone back.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39You know, you've got the pressure of trying to make your own job work,
0:36:39 > 0:36:44trying to, like, get houses sorted so you can pay bills
0:36:44 > 0:36:46and things like that, and...
0:36:47 > 0:36:53You know, when you've got your wife, who's not with you...
0:36:55 > 0:36:59..on the same page, you know, trying to make a life of it here,
0:36:59 > 0:37:05almost makes life unbearable, in a way.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09And you've got pressure there, then,
0:37:09 > 0:37:12on yourself to make things work, then the added pressure
0:37:12 > 0:37:17of trying to help your wife and help her through it,
0:37:17 > 0:37:21and it was hard with my shift work as well, because there was nights
0:37:21 > 0:37:24where I wouldn't see her and I'd be thinking, you know, is she OK?
0:37:24 > 0:37:27What is she thinking about?
0:37:29 > 0:37:33And, you know, it just put a bit of a strain on things,
0:37:33 > 0:37:37and it's one of the things I didn't really factor into,
0:37:37 > 0:37:39when we came out, was...
0:37:40 > 0:37:43..not the negativity as such, just the...
0:37:46 > 0:37:48..how hard it was going to be for her.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50And soon afterwards,
0:37:50 > 0:37:53the couple had to deal with even more difficult times.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56Quite a lot of people had actually said to us,
0:37:56 > 0:38:00"Are you taking the dogs?" and when we said yes, they were gobsmacked.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02But it was so important for us,
0:38:02 > 0:38:06because the dogs, we haven't got any children, so the dogs are our life.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10So, it was pretty much no, we're definitely taking them,
0:38:10 > 0:38:12there's no two ways about it.
0:38:12 > 0:38:14So, once we started the process, that was it.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18It was like, definitely no doubt at all they were coming with us.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22Unfortunately, a year later, we lost Susie.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24Yeah, lost her in the April, so...
0:38:24 > 0:38:28And that was, for me, probably the hardest thing I've ever had
0:38:28 > 0:38:32- to decide to do, because it was our decision.- Mm-hm.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35It is part and parcel of life that, you know, you're...
0:38:37 > 0:38:39..you're going to live longer than your dogs,
0:38:39 > 0:38:41and you've got to go through it,
0:38:41 > 0:38:46and it's only when that time comes, you realise how hard it is.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49And... Yeah.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54And, you know, things happen in people's lives back home
0:38:54 > 0:38:56that you miss out on,
0:38:56 > 0:38:59like, you know, babies were born, people were getting married,
0:38:59 > 0:39:03you know, and you'd see them on Facebook and they were,
0:39:03 > 0:39:08like, doing this, that and the next thing on social media and it's like,
0:39:08 > 0:39:11"Oh, I could have been doing that with them if I was still there."
0:39:11 > 0:39:14So it kind of pulled at the heartstrings quite a bit.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16So, it did take me a good year,
0:39:16 > 0:39:19year and a half to maybe get my head around, well, life goes on,
0:39:19 > 0:39:22you've made this decision, you're in a fantastic country,
0:39:22 > 0:39:26we're making a go of it, we feel happy, so you've just got to
0:39:26 > 0:39:30let that side go and just make the most of it when you go home.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33Debs and Chris were still determined to make things work,
0:39:33 > 0:39:37and while looking for a permanent base, they struck upon an idea.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40When we started looking at the houses,
0:39:40 > 0:39:42we didn't really see anything that we liked,
0:39:42 > 0:39:45and the other option you've got out here
0:39:45 > 0:39:48- is to actually buy land and build. - Mm-hm.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51And because we liked this area,
0:39:51 > 0:39:54that's what we kind of decided to do.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57But we knew we wanted to stay here, didn't we, in Baldivis?
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Because it was such an up-and-coming area that there was so much
0:40:00 > 0:40:05land, that we knew that this was probably the best place
0:40:05 > 0:40:08to start building a house and then go from there
0:40:08 > 0:40:10if we wanted to move to another suburb later on,
0:40:10 > 0:40:12- but we were quite happy in this area, weren't we?- Yeah.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14Like, build your own house, you know,
0:40:14 > 0:40:17cos we don't really get that opportunity in the UK.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19I wasn't...
0:40:19 > 0:40:22I was up for it, I wasn't saying I didn't want to do it,
0:40:22 > 0:40:26but Chris was definitely more adamant that he wanted
0:40:26 > 0:40:28to build a house rather than buy an established house.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31When we first got the plans for the house,
0:40:31 > 0:40:34like, all the drawings of each individual room,
0:40:34 > 0:40:37the kitchen was actually over in the dining room area,
0:40:37 > 0:40:40and this was going to be the dining room,
0:40:40 > 0:40:42- but you've got that opportunity... - I remember that, yeah.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45..to turn it around and say, well, would you mind
0:40:45 > 0:40:48if we put the kitchen over there instead?
0:40:48 > 0:40:50Like, doing that kind of thing, like,
0:40:50 > 0:40:52messing around with the footprint.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55We moved into this house in March 2015.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59So, it was just over a year from when the foundations went in
0:40:59 > 0:41:02to moving in.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04The more I remember it, it was like,
0:41:04 > 0:41:08just a brilliant, brilliant feeling of, like,
0:41:08 > 0:41:10building your own house.
0:41:11 > 0:41:16Of course, a new house needs a new dog for housebreaking.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20We decided to get a new puppy in August 2016.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24She's just, like, full of beans all the time,
0:41:24 > 0:41:29and just probably about half an hour before we go to bed,
0:41:29 > 0:41:30that's when she settles down.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33She just loves to play, she's a sprightly little thing,
0:41:33 > 0:41:36she's full of love.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39Obviously, we had Susie, we still have Beth,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42and you kind of imagine them all to be the same kind of character,
0:41:42 > 0:41:46but they're not - so, Beth was different from Susie
0:41:46 > 0:41:48and now Maggie's different from Beth.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52So, yeah, she's just a lovely, lovely dog.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54After building their own house,
0:41:54 > 0:41:57Debs and Chris knew Australia was their home
0:41:57 > 0:42:00and decided to make it official, applying for citizenship.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03Yeah, it was really proud, I think, becoming Australian citizens.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07- That ceremony we had with the Mayor...- Mm-hm.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11..it was all, like, doing the oath, and then singing the anthem
0:42:11 > 0:42:13and things like that.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17Putting on a little bit of a do afterwards with the drinks and food,
0:42:17 > 0:42:19it was like a big celebration,
0:42:19 > 0:42:22and then getting the Aussie passports through
0:42:22 > 0:42:25- and things like that... - Yeah!- You know, it's...
0:42:25 > 0:42:27Yeah, it was a proud moment, wasn't it?
0:42:27 > 0:42:29It's almost like, we've done it now, you know?
0:42:29 > 0:42:31We've made it, we've made it.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33So, do the Wilsons have any advice
0:42:33 > 0:42:36for anyone considering the move down under?
0:42:36 > 0:42:39At the end of the day, you can always go back.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42If it's really not for you, you can always go back.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46- Life is...- You can be a Ping-Pong Pom!
0:42:46 > 0:42:49- That's what they call them. - Yeah.- Don't they?- Yeah.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52"Them" - it's us, really, we're Poms, aren't we?
0:42:52 > 0:42:53Don't get started!
0:42:53 > 0:42:57But, yeah, so, they'll come over, don't like it for six months
0:42:57 > 0:43:01or a year, go back again, and then realise that the UK's not
0:43:01 > 0:43:04what they want it to be, it's not any better,
0:43:04 > 0:43:06so we'll just come back to Australia again.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08- But life is not a rehearsal.- No.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11- You just get one shot at it, so... - You do.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13You've got to do it. Grab it with both hands and do it.
0:43:15 > 0:43:18The Wilsons originally wanted to settle down
0:43:18 > 0:43:22and build a new life for themselves down under,
0:43:22 > 0:43:25and after a number of years living in Australia,
0:43:25 > 0:43:28they have quite literally done that.
0:43:28 > 0:43:32We wish both Debs and Chris the very best for the future.