Hughes Wanted Down Under Revisited

If everything revolves around your work

and your family life is suffering, it's time to take action.

But would you be prepared to move halfway around the world to

find the answer? In 2008, that was the choice facing the Hughes family.

Four years on, we are finding out

if it was one they were willing to make.

David and Jenny Hughes felt like they worked too hard for little reward.

They hoped Australia may be the answer.

You seem to be working harder and harder

and yet there's less disposable income

for yourselves and money to enjoy.

Their life together had got off to a difficult start.

We got married and, at the wedding breakfast, I actually came down with a brain illness.

I was touch and go.

So I could have been married and widowed within a number of hours, really.

And they had to balance the benefits of a fresh start in Australia

against the pain of leaving behind their family in the UK.

'I'll miss everybody a lot, because we really are a close family.'

It's harder for me,

because I take everyone's emotions on board.

Four years on, how have their lives changed?

It was probably one of the hardest things

I've ever had to do in my life. Relocating your family one minute

and then leaving your husband and your children at an airport

to fly back to just where you've come from.

In 2008, the Hughes family traded their hectic lives in Liverpool

for a week experiencing the reality of life in Australia.

At the end of it, they'd face a huge decision -

whether to stay in the UK or to make the move for good.

Today we'll find out what's happened since we saw them.

The Hughes were hoping to find a better

quality of life in Australia, far from their home in Liverpool.

Dave worked as diesel mechanic

and found his working week hugely demanding.

The orientation towards family life, it's gone dead in the UK.

It's all work and no play.

Me average day, generally, is between five and half five most mornings.

Leave the house just after six o'clock.

I'm not likely to be in until after seven, half seven of a night some nights.

Just generally chasing my tail, most of the days.

D-E-L-A...

His wife, Jenny, juggled being a housewife and mother with two part-time jobs.

You seem to be working harder and harder and yet

there's less disposable income for yourselves and money to enjoy.

Here, it's speeding up faster and faster.

And there's no way you can see it slowing down.

Both were desperate to spend more quality time with their children,

11-year-old Rhiannon and Rhys, who was five.

Australia could benefit for us in that way, to being family orientated.

This is the chance they get to just be children.

And I think their childhood's a really important part,

the most important part of their life.

The couple had already experienced their fair share of ups and downs.

We got married and at the wedding breakfast,

I actually come down with a brain illness.

I was touch and go.

Probably only a 20% chance of surviving.

The question I asked Dave was, "How did you get through it?"

Because he was seriously ill and nearly died on our wedding day.

I could have been married and widowed within hours, really.

But, for Dave, the answer he gave me was he knew his life was facing him

and he had a life to look forward to.

After Dave had stared death in the face,

the family were determined to seize the day.

It's better to have done something with your life

than to have regrets that you never did.

We're looking at it that way,

we've got the chance to do it and we want to do it.

If things aren't right and it doesn't suit us, we can come back.

Dave and Jenny wanted to make the most of their lives,

but their loved ones were hugely important to them.

ALL: Cheers!

They have large extended families living close by

and both sets of grandparents play a huge part in the children's lives.

The hardest thing I would be giving up would be my family.

I would come back if Jenny didn't like it.

Because, at the end of the day, I married Jenny.

I would have to stick by her.

No marriage is worth that.

If she didn't like it, I would have to come back.

With such a huge decision ahead,

it was vital that Dave could persuade Jenny a move down under

would be worth the pain of leaving family behind.

The Hughes' home for the week was Darwin,

capital of the Northern Territory and 8 1/2 thousand miles from home.

After 22 hours in the air, they arrived at four in the morning.

The reality of the distance was already beginning to bite

as it was the first time any of them had set foot in Australia.

-It is a long way, isn't it?

-A very long way to come.

But enjoyable. It's been enjoyable.

Are you looking forward to being in Australia, Rhys?

Mum and Dad may have been exhausted, but Rhys was full of energy

and raring to go and meet some of the locals.

Crocodiles and worms and spiders.

After one or two mishaps...

That wasn't supposed to happen.

..the Hughes made their way to the house they'd be staying in for the week.

Their base was in Larrakeyah,

named after the Aboriginal people, the original inhabitants of Darwin.

It was just minutes from the coast.

The size of the rooms was a shock for Rhiannon.

Bigger than we've got at home. More space.

It looks great. My God.

-You're not normally speechless!

-Yeah!

The kitchen's bigger than our living room.

The sheer size, it's amazing, that...

It makes our house look really poky.

You could fit our house in the garage!

If things go by what it's like in the dark,

it'll be a wow factor again in the morning.

But, for now, it's time for bed.

Back in the UK, the Hughes family live

in a small terraced house, which they hoped was worth about £100,000.

They're very pressed for space, especially outdoors

and hoped to find something better in Australia.

They'd set themselves a budget of £200,000,

including a mortgage, to make the move.

Property prices in Darwin had been climbing steadily at the time,

but Dave's skills as a diesel mechanic

gave him great earning potential.

We found three properties for them to view.

The first was in Palmerston,

a short commute from central Darwin and within easy reach of the coast.

There were three bedrooms...

..plenty of living space

and a large garden.

It was priced at 400,000, at the time about £180,000,

so comfortably within their £200,000 budget.

There was no shortage of space,

and Dave was especially taken with the kitchen.

The one thing I like about it, I can actually reach in the cupboards.

They're not too high for me.

Over here they do actually have, like, a kitchenette,

which is both of them together.

And they still have a living area and entertainment areas.

Which you just couldn't do with any of them houses in the UK.

But that wasn't the only difference from UK houses.

The fan, as well. It's getting a bit hot.

Said we've been on top of a cupboard.

I'm glad I'm not 6ft, or I'd have nothing at all on the top by then!

The decor was certainly different, too.

Wow, the face!

It's a bit like The Mummy! That's what happens in The Mummy.

But Jenny wasn't scared off that easily.

She was already making plans.

This is a lot more roomy and airy.

You could have more people around a lot more often.

It's just a shame sometimes it's not people that we've got back in the UK

that you can offer it to as much.

Fingers crossed they come over and visit us a lot more.

If friends were to visit, bedrooms would have to be up to scratch.

Nice wardrobes.

Right to the ceiling.

The toy box got Rhys' vote, but what about the garden?

This is nice isn't it?

This is really nice.

You've found a bike?

The house was on a large plot set back from the road

and had the swimming pool they dreamt of owning.

Essential in Darwin's steamy tropical climate.

Think you'd be able to have a nice swim in there?

The garden had definitely impressed Jenny.

You've got your own privacy, obviously. You're not living too close to everybody else.

-And you're shaded as well.

-The way it is with the actual trees, it's like a paradise for us.

-Definitely.

-Yeah, it's like a paradise.

Dave's seeing the benefits of a large garden.

The way I look at it is, the kids can actually be kids.

They can come out in the garden, do what they want in the garden,

with us not really worrying what they're up to.

And Jenny could see real potential indoors, too.

It's not necessarily my taste initially,

but over a period of time you adjust it to yourself.

After that, property two had a lot to live up to.

This three-bedroom house was in Parap,

a quiet residential area of Darwin just minutes from the sea.

It was on the market for 630,000, then around £285,000

so a real stretch for the Hughes' budget.

First stop was the master bedroom, with this en suite bathroom.

Look at that!

The sitting room also went down well.

It's got a warm feeling with the decor in here.

A kitchen-diner twice as big as the one back home was a winner.

You've got plenty of preparation and plenty of storage space

for things to be put away.

Fair-sized bedrooms.

They've all got double beds.

We couldn't fit double beds in ours.

Our small rooms,

there's only the one room you can fit a bed in and that's ours.

You're automatically pushed into bunk beds

because you're trying to utilise the space upwards.

Jenny loved the idea of having a clutter-free home.

It's tidy because everything's got its place.

Especially with children, they bring that much stuff with them as well.

And Dave had plans for the bathroom.

Can you imagine yourself in that bath with those windows?

I could. How about I sit in there,

my Guinness on one side, another one on the other.

-That's me finished.

-That's really nice.

-It is.

All that was left was to check outside.

There were fewer trees than the last house,

but it still had plenty of shady spots to keep cool.

To be fair, that is quite a suntrap that pool, without that.

Are you coming in, Rhys?

And the children were very happy with that all-important pool.

It is nice, the way they've designed it.

Despite the price, the family were positive about the second house,

which left one more stop to make.

It was a traditional elevated house

with three bedrooms and loads of outdoor living space.

Located in the desirable suburb of Jingili,

it cost 660,000, then just under £300,000.

It was considerably above their budget,

so a house to aspire to in the future.

Dave was lost for words.

And Jenny loved the contemporary touches.

-It's a lot more modern, a lot more up to date, really.

-Yes.

More up to date.

-I like the colours more.

-Yes, I do.

I really like the stainless steel. It just looks really clean.

Even the Darwin climate didn't seem to be a problem.

This is the beauty of this, it's cool and shaded.

Just the feeling and the surroundings of it is really nice.

Wow! Look at that.

Look, Rhys.

-Look at that pool.

-We've got the best of both worlds in this house.

If you want to catch a bit of sun down there,

-you've got that facility.

-Yes.

-You've got the pool to dip into

and then if you're really feeling overwhelmed with the heat,

you've got the chance to come up here and cool off.

Jenny was getting a very good feeling about this house.

It's a home, it's not just a house.

There's a difference between a house and a home.

It's the feeling it gives you, especially when you walk in.

While the children made themselves at home,

the surprises kept coming for Jenny and Dave.

-It's gorgeous.

-Absolutely gorgeous.

You'll be gobsmacked in a minute.

Come and look at what I've just found.

Leaving their loved ones behind was the big concern for the Hughes.

But this house had the answer - a self-contained guest room.

Somebody could stay over, quite easily, if they wanted to.

That goes for friends and family. This has really impressed me.

This house has well impressed the pair of us, hasn't it?

It's just unbelievable. The views, the facilities.

And it wasn't over yet.

-HE LAUGHS

-Wow.

It's just unbelievable.

It's like the TARDIS,

you keep getting that little bit extra all the time,

just when you think you've finished.

What happens if you turn that corner, what else will we find down there?

I love the trampoline.

-You love the trampoline?

-Woo!

Jenny and Dave were well and truly won over.

There's not much more you'd want out of a house.

-No.

-And this is just giving everything.

It's lovely for the children.

You've got the pool, you've got space where they can play.

All you have to do is sit outside

and be with the family and just enjoy yourselves.

So, how did the Hughes vote?

House number one had plenty of space and a cool shady garden,

even if they didn't like the decor,

but at £180,000, it was a good 20,000 under their budget.

Property two looked the part indoors with loads of storage space,

but the garden was less inviting

and the £285,000 price tag didn't appeal either.

And house three seemed to have it all, including space for visiting family.

But at just under £300,000,

it was something they'd have to look to the future to afford.

So after a day of house-hunting,

had the Hughes' been won over by Aussie property?

It was time to vote.

We've looked at three properties in Australia and each one has had

different qualities that we've liked.

But for us our vote, in comparison to the property we have in the UK, must go to...

ALL: Australia!

Affording the house of their dreams in Australia would all come down

to whether or not mechanic Dave could find work there.

All kitted out in safety boots,

Dave was off to test drive a job as a diesel fitter

at a local truck maintenance garage.

So he went to meet garage owner Mark to find out about his prospects.

What sort of knowledge do you have on stuff like brakes and gearboxes?

I'm a time-served diesel fitter, from 16 years old.

I got as much experience as I possibly could

and then I actually wanted to specialise,

so I specialised in the engine side of it.

-So it's the engine side mainly?

-It's the engine side mainly.

While Mark explained the nuts and bolts of the job,

Jenny took the children out to a local playground in Darwin.

Emigrating was Dave's idea

and he hoped this week would persuade Jenny

that their future was in Australia.

But she had a lot to leave behind

and her worries were never far from the surface.

For myself, more so, I think the emotional elements

have been a little bit more apparent before we came out.

Because it was the realisation of not seeing family for a long time.

And obviously that stirred quite a few emotions,

maybe some were unexpected.

For myself, I think it's a lot more in the forefront,

trying to imagine how life will be,

being on my own a bit more with not as much family around.

I think at home, not so much you take for granted, but you live with it all the time.

So it's thinking of how it's going to be without.

Haulage is a vital part of Darwin's economy

and 50-metre trucks are a familiar sight on the region's roads.

Pulling power of that sort requires ongoing maintenance,

and Dave needed to show his mettle.

Meanwhile, Jenny worried about how Dave's getting on.

Work was a vital part of their decision to emigrate.

For Dave, work's a major part of his life, obviously.

He's very dedicated to his job, always has been.

He's very professional in his view to work.

He's got to be settled in a job in Australia,

find his feet and be comfortable.

And enjoy the work he's doing.

At the end of the day, his work is going to have an effect on all of us

as to how we all settle here.

Back at the garage, Dave was keen to find out if working down under

could offer the better work/life balance he was desperate to find.

The main thing, I believe, in keeping a good crew

is to have a good home life.

If the kids never see your dad or your missus never sees her husband,

they're not going to hang around long.

So we've got try and work hard, make money

and balance our lifestyle as well.

One of the reasons why I'm thinking of coming over here, is that reason.

We can all work hard and we're all here to make money.

But, at the end of the day, we live in Australia.

We live, especially in Darwin, for the lifestyle, mate.

We live here because it's God's country and we want to enjoy it.

It's been good to meet you, mate!

The salary on offer could have been as much as £33,000,

compared to the £26,000 that Dave earned in the UK.

My impression of Dave,

for one, as a person, he's got the right attitude.

He's a really, really nice guy.

His knowledge is there and he's got the right attitude towards it.

I wouldn't have a hassle of employing him and giving him a go.

So, work was on offer, but was the salary enough

for Dave and his family to afford to live here?

It was time to vote.

I think I could quite easily slot into this end of Australia.

My choice is...

Australia.

It was good news, but there was still a long way to go

before his dream of moving to Australia became a reality.

With the Hughes family concerned about how they'd settle in,

we arranged for them to meet some locals for a barbecue.

It was the perfect way to make new friends

and sample the Aussie lifestyle before they made their massive decision.

Pleased to meet you.

In true British fashion, the conversation turned to the weather.

It's nice now. Just the worrying thing for us is the humidity.

-We've heard about it, really.

-Get an air-conditioned car,

an air-conditioned office and away you go.

With the hellos out of the way,

the girls got chatting and the children took to the swings,

whilst the boys got stuck into the serious business of the barbecue.

To get into the Aussie spirit,

Dave tried his hand at a spot of cooking.

He's done it now. You're having that one.

Dad!

But Jenny couldn't resist taking over.

Little did she realise, barbecuing is man's work. Apparently.

We've just been talking about how we don't let women near the barbecue.

-And then I take over.

-Now you've taken over!

You're having the broken one, Dave.

The Hughes enjoyed a hearty breakfast

with their new Aussie friends.

It's amazing what happens when there's food.

-How's the Aussie tucker?

-Nice.

It seemed their natural friendliness

would help the Hughes family settle in.

But what do they think? It was time to vote.

We spent the whole morning with a traditional Australian family today.

We really got on well with them, made friends with them instantly.

So our vote, today with getting to meet people, has to go with...

Australia!

The Hughes' biggest fear was how they would deal

with leaving behind a tight network of friends and family.

So with the children happy to join them,

how would they react to seeing messages from back home?

-Hi, Jenny, Dave...

-Rhys, Rhiannon.

-Rhiannon, Rhys.

We can't even get it right!

-Hi, Dave.

-Hi, Dave.

-Hope you enjoyed yourself, mate.

Just a few words to say how much we will miss you,

'how much we love you'

and how much we would hope you make your right decision.

You know, there's some lovely lives out there

and the kids are just young. You know?

'I think Jenny and Dave are doing it for them more than themselves.'

To go over there and get a better life for themselves, you couldn't argue.

'You know,'

I know Jenny and Dave are grown up but it's the little ones

that really bothers me and fills me up.

I'd miss them so much.

Sorry.

We would both miss them.

You know, Rhys is such a little character,

and Rhiannon, she's such a lovely child.

-JENNY'S DAD:

-Don't get upset.

-JENNY'S MUM: Easier said than done.

'Hi Jenny and Dave, Rhiannon and Rhys.'

I hope you decide the right thing.

I will miss you but...

I just hope you decide to do the right thing.

Won't stand in your way, me or your dad.

And I love you lots and I will miss you.

Your dad and I love you and the rest of the family love you.

I won't stand in your way, but I hope,

I truly hope that you will give it an awful lot of thought.

And we all love you. And a mum's love is very strong.

Make your own decision, but remember we're always there for you.

Never, ever forget that.

All right, Rhiannon?

You're torn, I think, because...

..especially for me, I think,

it's harder for me

because I take everyone's emotions on board.

I know I'll miss everybody a lot, because we really are a close family.

And I am the most torn out of all this, because I think,

although I want to give the children a better life, and Dave and myself, and I know

Dave will probably have a better life out here as well as work.

He would have more enjoyment time and freedom

and be able to enjoy what he's working for a lot more here.

Our families do mean a lot to us.

But...

(It's OK.)

If we could move everybody out here, that would be the perfect solution.

Because I know for a fact that everybody would love it out here.

I'm not just saying that.

I think anybody who's experienced the week we've had over here,

I defy anybody to say they couldn't love this lifestyle.

The way everybody's been.

I feel like here, this week, we've just embraced the whole new Australian family and become one.

It's made it even harder, I think, now.

The Hughes' week in Australia had been an emotional one.

They'd found the spacious home they'd always wished for.

Dave discovered his skills were in high demand.

And outdoor living was a big hit with the children.

But would in it be enough to convince the Hughes to leave their family and loved ones behind?

Dave was torn.

When you're here, you don't want to go. When you're back over there, it's hard to come back.

I just can't put into words at the moment

which way it will go.

I'm hoping we do come back to the Darwin area.

But that's only going to take time and a lot of thinking about which way we want to go.

But it was time for everyone to make the final decision.

They'd spent a week experiencing the reality of life down under

and now their future plans rested on a crucial vote.

For us, family and friends, but particularly family, are a massive part of our life back in the UK.

But will remain to be so wherever we are, UK or Australia.

But here we feel that we've got so much potential

and so much to offer our own family by coming to Australia.

I can speak for all of us, 100% that the vote has to go with...

..Australia!

After a week of real highs and lows,

the Hughes family chose a new start in Australia.

But with some heartbreaking goodbyes facing them at home

and an uncertain future ahead,

were they able to take the next big step?

When we caught up with Jenny, Dave, Rhiannon and Rhys,

they were living in...

Australia.

They'd been down under for the last two years and are currently

living in the Hunter Valley area of New South Wales.

And it's clear that their trial week in Australia made its mark.

When we actually got back from Australia, I went home

and since we got back home we couldn't settle.

We knew we really wanted to be here more than ever then.

It just ticked all the boxes for us.

Back in Liverpool, Dave's long working hours left little time

for family life and when they returned to the UK

the situation got even worse.

Dave eventually had to work away with his company,

which meant he was away from us Monday to Friday,

which was something that, although we'd always worked hard

weekends and shifts, we'd never been apart as a family.

Ultimately, working away made this want to happen.

So we actually upped the process with job applications

and making the opportunity happen for us.

But then came a heartbreaking setback.

Life took some very difficult twists and turns with us,

which we never saw coming.

We had a real string of personal tragedy

and grief and loss before we left.

Sadly, I lost my mum very suddenly,

which was a major blow to us as a family.

For Jenny it was very hard to lose her mother and have to come out here.

I kept asking the question, "Are you still OK?"

And she said yeah. She has the odd time or so

she feels she should be back there helping her sister and her father.

It is tough on her. I know it is.

It's very tough on her at the present moment.

She needs to be in two places at once, and she can't be in two places.

It was probably the most difficult decision

we've ever had to make in our life

and had to bring major sacrifices,

which was particularly difficult for Dave and I

and obviously the children because emotions were all over the place.

As much as the fact that I'd lost my mum,

who I'd been very fortunate to have in my life

and the best mum anyone could have

and the best family support network as well...

..my future lay with David and the children,

so for me I had to do what was right for them.

Despite everything, the Hughes stuck by their decision

and pressed ahead with their plans to emigrate.

And after facing the pain of leaving,

they made their way down under to start their new lives.

On their original visit to Australia,

David discovered his skills as a mechanic would be in demand.

And when it came to making the final move,

Dave was offered a job in the state's thriving mining industry,

with the company he already worked for in the UK.

We now live in Rutherford in New South Wales area of Australia

due to the fact of being offered a position

in the mining area of the Hunter Valley.

Due to the mining boom in the Hunter Valley region, New South Wales,

it's now become a housing shortage in the area,

so this has came on the rental market

and we just had to take it at face value,

because of the shortage, and we were lucky to get what we've got.

It was above our expectations, the house.

Their new home is a long way from the cramped terrace in Liverpool.

We've got a lot more outdoor space than we had, and indoor space.

Also the possibility of an extra bedroom

where family or friends can come and stay,

which was a big thing for us as well.

But the road to the Hughes' new life has been far from an easy one.

I don't think anybody fully appreciates

what the move is like and a huge upheaval of taking your family

not only from a family home but across the world

and particularly to another country and another culture.

The move was harder than we thought.

Initially we thought it would be easy to come over

and just start off as we meant to go on.

But, no, it's not happened that way. We've had a few setbacks.

We started the visa process and that was such a long-winded process,

technicalities with your skills to be assessed,

medicals and it just dragged that two years out for us.

But visa difficulties aren't the only obstacle

they've had to overcome. The logistics of moving

a family of four to the other side of the world

have brought yet more challenges.

Before we got to Australia we'd planned the process

of getting quotes for removals and things like that.

I was particularly well organised with trying to arrange it,

but what happened was that last week before we left

we were actually being told, "I'm sorry, that's where it stops now.

"Nothing else is going to fit in the container."

So unfortunately we had to get rid of a lot of things

and didn't even have time to sell them

or give them away to people,

which I think made our move over here even more emotional

because you've not dealt with things as you would have done appropriately.

Faced with losing many of their treasured possessions,

the Hughes were forced to make another difficult decision.

When we arrived in Australia,

due to the problems we'd faced with removals,

it was left that one of us had to return to the UK

and it had to be me because Dave was the main visa holder.

I actually returned to the UK after five days

and left Rhiannon and Rhys and Dave at the airport.

And it was probably one of the hardest things

I've ever had to do in my life.

Relocate your family one minute to try and be a family,

and then leaving your husband and your children at an airport

to fly back to where you come from.

Seeing them crying seeing me leave,

so it was hard for all of us as individuals

and as a family to have had to deal with that separation again.

The death of a loved one, separation from close family

and losing many of your personal belongings would be enough

to make most people question their decision.

But having come so far already,

the Hughes were determined to make things work.

However, it's not been easy.

We have had a journey from hell.

I do... I don't regret being in Australia,

but I just wish we'd had a bit of a smoother ride.

I don't think anyone has an easy ride of it - it's never easy -

but I think for us, with what we faced before,

made us stronger to deal with what we were facing, what was to come.

But I could never have seen what was happening coming.

And probably better that we didn't,

cos you just have to deal with things facing it as it came.

They may have had some tough times,

but now at last the Hughes are able to enjoy the benefits of the move.

Here I only do five days a week. I don't do seven any more.

I don't do the six. So that's a big change and a big step forward.

I get the evenings now with my kids and family

where before I was not getting the evenings with them,

and the weekends I'm not called out any more.

So I get the whole weekend with the family.

So my life has totally changed since coming over here.

The job has a lot of satisfaction in it.

I look forward to coming into work cos, yes,

I do enjoy my work and I enjoy and look forward to going home.

I do a fair day's work to go home

to enjoy the life back at home with the family.

With more quality time together, everyone seems to be happier.

I've seen positive effects in both of the children,

predominantly Rhys.

Rhys just absolutely loves the country and loves the freedom

and what he's been able to have.

Rhiannon probably faced the harder transition of moving here

because she was older.

They pretty much had to grow up overnight,

which is not what you want for your children, really.

But then you also need to make them

adapt to what life's going to throw at them.

When we first arrived, we encouraged the children

to get involved in Australian sport and culture.

We got them, they call them boogie boards, here.

That was their first Christmas present. They wanted that.

We went on the beach and took them there.

They both like singing, so Rhys is in the school choir and just try

to get involved with things that are more in tune with Australian life.

But while Dave and the children

had always been excited about the move,

Jenny faced an emotional decision.

She took more convincing that Australia was for her,

so how has she settled in?

Rhiannon's on the bus, Rhys is at childcare,

I'm running a bit late this morning,

and I'll pop back and do a few bits and pieces

if I've got things to do before I go out

and then I'm off to work. For nine to five.

Jenny still combines her career with looking after the house and family.

We do have work/life balance,

considering I've got two roles at the moment, two jobs.

Purely because I can work it round my lifestyle and our family lifestyle

and we can choose our free time,

which is something we wouldn't have the choice to do

a lot of the time back in the UK.

The chance to live a better family lifestyle

was the main reason the Hughes chose to emigrate.

So has there been an upside to the difficult times they faced?

The big thing for me is just seeing Dave happier.

It's been like a huge roller coaster of emotions for all of us,

but we've ridden it and at times the rise has been quite terrifying,

but we've got through it and for me,

now seeing the children after two years

just starting to find their feet and becoming more settled,

that's been a major factor for me.

Our life over here now is more as a family.

We're able to go out as a family, do things, go to the park.

Go shopping together.

We weren't able to do that in the UK.

It's being able to work around my family,

not the family work around work.

That's the biggest thing that's changed for us in being over here.

The move has certainly paid off in terms of family,

but did it come at a cost of losing friends

and a social life as Jenny originally feared?

We've built up quite a big network of friends over here.

We were welcomed by expats from other countries,

that made a huge difference initially when we arrived.

Hello, Rhys!

Today, a friend's daughter is celebrating her fourth birthday.

It's a good chance for the whole family

to let their hair down and enjoy the party.

Happy birthday, Anneka.

Oh, no - it's your birthday! Happy birthday!

The thing you've got in common is that you are all in

exactly the same boat and the same position that you are there to help

and support each other as much as you can,

but understanding the fact that you are never really replacing

friends and family you have in the UK.

So, after a roller-coaster ride, has it all been worth it?

Our Australian dream has worked, but not fully yet.

It's still got a long way to go.

This was never going to be an easy ride.

But we are getting through each item day by day.

Even when you are on days where you feel like,

"What have I done it all for?"

You've got to remember why you did it,

take yourself back to remember why

and obviously stick with it and sit out the ride and enjoy it.

I'm very proud of the family for what we've achieved.

I think realistically if we weren't strong

and proud of what we were doing, it would have fallen apart by now.

But that's not going to happen.

We are going from strength to strength day by day.

The process of moving to Australia has made Jenny stronger herself

and her strength has strengthened us.

I think my mum would be very proud of me,

that I've done my best for my family.

That's all she ever did for us.

And so for me, I'm just trying to follow in her footsteps and family.

Without family, I don't think you have a lot

and I think your life is harder without family,

so I've always got my family whether in the UK or here, I know I've

got my husband back where he should be, and my kids have got their dad.

And he's got us.

All you ever want and every parent wants for the children

and themselves is to be happy.

Emigrating is never an easy process for any family

and the Hughes have seen their fair share of bumps

on the road to a new life, but after digging deep

it looks as if they are starting to see the rewards

that brought them down under.

We wish them all a happy future.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd