Page Wanted Down Under Revisited

For many of us, making a new start on the other side of the world

can be the ultimate dream,

but what if your partner doesn't share your hopes?

In 2009, the Page family faced just that dilemma.

Today, we'll find out how and where they are now.

Ian Page was desperate for his family to share his dream

of a new life Down Under.

It's better here. It's cheaper here.

You can have a better lifestyle for the kids, it's much more rewarding.

But wife Jacqui couldn't see what was wrong with their life in the UK,

and tensions were mounting.

This is our life in the UK.

This is what we have to deal with on a monthly basis.

-This is what we'll be dealing with in Australia.

-It's cheaper.

It isn't, Ian, not really.

So three years on, were they able to resolve their difference?

-What's so wrong with home?

-I've never said...

There's nothing so wrong with home.

I've never said there's anything wrong with home.

In 2009, the Page family faced

one of the biggest decisions of their lives -

whether to stay in the UK or to move to Australia.

We gave them a week to sample living down under,

but what's happened since we last met them?

Ian and Jacqui Page, along with their three children,

Lily, Abigail and baby Ethan,

were about to leave their home near Crawley in Surrey

for a trial week in Australia.

The Pages had been thinking about a move down under since they got married six years ago

and with Ian's job as an immigration officer

often requiring him to work away from home, he was keener than ever.

To able to spend more time together as a family, to be able to enjoy

'each other's company a bit more, watch the kids grow up.

'Just do things together as a family,

'like normal families do!'

We work very bad shift hours.

'Often I'll pull in the driveway, you know, "Hi, honey, I'm home."

'She hands me the baby and she's in the car, off to work

'and I'm playing dad. We're kind of like ships that pass in the night,

'which is really frustrating'

and something that I want to redress in our favour.

I'm hoping that Australia will be able to do that for us.

-Say bye to Mummy!

-Bye, darling.

Jacqui worked as a senior staff nurse at specialist cancer hospital, the Royal Marsden.

Her work and colleagues were a huge part of her life.

I love the hospital.

I love the work that I do.

'I love my patients as well. They're really special people.

'The people I work with, not only do I work with them,'

I socialise with them.

So leaving the Marsden is going to be really difficult.

Neither Ian nor Jacqui had ever been to Australia,

but they'd got their visas and saw it as a great opportunity for their family.

I don't want to look back in 10, 20 years' time

and think, "I had that opportunity, it was something offered to me,"

we have the visas, it's there waiting for us

and that we never took it, or at least never tried.

That's the overriding thing.

I don't want to look back and have regrets.

But despite this, Jacqui still had plenty of doubts.

One minute she's really, really keen, "Let's do it. Let's do it."

Then the next minute she's like, "I don't think this is a good idea.

"I don't want to leave my friends. I have a really good job here."

I'm like, "Well, you know, we should at least give it a try."

I've driven Ian to complete distraction.

One minute I really want to go, the next minute, I really don't want to.

Jacqui was incredibly close to her family,

and worried how they would be affected by a move down under.

'My mum isn't going to take it very well at all, to be honest.'

We're taking away not just me, obviously,

but the grandchildren, and her only grandchildren.

So it's going to be really, really difficult.

The Pages had a lot to think about in the coming week.

As long as we give it a fair crack of the whip.

I can't ask for much more,

but if she's really desperate to come home, then we'll come home.

For their week sampling life down under, the Pages visited Perth,

the capital of Western Australia.

Ian was desperate to make it work,

but would Jacqui's home ties prove too much to leave behind?

They had a busy week ahead of them,

and after 18 hours in the air with three young children,

they took their first steps on Aussie soil.

Ian was feeling positive, but Jacqui still had some reservations.

-That was a long flight.

-Really long!

Really makes you realise just how far away you are, actually.

-It took for ever.

-Plus the time it takes, as well.

But the kids were really good. I think they didn't do too bad. It was all right.

-I had a little sleep on the way.

-You did, didn't you?

The Pages' home for the week was a four-bedroomed house

in East Victoria Park, a family-friendly suburb

close to the city hospitals where Jacqui hoped to find work.

-Let's have a look.

-In you go.

Oh, wow!

This is fantastic.

Oh, wow, it's huge.

It's just wonderful.

I could see myself here for a week, that's no problem at all.

Only a week? Can we stay for a month?

This is beautiful, this is really nice.

But after a good start,

Jacqui spotted something she was less keen on.

-Look at it, it's horrible.

-It's a metal fence.

What's wrong with a picket fence or a bit of bamboo or anything?

But no, it's metal and corrugated.

And another disappointment was the price tag of £400,000,

which meant it was out of their budget.

If I'm coming to the other side of the world, I want a house like this.

-End of.

-I better start working harder, then, hadn't I?

-End of.

I'm not coming to live in a shack.

This is quite nice for me, but we can't afford it, so...

Ian was left in no doubt that it was vital they found the right property

if Jacqui was going be won over by life in Australia.

Back in the UK, the Pages had sold their two-bedroomed house in Surrey

before the property downturn for £250,000.

They'd been renting this four-bedroomed family house

while they tried to decide where their future lay.

It was in a great location, and suited their needs as a growing family

so any property in Perth would have a lot to live up to.

We showed the Pages three different properties based on their budget

to give them an idea of the houses in Perth.

The first house was in Green Mount,

a 20-minute drive from the city-centre hospitals. At the time,

this three-bedroomed cottage was on the market for £211,000 -

just within the Pages' budget.

Front garden needs a bit of a makeover.

Here we go.

Nice high ceilings.

It has a wooden floor as well.

I like the fireplace.

-A tiny, tiny, tiny room.

-It is quite small, isn't it?

Ian tried to be positive.

Definitely a kids' play room,

-which is nice.

-I hope so. If it's the lounge, there'll be trouble!

-It's nice and airy in here, quite cool.

-But Jacqui wasn't buying it.

-It's tiny.

-It is small, though.

-What's in here?

-This is a bedroom.

This is tiny. Absolutely tiny.

We wouldn't even get the kids'... anything in here.

Would the next room help?

-This is better.

-This is nice. I like this.

-This is really nice.

-Oh, yeah, yeah. Much more airy.

I love the beam.

That's really nice.

Jacqui wasn't taken with this house

and it was up to Ian to try and win her round.

Look at that.

-I don't like it.

-No.

-I don't like it! It's really...

Not too sure about the colour of the kitchen cabinets.

But even he didn't sound too impressed.

Let's have a quick look at the bathroom.

-They have a shower in there.

-Yeah, that's all right. That's OK.

You'd have to be very short to have a shower in there,

I wouldn't fit, and a very small person to have a bath.

I wouldn't be able to have a bath or a shower, that's not a very good start, is it?

And eventually, he gave up altogether.

Overall, it's not quite what I'm looking for.

I think we can do a lot better.

I hate it.

I know you do!

After a bad start, the next property needed to be far more successful.

The second home was in the suburb of Butler.

It was a popular area, with plenty of open spaces and parks nearby

and being further from the city,

should have meant getting more for your money.

But would this four-bedroomed new build impress?

This looks nice.

This looks very nice. Come on, then.

Open the gate, then.

I like this. A nice front garden.

At the time, it was on the market for £230,000,

slightly above the Pages' budget,

but would it be able to win Jacqui over?

This is a bedroom.

-A tiny bedroom.

-It is small. Would this be Ethan's room?

If this was Ethan's room, it's bigger than what he's got back home.

That room might have been small,

but what did she make of the airy living space next door?

This is nice. I like this, this is really good.

I don't know about the bar.

The bar would have to go!

But this is good, Ian. A fourth bedroom.

This is better. And it's pink as well, so Lily will be happy.

-Who wants this bedroom?

-Me!

-This would be better.

So they both have their own room.

The Pages were certainly taken with the indoor living space,

but there was more to see.

Outside, the house had lots more to offer, with an airy patio and pool.

Look, what's in here?

-A pool!

-A swimming pool!

-Wow!

-Yeah, this is nice.

-Now, be very careful, girls.

-Keep away from the water, please.

That's the Australian thing, the pool in the garden.

-Not that much overlooked here in the pool area.

-Yeah, got a lovely view of the fence(!)

It's got a little seating area.

You can pass me my glass of wine.

-Your margarita.

-Chance would a fine thing!

But the pool wasn't enough to distract them from another problem.

I'm not used to having neighbours literally on our doorstep.

-No...

-But there are areas for the kids to play, the pool.

I love the barbecue area there.

I could see us having the odd party out there.

It's lovely. The outside is fine.

If it wasn't overlooked by all the houses

and enclosed by a metal fence.

This house still didn't sway Jacqui,

but at £230,000, did the Pages at least think it was value for money?

It's a lot less than I thought it was going to be.

It's less than I thought it was going to be as well.

But at the same token...I don't like it!

I think that was a definite no.

So everything hinged on property three.

If Ian is going to win Jacqui over to his Aussie dream,

they had to find the right house.

The last property was in the neighbouring suburb of Clarkson.

There were shopping facilities close by and plenty of green areas for the children.

This four-bedroomed, two-bathroomed property

was then on the market for £237,000,

just over their budget,

so financially, it would have been a stretch.

-A corner house.

-Corner plot.

-So you're not going to be overlooked

-on every side.

-In you go, then.

-In you go. That's it.

Wow!

-Come on, girls, do you want to have a look?

-This way.

-Come on, then.

-Is this the bedroom here?

-This is lovely. The decor's much nicer.

The decor's a lot nicer, isn't it?

No purple anywhere!

No. It is nice. It's very nice...

-Oh, yes, much better.

-Very nice.

Oh, yes. Much better. I love the kitchen.

-That is nice.

-I really like... I actually like the colour as well.

-Not purple?

-No. It's really, really nice.

Things had started well,

but would the garden be able to keep Jacqui happy?

Mummy, Daddy, come and feel this grass!

-Is it artificial grass?

-Yeah.

That's all right. It won't need mowing, so that'll be one less job I have to get.

-That's no too bad, I suppose.

-No, it's not.

In fact, maybe just a little...

It'd be perfect!

Golf. No, it's nice. It's all right.

Apart from the... What's the issue with it?

Well, you've got the fencing again that you don't like, but that's not too bad, is it?

There's only so much you can do with metal fencing, isn't there? Let's be honest.

You've got to hand it to Ian!

And his enthusiasm did seem to be rubbing off on Jacqui.

It's OK. It's the best one I've seen. It's homely, it's not overlooked too much...

So, could you see yourself living here rather than back home?

-I don't know, we'll see. We'll see!

-How "we'll see" will we see?

-We'll see.

-Oh, I suppose it's better than what I've been getting before.

That was very close to a vote of confidence from Jacqui.

The Pages had seen three very different properties.

It had given them a taste of what could be in the future,

but was it enough to sway Jacqui?

It was time to vote.

Well, we've seen three houses today in Australia,

all fairly similar, but different as well.

We've sat and we've thought about what we can get in Surrey,

which isn't a lot for our money, really,

and what we can get in Perth, Australia

and the space, and of course,

the money that we'd be spending and we're ready to vote.

-Australia!

-Australia!

It seemed as if the last house had finally done the trick for Ian,

although Lily was perhaps missing her princess bedroom back home.

Back home, Jacqui worked part time as a senior staff nurse

at the Royal Marsden, a specialist cancer hospital.

She adored her job, and over the years, the people she worked with had become close friends.

So would she ever be able to find an Australian job she loved as much?

It was an early start to meet Tish Morrison,

a clinical specialist nurse at St John of God community hospital.

She hopes that Jacqui's skills might find a home

at this palliative care unit.

-It's a really good size, isn't it?

-Yes, it is.

The great thing about it is that all the rooms here are private rooms

so there's no shared accommodation.

These doors all open up, so that if the patient isn't well enough

to get out the bed, we can actually let them get out in the garden.

In the summer time, we have to keep the screens closed

-because there's snakes around.

-Oh!

Not my favourite thing!

Not something I have to worry about, to be fair, in Chevallier.

Snakes are not a problem, to be honest.

If they made the move, both Jacqui and Ian would need to find work

if they were to have any chance of affording the property and lifestyle they wanted.

Ian was hoping he might be able to retrain

and join the police force,

so he visited the central business district for a chat

with Courtney and Tristan from Perth's Police Rail Unit.

Are there many ex-British police officers working over here?

-Over in Perth itself, there's about 75% British coppers to 25% Aussie coppers.

-That's quite a lot.

-Yes.

-Do they fit in OK over here, then?

-Yeah, no, great.

A lot of them seem to be loving the lifestyle and it's a lot more laid back than over in the UK.

It sounded like Ian would feel right at home.

What kind of hours do you work?

In Perth, we're on ten hours there and we work days and night shifts.

Thanks for talking to me. It's been brilliant.

-Thanks for taking time out.

-Take care.

-Hope you can make it over.

Fantastic. Thank you very much.

-Come on, girls. Say bye-bye!

-Bye!

Ian's meeting was very successful.

He discovered that the starting rate for police officers

in Australia was around £26,000,

about the same as the UK at that time.

The pay's comparable, it's a good salary.

The hours they do are very good, which would allow a very good, healthy balance.

One of the things back home that's tough is working and family life.

So, that give us a good balance over here.

Back at the hospital, Jacqui was also hoping for some good news.

How does the salary compare here?

-You would be at the top of the increment.

-Right.

-So, I think that works out about £66,000 a year.

I'm not sure how that compares with the UK.

It probably is comparable, I would say.

Realistically, I think that you have to come and get into the workforce.

It might not be the perfect job to begin with, but it lets you see how the system works.

From there you can make choices after that, once you've got the first job on your CV.

I totally agree. I think I'm going to have enough

stressing away settling the children down and sorting out the husband...

..than worrying about the job.

So, the job, it's good if that is...I'm comfortable with that.

I know what I'm doing with that, so I haven't got to worry so much about the children. That'd be great.

-Thank you ever so much.

-Thanks, Jacqui, for your time.

Ian's dream of emigrating rested squarely on Jacqui finding work that suited her.

She'd been impressed by what she'd seen,

but how would she vote on working down under?

I've had a good look round the hospital in Australia,

and it is really lovely, and the people are great.

In actual fact, the job is very similar to the one

I do at home at the Marsden,

but, at the end of the day, it's not the Marsden.

My pull is there, my loyalty is there.

I'm going to vote for...

UK.

The Pages hoped that living in Oz

would allow them to spend quality time together

so they set off for a typical Perth family day out

at a local marine park.

It was a welcome reminder

of why they were considering such a huge move.

We're currently under 3 million litres of water.

-Blimey! Is this Plexiglas?

-It's very thick. It's very safe!

This is Morticia, one of our stingrays.

-Look at that giant big one!

-There's Chunk the turtle.

-That one's my favourite.

-There's Ed.

-Isn't he gorgeous?

-There's Victoria!

The girls were loving every minute,

but Ian knew Jacqui was still worried about the decision ahead

and he was running out of time.

'I am getting a bit desperate now to try to convince Jacqui to come out here.

'I don't quite know how I'm going to achieve that.'

At the end of the day, I'm just going to have to sit back and

hope that maybe she's seen something out here that she likes, but...

I think it's going to be a real struggle.

I think Ian perceives that we would have more time in Australia.

But, at the end of the day, we're both going to have to work still.

Yes, we would have the great outdoors more here, and that is a real positive.

But is that really a positive enough

to come to the other side of the world for? I'm not so sure.

Ian didn't know where he stood.

One minute, Jacqui's been like, "I'm definitely not going. There's no way I'm going." '

Next minute, she's changed her mind.

She's like, "Let's go. Let's sell everything, get on a plane and go."

'That makes me feel really upbeat one minute, really positive and focused.

'Then the next minute, deflated and lost in direction,'

thinking, "If we don't go, what do we do?"

One minute he's up, one minute he's down. Because he has been constant.

He wants to come here, and that's it. I can't make up my mind.

I think maybe a lot of that is because...

maybe I don't want to come, particularly,

but I'm trying to please him, and I know that sounds awful.

It is sounding awful, but I do feel really guilty.

Because it is me that's holding it all back.

Maybe if I just thought, "Well, come on, Jac, just go for it..."

Is that really too much to ask?

So had a taste of the Aussie lifestyle brought Jacqui any closer to moving?

It was time to vote.

We've had a great day at the aquarium today.

Compared to back home, days out in England, it's been really good.

It's a lot cheaper to come out here in Australia, compared to back home.

There are other things that are the same and a little bit more expensive.

But, overall, we've had a fun day. I think our vote is going to be for...

-Australia!

-UK!

-UK!

It's a split vote!

The Pages wanted to compare the high cost of living in Surrey

with life in Australia. We provided some details of everyday costs,

so they could get to grips with the figures.

-We've won first prize in the lottery!

-Chance would a fine thing.

Right, UK cost of living.

We know the wages are going to be the same.

So what have we got? Electricity per month, £80 in the UK.

£55 in Australia, that is cheaper.

-The mortgage repayments will be £1,320.

-Exactly the same.

-But bearing in mind we're renting, that's buying.

-Yeah.

Shall we see what the total is for the whole month, then?

£2,173.25.

Which is a difference of £291.25 deficit.

So, looking at this, it is not that more expensive to live in Australia.

I don't think we'd be any less worse off. I don't think.

-It is literally the same.

-So, what you are trying to say,

because it's the same, there's no point in doing it?

Because we're not gaining anything?

What's the point in coming, because there is no gain?

Money is not as important, is it, to be fair?

But it's not just money, is it?

It's money in front of us, but it's the lifestyle, isn't it?

This is our life in the UK,

this is what we have to deal with on a monthly basis.

-This is what we'll be dealing with in Australia.

-It's cheaper.

It isn't, Ian - not really, it's not.

The Pages couldn't agree on what the figures meant,

but Ian was sure he was right.

Going through the figures with Jacqui, every time I came up with "Look, that's cheaper,"

she'd instantly say, "It's not that much cheaper."

'She doesn't want it to be cheaper, because then I win the argument.

'I think she's still dragging her heels on coming.'

There's things holding her back in the UK - her friends, her family and her job -

and I don't think I'm ever going to compete with those.

Was Ian being overly pessimistic?

The turn of a card would tell.

We've had a look at the facts and figures on cost of living in the UK compared to Australia.

We've added them all up,

and Australia is a tad cheaper.

Our vote is...

BOTH: Australia!

I can't argue with the blooming figures, can I?

I thought you'd have it a tad... just a tad more the other way.

Ian may have been ready to move to Australia,

but Jacqui's biggest fear was always the pain she would face

in leaving behind the people she loved.

With such a huge decision looming,

they chose to watch some messages from home together as a family.

-Hi, Jacqui!

-Hi, Jacqui.

Hi, Ian. I hope you're having a good time.

-Hi, Jacqui!

-Hello!

I know I'm biased because I'm her mum,

but I'm extremely proud of her.

She's turned out extremely, extremely well.

She's one of these people that, you know,

when you see her, she comes on the ward, you think, "Thank goodness!"

No matter what kind of day you'll have, you know it'll be good cos Jacqui's there.

Ian is great, he's really fantastic.

He's always really positive, a really nice guy.

A bundle of laughs, really good fun.

I shall miss Jacqui and the children and Ian very, very much.

I'd worry she'd get lonely. Cos we all need support and...

with three small children, and her mum gives her a lot of support.

-If that's really what they want...

-They're at the right age to do it.

But they've got to think about it. They've really got to really think

about what they're gaining, what they're losing,

and really...

We love them so much.

And we wish them well.

They've really got to think what they're doing.

It's a long way.

We can visit them maybe once, but that would be it.

That's right.

We'll have to wait for them to come back to us.

We're going to miss you. If this is a decision you choose to make,

we're behind you 100%, whatever your decision is.

But hope you seize this opportunity and hope you have a brilliant time.

Don't forget...

that we love you very much

and we are certainly going to miss you and the children.

And we love you very much.

Anyway, we'll see you soon, OK?

Lots of love. I love you. Bye.

It doesn't matter where we are in the world. They're still going

to think the same of us, they're still going to be our friends.

Well...

It's not the same, is it?

You can't turn around to me and say it's the same, cos it isn't.

-It's not the same.

-No, but it's not meant to be the same, is it?

There's nothing so wrong with home, is there? You make it sound as if there's something wrong with home.

I've never said there is anything wrong with home.

But then you have to ask yourself a question - if we're so happy at home,

if everything is so perfect, if our friends and family are everything, why are we even here now?

Cos that's what you want.

I really don't want to talk about this any more.

-No?

-No.

Enough's enough now, right?

That was harder than I thought it was going to be, actually - it was a lot harder than I thought it was

going to be. I didn't think I would be quite as affected by friends.

I don't know why I thought that, I just didn't think I would be.

'I was actually coming round to things, I thought I could do this.'

After seeing that, I think we're back to square one again.

If I'd managed to persuade Jacqui an incy bit,

everything I've done has been undone just by watching that DVD.

What can I say? She got emotional, I expected her to get emotional,

and for all the right reasons in life, you know.

I don't blame her for that at all.

That's just the way it is, but there goes all my hard work for the week.

The Pages had been on an emotional roller coaster.

All week, Ian had worked hard to persuade Jacqui that moving would be the right thing to do,

but had it worked? Would they all choose a new life down under?

-Give us a kiss.

-I'm not kissing you!

-Come on.

-You already had one kiss.

We've had a fantastic week here in Perth. It's been brilliant.

We've met some wonderful people, seen wonderful sights.

We've gathered as much information as we can to help us make our decision,

whether to stay in the UK or come to Australia.

It's time for our final vote and our final vote is going to be for...

-Australia!

-UK!

-UK!

After seeing all they could gain and lose by moving to Australia,

the Pages' future was left hanging in the balance,

so three years on, what's happened since?

It's May 2012

and Jacqui, Ian, Lily,

Abigail and Ethan are living in...

..Australia!

Two years ago, the Page family took the plunge and moved to Melbourne.

After we got back to the UK,

I was still really determined to get the family out here

and Jacqui was still apprehensive about the whole thing,

and we just discussed it as much as we could, and I think

-we got to the point where...

-You can't talk about it any more.

Yeah, we'd discussed it as much as we could. We had to make a decision,

were we going to go or were we not going to go,

and I persisted and pushed, and I think Jacqui just thought in the end

that she'd much rather have tried, give it a try and see how it goes.

Between coming back from Perth

and actually getting on a plane, it was about eight months.

So it was actually quite quick, I guess, really,

because we'd gone from actually not going

to writing the reservation letter and we were on the plane!

On the Monday you weren't going, and then on the Friday you were,

and then by the Monday again you weren't!

With their decision finally settled, there was no going back.

The family made the big move,

and now live in this four-bedroomed house in the suburb of Knoxville.

We are in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne in Victoria,

and that was my choice because Perth was just too hot for me.

Being very close to the lake here is great for me.

I can take the kids there, they can get exercise round the lake.

It's a wonderful, quiet suburb to live, so it ticks every box,

and the house is beautiful, it's perfect for us.

All the children have got their own bedrooms.

We've got a playroom and then we've got our own area,

so our own lounge, and it just works really well.

It gives us some privacy for adults,

and it also gives us family space and it gives the kids their space.

So how did Ian convince Jacqui to come out to Australia

after she had originally voted against it?

I don't think it was any one thing that really changed Jacqui's mind

but I guess it was just, you know, persistence,

and every time I was presented with an obstacle from her

to say, "I'm not going,"

I worked really hard to try and change that situation around.

I was very dogged and determined.

I wasn't going to take no for an answer.

I felt that it was that important, that it needed to be done.

It was an opportunity that was offered, you know,

and it doesn't come to everybody, and it...

Yeah, I just thought, "I don't want to regret it."

And that's an overriding thing, I guess, in my life, really.

I don't want to have any regrets in life.

But the Pages' journey hasn't been an easy one.

As she feared, Jacqui initially found it devastating

to leave her life back home.

'I hated being in Australia when I first came.'

I hated it, absolutely hated it.

There was nothing positive I saw about it at all.

I couldn't see anything.

The first night we actually arrived,

we had jetlag and we woke up in the middle of the night

and I was pretty much hysterical.

Ian was then on the laptop, madly looking for a flight to go home,

because I was just beside myself.

I think that's very similar to how it's been for the last two years,

it's been up and down, up and down,

it's either been very high or very low.

You know, some days, Jacqui's so tired and frustrated

and can't see a way forward.

It is tough trying to convince her this was the right thing to do

when those days occur.

In fact, things were so tough that eight months after arriving,

Jacqui returned to the UK for a two-week time out.

When I went home, I guess...

I was in two minds, really, what I wanted to do.

I really didn't know.

Honestly, I really didn't have a clue what was going on with my head

or whether I wanted to stay in Australia.

I sat down with a lot of friends

and we just settled down and unpicked things a bit, really.

What would I do if I went back home, and what chances I've got here.

I was glad that Jacqui had that time back in the UK.

I think she needed that. I think it was good for her.

I think it was the tonic that she needed at the time,

so I'm glad that she did go back.

I managed to come back to Australia with new eyes, I think,

and the homesickness seemed to have settled down.

I do still miss things,

but I can actually appreciate Australia as well now.

For Jacqui, one of the hardest things to leave behind

was the hospital where she worked

and the relationships she had with her patients and colleagues.

So how has she settled into work in Australia?

'At this hospital, I'm classed as an associate nurse unit manager.

'I'm in charge of the ward when I'm on shift,

'so that's a 20-bedded ward and all that happens on that ward.'

I worked at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Surrey for 16 years,

'so I loved it, and coming to Australia,

'I've almost had to start again because they don't know me,

'they don't know what I'm capable of, they haven't a history with me.'

Right, thanks, Sister.

-Bye-bye now.

-Bye.

I've just started to make some connections with the nurses here,

'and we kind of have quite a lot of banter. It is limited because'

I have the kids at home and there's only so much spare time I've got.

'I think if you'd asked me a year ago whether it balanced out,'

the friends and family thing and missing home,

I would have said, "I'll take that ticket any time and go home."

Now, I'm starting to see the opportunities here.

Now, I'm starting to see that there could be a career here for me.

While Jacqui has found her feet at work,

Ian has faced some setbacks to his career plans.

Very quickly after arriving here,

I put my application in to join the Victoria police.

The initial part of that is to undergo some tests,

and I badly injured my knee doing one of the physical exercises,

and I was really disappointed that I'd failed that process.

Because Ian wasn't working, I then had to step up to the plate

and I had to earn the money.

It was my job that got us over here

and it's me, really, that's kept us going, I guess.

Jacqui's been the sole breadwinner of the family since we arrived, and...

You know, all credit to her, she's been working really hard.

The shift in roles has taken quite a bit of adjusting to.

I've had to give up, really, being a stay-at-home mum that I was at home.

I brought up the kids, really, whereas here,

Ian has brought up the children more

and I'm the one that pops in and out, which can be difficult.

I'd say my biggest regret is kind of letting Jacqui down a little bit.

I made some promises to her before we came out here

that it wouldn't be tough and, you know, and I let her down.

It's my responsibility because I was pushing for this,

so I feel really guilty about that.

I think he was looking at it first through rose-coloured glasses

and I think he thought everything was going to be great

and I think that the realisation that actually, you know,

it hasn't worked as he planned, I think probably hit him a bit hard.

It has been a frustrating time, and it remains to be a frustrating time.

I'm in a situation that I don't want to be in.

I feel a little bit trapped and a little bit cornered,

and I'm trying to claw my way out of it.

But Ian's original fitness test

has prompted some positive lifestyle changes for both of them.

My application for Victoria police is now back on.

I've currently gone through the assessment process again.

I'm just waiting for a new fitness date.

Looking back on it now, I've no-one really to blame but myself,

you know, I was overweight,

I was out of condition and I was unprepared for it.

'Ian, he was really quite down'

and didn't know where his life was going, so I think part of that is,

losing the weight has made him feel so much better about himself,

and given him a goal to aim for as well, while he's here.

'My lifestyle had to change, and I wanted it to change as well,

'so I'm living a much better lifestyle, eating better,

'and just generally all-round feel a lot better.'

Were both enjoying keeping fit,

and the country lends itself more to the outdoor type of life,

you know. We do spend a lot more time outdoors and doing things

than we ever did in the UK,

so because of that, we are fitter, I think.

'It's become a little bit of a challenge now,

'a battle of who'll get to what. We have little charts,

'we mark down our weight loss each week.'

It's been quite a... It's been quite fun to do it together.

-It's quite fun to do it together.

-Yeah.

-And, you know...

-I'm actually winning at the moment, I'd like to point out.

-Yeah(!)

And the children are also enjoying their new Aussie lifestyle

and fitter, healthier parents.

I think the children have settled in really well.

They've got some lovely, lovely friends.

They do lots of after-school activities, ballet, drama, swimming.

Here, even the parents are encouraged to get involved

in the school's activities,

something Jacqui has really embraced.

Friday is my day off,

and that's the day I spend with the children and I can come in

and do the literacy group with Abigail and her class.

OK, and Jack, put your name at the top.

Georgia.

Gosh, you've got lovely writing.

'Pretty much every mum comes in for an hour, once a week,

'to either do literacy'

or to do PE or to do something,

and it makes you feel part of the community,

it makes you feel part of the community of the school,

and the kids love it.

With the children happy,

Jacqui can see the benefits of the Pages' new life

and knowing they have a future in Australia

has made those difficult times more bearable.

It's been a huge difference to have the girls settled here, because if

they're unsettled, that would make life pretty much almost unbearable.

It's a wonderful experience.

My children have seen wild kangaroos jumping around

and they've spent time on the beach. Last week, we were rock-pooling.

Pull!

There's only one thing that I miss back in England.

It's English chocolate.

I like the English chocolate too.

Me too!

With the Pages' family life blossoming,

another challenge for Jacqui has been leaving her loved ones behind

and making a whole new set of friends.

-Hello.

-Come in.

-Come on, then.

'I think we are starting to connect with people'

and starting to make friendships now. It has taken a long time.

Having children makes making friends or meeting people a lot easier,

you know, from that point of view,

'because you're obviously all going to the school

'or dropping the kids off. You do meet people through the children.'

We first met Jacqui and Ian and the kids

when we invited them to Ollie's birthday

and Abigail walked in with a present that was bigger than her!

So that was quite funny.

The first year,

I don't feel I really made that many connections at all.

I think I've done better in the last six months because I feel better.

When I first came, most weekends I spent crying

and life really was work, sleep...

..and eat, and that was it. There wasn't anything else.

So life is very different now.

I actually will go out and actually spend time with other people.

I think I had to get in the right head space

and after about 18 months and going home, I'm a lot more settled.

Look at her ears. Can you feel how soft her ears are?

Despite her initial worries on their first visit,

Jacqui seems to have warmed to her new life in Australia.

Ian was always passionate about the move, but even he's faced

more challenges than he expected, so has all the upheaval been worth it?

I think I've learned, don't always wish for what you want,

because you might get it, and it might not be what you thought it might be!

'I'm glad that I finally persuaded my wife to move, and I think

'I just have to show her now that it was the right thing to do.'

Cheers, cheers. Cheers, my dear.

I think it has brought us together,

because we've had to,

'we've had to really pull on one another.

'I think if we can survive this and get through this,

'I think we can pretty much outride anything.'

'The kids are really happy, you know, and they're really settled

'and Ian has a goal in life,

'which he struggled to find in the UK, and I've managed to give that'

to them and achieve that, so I can never regret coming.

I wouldn't regret coming. It's not a regret.

'We may stay in Australia, we may not.

'I don't know, I can't tell the future'

but England, for me, I think will always be home

'and whatever happens, we'll always be together.'

LAUGHTER

'I'd say I'm highly optimistic.'

I really believe that I'm now getting more focused.

'I've got a long way to go still,

'but I have a great wife that understands and supports me'

and I'm thankful for that,

so have faith, we'll get there.

-21st May, yeah. Two years.

-Two years' anniversary!

Nearly our second anniversary now!

Cheers.

'I'm glad I'm here.'

I'm not going to have regrets in life.

Moving to another country is never easy

and the Pages have had to face some tough times settling into their new lives,

but for now, at least, their future lies in Australia.

We wish them the very best of luck.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd