0:00:04 > 0:00:07Moving your family is extremely stressful.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10But when it involves taking them to the other side of the world,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13it could push everyone to their limits.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17In 2012, the Orrett family faced a massive decision -
0:00:17 > 0:00:21whether to stay in the UK or start a new life in Australia.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24One year on, we've caught up with them to find out how
0:00:24 > 0:00:26and where they are now.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Gill and Stuart Orrett were desperate to move closer to their eldest
0:00:30 > 0:00:33daughter, Christine, and get to know their first granddaughter, Olivia,
0:00:33 > 0:00:37- who was growing up thousands of miles away.- She changes every day.
0:00:37 > 0:00:43It's something that...can only make you beam inside with happiness
0:00:43 > 0:00:45and pleasure, more than anything else.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49But Australia didn't live up to expectations.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51I'm sorry, but this is horrendous.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53And the whole family faced heartbreaking decisions.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55We knew we'd have to make this choice between being
0:00:55 > 0:00:59there for our parents and being here for our kids and our grandchildren.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03It's a tough one.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Oh, come on.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08So one year on, are the Orretts finally reunited on the other
0:01:08 > 0:01:10side of the world?
0:01:10 > 0:01:13I personally don't question whether we made the right decision.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15The future for us is very exciting.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Australia's the most popular destination for Brits emigrating abroad.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47They're tempted by the promise of a better life down under.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50But the reality of leaving behind everything and everyone
0:01:50 > 0:01:53can sometimes turn that dream into a nightmare.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58In 2012, the Orrett family set off on a journey
0:01:58 > 0:02:01they hoped would change their lives forever.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05They'd just one week to decide whether to leave behind friends
0:02:05 > 0:02:09and loved ones so they could be closer to their baby granddaughter.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13Today we're going back to see what happened to the Orretts.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17In 2012, Stuart and Gill Orrett were living in Chester.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Stuart worked in catering while wife Gill was a paramedic.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Of their four children, the two youngest, Matt, then 14,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27and Lauren, 17, were still living at home.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30They were enjoying life, but at a cost.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34For the past 20 years, Stuart had been working incredibly long hours to
0:02:34 > 0:02:38- build up his catering business. - These days I don't...
0:02:38 > 0:02:40I mean, I might do a 60-, 70-hour week,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43but that feels part-time to me.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46When you've done...probably 100 plus hours a week,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50going down to 60 or 70, it's like being let off early.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52You feel guilty coming home.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Providing for his family had meant missing out on seeing
0:02:55 > 0:02:59- some of his children grow up. - It has taken its toll.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03I, um...feel as though with the two older children
0:03:03 > 0:03:06I didn't spend as much time with them as I do with the younger ones.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11And...'cause we were developing the businesses when they were young.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Stuart and Gill have two other daughters - Samantha,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17who's spent a lot of time working away on cruise ships,
0:03:17 > 0:03:18was happy to emigrate,
0:03:18 > 0:03:21and eldest daughter Christine was already living in Australia.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25With Christine expecting her first baby, Stuart and Gill were desperate
0:03:25 > 0:03:28to move down under and bring their family together.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30Christine's emigrated out there in January
0:03:30 > 0:03:34and married to a chap who lives in Perth and having a baby.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37So it's going to be our first grandchild.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40And we just feel this is a big sort of transition in our lives.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43We don't want to be just visiting them for two or three months
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- and have to come back here. - But moving wasn't going to be easy.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50As a qualified paramedic, Gill was the only family member
0:03:50 > 0:03:54eligible for a visa, and that meant finding work in Australia.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57It's our ticket into Australia, me getting a job, so we do feel as
0:03:57 > 0:04:01if there's a certain responsibility on my shoulders at the moment -
0:04:01 > 0:04:03is to...you know, for the family.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07You know, I will feel quite disappointed if I let them
0:04:07 > 0:04:09down by not getting a job.
0:04:09 > 0:04:10And the clock was ticking.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14With the age limit for a skilled migration visa set at 50,
0:04:14 > 0:04:15Gill was running out of time.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19- You know, the years just sort of ticked by, didn't they?- They did.
0:04:19 > 0:04:20And then we realised...
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Keep talking about it - we're going to have to do it.
0:04:25 > 0:04:30Fortunately, the children shared Mum and Dad's ideas on emigrating.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32I think it's quite good because there's,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35like, nothing here in England for, like, me and my brother any more.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37My sister's moved and she's doing her own thing.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40We've always had it on our mind for, like, the past year or so.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Me and my dad are, like, set. We want to go.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46My mum keeps it to herself a bit. She's like, "Well, this and that."
0:04:46 > 0:04:48She takes everything into consideration when me
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and my dad are just like, "Yeah, whatever. Let's just do it."
0:04:51 > 0:04:55However, the ideal life in Australia could mean potential
0:04:55 > 0:04:57heartache for the Orretts and those they loved.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01I do think things through, I must admit.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04And I think this is probably why I'm at the moment coming over a little
0:05:04 > 0:05:06bit more hesitant than he is.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Talking about Stuart's parents -
0:05:08 > 0:05:11they're not going to be able to travel over to Australia.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13We know that. They won't make that journey.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16The people I would miss the most are obviously my parents. Um...
0:05:20 > 0:05:27There's...you know... That would be the hardest thing of all.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Everything would rest on their week in Australia.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32Could they find the life they were dreaming of,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36or would it be too difficult to leave family and friends behind?
0:05:42 > 0:05:44Thanks to its warm Mediterranean climate
0:05:44 > 0:05:46and plenty of job opportunities,
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Perth looked like the perfect place for the Orretts to explore.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54But it wasn't just the appeal of big city living than interested them.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Because their daughter Christine and her new family were already there,
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Stuart and Gill were desperate to see
0:05:59 > 0:06:02if they could make a go of it in the city as well.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07All the Orretts, including older sister Samantha,
0:06:07 > 0:06:11made the 10,000-mile, 24-hour trip to Perth.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15And their first priority when they arrived was to meet the new arrival.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18This was what the move was all about -
0:06:18 > 0:06:20a chance to bring their family together again.
0:06:23 > 0:06:24Hello.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29I'd come over to Australia about two weeks ago
0:06:29 > 0:06:32for the birth of my first grandchild.
0:06:32 > 0:06:33Um...Stuart, my husband,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36came over about a week after and...while he was in flight,
0:06:36 > 0:06:41our eldest daughter gave birth to a lovely 8-pound, 1-ounce little girl.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44So cute.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49It's...really opens your eyes to see your eldest with a baby of her own
0:06:49 > 0:06:50and a new family starting.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55We're going to be considering our grandchildren as well as our own children.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02My mum and dad have come grandparents like ducks to water, really.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Bit scary at first, but, yeah, they're enjoying it.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Think everyone wants a hold all at once, so...
0:07:10 > 0:07:14Especially my dad when he gets a minute. He sneaks off with her.
0:07:14 > 0:07:19To be able to hold Olivia on a daily basis is fabulous.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21And just been tremendous,
0:07:21 > 0:07:26just watching expressions change as her face starts to open up a little bit.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Everyone was smitten with the new baby, but the Orretts had only seven
0:07:30 > 0:07:32days to see if they could make a life here.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37I don't know. It's going to be difficult with her being the other side of the world.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Hopefully we'll be here to spoil her and watch her grow up,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43but...only time will tell.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48Beautiful girl, aren't you? Yeah.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58The Orretts' stayed near Christine in the Rockingham area of Perth.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Their accommodation for the week would give them
0:08:00 > 0:08:03a good idea of Australian-style living.
0:08:07 > 0:08:12- Oh.- LAUREN:- This is nice, isn't it? - It's good.- I like it open plan.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14The layout went down well.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21How do you turn on the TV?
0:08:21 > 0:08:22- SAMANTHA:- You get the remote.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26And then you...you can watch it when you're cleaning all the dishes.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Nice try, Stuart. Overall, the reactions were positive.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36- GILL:- For rented accommodation, yeah, I like it. Do you?- Yeah.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39It's OK. It's practical for what we need at the moment.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43It's a good base. The area's right for us to have a look.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48Everything seems simplistic, which is ideal for what we need.
0:08:54 > 0:08:55Back in the UK,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58the Orretts were renting a four-bedroom house in Chester.
0:08:58 > 0:09:04They had a budget of £350,000 mortgage free to around £500,000
0:09:04 > 0:09:06if they took out a mortgage.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08An Australian home would have to give them
0:09:08 > 0:09:10everything they needed straight away.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13I think what I'm looking for in an Australian house is
0:09:13 > 0:09:17- I would like a pool.- Snooker table. - I like the open plan living.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19- Easier to maintain. - Some outside space to entertain.
0:09:19 > 0:09:24- A hot tub or something.- Modern. - Modern.- A nice balcony.- Games room.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26We would very much like to be able to just move in,
0:09:26 > 0:09:30put our furniture there and go out and enjoy the Australian lifestyle.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33The family had strong ideas about what
0:09:33 > 0:09:36they wanted from a house in Perth, but couldn't be sure
0:09:36 > 0:09:40their budget would be enough to buy them their dream home.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Australian house prices had been rising while exchange rates
0:09:44 > 0:09:47and property prices had dropped in the UK.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50We gave the Orretts a taste of the housing market in Perth.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53We lined up three properties based on their price range
0:09:53 > 0:09:56and what they wanted from their ideal home.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00Only after seeing what was on offer would we reveal how much they cost.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04The first house was in the Secret Harbour area.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08An hour from Perth city centre and in an established neighbourhood,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11there were plenty of facilities nearby for families.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14This four-bedroom house was typically Aussie in style.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- Oh, this is nice, isn't it? - This must be the lounge.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28- SAMANTHA:- It's a big lounge, I think, though, Mum.- Big lounge, isn't it?
0:10:28 > 0:10:31- Especially when... - I think it's quite dark, though.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39- Kitchen's nice. It's got cupboards. It's got walk-in cupboards.- Has it?
0:10:39 > 0:10:41I love that.
0:10:41 > 0:10:42It was sounding positive,
0:10:42 > 0:10:46but would this be a house worth moving across the world for?
0:10:46 > 0:10:48No, there's nothing that I've walked in and gone, like,
0:10:48 > 0:10:50- "Wow, that's amazing." - No. It hasn't got the wow factor.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54It's got the sensibility factor.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56But not the wow factor.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58It's got "within our grasp" factor.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02It wasn't a great start for the Orretts' dream,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05but there was one feature that would lift their spirits.
0:11:06 > 0:11:12See the pool? This is my ideal outdoor space. It's lovely.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14It's not overlooked.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17This would probably be a very good stepping stone property -
0:11:17 > 0:11:21to feel our way over here and find out our actual needs
0:11:21 > 0:11:22when we get here.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26Overall, the house wasn't wowing the family,
0:11:26 > 0:11:30but would it be one Stuart and Gill could see themselves living in?
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Perhaps the price would make it more appealing.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36OK, Sam. Would you like to do the honours?
0:11:39 > 0:11:40Wow.
0:11:43 > 0:11:49- That's good.- That's cheap.- That's OK.- Yeah.- Yeah.- That's acceptable.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53- It's about what I thought it was probably worth.- Yeah.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55- In all honesty, so there's no shocks there.- No.
0:11:55 > 0:12:00£358,000 was well within their £500,000 budget,
0:12:00 > 0:12:05- but that wasn't enough for Lauren. - You'd be comfortable in this house?
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Nah, I think it's too boring. I think there's no view.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11I don't think there's anything exciting about it.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15I think it's more for, like, an...old people.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20Lauren was setting the bar pretty high, but Australian houses weren't
0:12:20 > 0:12:23really exciting the rest of the family either.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Perhaps the second house would bring them round.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Also in Secret Harbour,
0:12:29 > 0:12:31this four-bedroom house was big enough for the Orretts and had
0:12:31 > 0:12:37a style that wasn't typically Aussie on the outside...or on the inside.
0:12:37 > 0:12:38Ooh. That surprised me.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Expected that to be a bit more open plan there. Yeah.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47There was just something about the look that wasn't working.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52- It's not a typical Australian home, I feel. It's...- Too English.
0:12:52 > 0:12:53Too British.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01- And things went from bad to worse. - I'm sorry, but this is horrendous.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04- Yeah. - It's not what I'd expect to see.
0:13:06 > 0:13:11Maybe the unusual feature in the open plan living room would add some appeal.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15I wouldn't imagine a kitchen, dining room, snooker table
0:13:15 > 0:13:19rather than a kitchen, dining room, lounge.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Luckily there was something not
0:13:21 > 0:13:24so typically English to bring the family round.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28- That's a nice pool. I love this pool.- Look out.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35- This bar area is...it's very usable. - HE LAUGHS
0:13:35 > 0:13:39- The outside bit, I think, is so cool.- I like it.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41While the house wasn't to everyone's taste,
0:13:41 > 0:13:45the outdoor space certainly tickled the family's fancy.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48But was it affordable on their £500,000 budget?
0:13:48 > 0:13:49Moment of truth.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Let's see what this is all about.
0:13:58 > 0:14:05- £467,000.- No.- AU750,000.- No. I think that's...
0:14:05 > 0:14:08No, that is well overpriced in my estimation.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12It wasn't their idea of good value, but that could mean
0:14:12 > 0:14:15they were overestimating what they could achieve on their budget.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19It would all boil down to the last property.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Staying in Secret Harbour, the third house was closer to the beach
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and surrounded by lots of open spaces.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26With plenty of room for the family,
0:14:26 > 0:14:30perhaps they could see themselves living in this five-bedroom house.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36- That's nice, isn't it?- MATT: - Oh, my God.- Oh, that's nice. Oh, my!
0:14:36 > 0:14:38- You want to see this? - SHE LAUGHS
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Oh, wow.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44- Now, this is an entrance, isn't it? - This is a lot better.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47- Oh, it's gorgeous, isn't it? - Yeah, it's nice.- Oh, my God.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51It looked like they could imagine living here.
0:14:54 > 0:14:59- Oh. Oh.- Oh, my God. - This is fab, isn't it?
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Oh, it's dead good, isn't it?
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- Stuart, get me a drink from the kitchen.- This is stunning.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07This is my ideal house.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13- And it wasn't just the inside winning Gill over.- Perfect.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15- I need this house.- Do you, darling?
0:15:15 > 0:15:17- Yeah. I need this house. - SHE LAUGHS
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- You NEED?- I do.- And what do you NEED about this house?
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Well, this is moving to Australia, isn't it? Look at it.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28The Orretts seemed to have finally arrived.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30I feel like I'm at home already.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33You've got your long drive, your gates and your hammock and your...
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Yeah, and my jacuzzi. And a barbecue.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38I think it's...I think it's gorgeous.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40I feel really comfortable here.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42This house got a great reaction all around,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45but there was still the small matter of the price.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Ready? OK. No sharp intake of breath.
0:15:49 > 0:15:56- The house cost nearly £600,000. - That's not bad.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- Do you know what, that is actually...- That is not...
0:15:59 > 0:16:01I thought it'd be well over 1 million.
0:16:01 > 0:16:06- That's not out of our reach completely. Is it?- No.- Nod, Stuart.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08HE LAUGHS
0:16:08 > 0:16:11It's just, um...it's certainly one to think about, isn't it?
0:16:11 > 0:16:13- What do you think, kids? Like the house?- Yes.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17- If we move here, I'll do all the cleaning.- What was that, Matthew?
0:16:17 > 0:16:18I'll do some cleaning.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23Nice try, Matthew, but affording this house would mean taking out a large
0:16:23 > 0:16:25mortgage, never mind the housework.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28So what did the Orretts make of Perth houses?
0:16:28 > 0:16:30The first one was within budget,
0:16:30 > 0:16:34and somewhere Gill and Stuart could call home - just.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37The second house was far too British in its styling
0:16:37 > 0:16:39and just didn't excite.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43But the third property was everything the Orretts had imagined, even if
0:16:43 > 0:16:45it would mean straining their chequebook.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51Based on our experience of Australian property,
0:16:51 > 0:16:52we are voting for...
0:17:03 > 0:17:05- UK.- Australia!- Australia.- Australia.
0:17:05 > 0:17:06- UK, Lauren? - HE CHUCKLES
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- Yeah.- Why have you said that?
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Because I don't think there's anything interesting.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14I think that out of the three houses that we've seen, only one of them
0:17:14 > 0:17:16is, like, amazing,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19and the two others are like typical English houses.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22And we're moving from England to, like, have a fresh start,
0:17:22 > 0:17:24so what's the point of going to another house which is
0:17:24 > 0:17:26exactly the...well,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29pretty much similar to the one that we've got in England?
0:17:29 > 0:17:31So the most expensive house would obviously
0:17:31 > 0:17:34swing your judgement at the end of the day.
0:17:34 > 0:17:35- Yeah.- Just a diva.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44In the UK, Stuart was running a busy catering company that he'd built
0:17:44 > 0:17:46up from scratch over 20 years.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50However, the recession meant the business had been suffering.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54It's been a very hard slog in comparison to what it was in, like,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57the glory years of maybe ten years ago.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Stuart was hoping to sell his business
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and work for someone else in Australia, but it was Gill
0:18:03 > 0:18:07and her paramedic qualifications that held the key to emigrating.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12It's our ticket into Australia, me getting a job,
0:18:12 > 0:18:16so I do feel as if there's a certain responsibility on my shoulders
0:18:16 > 0:18:18at the moment for the family.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21You know, I will feel quite disappointed if I let them
0:18:21 > 0:18:23down by not getting a job.
0:18:24 > 0:18:29In Perth, we arranged for Gill to spend some time at the St John emergency centre.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Expat Christian started off her day by showing Gill what
0:18:33 > 0:18:35she could be driving.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Looks smaller than what I'm used to working on.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Absolutely. It's about half the size, I think, of a UK ambulance.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44- Not a lot of room, is there? - It's good to be short.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48While Gill got to grips with an Aussie ambulance,
0:18:48 > 0:18:53Stuart was off exploring his job prospects with a local catering firm.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56He was hoping that becoming an employee would mean an end to
0:18:56 > 0:18:59the long hours he'd been putting in back home.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04So, Stuart, this is our production kitchen.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Owner Michael Davis showed Stuart around.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11We have a team of staff that work over here, polish everything,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13straight back on the shelf ready to go again.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16I have a couple of women who work for me who would die for this.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18HE LAUGHS
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Stuart was in familiar territory and enjoyed the tour.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Across town, Gill was getting down to the details of being
0:19:24 > 0:19:26a paramedic in Australia.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30As the main breadwinner, everything would depend on her potential salary.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34Christian, could you tell me how I could be expected to earn
0:19:34 > 0:19:36as a paramedic with three years' experience in Western Australia?
0:19:36 > 0:19:38Well, a paramedic that's worked between one
0:19:38 > 0:19:42- and three years would be on about 80,700 a year.- Oh.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45- That's rather a lot more than I'm earning in the UK.- Yeah.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46That includes all your shift allowances
0:19:46 > 0:19:48and all your unsocial hours.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53Probably approximately double to what I'm earning at the moment in the UK.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55- Yeah.- So, yeah, very encouraging.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57It is very encouraging. It's a very well paid job here.
0:19:57 > 0:20:02That was great news for Gill and the Orretts' hopes of affording the move.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04At the catering company, Stuart was keen to hear
0:20:04 > 0:20:08if a job would mean escaping the punishing hours he put in back home.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12What sort of hours do you start, finish, etc?
0:20:12 > 0:20:14Particularly with weekends?
0:20:14 > 0:20:17The reason that we've focused so heavily on corporate catering,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19it's Monday to Friday, it's during the day.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22I'm home at every night to have dinner with the kids.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24We work very hard when we're at work,
0:20:24 > 0:20:28but we have a fantastic balance to our life.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Sounds the sort of thing I'd like to do.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Regular hours were just what Stuart wanted,
0:20:32 > 0:20:34but how would the salary compare?
0:20:34 > 0:20:38We'd be looking at an average wage of about 60,000 per year.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42It's certainly I'd be interested in, particularly with the hours as well.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46That'd be...in my eyes, I'd be working part-time for a sensible wage,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48which is something I'd be interested in.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52It was a great morning for Stuart and Gill, and on meeting up,
0:20:52 > 0:20:54they were excited to share their news.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56So what sort of hours would you be doing?
0:20:56 > 0:20:58You wouldn't be doing 5:00 in the morning starts
0:20:58 > 0:21:01and work till 7:00 at night still, would you?
0:21:01 > 0:21:03- No, it'd be part-time - 40 hours a week. - SHE LAUGHS
0:21:03 > 0:21:07I just couldn't believe 40 hours a week is achievable even for people
0:21:07 > 0:21:08who own the company.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11You know, it had to offer something pretty special to leave what I've
0:21:11 > 0:21:17got in the UK, but, yeah, the salary here is double what I'm earning in the UK.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- We're on a win-win situation, by the sounds of it. - HE LAUGHS
0:21:20 > 0:21:25So when it came to working in Australia, which way did they vote?
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Based on our work experience in Australia, we are voting for...
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- Australia!- Australia!
0:21:39 > 0:21:41That was a surprise...not.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Gill and Stuart's work prospects in Australia were looking promising, but
0:21:49 > 0:21:53taking a hard look at their finances could be an unwelcome wake-up call.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57Renting in the UK meant they weren't relying on the sale of a house,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59so they could go straight to the cost of living.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02We provide a breakdown of their expenses.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04It was now time for them to work out
0:22:04 > 0:22:08- if they could actually afford to live down under.- Oh, bacon's cheaper.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11- You'd be all right for your bacon butties in the morning.- That's it.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14I'd probably spend £90.87 in the UK.
0:22:14 > 0:22:20And the same shop here would cost me £137.67 a week,
0:22:20 > 0:22:24which makes...I'll be spending £46.80 a week more.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28- So it's probably £180 a month. - Yeah, rounding up.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32The cost of a weekly food shop wasn't the best start.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Next came the bigger costs.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39So we have a monthly income figure of £5,644.67,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42which basically gives us
0:22:42 > 0:22:49£1,144.67 increase by living in Australia per month.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54It was a healthy boost in income, but basing the figures on the cheapest
0:22:54 > 0:22:58house they saw, would it allow them to take on a bigger mortgage?
0:22:58 > 0:23:03So we'd be £74 a month worse off living in Australia.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08Quite a surprise to me considering my income's increased an awful lot.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12I think this is probably mainly due the mortgage costs
0:23:12 > 0:23:15'cause the interest rates here on mortgages are more expensive.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19Shock, no. Reality check, yes.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23£74 a month wasn't a huge amount,
0:23:23 > 0:23:27so on paper it was looking like the Orretts could afford Australia,
0:23:27 > 0:23:30but only if they opted for the house they least liked.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Was that a sacrifice worth making?
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Based on our reality check, we are voting for...
0:23:43 > 0:23:46- Australia.- Undecided.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48Why have you voted Australia?
0:23:48 > 0:23:51We're not going to be much worse off, but we are going to benefit
0:23:51 > 0:23:55from, you know, obviously from seeing our grandchild, the weather.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58The whole lifestyle here will benefit us as a family.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06Seeing their living costs in black and white was a shock for Gill,
0:24:06 > 0:24:11but a move down under was always about being together as a family.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14With Stuart working long hours and Gill doing shifts in the UK,
0:24:14 > 0:24:19spending time outdoors was rare and limited by the British weather.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24The Orretts visited Fremantle Harbour to enjoy one of their favourite activities -
0:24:24 > 0:24:25a spot of fishing.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29It would offer a taste of what Australia could be about for them.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33Our motivation to move here is to change our lifestyle.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36It's to spend more time outside as a family.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39As the kids grow up, we'll start to lose the communication with them
0:24:39 > 0:24:41and they'll start going their own way,
0:24:41 > 0:24:43so it's important for us to have the last couple of years
0:24:43 > 0:24:47we can with them as family doing things we all enjoy, really.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49- SHE LAUGHS - Hey, hey! Lovely!
0:24:49 > 0:24:53- SHE LAUGHS, SCREAMS - Oh, it's a tiny one.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55All right. Thank you.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59The Australian weather was helping the Orretts experience
0:24:59 > 0:25:03the kind of outdoor lifestyle they could enjoy together, but it also
0:25:03 > 0:25:07brought home for them just how big a decision they still faced.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10We're here at the moment enjoying this wonderful lifestyle,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13and I'm really...I'm trying to put family in the UK to
0:25:13 > 0:25:14the back of my mind.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Particularly don't know how Stuart's going to deal with it
0:25:17 > 0:25:18with his parents.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23I'm very close to my parents and...they've always been
0:25:23 > 0:25:25there for me and I've always been there for them.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29To take that safety blanket away is going to be a big, big, you know,
0:25:29 > 0:25:31wrench for me particularly.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36So would the Orretts be hooked by the lifestyle
0:25:36 > 0:25:39they could enjoy down under?
0:25:40 > 0:25:42We've had a fantastic day fishing today,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46and based on the Australian lifestyle, we are voting for...
0:25:57 > 0:26:00- GILL, SAMANTHA AND LAUREN:- Australia! - STUART AND MATT:- Undecided!
0:26:00 > 0:26:02- Oh. Why? - SHE LAUGHS
0:26:02 > 0:26:06- Cos you didn't catch any fish.- Sore losers.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09SHE CHEERS
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Voting against the girls just because they caught less fish?
0:26:12 > 0:26:15That's what I call unsporting!
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Emigrating would mean the Orretts
0:26:21 > 0:26:24saying goodbye to loved ones in the UK.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27The family decided to watch messages from friends and family together.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Would it make them rethink their move?
0:26:30 > 0:26:32Hi, Stuart. Hi, Gill. Hi, kids.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36- Hope you're having a great time there.- Hi, Stu.- Hello, Stu.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37Hope you're enjoying yourself.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39- Hello!- Hello!
0:26:39 > 0:26:40- Yay!- We miss you.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44Gill and Stuart and the family, they're very supportive of each other
0:26:44 > 0:26:46and very caring towards each other.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51They're great fun to be with,
0:26:51 > 0:26:55they're committed 100% to whatever they're doing.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58And, well, Stuart, I'd say, is like his mother - he's soft.
0:26:59 > 0:27:04- It's true.- He takes everybody's worries on himself. You know?
0:27:04 > 0:27:07He's a good-hearted lad. Very good-hearted.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10She's been my best friend since I was four and stuff
0:27:10 > 0:27:15and it's going to be, like, a big part of my life, like, gone, yeah.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19- We really felt... - It wasn't going to be a holiday.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23..we'd better be prepared because we're going to be told they're going
0:27:23 > 0:27:26to want to go to Australia.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32To think they're all going so far away, it is pretty difficult.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36- We would really miss them, wouldn't we?- Yeah, we would.
0:27:36 > 0:27:41It's only when they're packing and they go,
0:27:41 > 0:27:44we'll sit down and we'll realise they've gone.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49And...and that's that initial link gone.
0:27:51 > 0:27:52Oh, come on.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02The reality check I'm seeing - friends and family -
0:28:02 > 0:28:08is...so hard to take on board, really,
0:28:08 > 0:28:13because you do tend to think that they're always going to be there.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16And as much as they're there, they're a long way away.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29We knew we'd have to make this choice between being
0:28:29 > 0:28:33there for our parents and being here for our kids and our grandchildren.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36- Yeah.- It's a tough one.
0:28:37 > 0:28:38A really tough one.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46The week had shown the Orretts the heartache of missing family back home
0:28:46 > 0:28:50had to weighed up against a huge positive.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54Seeing Olivia born and obviously just a few days old,
0:28:54 > 0:28:59how she changes every day is something that...can only, you know,
0:28:59 > 0:29:02make you beam inside with happiness
0:29:02 > 0:29:04and pleasure more than anything else.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08The thought of not seeing that is very daunting
0:29:08 > 0:29:11and not a thought I'd like to dwell on too much.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15I still do worry when we do get on that plane,
0:29:15 > 0:29:18if that's the decision we make, what are we leaving behind?
0:29:18 > 0:29:21Will they be able to make this journey out here to see us?
0:29:21 > 0:29:25Particularly Stuart's parents, who don't travel that well these days.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Hits home exactly how hard it is.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Being so close to them...
0:29:35 > 0:29:40I don't know. It's, um...it's going to be a very hard decision to make.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43There will always be the daily contact with them, no matter what.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50It's just for the emergency times it's going to be hard.
0:29:50 > 0:29:51So...
0:29:55 > 0:29:57It was time to vote.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Would everyone have been convinced to make the move,
0:30:00 > 0:30:03or would the Orretts remain divided across the globe?
0:30:08 > 0:30:10We've had a fantastic week in Australia,
0:30:10 > 0:30:14and based on our experiences, we have decided to live in...
0:30:28 > 0:30:31- STUART, MATT, GILL AND SAMANTHA: - Australia!- Undecided.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36- You're undecided, Lauren?- Have you decided Australia?- I've decided.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40- SAMANTHA:- Why did you say that? - Cos I don't know. Still unsure.
0:30:40 > 0:30:41I knew you'd be like that.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44Like, now being here and now, like, seeing back with my friends
0:30:44 > 0:30:47and everything, I'm just unsure.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50- That's- all right. How about you, Gill?
0:30:50 > 0:30:54Just got to give it a go for the kids. For our grandchildren.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57If we don't try it, we'll never know, will we?
0:30:57 > 0:31:00I think Lauren could probably be convinced about the move.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02I think it's just seeing your friends that's reminded
0:31:02 > 0:31:05you about what you have got in the UK.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08- Does make you a bit sad, doesn't it? - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13I just have to bring them all along. Put them in a suitcase.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17I think the decisions have obviously spoke volumes for the family's
0:31:17 > 0:31:19thoughts overall.
0:31:19 > 0:31:24Weighing up all the pros and cons of what we have to do and...I think
0:31:24 > 0:31:30we've got to make the decision, which we have done, and go for it.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32- HE LAUGHS - Yeah!- Yay!
0:31:36 > 0:31:39After a week of emotional highs and lows,
0:31:39 > 0:31:43daughter Lauren still hasn't been convinced about a move.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47But Gill and Stuart seem determined to reunite their family on the other
0:31:47 > 0:31:49side of the world.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51So, one year on, where are they now?
0:31:54 > 0:31:58It's 2013, and the Orretts are living in...
0:32:00 > 0:32:01..the UK.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03Their week down under convinced Stuart
0:32:03 > 0:32:06and Gill that Australia was where they wanted to be.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08It was good stepping off the plane in Perth.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11Felt as if we were stepping off the plane in Manchester.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14Although you couldn't believe you were the other side of the world.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17and not ever being there before, it was really...felt as
0:32:17 > 0:32:20if you were at home, really, the minute you arrived there.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23And being introduced to the couple's first granddaughter, Olivia,
0:32:23 > 0:32:26was a special moment for the whole family.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Meeting our granddaughter for the first time was absolutely perfect.
0:32:29 > 0:32:34To have that time with her when she was just born, seeing her just born,
0:32:34 > 0:32:36it was...it was really great.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38When they arrived back home, Gill
0:32:38 > 0:32:42and Stuart were desperate to return to Australia as soon as they could.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45We felt as if we really wanted to pack and go back again, didn't we?
0:32:45 > 0:32:48And it looked like that was going to happen quickly -
0:32:48 > 0:32:51paramedic Gill had a job interview at the end of the family's
0:32:51 > 0:32:56stay in Perth, and received great news on her return to the UK.
0:32:56 > 0:32:57When we arrived home,
0:32:57 > 0:33:01one of the first things I did was check my emails and I was quite
0:33:01 > 0:33:03excited because I'd passed the interview that I'd had
0:33:03 > 0:33:06while we were out there, and everything was set in order,
0:33:06 > 0:33:09and they said, "The next stage will be to start the visa process,"
0:33:09 > 0:33:13and it was pencilled in to actually start on the 3rd of February.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16In our own minds, we were all really quite excited to go over there
0:33:16 > 0:33:20and Christine and Karl were really looking forward to having us over there.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24Daughter Lauren had proved a sticking point.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28She voted undecided in Australia, and a new boyfriend meant getting
0:33:28 > 0:33:31her on board with a move could prove even more difficult.
0:33:31 > 0:33:35When I got home, me and my boyfriend got together, and unfortunately,
0:33:35 > 0:33:38he had to move out in September to America.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40And, like, we've been back and forth.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44Like, he's been back in England and we've been to see him.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46But despite her long-distance relationship,
0:33:46 > 0:33:49Lauren's had a change of heart about the move down under.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52I do want to go out to Australia for a couple of months.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Like, the first few weeks will feel like a holiday,
0:33:55 > 0:33:58and then, like, settle in a bit more,
0:33:58 > 0:34:01see what it would be like as, like, a lifestyle out there.
0:34:01 > 0:34:07I think Lauren is too much of a daddy's girl to not be with us.
0:34:07 > 0:34:12We're too much of a close family to be apart for too long.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14She may come for a year and then she may, you know,
0:34:14 > 0:34:18be off somewhere else, whether it be America or...
0:34:18 > 0:34:20But she'll always bounce back to wherever we are.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24With Lauren coming round and Gill's job offer in hand, everyone was
0:34:24 > 0:34:29excited about the prospect of being reunited as a family in Perth.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32The Orretts started packing up their life in the UK.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36So we did sort...started phoning a few removal companies and making
0:34:36 > 0:34:41a few plans and packing a few boxes and...started to declutter the house
0:34:41 > 0:34:43- a little bit, didn't we?- Uh, yes.
0:34:43 > 0:34:44Yes.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47Which we knew was going to take quite a while.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49And we did think, "Oh, gosh.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52"Maybe this is going to be a reality."
0:34:52 > 0:34:58Gill being her organised self started to pack and sell
0:34:58 > 0:35:02and declutter and move out, and basically,
0:35:02 > 0:35:04if it wasn't nailed down, it was sold.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08And it wasn't only Stuart that saw possessions disappear.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10My mum's been selling quite a lot of stuff.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14Like, I think I had a desk, and she sold that.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17So...I had to use, like, a plastic one.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20It looked like the whole family was on its way to a new
0:35:20 > 0:35:25life in Australia, but a devastating message from Gill's future employer
0:35:25 > 0:35:27brought everything to a grinding halt.
0:35:28 > 0:35:34Just before Christmas, I received an e-mail...a very apologetic e-mail that
0:35:34 > 0:35:38due to their workforce requirements, they were unable to give me
0:35:38 > 0:35:40a start date, but would be in touch in the future.
0:35:40 > 0:35:47Um..."in the future" in Western Australia, as we've learned,
0:35:47 > 0:35:53could mean anything from one month to 12 months and more.
0:35:53 > 0:35:54We were really flat.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57We've been looking forward to going for so long.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01You know, it's like looking forward to going on a fabulous holiday
0:36:01 > 0:36:04and then, you know, the plane breaks down and you can't go.
0:36:04 > 0:36:06And there was more bad news to come.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11My dad passed away at the beginning of the year.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17If Gill's start date hadn't been postponed,
0:36:17 > 0:36:20Stuart would have missed the chance to say goodbye to his dad.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23And when we looked at it,
0:36:23 > 0:36:26we would've been on the plane or had just arrived in Australia to
0:36:26 > 0:36:32start our new life when his father was in intensive care here,
0:36:32 > 0:36:37so...ironic as it was, in a way, we were glad we were still here.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40It was a double tragedy for the family.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44They'd come so close, but the loss of Stuart's father and Gill's job offer
0:36:44 > 0:36:47being put on hold blew their plans out of the water.
0:36:47 > 0:36:51You know, at the time, we wondered...how unfair...
0:36:51 > 0:36:56We felt as if we saw the new life within touching distance
0:36:56 > 0:36:57and then had the rug pulled under us.
0:36:57 > 0:37:02But then...when this happened, we were glad that we were here.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06Obviously, you know, we didn't know this was going to happen.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10And...time does catch up on everybody.
0:37:11 > 0:37:16You basically have to make your decisions, stick by them
0:37:16 > 0:37:17and live with them.
0:37:17 > 0:37:24With any decisions that we've made, either now or for the future, it is
0:37:24 > 0:37:27for the future that we have to think of.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32With the future in mind
0:37:32 > 0:37:35and the thought of missing granddaughter Olivia growing up, the
0:37:35 > 0:37:39Orretts are now more determined than ever to make the move down under.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41She's changing all the time.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44You know, we've noticed since we've come back from Australia
0:37:44 > 0:37:49and speaking to her on the internet, the way she's changed.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53And to miss those early days is something that we don't really want to miss.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55And we want to be part of her life.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57We want to be there when she grows up.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59We want her to understand who we are rather than just
0:37:59 > 0:38:01- the people on the television screen. - That's it.
0:38:01 > 0:38:02And it's not just Stuart
0:38:02 > 0:38:06and Gill who are keen to see more of the family's youngest member.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10I think since I have got back, with my niece being over there,
0:38:10 > 0:38:12how much she's grown and she's, like,
0:38:12 > 0:38:15being her own little personality now, that, like,
0:38:15 > 0:38:17it's...I'm missing out on that type thing.
0:38:17 > 0:38:22Kiss bye. Kiss. Kiss!
0:38:24 > 0:38:26- Oh, look - she's kissing bye. - SHE LAUGHS
0:38:26 > 0:38:27Mwah.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31But until Gill's offer of work comes through, the family have no choice
0:38:31 > 0:38:34but to stay put and play the waiting game.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38We feel as if...since my start date was deferred, we're in limbo.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40We're in complete limbo. We don't...
0:38:40 > 0:38:43We keep...we feel as if we can't book a holiday in case
0:38:43 > 0:38:44I get a phone call.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48We really do feel as if we're, like, teetering on the edge of a cliff,
0:38:48 > 0:38:51and we want to make that leap, and we can't at the moment.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55It's extremely frustrating for us, as I've decluttered the house
0:38:55 > 0:39:00and packed a few boxes and we have family and friends saying to us
0:39:00 > 0:39:02continually, "Are you still here?" Don't they?
0:39:02 > 0:39:04Cos they thought we were going.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07They might still be in the UK, but Gill
0:39:07 > 0:39:11and Stuart are convinced the move is the best thing for their family.
0:39:11 > 0:39:16We are making our decisions for our children as my parents
0:39:16 > 0:39:19and Gill's parents would've made for us.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22As a parent, you've got to make tough decisions sometimes,
0:39:22 > 0:39:24and this is one of them.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27And as it goes forward, we will see
0:39:27 > 0:39:30whether it was the right or wrong decision, but we'll do it.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34We'll suck it and see and...live with the consequences.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37While daughter Samantha's still working on cruise ships,
0:39:37 > 0:39:41she'll be able to catch up with her family from time to time.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43It doesn't matter where we are - she'll be quite happy.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46She travels the world now on a regular basis,
0:39:46 > 0:39:49so...being in Australia or being in the UK...
0:39:49 > 0:39:52The only nice thing is she won't see as much rain, and she doesn't like the rain.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54She doesn't like coming home to the rain or the snow,
0:39:54 > 0:39:56so...she's definitely a warm person.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00And as for Matthew, the move can't come fast enough.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04It really is frustrating not knowing when you're going to Australia, cos I just want to get out there.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07People are asking me when I'm going and blah-blah-blah.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09It just starts to get annoying after a while.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11So I just want to get out there and go.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13Matthew, like the rest of the family,
0:40:13 > 0:40:18is just waiting on that crucial call confirming Jill's job is back on.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21He comes in every day from school, "Have you heard? Have you heard yet?"
0:40:21 > 0:40:24And...I just keep saying, "Trust me, you'll know when I heard.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27"I'll be the one walking round with the billabong on me hat."
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Um...and it is very frustrating.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35So the Orretts are ploughing ahead with their plans to move lock,
0:40:35 > 0:40:38stock and barrel to the other side of the world.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42Stuart's already sold a good chunk of his business.
0:40:42 > 0:40:46- So he's, um...scaled that down. - It's ready.
0:40:46 > 0:40:51I mean, we are in the situation that if we get a phone call,
0:40:51 > 0:40:53we are ready to move very, very quickly.
0:40:53 > 0:40:59Should we get the call, we'll have a last-minute party and off we go.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03And Stuart's excited about his job prospects down under.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05Stuart can't wait to get out there.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08I mean, he's...you know, for the first time in 20 years,
0:41:08 > 0:41:11he saw options that he hasn't seen in the UK.
0:41:11 > 0:41:16He hasn't felt as if there has been any options as to working the way
0:41:16 > 0:41:18he works, being self-employed here.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22And it gave him a tremendous confidence boost
0:41:22 > 0:41:26when he spoke to corporate catering companies, because they welcomed him
0:41:26 > 0:41:30with open arms and they would welcome his experience.
0:41:30 > 0:41:34Job prospects out there, there seem to be an abundance, a variety.
0:41:34 > 0:41:35And that's really nice to do,
0:41:35 > 0:41:39because I know obviously being in the catering environment
0:41:39 > 0:41:42for the past 20-odd years, a change can be as good as a rest.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46And, uh...I enjoy a little challenge and that sort of thing,
0:41:46 > 0:41:49so maybe we'll diversify and see where we can end up.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55The Orretts hope to be reunited in Perth sooner rather than later.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57I mean, we hope to be out there
0:41:57 > 0:42:02within the next sort of six or seven months.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05Secretly, we'd like to be out there in the next three or four months,
0:42:05 > 0:42:07but because we've had this disappointment,
0:42:07 > 0:42:10we're not getting our hopes up.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12But we're ready to go whenever they want us.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14We won't really as feel as if we're going to be moving out
0:42:14 > 0:42:18there until we're sat in Manchester Airport waiting for the plane
0:42:18 > 0:42:21because it's been such a long road.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24You know, anybody who's thinking of emigrating to Australia,
0:42:24 > 0:42:29it's not going to happen in five minutes. It does take a long time.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32Hopefully the long wait will be worth it.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35I personally don't question whether we made the right decision.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39The decisions were made on the positive points for the children.
0:42:40 > 0:42:45They can have their future there, and their future certainly seems
0:42:45 > 0:42:49a lot brighter out there than it is in the UK at the moment.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52And...just very exciting to go out there
0:42:52 > 0:42:58and hopefully live the life in the sunshine and enjoy it to the full.
0:42:58 > 0:43:02- I think we'll be doing an awful lot of- baby-sitting. Will you?
0:43:02 > 0:43:03THEY LAUGH
0:43:07 > 0:43:09After everything the Orretts have been through,
0:43:09 > 0:43:14they remain determined to be reunited as a family in Australia.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17We'll keep our finger crossed that Gill's job offer finally comes
0:43:17 > 0:43:21through and that their dream becomes a reality.