0:00:03 > 0:00:06Convincing your partner to give up a life they love
0:00:06 > 0:00:11for a new start on the other side of the world is never going to be easy.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14And if your dream was based on a distant memory,
0:00:14 > 0:00:16would you risk your whole future on it?
0:00:16 > 0:00:20In 2011, the Afanasiev family spent a week in Sydney
0:00:20 > 0:00:24to see if Australia could offer them a better life.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Today, we'll find out where they are now.
0:00:29 > 0:00:35Tosh Afanasiev was desperate to return to the country he'd fallen in love with ten years ago.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38I almost felt my business with Australia wasn't finished yet.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41But his dream appeared out of reach.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45It makes me a little bit nervous to think whether we can afford to live here at all.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48And leaving family behind seemed unbearable.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53Ike and Reuben know I would miss them more than I could ever say.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56So, two years on, have the Afanasievs
0:00:56 > 0:00:58made a new life for themselves down under?
0:00:58 > 0:01:03Hopefully, we'll think, yeah, we made a really, really good decision.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Thanks to its 50,000 kilometres of coastline and sunny climate,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31life in Australia has long been a favourite destination
0:01:31 > 0:01:34for Brits dreaming of a new life abroad.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37But it doesn't work for everyone,
0:01:37 > 0:01:39and around 10,000 return home each year
0:01:39 > 0:01:42with their dreams in ruins.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46In 2011, the Afanasievs spent seven days
0:01:46 > 0:01:50experiencing the reality of living in Australia.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54At the end of it, they faced a life-changing decision -
0:01:54 > 0:01:57whether their future lay in the UK or Australia.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Two years on, we'll catch up with the family
0:02:00 > 0:02:03to find out what happened next.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09Back in 2011, Louise and Tosh Afanasiev were living
0:02:09 > 0:02:13in a three-bedroom semi just outside Newcastle with their two boys,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17Reuben, who was four then, and Ike, who was two.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Tosh and Louise had both enjoyed the single life in Australia
0:02:22 > 0:02:25in their early twenties.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29I lived in Melbourne for a couple of years when I was younger - ten years ago.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33I was there in the early '90s when I was 20.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35But life was very different for me then.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38I was single. I worked as a baker, so I worked through the night.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42I had a really great time. I went with a friend who is Australian.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44She was from Sydney.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48What I saw was the potential for a really fantastic lifestyle.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50When I left, I didn't feel,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53"Oh, I could live here and I can't wait to go back."
0:02:53 > 0:02:55I didn't feel that.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59I almost felt, coming away, my business with Australia wasn't finished yet.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03Several years later, they were happily married with a young family,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05a lovely home and stable jobs.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07But for at least one of them,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10the idea of life down under was still very much alive.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14The kids came into our lives and I suddenly wanted to share
0:03:14 > 0:03:17what I feel about that place with them
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and I wanted to show them a different life.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Tosh knew Louise didn't share his dream
0:03:23 > 0:03:26and would need convincing it was the right move.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Louise has got very mixed feelings about the move.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33It's not an outright no. If it was, there wouldn't be a discussion.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36It all comes down to whether she wants to give up
0:03:36 > 0:03:41what we've got here in order to achieve a how much better life?
0:03:41 > 0:03:45For Louise, it wouldn't be a straightforward decision.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48They'd be risking everything they'd worked hard to achieve.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53If we move there, we're leaving behind family and friends.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56We're taking Reuben out of a fantastic school
0:03:56 > 0:03:59and a lovely house in a lovely neighbourhood.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Tosh has got a fantastic job as well.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05It's leaving that behind, I think. That is the big thing.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08And it wouldn't just be a lifestyle they'd be leaving behind.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11A move would also mean saying a heartbreaking goodbye
0:04:11 > 0:04:13to Louise's parents.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17We live ten minutes from my parents who help us a great deal
0:04:17 > 0:04:20with the children and childcare, even if it's just for an hour
0:04:20 > 0:04:23or picking up from school and dropping off.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26It's a big, big part of this decision.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30I feel that it's probably the deciding factor, really,
0:04:30 > 0:04:32when it comes down to it.
0:04:33 > 0:04:34Yeah.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Basically, leaving them behind would be very, very hard.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45If we decide to go.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55For their trial week down under, the family travel to Sydney.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58They've visited Australia before
0:04:58 > 0:05:00but this was unlike any of their previous trips.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Landing in the early hours
0:05:02 > 0:05:05brought home just how far they've come.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08The trip over was quite long.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Considering how far it was, it wasn't bad, was it?
0:05:11 > 0:05:14It was a lot better than I thought it was going to be.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- We were really good.- You were.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19It was a short journey to their rental property,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21but a long way from home in Newcastle.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24The Afanasievs stayed in the beach town of Avalon,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26north of central Sydney.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28By the time they reached their base,
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- they were eager to see what Australia had to offer.- Wow!
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Wow!
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- Oh, wow.- Look at this! - This is beautiful.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41This three-bedroom house was right next to the beach
0:05:41 > 0:05:43with views to die for.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47- It's amazing.- Brilliant. - Do they have squatters' rights here?
0:05:48 > 0:05:51But Louise was already having doubts
0:05:51 > 0:05:54about whether they could afford a move.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57I've got very mixed emotions about the week ahead
0:05:57 > 0:05:59because you hear so many conflicting things
0:05:59 > 0:06:02about how it's so expensive here now
0:06:02 > 0:06:06and, you know, it's not what it was five years ago.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08It's not so black and white.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17Back in the UK, the Afanasievs lived in a three-bedroom semi
0:06:17 > 0:06:21just outside Newcastle which they bought in 2010.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23But they weren't short of a few ideas
0:06:23 > 0:06:25when it came to their dream home in Australia.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29My ideal house would be very open-plan.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31We'd have a minimum of three bedrooms.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34- Indoor-outdoor area. - The usual cliches.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36A nice pool.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37Not much, really.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42What we don't want to do is take a step back from where we are now.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46It's got to be as good as or better than what we have already.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49The family had a budget of around £300,000.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52However, at the time, house prices in Sydney
0:06:52 > 0:06:54were averaging nearly £400,000 -
0:06:54 > 0:06:58double the price Tosh and Louise had seen ten years earlier.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Would they be able to afford their dream home?
0:07:02 > 0:07:05To give them a taste of Sydney's housing market,
0:07:05 > 0:07:07they viewed three different properties
0:07:07 > 0:07:10based around their budget and what they wanted from a home.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Only after they'd seen each one
0:07:13 > 0:07:16would we reveal to Louise and Tosh just how much they cost.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22The first house was close to their rental property in Avalon, but on the high street.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Set right amongst the shops and cafes
0:07:24 > 0:07:28and with popular beaches nearby, it could have offered Tosh and Louise
0:07:28 > 0:07:30the cosmopolitan lifestyle they were after.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33The two-bedroom flat would also provide a clue
0:07:33 > 0:07:36as to how expensive Sydney can be.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41A flat generally means one thing - stairs.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Was it worth the effort?
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Come on, in we go.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51Oh, look, there's a bathroom. It's nice and bright, isn't it?
0:07:52 > 0:07:55- Shall we have a look? It's quite small.- It is.
0:07:55 > 0:07:56BIRD SQUAWKS
0:07:56 > 0:07:59It's nice. Good-sized balcony.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03- I like the fact that it's got the open top.- Yeah, I really like that.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06- Downstairs would be quite enclosed. - You get loads of light.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09I love the view. I really do.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12When we can't afford to eat out, we can watch other people doing it.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16It was time to check out the bedrooms.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20- This is nice.- Yeah, but, you know, there is the thing that
0:08:20 > 0:08:24it's only got two bedrooms, which is fine for us,
0:08:24 > 0:08:27but we are expecting my parents to come and visit.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- We would need...- It wouldn't be a permanent place, really.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34But it would be a landing pad just to get settled.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37It's one of those things. We need to see how much this goes for.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39It might be, this is it for us,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42and if that is the case, that's part of the decision.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46With just two bedrooms and no garden for the children,
0:08:46 > 0:08:51Louise and Tosh saw the flat as a stepping stone to something bigger.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55But was the price within their £300,000 budget?
0:08:55 > 0:08:58It's not what I...
0:08:58 > 0:09:01envisage us living in in Australia.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05I understand what you're saying about it being a landing pad and stuff
0:09:05 > 0:09:08but I don't also want to be moving around all the time.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Wow! £400,000.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Hmm. Yes, that's quite...
0:09:15 > 0:09:17That's a lot.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20This flat was well over their £300,000 budget
0:09:20 > 0:09:24and it wasn't even somewhere they would want to buy.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Already Louise was having grave doubts.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30From the size of this and everything, I know it's a central location,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32but it makes me a bit nervous to think that
0:09:32 > 0:09:35that's what we're starting off on
0:09:35 > 0:09:39and whether we can afford to live here at all.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44The second property was in the neighbourhood of Bilgola -
0:09:44 > 0:09:47a quiet, leafy area, with beaches and parks nearby,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50it could have been just right for a young family.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52And as Tosh quickly spotted,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55the couple would get more house for their money.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58It looks like it's got amazing potential.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00It looks quite big, actually.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03I love the established trees and stuff. That's really good.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07The three-bedroom house needed some work, but that didn't put them off.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Wow, look at this entrance.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13- This could be amazing. - This could be really cool.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16I love this whole glass thing.
0:10:16 > 0:10:17Wow.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Louise and Tosh could see some potential
0:10:20 > 0:10:22and the views got them excited as well.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27- Look at the view out there. That's amazing.- It's priceless. - The balcony's huge.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30You can see the boats from up here.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33However, Louise had one big problem.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Considering there's so much glass and window, I find it quite dark.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41I know what you're saying, but I think, on a really hot day,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44to have all this glass, if you couldn't sit anywhere without the sun
0:10:44 > 0:10:48streaming in, it might be oppressive, so you'd probably be quite grateful.
0:10:48 > 0:10:49It was a good point.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Unfortunately, the bedrooms didn't help sell this property either.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55It's quite damp as well, I think.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Yeah. It smells a bit...
0:10:57 > 0:11:01- And that balcony seems to have... - Eroded.- ..rotted away.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03It would cost a fortune to put it right.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07The house was large and spacious but it needed a lot of work.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Did that mean it was affordable
0:11:09 > 0:11:12or was the flat all they could get for their budget?
0:11:12 > 0:11:15It was time to uncover the price.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- Shall we look?- Go on, then.
0:11:19 > 0:11:27Hmm. £450,000.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Add on the £100,000 for the renovation, so say £550,000.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33But then, obviously, they might take offers.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37They might, because of the state of it, they might be keen to shift it.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41So you could end up paying £450,000 for it and then it would be...
0:11:41 > 0:11:45- Then it's looking different.- Yeah. - Especially when you compare it to £400,000 for the flat.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48- Then it's a different story. - You get a lot of house.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Even if they could get £100,000 knocked off the price,
0:11:51 > 0:11:56it was still over their budget of £300,000.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Were Tosh and Louise being unrealistic
0:11:58 > 0:12:00about what they could afford?
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Would the third property make things clearer?
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Like the first, it was in Avalon,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10but in a quieter, more residential area.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Architect-designed, with three bedrooms, gardens and a pool,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17was this the dream house Louise is after?
0:12:17 > 0:12:20I like it. Wow! This is nice, isn't it?
0:12:20 > 0:12:23This is kind of what you think about, isn't it?
0:12:23 > 0:12:27- This kind of open-plan thing.- Loads of light. It's lovely and open.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31- You couldn't get a better location. - First impression, yeah, very nice.
0:12:31 > 0:12:32Very nice.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35There seemed to be few faults with this house.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38- They're quite small, but then... - They're not massive...
0:12:38 > 0:12:43but I suppose the emphasis is not on sitting in your room.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45This is good, isn't it?
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Oh, yeah, look at that.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- That's really good. That's really handy, actually.- Yeah.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53- So you can have two or one. - Very good.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56With Louise prepared to overlook the smallish bedrooms,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59all that was left was the back garden.
0:12:59 > 0:13:00Look at that!
0:13:00 > 0:13:03This is more us, it's more family.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06It's got your outside area, both front and back, hasn't it?
0:13:06 > 0:13:11Practically, for what we need now, this ticks all the boxes.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13It's lovely. I love it.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17I'm scared to know how much it's going to be.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20It's probably going to be way out of our reach.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22It's too perfect, isn't it?
0:13:22 > 0:13:25This house had both Louise and Tosh excited
0:13:25 > 0:13:27but they still didn't know the price.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30It has everything they wanted from Australian living
0:13:30 > 0:13:32but was it out of their reach?
0:13:32 > 0:13:35- It was time to find out. - This is going to be a jump
0:13:35 > 0:13:38from the last one because the last one had a lot of work to be done.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42This is going to be, I reckon, a big jump from that. Let's find out.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45- Mmm!- For what you get... - We'll buy it!
0:13:45 > 0:13:48For what you get, I mean, that, really...
0:13:48 > 0:13:51I thought it was going to be a lot more.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53That's... that's...
0:13:53 > 0:13:56That's very reasonable. With the pool and...
0:13:58 > 0:14:03It was a good price, but nearly £200,000 over their budget.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Were Tosh and Louise letting their excitement
0:14:06 > 0:14:10overshadow the reality of what they could afford?
0:14:12 > 0:14:15The first property was something Tosh and Louise
0:14:15 > 0:14:18would only have considered renting for a short time.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23The second property was too dark and needed too much work.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25The last house was everything they'd hoped for
0:14:25 > 0:14:29but was the most expensive and well above their budget.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32So what was their verdict on property?
0:14:32 > 0:14:36Could they see themselves giving up their house in Newcastle for an Aussie home?
0:14:36 > 0:14:38OK, we've seen our three properties today.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41It's been really interesting and I think it's time to vote.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47ALL: Australia!
0:14:47 > 0:14:49- AUSTRALIAN ACCENT:- Australia!
0:14:49 > 0:14:52It was a great start for Tosh. He was one step closer
0:14:52 > 0:14:56to persuading Louise that Australia could be for them.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Everything would ride on the next few days.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Could Tosh earn enough to make Australia a reality
0:15:02 > 0:15:05or would the move remain a pipe dream?
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Back in the UK, Tosh worked as a computer software developer,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19earning around £40,000 a year.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22We've arranged for him to spend a day with a software design company
0:15:22 > 0:15:24in the centre of Sydney.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28Tosh was well aware the entire move was riding on what he'd find out.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Finding the right job is key for this move.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Back home we've got a good life, a lovely house, I've got a good job,
0:15:35 > 0:15:40so we'd have to see quite a big improvement, erm, by moving here.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Louise worked part-time in a shop
0:15:42 > 0:15:45but planned to be a stay-at-home mum in Australia
0:15:45 > 0:15:47until the children settled.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50She wanted to know if schools down under were as good as those back home.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53With Ike in the care of a childminder,
0:15:53 > 0:15:57she and Reuben went off to check out a local kindergarten, or kindy.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00In you go. In you go. Come on.
0:16:00 > 0:16:05- Hi.- Hello.- This is Reuben. I'm Louise. Nice to meet you.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07- Reuben, is it?- Yeah. - Hello. You can come in
0:16:07 > 0:16:10and have a little look around with the kids if you like.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14- So how many children do you have? - We have 29 a day.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17- Are they here all day? - Yep, from 9.00am until 3.00pm.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Being able to get Reuben and Ike into a decent school
0:16:20 > 0:16:23would be crucial if the move was to become a reality.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27- What are the fees?- 42 a day.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30If you're coming for the three days, it's per day.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33- And is there a waiting list? - There sure is.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35It's quite a high demand at the moment.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37That would be my issue.
0:16:37 > 0:16:43If we suddenly arrived, then we'd kind of have to put his name down
0:16:43 > 0:16:46prior to us coming, wouldn't we?
0:16:46 > 0:16:49Just calling and getting their name and saying, "We're going to
0:16:49 > 0:16:52"be there June. Can we come in and see you? Will there be a spot?"
0:16:52 > 0:16:55It seemed getting into a good school
0:16:55 > 0:16:57could be just as hard as in the UK.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01And the prospect of paying fees for schooling until the boys were six
0:17:01 > 0:17:04would put even more pressure on their finances.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06While Louise carried on with her fact-finding,
0:17:06 > 0:17:11Tosh had arrived in the city and met with company director Michael Lam.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- Hi, Tosh. Nice to meet you. Welcome. Welcome to Sydney.- Thank you.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18The company developed a wide range of software so it should be a great
0:17:18 > 0:17:21chance for Tosh to find out about the possibility of work in Sydney.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Could you see someone like me fitting into this company
0:17:24 > 0:17:26and being a part of it?
0:17:26 > 0:17:28Yeah, I think so.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33I mean, your experience in the Australian marketplace would fit,
0:17:33 > 0:17:36whether it's with our company or somewhere else.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Your experience would be probably relevant
0:17:39 > 0:17:41to some of the big companies like the banks.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44The banks are looking for a lot of...
0:17:44 > 0:17:47staff in the development database
0:17:47 > 0:17:51and they've got fairly large IT projects
0:17:51 > 0:17:53so employability shouldn't be an issue
0:17:53 > 0:17:56- if you were to come down to Australia.- Brilliant.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58That's good to hear.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03That was promising news. Next up was the most important question.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06So, with my skills and experience,
0:18:06 > 0:18:10is there a sort of band you could give me
0:18:10 > 0:18:13for working in Sydney, how much I could expect to earn?
0:18:13 > 0:18:15I think, looking at your CV,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18I'd say probably...
0:18:18 > 0:18:2280,000 to 90,000 annual salary.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26- Brilliant.- And depending on the type of project,
0:18:26 > 0:18:30- it could be slightly more with bonuses et cetera.- Fantastic.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32More good news. At nearly £60,000,
0:18:32 > 0:18:36that was £20,000 more than Tosh was earning in the UK.
0:18:37 > 0:18:42So how did Tosh vote on work in Australia versus his job back home?
0:18:42 > 0:18:47I've met an employer today. I've had a little insight into how they work here in Australia
0:18:47 > 0:18:49in my industry and now it's time to vote.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Australia!
0:18:55 > 0:18:58It seems to me that I could earn quite well here.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00In terms of actually seeing how far it will take us
0:19:00 > 0:19:03with the cost of living, we've yet to look at that.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Whether it's going to support us in a way that we would like to live
0:19:07 > 0:19:10and whether that will mean the improvement on our lifestyle in the UK
0:19:10 > 0:19:15that we would need to come over here, we've still got to work out.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19Tosh and Louise met up later and were keen to hear each other's news.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22- Hiya. How did it go?- Really good.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28- How was kindy?- The kindy was great. It's lovely. Rueben loved it.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31He was just interacting with everybody.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Yeah, it was really nice. Really nice.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- Brilliant. I'm glad.- How did work go?- Work was really good.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40He was impressed with the CV. He said I had the right balance of skills.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44I also asked him, in Sydney, what kind of salary I could expect
0:19:44 > 0:19:47and he said that with my skills and experience,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50I'd be looking at between 80,000 and 90,000 a year to start.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53- Brilliant.- It's what we found when looking around.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57- So that was really encouraging. - Excellent. Yeah, that is good.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00So we might be able to afford that house after all.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02Maybe!
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Tosh's earning potential was promising
0:20:08 > 0:20:12but the family needed to be sure the finances of a move would work.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15We sent round two estate agents to give us their opinion
0:20:15 > 0:20:18on what their home in Newcastle could fetch.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22They'd bought it in 2010 for £159,000
0:20:22 > 0:20:25and had spent time modernising it.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27It looks like it's been refurbished recently.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31There's a new oven and hob. It's a good-sized space.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Third bedroom. Ike's room.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Perfectly chaotic. Ideal for a little boy.
0:20:36 > 0:20:41Nice, large, open-plan dining room and lounge. Really nice.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- Really nice.- Too right.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Great size second bedroom and a very lucky boy with all these toys.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53A really pleasant three-bedroomed semi.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56I'd be looking to put the property on the market at £189,950.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00If they're looking for a quicker sale, probably closer to £175,000.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Wow, that's...
0:21:03 > 0:21:05It's a fantastic little family home.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08If I was to market the house, I'd market it at £185,000
0:21:08 > 0:21:11and for a quick sale £179,950.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13BOTH: Wow!
0:21:13 > 0:21:15- It's not bad, is it?- Yeah!
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- I want to live in England. - SOBS
0:21:18 > 0:21:22- Oh, sweetheart. - I want to live in England.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- We do.- We do.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- You miss your house?- Yeah!
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Oh, Reuben!
0:21:29 > 0:21:34It's all right. We're going back there next week, aren't we?
0:21:34 > 0:21:36We're going back there.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41Do you just get a bit homesick, seeing your house on TV?
0:21:41 > 0:21:42Yeah.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Don't worry, Reuben.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Reuben was upset by seeing his house and toys,
0:21:48 > 0:21:52but Mum and Dad were more than happy with those valuations.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56Next they had to see how far their money would go.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00We prepared a breakdown of their living costs in Australia compared
0:22:00 > 0:22:03to the UK to see if emigrating could really be possible.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Oh! So that was the flat.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11We pretty much, erm, weren't that...
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Monthly repayments.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15We couldn't make that payment.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19We'd be paying 3,730.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23That is what I earn at the moment a month
0:22:23 > 0:22:25- in the UK after tax.- Yeah.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28So we couldn't do that. And that's the cheapest of the three
0:22:28 > 0:22:31even though it's not the one we'd really go for.
0:22:31 > 0:22:32It wasn't looking good.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36On their current income, the move would be a non-starter.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39How do things add up based on Tosh's Aussie salary?
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Right...
0:22:41 > 0:22:43x 12.
0:22:44 > 0:22:4540.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52So that means we are £3,712
0:22:52 > 0:22:55worse off a year, here.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59So the question is...
0:22:59 > 0:23:04But that's with the massive £3,735 mortgage.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08- That's not what we'd be jumping into so...- It is very doable.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10I think it's doable.
0:23:10 > 0:23:15It's not a case of sell your house and move into a mansion
0:23:15 > 0:23:18but it is a case of sell your house where we live
0:23:18 > 0:23:20and move into a house here.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23It's more positive than I thought it was going to be.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27I'm really quite encouraged. I was expecting a much more grim picture.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30The Afanasievs thought they could make the move but only if they
0:23:30 > 0:23:33bought a house much smaller than the one they'd fallen for.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Did that mean their plans were over
0:23:35 > 0:23:38or would they consider giving up their dream home?
0:23:38 > 0:23:39We've done the reality check.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43We've found some interesting facts and figures. Now it's time to vote.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50- Australia.- Australia!
0:23:51 > 0:23:54- Brilliant. - We'll be a little bit worse off
0:23:54 > 0:23:57but not as worse off as I thought and I think what you get
0:23:57 > 0:24:02in surroundings and environment makes up for that loss of money.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05The things you have to buy are more expensive
0:24:05 > 0:24:08- and the things you get for free are just much better, I think.- Yeah.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Louise and Tosh had both spent time in Australia,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19but that was before they met or had Reuben and Ike.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22So as parents, they were keen to see what Oz could offer
0:24:22 > 0:24:25in terms of a family day out.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29As Reuben loved animals, they headed off to the world-famous Taronga Zoo.
0:24:31 > 0:24:32That is a kangaroo.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36Her name is Khobar, and she is a Western Grey kangaroo.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Ah, look, she's giving him a cuddle.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43Khobar seem to be doing a great job selling Australia to the boys,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46and there were plenty of other cute animals to keep them happy.
0:24:49 > 0:24:54- I've got here very a special animal. What is it?- Koala bear!- A koala.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Are you ready? Here we go.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01I can...
0:25:01 > 0:25:03Isn't she lovely?
0:25:03 > 0:25:06TOSH: Her claws are really impressive, aren't they?
0:25:06 > 0:25:10- You're pretty lucky.- Definitely. Not many people get to do this.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17After the zoo, the family spend time together on a nearby beach.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19It had been an enjoyable day out.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23But how would they vote on the lifestyle down under?
0:25:23 > 0:25:25We've been to the zoo today, for our family activity.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27So now it's time to vote.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33TOSH AND LOUISE: Australia!
0:25:35 > 0:25:38- Australia again? - I'm just trying to keep you happy.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42No, yeah, we had great morning. The zoo was amazing.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45- There's definitely more for families, I think.- Yeah.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Another vote for Australia was another step towards Tosh's dream.
0:25:49 > 0:25:54But for Louise, the day had reminded her of her family back home.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57I haven't forgotten about not having my parents here, which...
0:25:59 > 0:26:03..you know, is...and still is the issue for me.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Now it's the only issue,
0:26:05 > 0:26:09whereas before, it was the big issue, plus there were other things.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11But now that's the only thing.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18For Louise, leaving loved ones behind in the UK
0:26:18 > 0:26:22was always going to be the toughest obstacle to moving.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26When I do stop to think about it, I do get quite upset.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33Especially now, knowing a little bit more
0:26:33 > 0:26:36about how I feel about Australia, it's even more upsetting.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40We haven't even got the DVD on yet and I'm welling up!
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Watching messages from home would be emotional,
0:26:44 > 0:26:48but Tosh and Louise chose to watch the DVD with their children.
0:26:48 > 0:26:54Hello, Louise, Tosh and the boys, Ike and Reuben.
0:26:54 > 0:27:00Lou's my soulmate, actually. We go back to school days.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04- I'll miss her terribly. - She's just a lovely daughter.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06We do have our moments,
0:27:06 > 0:27:10but we get on better now than when she was in her teens.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Well, you know, one part of your heart drops,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16the other one thinks, "Well, they know what they're doing."
0:27:16 > 0:27:20Even Newcastle feels like the other end of the world.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23It is going to be quite upsetting, thinking that, actually,
0:27:23 > 0:27:27to go and see Tosh and Lou is going to be quite a big haul
0:27:27 > 0:27:28to get the five of us out there.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31I know you're in Australia now and you're trying to decide
0:27:31 > 0:27:34whether to stay or not or whether to go, but the last thing
0:27:34 > 0:27:37I want is you to worry about what's going to happen to us.
0:27:37 > 0:27:42I would prefer you to think about your life.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44We have had our life.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47And if you're happy and you think it's going to be a better life
0:27:47 > 0:27:49for the boys, you've got our blessing.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52And we hope that you'll really enjoy it.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56We wouldn't stand in your way, you know that.
0:27:56 > 0:28:01We would miss you, but if you want to go, you go. It's your life.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03And we want you to do well.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07I'm behind you, absolutely behind you.
0:28:07 > 0:28:12But I have to say that I'll miss you guys so much.
0:28:12 > 0:28:17Don't worry about me. Just do whatever you want to do.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Follow your instincts, as you always have.
0:28:20 > 0:28:25And you've pretty well always been right. So carry on.
0:28:25 > 0:28:30Ike and Reuben know I would miss them more than I could ever say.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34But they know I'm always here.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41I don't want them not to decide to go because of me.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45I would like you to make your mind up what you want to do.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49And know that Grandma's here for you always.
0:28:52 > 0:28:53Ah...
0:28:57 > 0:29:00Taking them away from their grandparents is probably...
0:29:00 > 0:29:03is the biggest thing. That's kind of...
0:29:03 > 0:29:07I've sort of thought about a lot recently.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10It's their world, you know, the boys are their world, and they see them all the time.
0:29:10 > 0:29:17I think, am I being selfish taking them away when, you know...?
0:29:19 > 0:29:22Maybe I am, I don't know. Maybe... You know.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30I think, erm... Yeah, I mean, what I wouldn't want to do
0:29:30 > 0:29:37is push Louise into a decision that was too painful, you know, to make.
0:29:37 > 0:29:42I can have perfectly understand why someone might see
0:29:42 > 0:29:45that living somewhere else would be better for them
0:29:45 > 0:29:49but still decide not to because of not wanting to leave people who are close to them.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51I can understand that happening.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00It was an emotional end to their week,
0:30:00 > 0:30:03and Tosh and Louise had plenty to think about.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06Louise has always had more doubts than me about coming here.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10Her reaction to seeing friends and family back home, er,
0:30:10 > 0:30:12it wasn't a surprise at all.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15It made me feel really emotional.
0:30:15 > 0:30:20And it was my reality check, because that's always been the big thing that, you know,
0:30:20 > 0:30:25that's made me very sort of against the decision.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28Whether watching those messages will actually pull her back the other way,
0:30:28 > 0:30:33I don't know. And if that's the case, then that's the case. I wouldn't want to force that.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37If that's the case, I wouldn't want to force it anyway, because we wouldn't be happy here then.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41When it comes to the final vote with Louise, I don't know. Who knows?
0:30:41 > 0:30:43So did they choose a future in Australia?
0:30:43 > 0:30:48Or had the heartache of seeing loved ones made leaving the UK unthinkable?
0:30:51 > 0:30:54We've come to the end of a fantastic week here in Australia.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57We've seem some fantastic houses, some great sights,
0:30:57 > 0:30:58some great beaches.
0:30:58 > 0:31:02We've had a great time. And now it's time for the final vote.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11LOUISE AND TOSH: Australia!
0:31:11 > 0:31:15- You voted for it as well?!- Fantastic!
0:31:15 > 0:31:18Why did you vote Australia?
0:31:18 > 0:31:20Cos it's hotter than the UK.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22Cos it's hotter, OK!
0:31:22 > 0:31:25Overall, I just think the feel...
0:31:25 > 0:31:28it feels like a better place for us to live.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32I think it's more geared for the way we want to live.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35- And I think we could have a better life here.- Yeah. I agree.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37It's been a real surprise.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40On the plane here, I didn't think that I'd be voting...now...
0:31:40 > 0:31:42that I'd be voting Australia.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46I thought I would be voting the UK.
0:31:46 > 0:31:51I thought you might do a bit of a... middle-of-the-road thing.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55- No, I'm so far the other way. - Brilliant! Brilliant!
0:31:55 > 0:31:58- I don't do anything by halves. - No, no. It's true.- Ever.
0:32:04 > 0:32:09After facing up to the emotional and financial costs, it looked like
0:32:09 > 0:32:14Louise had been won over by Tosh's dream of a new life down under.
0:32:14 > 0:32:19So two years after their trial week in Sydney, where do the Afanasievs call home now?
0:32:21 > 0:32:24It's 2013, and the Afanasievs are living in...
0:32:24 > 0:32:27you've guessed it - Australia!
0:32:30 > 0:32:35When we caught up with them, they'd been in the country for just over six months
0:32:35 > 0:32:37and had friends round for a barbecue.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41But when they returned from their trial week two years previously,
0:32:41 > 0:32:43there was some uncertainty
0:32:43 > 0:32:46whether they'd actually go ahead with the move.
0:32:46 > 0:32:51After we did our trip to Australia in 2011, we went back to the UK.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55And it was a really interesting time, actually,
0:32:55 > 0:32:58because there was a lot of reflection, and us thinking about
0:32:58 > 0:33:04- what we'd seen, and I think Lou went through a few swings, didn't you?- Yeah.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08There were times when Lou was very much, "No, we've got to do it."
0:33:08 > 0:33:12And there were times where she was more like, "Oh, I'm not sure now."
0:33:12 > 0:33:14Yeah, I sort of wavered a bit.
0:33:14 > 0:33:19For all I knew that eventually we would come,
0:33:19 > 0:33:25and I knew that we all wanted to do it, I did keep wavering,
0:33:25 > 0:33:29because, obviously, we have quite a good network of friends over there.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32The more we were sort of settling into that sort of lifestyle
0:33:32 > 0:33:37and that routine of the boys being at school and nursery,
0:33:37 > 0:33:41and then you got offered the job pretty quickly, didn't you?
0:33:41 > 0:33:46Yeah, I got offered a job with sponsorship that would bring us over quickly.
0:33:46 > 0:33:51Tosh was offered a role with a software consultancy in Perth, Western Australia.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54Emigrating had suddenly become very real.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57But the idea didn't go well with everyone in the family.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01I remember telling the boys that I'd been offered a job in Australia,
0:34:01 > 0:34:04and that meant we could move there if we wanted to.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08- And Reuben initially was really upset.- Yeah, he started crying. - He really didn't want to do it,
0:34:08 > 0:34:11- even though he'd loved Australia. - And he kept saying to us,
0:34:11 > 0:34:14"Are we taking things with us? Can I take my toys?
0:34:14 > 0:34:18- "Can I take my bed?" Wasn't he? - Yeah.- I said, "Look, we're just going to take everything.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20"Everything is going to come from our house here,
0:34:20 > 0:34:23"and we're going to take it over there, and everything will be the same.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27"But we'll just be somewhere else." And he was like, "Oh, OK."
0:34:27 > 0:34:30With Reuben on board, Tosh and Louise finally plunged ahead with plans
0:34:30 > 0:34:34to move lock, stock and barrel to the other side of the world.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39But not before an emotional tour of the UK to say goodbye to loved ones.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41We travelled round and saw various people.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44We went down to the southwest and caught up with some friends
0:34:44 > 0:34:47and saw my sister and saw my parents, things like that.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51And then we had a big knees-up, didn't we, in Newcastle?
0:34:51 > 0:34:54- Why am I getting upset? - I don't know.
0:35:04 > 0:35:09Saying farewell to her parents had always been Louise's biggest concern about moving.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12And when it came to leaving friends and family behind,
0:35:12 > 0:35:15the experience was a huge wrench.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18I didn't cope well, saying my goodbyes in the UK.
0:35:18 > 0:35:23It was very, very emotional. It was just goodbye after goodbye after goodbye.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27And it was really sad. Just cos you don't know when you'll see them again.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30I remember getting quite sad as we took off.
0:35:34 > 0:35:39It's not easy saying goodbye to your family, it's not...to move away,
0:35:39 > 0:35:42even if you don't see them that often,
0:35:42 > 0:35:45but we'd see Lou's parents every day.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48So I think for her, yeah, that's a big factor.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52It's when the plane leaves the ground, you know, then that's it,
0:35:52 > 0:35:57we don't live in England any more. We live in Australia. We've left.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00We've gone. You know, it was really sad.
0:36:02 > 0:36:07The Afanasievs touched down in Perth in November 2012.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09My job brought us over here.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12They paid for a visa for me,
0:36:12 > 0:36:15so I had a couple of weeks off, and then I started work.
0:36:15 > 0:36:19Tosh's new job helped him get settled straightaway.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23'I'm very busy with that, so I have, you know,'
0:36:23 > 0:36:28I've got an automatic circle of workmates and I'm very busy,
0:36:28 > 0:36:30so I've instantly felt very integrated.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32Lou's had to work much harder, I think,
0:36:32 > 0:36:35at integrating herself into the community.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37But she's done a really great job of that.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39Louise has also taken on a new role.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41Since the boys started school,
0:36:41 > 0:36:45I've been volunteering at school, making myself known at the school.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49And as a result of that, I'm on the supply list at school.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52And last week, I did my first paid day's work. So it's really good.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56You know, once Ike starts full-time school next year,
0:36:56 > 0:37:01I'd quite like to, you know, sort of pick up where I left off in the UK
0:37:01 > 0:37:03with a job in a school
0:37:03 > 0:37:08and get back into the classroom and do that again.
0:37:08 > 0:37:13Maybe not on a full-time, five days a week, full-time, you know,
0:37:13 > 0:37:15so I've still got some time for the boys,
0:37:15 > 0:37:19but that's the kind of way I'd see it going for me.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23Looks like Louise is beginning to feel as settled in as Tosh.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26I feel very comfortable here.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29I feel that I felt that quite quickly,
0:37:29 > 0:37:31much quicker than I thought I would.
0:37:31 > 0:37:36So has leaving their UK life behind being worth the emotional upheaval?
0:37:36 > 0:37:39Everything including the accommodation is just
0:37:39 > 0:37:43that little bit more expensive than I think we had expected. Erm...
0:37:43 > 0:37:45but then, having said that, you know,
0:37:45 > 0:37:48just cos it's expensive doesn't mean it's not good value.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52- We have a really comfortable, really nice life.- Yeah. - I'm certainly not disappointed...
0:37:52 > 0:37:54- No.- ..by what we've got.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56I think it's everything you could want, moving,
0:37:56 > 0:38:00in terms of the space, and the neighbourhood is really good.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04It's handy for the city, it's good for shops and all that sort of stuff.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07- It's absolutely brilliant. - But it is difficult. It's really difficult...
0:38:07 > 0:38:09leaving your family.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13And you've just got to be positive and make the most of it
0:38:13 > 0:38:17and remember why we came and remember all the positive things
0:38:17 > 0:38:19and not dwell on the negative, you know.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23Cos you could come here and you could be down on this and down on that
0:38:23 > 0:38:27and negative about everything and, "Ooh, nothing's the same,"
0:38:27 > 0:38:29but we haven't made that commitment
0:38:29 > 0:38:32both financially and emotionally to not...
0:38:32 > 0:38:36to just come here and be negative and be miserable.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40The couple sold the family home in the UK
0:38:40 > 0:38:43and are currently renting a property in the suburb of Warwick.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47I think, when we get to know the area better and get more established,
0:38:47 > 0:38:51then I think we'd probably like to buy, but I think we're quite happy renting for now.
0:38:51 > 0:38:52Two months after their arrival,
0:38:52 > 0:38:58the family's new home was already welcoming visitors from the UK.
0:38:58 > 0:39:02My parents came out to see us in January. They stayed for six weeks.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05And it was great for the boys to see them,
0:39:05 > 0:39:08and they were there for their first day of school.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11And that was really good. And yeah, it was great.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13We had a really lovely time.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17But it was harder saying goodbye to them when they left here
0:39:17 > 0:39:20than it was saying goodbye to them when we left them in England.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23And we didn't know when they were going to be coming again.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Reuben, who's turned six, and Ike, who is now four,
0:39:29 > 0:39:34have taken to Australia like ducks to water - quite literally!
0:39:34 > 0:39:37Since we got here, the kids are much better at getting stuck into things.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39Their swimming has come on loads -
0:39:39 > 0:39:41having a pool in the back garden is amazing,
0:39:41 > 0:39:44because it's just brought their confidence up loads.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50It's like, I can't believe the sunshine.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52I don't really like going in the shade,
0:39:52 > 0:39:55unless it's a boiling hot day and I'm really hot.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59But then you've also got some water to chill out in and get cool.
0:40:00 > 0:40:06I think the quality of life here for children is much healthier.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10Just they're outdoors more, they're running around more.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12They're having a great time.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14In England, it's like raining all the time,
0:40:14 > 0:40:17and you can't really go to the beach.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20And you can't really go outside and play in the garden.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23But while he's not missing the British weather,
0:40:23 > 0:40:27the UK's often in Reuben's thoughts for another reason.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31You know, Reuben, every now and then, will have a little cry and go,
0:40:31 > 0:40:35"Oh, I miss Grandma and Grandad." You know, if he speaks to them, or if we start talking about them,
0:40:35 > 0:40:39he'll get upset and say that he misses them.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41I sometimes joke with them,
0:40:41 > 0:40:45in the summer, when they were whingeing about the hot... "It's too hot, it's too hot!"
0:40:45 > 0:40:47I'd say, "Let's go back to England!"
0:40:47 > 0:40:50They're like, "No! No, I don't want to go back there!"
0:40:53 > 0:40:56Tosh was always aware making the move down under
0:40:56 > 0:40:58would be a massive gamble.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01Moving here as a family was something that had taken...effectively,
0:41:01 > 0:41:04it'd be 14 years since I'd first come here.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06There was pressure on me when I first came here -
0:41:06 > 0:41:09this had better be good, because I've pushed for it all these years.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11So I feel really pleased that we've done it.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15I feel that we can see already that it was a good thing as far as the kids go.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17I think it's a good thing as far as we go.
0:41:17 > 0:41:22And I do feel, yeah, I do feel quite relieved that it's all going so well.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25And although she may miss her parents back home,
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Louise is happy she's made the right decision.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31I am glad that Tosh went on at us for years and years and years
0:41:31 > 0:41:35about Australia, because I would never have made the move
0:41:35 > 0:41:38if he hadn't have been the driving...
0:41:38 > 0:41:41the driving force behind it, I would never have instigated
0:41:41 > 0:41:44a move over here.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48But I'm really glad he did and I think it's kind of...
0:41:48 > 0:41:52It's sort of a new beginning, isn't it? It's sort of woken us all up.
0:41:54 > 0:41:59In the space of a year, the Afanasievs have completely transformed their lives.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02And for them, there's no looking back.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05I just feel that we're going to live a - hopefully -
0:42:05 > 0:42:09live a longer, healthier existence in the lovely sunshine.
0:42:09 > 0:42:14And when I'm, like, an old woman, sitting by the pool out there, you know,
0:42:14 > 0:42:20hopefully we'll think, yeah, all those years ago, we made a really, really good decision.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23A lot of things in the world can change, and a lot of things
0:42:23 > 0:42:26in your life can change, but there's certain things that stay the same.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29And I think the fact that we've changed our setting completely
0:42:29 > 0:42:31but still we're together as a family
0:42:31 > 0:42:33shows the kids what's really important.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36And the couple have some words of advice for anyone
0:42:36 > 0:42:39considering the life-changing choice they faced.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42I think if people are considering coming,
0:42:42 > 0:42:45if anyone's in that... should I or shouldn't I,
0:42:45 > 0:42:47it's definitely worth doing
0:42:47 > 0:42:49and finding out for sure rather than wondering.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51Do it. Do it.
0:42:51 > 0:42:55It's an adventure, you know. Life's about adventure.
0:42:55 > 0:42:56ALL: Cheers!
0:42:56 > 0:42:58Cheers, guys.
0:42:58 > 0:43:03The Afanasievs are living proof that facing difficult decisions
0:43:03 > 0:43:07and working through hard times can turn out for the best.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09They now have the life they dreamed of,
0:43:09 > 0:43:12and the whole family is loving it down under.
0:43:12 > 0:43:14We wish them all the best.