0:00:02 > 0:00:05If you passionately believed your future lay abroad,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07but your loved one disagreed,
0:00:07 > 0:00:11how would you begin to persuade them to make the move?
0:00:12 > 0:00:18In 2014, Aaron Shah was chasing a lifelong dream to live in Australia.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20I've been dreaming about moving to Australia
0:00:20 > 0:00:22for as long as I can remember.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Partner Amy was up for moving but...
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Does it have to be as far as Australia?
0:00:26 > 0:00:28You're talking the other side of the world.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31A trial week down under saw her tempted.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33We are here now, and it's gorgeous.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36And, you know, he's right - it's a brilliant life.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40But also the reality of moving hit home for Aaron.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43I've suddenly started to think that maybe it's not what's best
0:00:43 > 0:00:44for my family.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48So one year on, where do the Shah-Lloyds now call home?
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Life right now is great, fantastic.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51- Yes!- 'Everything is settled.'
0:01:17 > 0:01:20With an average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius
0:01:20 > 0:01:24and around 31,000 miles of coastline to enjoy the sunshine,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26it's not hard to understand
0:01:26 > 0:01:31why 34,000 UK residents make the move to Australia each year.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35But a life down under isn't just about sea and sun,
0:01:35 > 0:01:37and almost half return home.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43Aaron Shah had been dreaming of a life
0:01:43 > 0:01:46in Australia for more than 20 years
0:01:46 > 0:01:48when in 2014,
0:01:48 > 0:01:50he had his best shot ever
0:01:50 > 0:01:51at making it happen.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Over the course of a week in Adelaide,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56he was hoping to persuade partner Amy that
0:01:56 > 0:02:00leaving everyone and everything she loved in the UK was
0:02:00 > 0:02:04a sacrifice worth making for a better quality of life.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Today, one year on, we'll find out what happened next.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14The Shah-Lloyd's trial week in Adelaide
0:02:14 > 0:02:16began with 27 hours in the air.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20A journey which had left Aaron shaken...
0:02:20 > 0:02:23It was a bad flight. Very bad flight.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25..but not stirred.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27We've just done that 27-hour journey
0:02:27 > 0:02:30and we've been here an hour and I'm already happy.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Amy wasn't quite sharing the enthusiasm.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36I'm pretty sure that I won't do that journey ever again.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40But Aaron was determined not to let anything spoil his moment.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42I'm on Australian soil for the first time.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45You know, 25, 30 years...
0:02:45 > 0:02:48I'm excited. I'm really excited about the week ahead.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52- We've had the same conversations over and over again.- Yeah, it's...
0:02:52 > 0:02:55You are saying it's the best place ever and I'm saying,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57"Well, prove it to me."
0:02:57 > 0:03:00- And we're here now, so we'll see, won't we?- Yeah.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03We'll see who's right and who's wrong.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04Yeah, whatever, we'll see.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08Aaron had his work cut out
0:03:08 > 0:03:12if he was ever to convince Amy their future lay down under.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19In 2014, home for the Shah-Lloyds was Rochdale,
0:03:19 > 0:03:20in Greater Manchester.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Dad Aaron was living with partner Amy and Amelia,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25who was then two years old.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Aaron had caught the Australia bug at a very young age.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Yeah, it came from as a young child.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34I was five or six, waving bye to Nana at the airport,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37crying my eyes out, because she was going to Australia for six months.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41His nan's trips to visit relatives had sown the seeds of an obsession
0:03:41 > 0:03:44that had lasted for decades.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46She used to bring me back videos and I used to watch these videos
0:03:46 > 0:03:50every day with fascination, thinking, "Wow, this is amazing!"
0:03:53 > 0:03:55While the next 25 years had seen Aaron gain
0:03:55 > 0:03:58a successful career, partner and daughter,
0:03:58 > 0:04:02he had remained spellbound by the land he'd never visited.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05The problem was that it's not changed as I got older.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07The fascination has stayed the same.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11While settling down had proved an initial distraction, it wasn't
0:04:11 > 0:04:14long before Aaron's thoughts began drifting down under once more.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16It all started when we'd had Amelia
0:04:16 > 0:04:19and then Aaron started to really think,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21like, where is best to live?
0:04:21 > 0:04:23You know, we need to move from this area.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25It's not going to offer Amelia anything.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28The couple had both become disillusioned
0:04:28 > 0:04:31about the future they faced where they were living.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34I think one of the things for pushing it now is, obviously,
0:04:34 > 0:04:37the decline in our area, isn't it?
0:04:37 > 0:04:41With my car being stolen and the antisocial behaviour...
0:04:41 > 0:04:44When we first moved here, it was a lovely street.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46But it's changing every year.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49So we really want to move, it's just where to go.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Aaron believed Australia was the answer.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58But having lived on the same street all her life,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Amy wanted to stay closer to home and to her family.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05I wouldn't change my childhood for anything.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09I had a brilliant childhood. That's what I want for Amelia.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12And I think if we went to Australia, we're taking that away from her.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18For Aaron's sake, Amy had agreed to give down under a go.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22I'm going to need quite a lot of convincing.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26It's got to be something spectacular that when I get over there,
0:05:26 > 0:05:28I just think, "This is where I want to live."
0:05:28 > 0:05:31After a lifetime of dreaming,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Aaron's hopes are resting on just one week.
0:05:33 > 0:05:38This week in Australia is one of the most crucial weeks of my life.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43It really is. 20 years of thoughts and dreams and ambitions.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46And it's all going to culminate into this one week.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Amy knew what was at stake.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53I do feel the pressure to try and make him happy, but, you know,
0:05:53 > 0:05:57one of us is going to have to compromise...our feelings.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04And that's just going to be quite a hard decision to make, really.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08Aaron had just one week to persuade Amy Australia was the perfect place
0:06:08 > 0:06:12to be, or his 25-year-old dream would be over for good.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27The Shah-Lloyds spent their trial week in Adelaide.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30And as they arrived at their temporary home,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Aaron was still pinching himself.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37I still can't believe we're here yet. It's not sank in.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40This two-bedroom character bungalow was the family's first taste
0:06:40 > 0:06:44of Aussie living. So did it live up to Aaron's expectations?
0:06:44 > 0:06:48- I like it, yeah. It's cool as well.- Yeah.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52- So far, so good.- Good. Good.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56That was just what Aaron needed to hear.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00- It's a good base for the week, I think.- Yeah.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04He'd only been in Australia a few hours, but Aaron was already sold.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07This is the place where I've always dreamt about being.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09And I've got that instant feeling
0:07:09 > 0:07:11that I don't want to leave Australia.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14I feel a little bit under pressure because, obviously, Aaron is
0:07:14 > 0:07:18so for the idea. But if I'm not happy, then I'm not happy.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22He'll just have to...figure it out.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25I don't know which way it's going to go, but I'm hoping for the best.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Aaron's dream of a life down under was stronger than ever, but unless
0:07:30 > 0:07:34he could persuade Amy in the days ahead, it would all come to nothing.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44Back in the UK, the Shah-Lloyds were living in a three-bedroom semi
0:07:44 > 0:07:46in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50They had a budget of £250,000 for a home in Australia.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52So, what was on their wish list?
0:07:52 > 0:07:54- Back garden, front garden.- Yeah.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- Swimming pool, Jacuzzi. - SHE GIGGLES
0:07:57 > 0:08:00And whether that's going to be the case is a different story.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04I think one of the concerns would be that the budget isn't big enough.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Yeah. So it's about seeing if they can offer...
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Seeing if they can offer a match to what we could get over here.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12And if they can't, then obviously,
0:08:12 > 0:08:16- we need to reconsider and look again at the UK.- Mm.
0:08:19 > 0:08:24To give the couple the chance to see just what their £250,000 budget
0:08:24 > 0:08:25could buy them around Adelaide,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28we showed them three houses,
0:08:28 > 0:08:29based on what they wanted
0:08:29 > 0:08:31and what they could afford.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35The search began in the suburb of Hillcrest,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38just a 15-minute trip from Adelaide's centre.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Did this three-bedroom new build get the day off to a good start?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45- Oh. - HE LAUGHS
0:08:45 > 0:08:50- Very deceiving from outside.- Yeah. It's a lot longer than I thought.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52This is really nice. It's really bright.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54First impressions were promising.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56- I like this.- Oh!
0:08:56 > 0:08:57Our bedroom!
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Oh, it is a good size, actually.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Could you picture yourself living here? In this house?
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Well...
0:09:05 > 0:09:07I've got the vibe so far.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11- I've got a good feeling about it, yeah.- I'll work with good vibe.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13I can work with that.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17It looked like Amy was coming round to Aussie-style living.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Whoa!
0:09:20 > 0:09:22- Look how big this is.- Yes.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29- I like open-planned. - I really like this room.- Yeah.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32This, for me, was what I wanted for us.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35In Australia, this is what I was hoping for.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37The house had been a big hit indoors,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40and outside didn't disappoint either.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43So imagine this on a nice day, a nice summer's day.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47You know, if you think about Amelia coming out here in all this space
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- to sort of run about and enjoy. - Yeah.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53It looked like Aaron was sold, but remembering how far
0:09:53 > 0:09:58she was from Rochdale had brought Amy back down to earth with a bump.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00It's just the distance that worries me.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02The house is gorgeous, I could live in it.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04Definitely.
0:10:04 > 0:10:05It wasn't long before
0:10:05 > 0:10:07an all-too-familiar argument kicked off.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10I don't think you could get something like this in the UK.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13You won't get this outdoor space, and this is what I want.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15I'm not saying necessarily it has to be in the UK,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18I'm just saying, does it have to be as far as Australia?
0:10:18 > 0:10:20You're talking the other side of the world.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22- Do you remember the flight? - SHE LAUGHS
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Can you imagine doing that a couple of times a year to visit family?
0:10:25 > 0:10:27- You would do, you could do. - Oh, no, I wouldn't. Oh, no.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32Only one house viewed and Amy was already digging her heels in.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Would the price help bring her round?
0:10:34 > 0:10:37The couple's budget was £250,000.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42- OK?- I'm nervous.- Are we going to find out?- You do it. Yes.
0:10:47 > 0:10:48- BOTH:- Ah!
0:10:48 > 0:10:51That was just £1,000 over budget.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54- Right on the money. - Yeah, definitely.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57That's quite surprising, actually. I thought it'd be over.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- I'd be happy to pay that. - Yeah, yeah.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01- I'm chuffed to bits with that. - Yeah, I'm happy with that.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03I'm absolutely chuffed to bits.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05- Cos I expected that to be a lot more...- Yeah, I did.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06..with this property.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Aaron's dream was perhaps back on track.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14While Amelia was looked after by a childminder,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17the couple continued their search.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Property number two was in Northgate,
0:11:19 > 0:11:21just seven miles north of Adelaide.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25The newly established suburb was proving popular with families.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27This house was part of a secure small estate,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29but did it win Amy over?
0:11:30 > 0:11:32- Oooh!- Wow.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- Wow, I love the kitchen.- Very nice.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37It looked like Aaron was in luck.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42- I love this. It's really nice. - Yeah. It is very nice.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45A lot of light as well coming through, isn't there?
0:11:45 > 0:11:47- Oh!- Wow.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Look at this.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52You could get some table and chairs out here.
0:11:52 > 0:11:53I think this is nice.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Just to be able stand out here in the morning and...
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Absolutely gorgeous.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Keep your fingers crossed it's in our budget and then...
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- Yes!- We'll take it, is that what you're saying?- Possibly.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Aaron thought it was in the bag, but moving outdoors,
0:12:08 > 0:12:10things soon hit a wall.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Or a fence.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13I feel like I'm on a building site.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Like, when you're on a building site,
0:12:15 > 0:12:17you have a lot of these metal fences.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19That's what it feels like.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Aaron wasn't going to let a fence beat him.
0:12:22 > 0:12:23The area... I mean, there was
0:12:23 > 0:12:26- a lake that we passed on the way through.- Mm-hm.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28It looked absolutely gorgeous.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31Whether it is here or in the UK, it's the area that we want.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34- Yeah, we want a nice area. - Can we afford a nice area in the UK?
0:12:34 > 0:12:36I don't think we can afford this.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39HE LAUGHS
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Fencing aside, this house had impressed both Aaron and Amy.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47But how close did it come to the their £250,000 budget?
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- Do you want to do it?- No, you do it. I don't want to see it.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04- No way.- That's fantastic.
0:13:04 > 0:13:10At £12,500 over budget, Amy could have been put off, but...
0:13:10 > 0:13:12It's starting to be less daunting.
0:13:12 > 0:13:17If we can afford something this nice and this comfortable...
0:13:18 > 0:13:20..then it can be possible.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24Things were definitely looking up for Aaron.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29The final property of the day was in the suburb of Clearview,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32just a 15-minute drive from Adelaide's centre.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34This spacious home should've had
0:13:34 > 0:13:36everything the couple were looking for.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40And Amelia had decided she didn't want to miss out either.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Wow. This hallway's fantastic.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49First up was the master bedroom.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Wow.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53- Do you like this room, Amelia? - Oh, my word!
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Look at the size of this en-suite. It's like another bedroom.
0:13:56 > 0:13:57A sink each!
0:13:58 > 0:13:59A sink EACH!
0:14:00 > 0:14:02The kitchen was an eye-opener.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05- Oooh... - HE LAUGHS
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Oh, it's got... Look at this kitchen.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Outside lay another impressive feature.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Look, it's got a pool!
0:14:15 > 0:14:18HE LAUGHS
0:14:18 > 0:14:19I am so excited about that.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Oh, look at this.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Hold Daddy's hand near this water.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26- Wow.- Wow.- That's what we want, isn't it?
0:14:26 > 0:14:29It's got your fences, though. Look at that.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33- I don't mind the fences when there's a pool, though.- Oh!
0:14:33 > 0:14:35Of course not, Amy.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- This is the Australian dream.- Yeah.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39This is pretty much what you described.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42- This is what I picture when I say... - "I want to live in Australia."
0:14:42 > 0:14:45..Australian dream. This is where I want us to be.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48This house was everything Aaron had been dreaming of
0:14:48 > 0:14:50and it looked like Amy had been swayed,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53but was it somewhere they could have afforded to call home
0:14:53 > 0:14:56with their £250,000 budget?
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Realistically, there is no way it will be within budget.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01- No.- No.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- That's a good idea, thank you. - Don't look.- Turn it over now.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09- I'll get your... I'll hear your impression.- Are you ready?
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Oh. OK.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19It was £88,000 over budget, but...
0:15:19 > 0:15:22It's nowhere near as bad as I thought.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26No, that surprised me, that, actually. It shows you...
0:15:26 > 0:15:30what kind of thing you could get for that sort of money.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- I'm quite excited about that. - Mm, good.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38It had been a potentially persuasive day on the property front.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Property one had been a hit with Aaron and Amy,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43and within financial reach.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46House number two had a great view upstairs,
0:15:46 > 0:15:47but the one outside was
0:15:47 > 0:15:49a turn-off for Amy.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53And property number three was an Australian dream come true,
0:15:53 > 0:15:55just with a price tag to match.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59So, when it came to properties, did the couple choose home or away?
0:16:08 > 0:16:10- BOTH:- Australia.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16- Yay! High-five.- I knew you'd choose Australia.- Yeah. You can't not.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19- No, the...- You couldn't not vote for Australia today.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- No, the properties were just spot-on.- Yeah.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32Amy's first vote for Australia had taken Aaron a step closer
0:16:32 > 0:16:34to realising the dream he'd had for decades,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37but there was a long way to go yet.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Without the right job prospects, a life down under would have been
0:16:40 > 0:16:42a complete nonstarter.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Back in the UK, Aaron had worked hard to build
0:16:47 > 0:16:49a career in the prison service.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52I love what I do. I love being a prison officer.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56I love the variety of the job, the camaraderie that comes with it.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Amy had been working as a teaching assistant in the same primary school
0:16:59 > 0:17:03for 14 years and was struggling with the thought of leaving.
0:17:03 > 0:17:04They're like your second family.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07And to think that you're never going to go back there
0:17:07 > 0:17:12and do that job again, yeah, that's...
0:17:12 > 0:17:14I think it'd be too hard.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18To find out what opportunities might exist for them in Adelaide,
0:17:18 > 0:17:22we arranged for Aaron and Amy to explore the local job market.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24First up, Aaron met with Steve Mann,
0:17:24 > 0:17:26general manager of Yatala Labour Prison
0:17:26 > 0:17:28in the northern suburbs of Adelaide.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31- Hi, Steve, I'm Aaron. Pleased to meet you.- Pleased to meet you, mate.
0:17:31 > 0:17:32- Thank you.- Step this way.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Aaron wasted no time getting down to business.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39What kind of opportunities are there at the moment for new
0:17:39 > 0:17:42recruits into the prison system?
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Well, South Australia is constantly looking
0:17:45 > 0:17:47for more correctional officers.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Brilliant.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Aaron was off to a solid start.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Meanwhile, Amy was visiting Clapham Primary School,
0:17:56 > 0:17:58where she met with Deputy Principal Danielle Chadwick
0:17:58 > 0:18:02to get the lowdown on the Australian education system.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08I work as a TA in the UK, which is a teaching assistant.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11What's the equivalent, job wise, over here?
0:18:11 > 0:18:15OK, in Australian schools, we call them school services officers.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18SSO Level 1 works within the classroom
0:18:18 > 0:18:21or with a small group of children. And then you would look at...
0:18:21 > 0:18:24A Level 7 would be a business manager in a large high school.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27It seemed like the right opportunities could exist
0:18:27 > 0:18:29in Australia for both Aaron and Amy.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31But would their earnings be up to scratch?
0:18:31 > 0:18:33So, if I were to join the Australian prison service,
0:18:33 > 0:18:37what kind of salary can I expect initially?
0:18:37 > 0:18:40If you come in and apply to be a correctional officer,
0:18:40 > 0:18:44you would come in at the 55 grand level.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47That was around the same as Aaron was currently earning back home.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50But would his UK experience take him even further up
0:18:50 > 0:18:52the money ladder in Australia?
0:18:52 > 0:18:56If there was a senior management position, well-qualified,
0:18:56 > 0:19:00to apply for one of those, you would then come in at around 81k.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04And over three years, that would go up to a little over 87k.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07- OK, brilliant. Thank you. - No worries.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09It was great news for Aaron.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Were Amy's prospects as good?
0:19:11 > 0:19:16So, what kind of salary would an SSO be expecting?
0:19:16 > 0:19:21An SSO Level 1, on Tier 1, would be on about 42,000, just over that.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Yeah, that's interesting to know.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27That was almost a third more than Amy was earning back home.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31So how realistic were her chances of landing a job in Australia?
0:19:31 > 0:19:33If you were to present on my doorstep and I saw that you
0:19:33 > 0:19:37had these qualifications, of course I'd look at that pretty favourably.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39- Yeah.- OK, that's good to know.- Yeah.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42It had been a positive day on the work front,
0:19:42 > 0:19:46but had that been enough to win Amy's vote?
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Based on the jobs we've seen today, our vote goes to...
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Australia.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Undecided.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02Well, I'm undecided just because...
0:20:02 > 0:20:05It was brilliant, I really liked what I saw,
0:20:05 > 0:20:07but I'm just undecided on where I could go with it.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Plentiful opportunities just hadn't been enough to convince Amy a
0:20:21 > 0:20:25career in Australia was worth giving up everything she had at home.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Aaron believes the country could be the perfect place
0:20:28 > 0:20:30to raise Amelia.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34So would a family day out in the Aussie sunshine be enough to bring
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Amy back on board?
0:20:36 > 0:20:40The family spent their day at Adelaide's Bonython Park.
0:20:40 > 0:20:41- It's nice.- Look!
0:20:44 > 0:20:47It was a reminder for Aaron of just what was at stake this week.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50THEY GIGGLE
0:20:50 > 0:20:54This is the main part of the dream for my family.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57This is what I would expect for Amelia.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58And this is what I want for Amelia.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02For him, the country had delivered on all fronts so far.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05After 25 years of dreaming about coming to Australia
0:21:05 > 0:21:08and visualising what the experience would bring,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10it's more than lived up to what I expected.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13It looked as though the day was bringing
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Amy round to the potential of Aaron's dream.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19I think today is probably the best day so far.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22I understand what he's wanting for us now.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27It's helped me come to realise that
0:21:27 > 0:21:29this could be the right move for us.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34But she was torn between granting Aaron's wish
0:21:34 > 0:21:36and breaking close bonds at home.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40I feel quite guilty on Aaron,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43but it's not just about Aaron's happiness,
0:21:43 > 0:21:46it's got to be about my happiness as well.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48All I can think about is family and leaving them,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50so, yeah, it's really hard and...
0:21:54 > 0:21:57The day had given Amy much to think about.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01So did she choose a lifestyle in Australia or the UK?
0:22:01 > 0:22:05Based on the lifestyle things we've seen today, our vote goes to...
0:22:13 > 0:22:14Australia.
0:22:14 > 0:22:15Australia.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20AMY LAUGHS
0:22:20 > 0:22:21Cheat! Cheat!
0:22:21 > 0:22:24I can see why you like it out here, cos, you know,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27I've just went and voted for Australia.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30This is basically the reason why I want us to come out here.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32This is it, really.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36For Amelia's childhood or for the next 15 years or so,
0:22:36 > 0:22:38it could just be magical for her.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- Giddy-up, Daddy! Go on. - AMY CLICKS HER TONGUE
0:22:43 > 0:22:45- No "giddy-up, Daddy".- Yay!
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- Giddy-up, Daddy! - Daddy can't giddy-up.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58With the Aussie lifestyle winning Amy over,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01it looked like Aaron's dream was within reach.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04But for his aspiration to become a reality,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07the family finances needed to stack up.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09The couple sat down to calculate
0:23:09 > 0:23:11if they could afford to live down under.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15We provided a comparison of costs between Australia and the UK
0:23:15 > 0:23:17so they could do the sums.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20First up, they tackled the weekly food bill.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Oh, coffee. You can't drink coffee no more.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27- Wow, that is well expensive. - It's nearly a £4 difference...
0:23:27 > 0:23:30- I know.- ..in the coffee.- Tuna.
0:23:30 > 0:23:31That's so much cheaper.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39We'll be £4.64 a week better off in Australia.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41- That's like nearly £20 a month. - Yeah.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43It obviously shows that we'd be able
0:23:43 > 0:23:45to maintain the same lifestyle we want.
0:23:45 > 0:23:46Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49it's just the shopping. We have to look at other aspects.
0:23:49 > 0:23:50Quite right, Amy.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54Having added up all the outgoings, including mortgage, the couple
0:23:54 > 0:23:56discovered they would be spending
0:23:56 > 0:23:59almost £700 a month more in Australia.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02But did their potential earnings down under help?
0:24:02 > 0:24:09So altogether, per month, we would earn an extra £192.48.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11So we would be...
0:24:13 > 0:24:17£520 worse off.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22Yeah, that's not good, is it?
0:24:23 > 0:24:27The couple would've been over £6,000 a year worse off in Australia.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33You've got this idea of coming here, living in a nice house,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36- having a good job.- Yeah. - But we wouldn't be able to do that.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38The figures show you.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40But they were planning to move house in the UK,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43so Aaron was quick to point out whichever side of the world
0:24:43 > 0:24:47they ended up on, their monthly outgoings would see an increase.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51We're not going to be any better off, no. It's going to be the same.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54It'll be exactly the same, apart from we've got more
0:24:54 > 0:24:58outdoor activities, a better lifestyle for what we get.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01Aaron seemed convinced any downturn in finances would be a price
0:25:01 > 0:25:04worth paying for a better lifestyle down under.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08But had Amy seen any merit in his argument?
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Based on the reality check that we've seen today,
0:25:10 > 0:25:12our vote goes to...
0:25:22 > 0:25:23- BOTH:- Undecided.
0:25:25 > 0:25:26- CONFUSED:- OK...
0:25:26 > 0:25:30- Why are you undecided then?- It's just the property side of things.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32- It's a shame cos I was happy with everything else.- Yeah.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35All the figures are all better, everything's better.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37I know what you're saying, the jobs and everything
0:25:37 > 0:25:40seemed better paid, etc,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43but I don't want to come over here and just settle for something
0:25:43 > 0:25:45when we could have, you know...
0:25:45 > 0:25:49- We don't want to just settle in the UK either, do we?- Well, no. No.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00An undecided vote was a step in the wrong direction for Aaron,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03and he still faced his biggest obstacle to a move.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09Amy's fear about starting afresh in Australia had always been
0:26:09 > 0:26:12the distance she'd be putting between friends and family.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16So would hearing from loved ones be the final straw?
0:26:16 > 0:26:19The family sat down to watch messages from home together.
0:26:21 > 0:26:22Hello, Aaron...
0:26:22 > 0:26:24- Nana!- '..and Amy and Amelia.'
0:26:24 > 0:26:25Yay!
0:26:25 > 0:26:27- Hi, guys.- Hi!
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Hello to you all in Australia.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32He is my number one, isn't he?
0:26:32 > 0:26:34'Out of them all.'
0:26:34 > 0:26:38- (You can't say that.)- Oh, I can. - You can't say that!- Well, I am.
0:26:40 > 0:26:45She was divine as a child and she is now, isn't she?
0:26:45 > 0:26:47- She takes after her grandmother. - Yes.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49'Oh, she's the best.'
0:26:49 > 0:26:52She's like a sister more than a friend.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57Amelia is lovely. She's the cutest little girl in the world, I think.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00I'd be gutted because I've got my own child on the way
0:27:00 > 0:27:02and I want Amy to be involved in their life.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05And now it's happening for me.
0:27:05 > 0:27:06And Amy is going.
0:27:06 > 0:27:07It's... You know, that's
0:27:07 > 0:27:09the hardest thing, I think. Yeah.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13There's nothing better than family, really.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17When you just strip everything back, you know, of life...
0:27:17 > 0:27:20And I think they've got to weigh up
0:27:20 > 0:27:22how they feel about that.
0:27:22 > 0:27:28It would be sad because we're nudging 80.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30And will we ever go?
0:27:31 > 0:27:34It's like taking part of you away.
0:27:36 > 0:27:37Definitely.
0:27:39 > 0:27:40Isn't it?
0:27:50 > 0:27:53- CHOKED UP:- If he goes and I never see him again...
0:28:00 > 0:28:01I'm not 21.
0:28:03 > 0:28:08We hope you make the right decision
0:28:08 > 0:28:10'and we will miss you.'
0:28:10 > 0:28:15If you think that's going to be a better life for all of you,
0:28:15 > 0:28:17then you have my blessing.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Don't forget how proud we are of you
0:28:22 > 0:28:25and how much we love you and Amelia.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27And God bless.
0:28:39 > 0:28:44- I had it all sewn, really, before watching that.- I know you did.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47And then you watch it and you see, like, my mum
0:28:47 > 0:28:49and nana are in there...
0:28:51 > 0:28:52Now I don't...I don't know.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54I don't know what I'd be able to do now.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57That's my argument from the beginning. You know?
0:28:57 > 0:28:59It's fantastic here. I'd love to live here.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02If we could bring everyone here to live with us, I'd come tomorrow.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05I know, but it's not been your dream for 25 years, though, has it?
0:29:05 > 0:29:07So it's a bit different.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10No, but I'm now sharing it with you, aren't I?
0:29:11 > 0:29:12I don't know.
0:29:14 > 0:29:15I don't know.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22Aaron's long-held dream was hanging in the balance as the couple
0:29:22 > 0:29:25faced the biggest decision of their lives.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30It's always been that I want to stay in Australia, I want to live
0:29:30 > 0:29:33in Australia, and that's never changed until today.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Amy was wavering between turning her partner's dream into a reality
0:29:39 > 0:29:42and leaving loved ones behind.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45There's just no words to how I feel at the moment
0:29:45 > 0:29:48because I'm still...torn.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51It has been a decision that's been coming for 20-plus years.
0:29:51 > 0:29:56It's something that I've wanted to do, I want to achieve, and...
0:29:59 > 0:30:00I still don't know yet.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03At the end of the day, it's his dream that I'll be squashing
0:30:03 > 0:30:05if I decide not to come.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09After decades of dreaming, where Aaron would spend his future
0:30:09 > 0:30:12with his family hinged on one final moment.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23- Australia.- England.
0:30:28 > 0:30:29I knew you'd vote for Australia.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32- Yeah, it was difficult. It was like, literally...- Me!
0:30:32 > 0:30:34..I was sat here thinking about which one I'm going to vote for.
0:30:34 > 0:30:35- Hm.- I didn't know.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Literally, till the last second I voted, I was on the edge.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40- It was like, "I don't know."- Yeah.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42Cos I can see that from this week,
0:30:42 > 0:30:44I can see what you were trying to do.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47Yeah, we've given it our best shot, so I think it is over,
0:30:47 > 0:30:48but I am glad that we did it.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50And I am glad we experienced it.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00It had looked like the end of the road for Aaron's lifelong
0:31:00 > 0:31:03vision to live in Australia.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06While Amy had seen some advantages in a life down under,
0:31:06 > 0:31:11for her, the pull of home had been just too strong.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15So a year on from their trial week, is it still the UK
0:31:15 > 0:31:19Aaron and Amy are calling home?
0:31:19 > 0:31:22It is October 2015 and the Shah-Lloyd's,
0:31:22 > 0:31:25plus new arrival Abel, are living in...
0:31:27 > 0:31:29..Rochdale, in the UK.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38The couple's trial week in Australia had shown Aaron
0:31:38 > 0:31:41the country was everything he'd been dreaming of.
0:31:41 > 0:31:4420 years plus I've been waiting to go to Australia,
0:31:44 > 0:31:47and it delivered in all fronts. It made things harder for me
0:31:47 > 0:31:50because it just made me want to be there more.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54While their time done under had seen Amy almost won round...
0:31:54 > 0:31:56I was changing my mind.
0:31:56 > 0:31:57I mean, I was thinking,
0:31:57 > 0:31:59"Brilliant lifestyle, lovely areas,
0:31:59 > 0:32:02"gorgeous weather, what, you know, what more could you want?"
0:32:02 > 0:32:07For her, the sacrifice of leaving loved ones was too much to bear.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10I think the point when I changed my mind was probably
0:32:10 > 0:32:12when we watched the video of home.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15To be honest, I was sort of a little bit myself like,
0:32:15 > 0:32:18"Oh, God, my family, my friends, what am I going to...
0:32:18 > 0:32:19"Which way do I vote?"
0:32:19 > 0:32:24Then I realised that all along, what I was thinking was right.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26I did feel really guilty on Aaron.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29At that point, I felt there was nothing more I can do now
0:32:29 > 0:32:31and that's it, I need to accept it and, you know,
0:32:31 > 0:32:33I need to respect Amy's decision.
0:32:38 > 0:32:39With Aaron's dream dashed,
0:32:39 > 0:32:42the family flew home to Rochdale to break the news.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45When we returned, I had to tell my mum and my gran, my brothers
0:32:45 > 0:32:48and my sisters that, obviously, we're not going to make the move.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52And it was difficult because they'd been really supportive.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54Knowing how much the move meant to him,
0:32:54 > 0:32:56Aaron's family were disappointed.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58And even Gran had changed her tune.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00They'll regret it.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05I still wish they'd decided to take it.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10- Then I could come over again. - LAUGHTER
0:33:12 > 0:33:14What can you see here?
0:33:14 > 0:33:17Aaron and Amy settled back into life in the UK.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21But just weeks later, Aaron got the surprise of his life.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23Amy seemed to switch, and she changed her mind.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26It was a gradual thing, so it weren't just something I said,
0:33:26 > 0:33:27"Right, yeah, we'll go."
0:33:27 > 0:33:29The dream was reignited,
0:33:29 > 0:33:33but Aaron knew he had to take a softly-softly approach.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35I could see Amy was coming round and it was important that
0:33:35 > 0:33:38I didn't say, "Let's do it now, today, let's go."
0:33:38 > 0:33:40Something had changed in my head.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44'I just felt like I might as well, you know, give this a try
0:33:44 > 0:33:45'and see how it works.'
0:33:45 > 0:33:47It was the first time she'd really said,
0:33:47 > 0:33:49"Right, OK, we'll give it a try."
0:33:49 > 0:33:51'One of my colleagues from work
0:33:51 > 0:33:53'actually lived in Australia for a year.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55'And she would just say, "Give it a try.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57' "You can always come back." '
0:33:57 > 0:34:00That's funny - it's something I had been saying to her for years.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02If Aaron's saying something to me, I'm like,
0:34:02 > 0:34:04"No, I'll do it in my own time."
0:34:04 > 0:34:06If someone else is saying it, it's different.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12The couple set about preparing for the move
0:34:12 > 0:34:14and quickly put their house up for sale.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18Aaron couldn't quite believe his dream was within grasp.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22It was like, "Hang on a minute, this is actually going to happen."
0:34:23 > 0:34:26I did get really excited about it once I made the decision.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29Aaron couldn't wait to break the good news to his family.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33They understand why I want to make that move
0:34:33 > 0:34:37and they've wanted me to do it, so, yeah, they were excited for me.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40But knowing how much the change of plans would upset her family,
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Amy proceeded with caution.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46I didn't really want to do that until it was absolutely set,
0:34:46 > 0:34:48until we knew we could get visas,
0:34:48 > 0:34:51till we'd applied for jobs and things like that.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54Aaron excitedly started putting plans into place.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57'So one of the first things I wanted to do is ensure that
0:34:57 > 0:35:00'I have something to go to job wise.'
0:35:00 > 0:35:02'Aaron was actually planning to go over first.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04'He said, "I'll go over furs and set up." '
0:35:04 > 0:35:08I was on the phone to visas, I was on the phone to estate agents,
0:35:08 > 0:35:11everything, putting things in motion to make that move.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14So for me, it was, "Oh, yeah, absolutely, we're going."
0:35:14 > 0:35:17And that was the decision made. And I thought in my head,
0:35:17 > 0:35:20"In another five to six months, that's where I'm going to be."
0:35:24 > 0:35:27But in April 2014, everything ground to a halt
0:35:27 > 0:35:30when Amy discovered she was pregnant.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34When I found out I was pregnant,
0:35:34 > 0:35:37I went through quite a few different emotions of like...
0:35:37 > 0:35:39"Yeah, but if I have my child in Australia,
0:35:39 > 0:35:42"then no-one is going to be there for the birth."
0:35:42 > 0:35:45Amy decided any move would have to be put on hold
0:35:45 > 0:35:47until after the couple's baby had arrived,
0:35:47 > 0:35:51and all-too-familiar arguments started again.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54When you have a new baby, you want your mum and your family there.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56You don't want just to be with a new baby all by yourself.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58But they could've come out, couldn't they?
0:35:58 > 0:36:00They could've come out for two or three months.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02- Not necessarily. - All the way through.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05And they could've been there for three months, every day.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07But I've told you, Aaron, people have a life.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09They can't just put their life on hold to come
0:36:09 > 0:36:11and stay with us for three months.
0:36:11 > 0:36:12They can't do that.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15Although excited about their new arrival,
0:36:15 > 0:36:19Aaron was disappointed their departure was no longer imminent.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23The move at that point is, "We are expecting baby, yay,
0:36:23 > 0:36:25"but we are not going to Australia."
0:36:25 > 0:36:29Amy was point blank, we were not going until the baby's born.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32That period was difficult considering that we were moving,
0:36:32 > 0:36:34then not, then moving, then not.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43Baby Abel arrived in January 2015.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45'He's just a little bundle of joy, really.'
0:36:45 > 0:36:48'He's fantastic. He's absolutely brilliant.'
0:36:48 > 0:36:51And big sister Amelia took to her new brother straightaway.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54'As soon as she saw her little brother, she fell in love with him.'
0:36:54 > 0:36:55She hugs him, everything.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57She wakes him up every morning saying,
0:36:57 > 0:36:58"Good morning, gorgeous boy."
0:36:58 > 0:37:00- Yeah, she does, yeah. - And kisses him.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04Aaron was anxious to set the wheels back in motion for his family's
0:37:04 > 0:37:09move, but Abel's arrival caused Amy to have another change of heart.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11Cos we had Amelia over here
0:37:11 > 0:37:16and I've seen that the relationship with my mum and your mum
0:37:16 > 0:37:21- and, you know, your nan, she's really close to them all.- Yeah.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23And I just feel a little bit sad for Abel.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25If we went, he wouldn't have that.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28He wouldn't have the closeness and the, you know,
0:37:28 > 0:37:29the bond that they have.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32Aaron was fighting a losing battle.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35There is not much I could do to change Amy's mind there,
0:37:35 > 0:37:38so the move was put on hold.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42Everyday life in Rochdale took over.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45'Life just snowballed and we just got on with it.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47'When you've got a new baby, you don't have time to think
0:37:47 > 0:37:49'about anything else, you don't even have time to sleep.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51'Amelia has grown up a lot, obviously.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53'She's got a new baby brother, she's started school.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56'So life for Amelia has just been busy.'
0:37:56 > 0:37:59A change of job kept Aaron occupied.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02I got a new job at Manchester Airport,
0:38:02 > 0:38:04which was a new challenge
0:38:04 > 0:38:06and, you know, an exciting new role for me as well.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09And a development in my professional career.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13And the Australian dream slowly faded.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17'It sort of just became something that got put on the sideline.'
0:38:17 > 0:38:20And then we just never really picked it back up again.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24A glimmer of hope for Aaron did arrive,
0:38:24 > 0:38:26though, in the form of a job offer from the Met,
0:38:26 > 0:38:30which could have been to a ticket to a job down under.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32I've always wanted to join the police.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34It's always been an ambition of mine.
0:38:34 > 0:38:35See you later.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37- Bye. See you.- Bye.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39We sort of said, "Right, what we'll do is,
0:38:39 > 0:38:40"I'll go and join the police,
0:38:40 > 0:38:42"I'll do a year or two, and then we'll...
0:38:42 > 0:38:45"Maybe I could transfer as a police officer and go to Australia."
0:38:45 > 0:38:49Cos I know that's something that's been done in the past.
0:38:49 > 0:38:50So that was the plan.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54But his plans bit the dust for a third time when the couple were
0:38:54 > 0:38:57faced with the financial reality of relocating to London.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00In some respects, it was more difficult than moving to
0:39:00 > 0:39:03Australia because, affordability wise, it's really difficult.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07Amy and Aaron considered every option to try and make it work.
0:39:07 > 0:39:11We thought Aaron could go down by himself and commute.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13But moving to London by himself would have meant Aaron
0:39:13 > 0:39:15missing out on family life.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17I would have been away Monday to Friday.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19And Amelia was due to start school.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21I would've missed Amelia starting school.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25I would've missed the first four to six months of Abel's life.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27'There was a lot that I was going to be missing out on.'
0:39:27 > 0:39:29Having weighed up the options,
0:39:29 > 0:39:32the couple decided it just wasn't worth the sacrifice.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35I was disappointed that we weren't moving to London for Aaron,
0:39:35 > 0:39:37because I knew that he wanted to be in the police.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40It was a really difficult decision to make,
0:39:40 > 0:39:43but, you know, my family had to come first.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47Some good news at work did help take the sting out of the tail, though.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51Aaron received a promotion to security manager at the airport.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53That was the thing that was a saving grace,
0:39:53 > 0:39:55cos I had another opportunity, an option there.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58It made the decision a bit easier for me.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01With his promotion, Aaron felt the time had come to settle down
0:40:01 > 0:40:03and enjoy life in the UK.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06At that point, it was a case of, "Look, let's just calm down.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09"Let's just sit and just relax."
0:40:11 > 0:40:14Life right now is great, fantastic.
0:40:14 > 0:40:18You know, the kids are great and everything is settled.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20I am happy in my job.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23The couple are preparing for a move,
0:40:23 > 0:40:26only this time it's just five miles down the road.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30- Wow.- That looks the biggest
0:40:30 > 0:40:34- house in the whole wide world!- Yeah?
0:40:34 > 0:40:35With their house sold,
0:40:35 > 0:40:39they bought a new build close to where Aaron spent his childhood.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41- I grew up in Littleborough.- Yeah.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43So, you know, it does have some sentimental value to me.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46Plus my nana is there as well, so it just seemed like a good fit.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49And it is not too far from my family either.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52So it's got everything we want, really,
0:40:52 > 0:40:55- in, like, a family home. - The surrounding area is beautiful.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57Yeah, it's really nice.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00You've got all views of the hills and, you know, nice walks.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02Moving day is not too far away.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04Hopefully, it'll be end of April that we'll be able to be
0:41:04 > 0:41:06in a position to move in.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08And Amy's full of the nesting spirit.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11I'm really excited. I just want to move now.
0:41:11 > 0:41:12I want to go and start somewhere new.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16Stop, Mum! It's mine now.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20But in the back of his mind, Aaron knows putting down roots
0:41:20 > 0:41:22could mean putting an end to his lifelong dream.
0:41:22 > 0:41:27'I think, moving into the new house here is like putting an anchor down.
0:41:27 > 0:41:28'And that's maybe why I'm...'
0:41:28 > 0:41:30Ermmm...
0:41:30 > 0:41:33Because it is that big move, big step.
0:41:33 > 0:41:38'And it's really making a statement that we will stay in the UK.'
0:41:38 > 0:41:41I've got Abel. You know, Amelia is growing up.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44I've got, you know, a good job that I enjoy doing.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46It's...it's sort of...
0:41:46 > 0:41:49The pros and the cons what they were a year ago are different
0:41:49 > 0:41:52because of those situations and scenarios.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55So it doesn't hurt as much, but the feeling doesn't go way.
0:41:55 > 0:41:56It's not gone away.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59It's still the same as what it was when I was a kid.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01I still want to go and if Amy said, "Let's go,"
0:42:01 > 0:42:03I would still look at going tomorrow.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06I can't think about it yet, there's too much going on.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10I don't want to throw, like, something else that big
0:42:10 > 0:42:14into my life because I just think my head'll explode. So...
0:42:14 > 0:42:19I'll never say never to Australia, I just feel like not right now.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24'I don't think I will ever give up on the Australian dream.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27'It's been there that long, I just feel like it's a part of me now.
0:42:27 > 0:42:32'I can't see Aaron ever letting it go cos he's obsessed.'
0:42:32 > 0:42:35I feel tired answering the same question over and over
0:42:35 > 0:42:39again about Australia with Aaron cos it's the same conversation.
0:42:39 > 0:42:40'I don't think he'll ever let it go.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43'And I think it is just going to be a constant thing.'
0:42:43 > 0:42:45So I don't think I'll ever give up on it.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48I might learn to live with that churning inside
0:42:48 > 0:42:52and deal with that, but I don't think it will ever go away.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54I think it'll be there forever.
0:42:54 > 0:42:59Although he came tantalisingly close to achieving it for a while,
0:42:59 > 0:43:02it looks like Aaron's dream of a life down under
0:43:02 > 0:43:06will remain just that for the time being.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08Their upcoming move may not see the family
0:43:08 > 0:43:12travelling as far as Aaron would like, but we hope it goes well
0:43:12 > 0:43:15and wish the family all the very best for the future.