Howes Family Wanted Down Under Revisited


Howes Family

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In 2013, Dave Howes was hoping Australia would be

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the paradise he remembered when he spent a week in a country on

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a mission to persuade partner Laurra to make the move there for a good.

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Today, two years after their trial week,

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we'll find out what happened next.

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A trip 12 years previously had seen Dave fall in love with Australia.

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It was just unbelievable. I was living the dream, I really was.

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He was determined to move his family there, but wife Laurra was nervous.

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It terrifies me.

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But if I don't go and have a look, then I'll never know.

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A trial week down under saw the country fall short of his memories.

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It's not right for us at all.

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And Laurra faced with the reality of leaving her mother.

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I'm considering taking her grandchildren

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to the other side of the world.

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So, two years on, have the family made the move?

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For me, it was, "Could I? Couldn't I?"

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Every year, around 34,000 Brits moved to Australia,

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attracted by its mild climate and relaxed outdoor lifestyle.

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But not everyone finds the promised land.

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And over half return to the UK, some with their dreams shattered.

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Two years ago, the Howes family set off on a journey that dad Dave

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was hoping would change their futures forever.

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Having fallen for Australia on a previous trip,

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he was desperate to make a permanent move to the country.

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All he had to do was persuade his wife, Laurra,

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a life in the sun was worth giving up the close bonds she had at home.

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Today, we'll discover

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if the dream life Dave was chasing has become a reality.

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The Howes' trial week started with more than 24 hours in the air.

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And on landing in Brisbane,

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Dave had already realised things weren't as before.

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This trip has been SO difficult. Ten years ago, it was easy.

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Just had myself to worry about. And now there's two kids...

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And Laurra's not great at flying. So it's been an experience!

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It's just a really hard trip to do with two small children.

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-No.

-Yeah, but we made it!

-Dad!

-We've made it.

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Dave was staying positive,

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but Laurra wasn't sharing his enthusiasm.

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It's such a huge ask to expect anybody to come that

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distance on an aeroplane.

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And the weather wasn't helping either.

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Just for today.

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There'll be sun tomorrow, I'm sure.

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-That's lovely.

-THEY CHUCKLE

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Dave really had his work cut out convincing

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Laurra a life in Australia was a good idea.

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In 2013, the Howes called Hereford, in the West Midlands, home.

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Dave and Laurra lived with baby Carmen, then one,

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and Jack, then aged five.

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Dave had been fascinated by Australia after

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a trip 12 years previously left him captivated.

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When I think back to it, it still makes me smile now.

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I didn't have to write a journal, because I remember every single day.

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I can't remember last week, what I was doing at work,

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but I can remember ten years ago.

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It was a very exciting time in my life.

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Wife Laurra had been living with his obsession ever since they met.

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So I've always known that he's been a bit Aussie mad.

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One of his cheesy chat-up lines was,

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"One day I'll take you to Byron Bay,

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"and they've got the most beautiful sunsets."

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And then he'd show me the pictures, and they are beautiful.

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Because I went alone, it'd be nice to share it with somebody,

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and Laurra would be that person.

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Hardly a day went by without Dave talking about emigrating.

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I pester Laurra about Australia a lot.

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I don't think I do, but I know I do. I want to get Laurra over there.

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And I have been trying to for the past ten years.

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But things have changed in the last decade.

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When we go over, it's going to be as a family.

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There'll be two little children. And we now look at things for them.

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I know you know that, but when you went ten years ago,

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-it was a lot different to what it is...

-Yeah, definitely.

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Despite this, Dave was convinced Australia was the perfect place

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to raise their family.

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I think there's a better way of life.

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For all of us, not just for the kids. I think for me and Laurra.

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I know he wants the best for us, and I know that and I trust him,

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so the thought of going...

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It makes it easier, in a way, because I know that

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he wouldn't do anything that would put us, as a family, at risk.

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Laurra means a lot to me, and her thoughts,

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if she is not happy over there, then us as a unit won't work.

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And that's important to me. Because over here it does work.

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So after ten years of constant nagging,

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Laurra had agreed to give it a go.

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I listen to Dave and think, "Well, maybe you're right.

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"Maybe there is more for us over there." I don't know what...

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what more is over there, but if I don't go and have a look,

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then I'll never know.

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But for both Laurra and Dave, leaving family would be difficult.

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We see them all the time. We see my mum and dad all the time,

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we see Dave's mum and dad all the time.

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Laurra enjoyed a close relationship with her mum,

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who was so upset she refused to discuss the move.

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It is a big no for her, at the moment.

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It's not something she wants to deal with. And I don't blame her.

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Because I'm considering taking her grandchildren to the other

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side of the world, and then I think, "How selfish am I?"

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If she thought something was going to hurt me,

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she'd never even consider doing it.

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Erm...

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Yeah.

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It was a massive ask for Laurra.

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Could Dave persuade her a life down under was worth

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the heartache of leaving behind the family she loves so dearly?

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And ten years on, would Australia still be the utopia he remembered?

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The Howes spent their trial week in Burleigh Heads,

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a Gold Coast suburb an hour's drive from Brisbane's city centre.

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It's a favourite spot for families,

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with calm waters and sandy beaches.

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Their temporary home was this modern beach-side apartment.

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And straightaway, Laurra was impressed.

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Oh, this is lovely. This is really nice.

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Kids love it! Out here, the view...

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You can see the sea.

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But Laurra still needed persuading.

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We need to find out if it is what Dave expected it to be.

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For Laurra to want to move over here,

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it's going to have to be pretty much perfect.

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It's going to take... Something will have to blow me away, to live here.

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Back in the UK, home for the Howes was this semidetached

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Victorian house near the centre of Hereford.

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We've been living here for six years,

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and everything has happened here.

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-We've had Jack, we've had Carmen, we got engaged...

-Yeah.

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..married...

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You put a lot of love into a home, I think. And this is our home.

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And it has an awful lot of memories.

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And that will be really difficult to leave.

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If they did make the move,

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Dave had high hopes for what their budget could get them.

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We'll be looking at between 180,000 and 200,000.

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I think Dave thinks that he might be able to get

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a four-bedroom house with a pool.

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And if that wasn't the case,

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Dave was determined to keep the dream alive.

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I'm sure there's a property,

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in the whole of Australia, I'd find to keep the dream alive.

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No, I believe somewhere over there is for us.

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To give the Howes an idea of the Gold Coast property market,

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we showed them three properties.

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One on their budget,

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a potential dream home, and one in between.

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After seeing each of the houses, we revealed what they cost.

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The search began in Reedy Creek, a southern suburb on the Gold Coast.

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With schools, major shopping centres and restaurants,

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it was perfect for young families like the Howes.

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But Laurra spotted a problem straightaway.

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-NEARBY TRAFFIC

-It's quite, erm...a noisy...

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That's the main freeway, isn't it, to Brisbane?

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-Yeah, it is noisy.

-Yeah.

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-Looks a nice-looking property.

-Yeah, a nice-looking house.

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The noisy motorway wasn't helping Dave's case.

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So did this three-bedroom, two-bathroom house help make amends?

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DAVE CHUCKLES

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-It's an...open space.

-It is.

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-But it's a bit small, isn't it?

-Yeah.

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No.

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And outside, things went from bad to worse.

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Bit crazy out here!

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That's some sort of foundations!

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I don't think this is for us. This is tiny.

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What a view, eh?

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-Freeway.

-Yeah.

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Was the Aussie dream fizzling out already?

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Based on this property, erm...

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This isn't going to work out to be a great day. Erm...

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I just hope it gets better than this.

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HE CHUCKLES

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Would the price make a difference?

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The house may not have been what they wanted,

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but if it was within the family's £180,000 budget,

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it might have been all they could afford.

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So, what do you think this is worth?

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I think it's 1,000.

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Yes, me too.

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Erm...it's... It's got to be under.

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Got to be. I'm saying it's under.

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-Freeway, no garden...

-A big rock.

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If it's over-budget, then...

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-Bad.

-Damn!

-THEY LAUGH

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-Dream ends here.

-Taxi!

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But it's...

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-It's one house.

-It's one house.

-Yeah.

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-171. Yeah.

-Yeah.

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Is it 1,000?

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-It's 171.

-Yeah.

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That's only £9,000 under budget.

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It is quite scary, actually, thinking about it now.

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That is close to budget. And it's a bit of a...

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Yeah, it's not right for us at all.

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So, yeah, I think it's going to be a bit worrying,

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the next ones we see.

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It wasn't the start Dave had dreamed of.

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If he was to win Laurra around, things had to improve.

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Could the next house help his case?

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It was in the suburb of Burleigh Heads, home to the

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Gold Coast's best beaches, the area offered a small community feel.

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Would this modern three-bedroom semi turn things around?

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It's a very busy road, isn't it?

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Oh, dear. Another busy road!

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Yeah, it is busy.

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But Dave was quick with the hard sell.

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It's a nice feel, though, isn't it? Childcare across the road.

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Do you like it? It's nice and big.

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Things were looking up.

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Plenty of space. Just needs changing to how we'd have it.

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Laurra was making all the right noises about the interiors.

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Yeah, I do like this.

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But the noise outside was still a problem.

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Apart from a big old lorry going by!

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-Yeah.

-It spoils it.

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The main bedroom did impress.

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-Look in here!

-Ooh!

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Ooh. An en-suite... Wow! This is a big room.

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And Laurra seemed at home.

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-This is more like it.

-Yeah, it is.

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This is nice, isn't it?

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It is nice. I like this.

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But...

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I couldn't see myself living here, at the moment. Erm...

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TRAFFIC NOISE

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A big old lorry going by.

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This wouldn't make me move.

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This property had the space Laurra wanted,

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but the noise outside put her off.

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And with only a small garden for the children,

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it was another set-back for Dave.

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It is nice, it's just...

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There's not a lot of space out here, is there?

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All was not be lost, though.

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Oh, look down there. Look at this.

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How nice is that?!

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That was more like it.

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The house was in a complex with a shared pool and barbecue area.

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This is nice.

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If you've got this sort of space and you don't mind having...

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And it's safe, as well.

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It'd be a nice place to meet other families,

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kids to make more friends...

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Although they'd both been excited by this property, Laurra

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wasn't convinced it was worth moving halfway round the world for.

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With a budget of £180,000,

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was it somewhere they could actually afford?

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So what do you reckon? Under or over?

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-I think over.

-I think under.

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-Under?

-OK. I think over.

-OK, so, are you ready, Jack?

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THEY LAUGH

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Come over here.

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-Turn it over, then.

-Turn it over.

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Go on.

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-Oh. 205.

-205?

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That was £25,000 over budget.

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That's...

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-That's a surprise.

-Why?

-Don't you think?

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Yeah, I suppose, yeah.

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I think that's about right, for here.

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Yeah. I'd... Yeah.

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-You wanted it...to be a lot more, didn't you?

-Yeah.

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THEY LAUGH

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But for Laurra, it wasn't about the cost.

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It's just not singing and dancing for me. You know?

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To move to the other side of the world...

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it has to be singing and dancing.

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After years of waiting, everything rested on the final property

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if Dave was to have any chance of fulfilling his dream.

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Last stop of the day was in the Gold Coast suburb of Currumbin,

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a bustling beach-side village, perfect family living

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52 miles south of Brisbane.

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This four-bedroom traditional Queenslander house should've had the

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space they were looking for, but was it enough to bring Laurra round?

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Ooh, look at this one, Dad!

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I like this!

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The house needed work,

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which wouldn't have been a problem for carpenter Dave.

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But what did Laurra think of it?

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I love it. I think...

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-I mean, I like it.

-What?! What did you say?

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No, I think it's really nice. It is really nice.

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That was music to Dave's ears.

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It does need a lot of work, but...

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For something like this, it's worth it, isn't it?

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-Yeah.

-Nice to see you smile.

-THEY LAUGH

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It looked like Laurra was coming round,

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and Dave's dream was finally gaining traction.

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But was the price within their £180,000 budget?

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If not, Dave faced being right back at square one.

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I'm hoping it's under, but I think it's going to be...slightly over.

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-What do you think?

-Found it.

-Hold on, Jack.

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-I think it's going to be over.

-You think it's going to be over?

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I'm hoping it's going to be under!

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It's not going to be over!

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I don't want to turn it over!

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Oh, gosh!

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-240.

-240.

-That's not too bad, really.

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It was way over budget, but Laurra had liked it so much,

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she was already wondering if they could stretch their finances.

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I don't know what I think now because I'm so...

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I didn't think that we'd find anything that we'd like,

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and now that we have, erm...

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I don't know what to think any more.

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-You didn't think we'd see this, did you?

-No.

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-And now you have...

-Yeah.

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And it throws everything upside down, I'm guessing.

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Yeah. If we could afford this, then...

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-Mm.

-Hm!

-Yeah.

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The Howes had seen three very different properties.

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While the first house was within budget, it was too small

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and too close to the motorway.

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While property number two had offered some appeal,

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it hadn't been enough to win Laurra round.

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And though over budget,

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the third house had been a big hit.

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And could've been affordable

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if they found the right jobs.

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So, when it came to properties, which way did the Howes vote?

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We've had a great day, seen some amazing locations

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and some interesting properties.

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But now it is time to make the vote.

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-Australia.

-Undecided.

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What's going on?

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I don't know. I don't know that I've seen enough today.

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-No, that's fair enough.

-At least it's not UK.

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Yeah, that's really good. Well done, babe.

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For Laurra to vote undecided is a big thing.

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It's been a positive start.

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But not one that's going to make me move yet.

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It was a better result than Dave had expected,

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but he still had some way to go to convince Laurra

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to commit to a new life in Australia.

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Finding the right work prospects was going to be key

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if Dave was ever to turn his dream life down under into a reality.

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Back in the UK, he ran his own carpentry business.

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It's taken five years to build.

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My clientele is very good, and it keeps on building.

0:17:340:17:38

It'd be hard to leave my business, because I've put so much time

0:17:380:17:42

and effort into it,

0:17:420:17:43

and I really have put in some long hours to get where I am.

0:17:430:17:47

Laurra was working part-time as a receptionist

0:17:490:17:52

and ran a small cake-making business from home.

0:17:520:17:55

All being well, I'd want to continue doing this. And, erm...

0:17:550:17:59

..and make cakes over there.

0:18:010:18:04

I'd want to work for myself, but ultimately,

0:18:040:18:08

I'd want everything to go right for the children first.

0:18:080:18:11

My dreams of a job would come second to them.

0:18:110:18:14

We're going for a better lifestyle for more time with the children,

0:18:160:18:20

to do more things with the children, erm...

0:18:200:18:23

and if it's Australia that has those opportunities,

0:18:230:18:27

then I'd be silly not to take them up.

0:18:270:18:30

While the children were looked after by a childminder,

0:18:370:18:40

Dave and Laurra set off to explore their work opportunities.

0:18:400:18:44

Dave met up with John from the Master Builders Association

0:18:440:18:47

to find out if his skills would transfer down under.

0:18:470:18:50

With carpenters coming here from England, especially, even if

0:18:500:18:53

you've got a City & Guilds licence or qualification,

0:18:530:18:56

it's actually not recognised here, regretfully.

0:18:560:18:58

You need to get a skills assessment done.

0:18:580:19:00

It was a big blow for Dave.

0:19:000:19:02

And as the main breadwinner, it meant a possible set-back.

0:19:020:19:05

Were Laurra's prospects any better?

0:19:070:19:09

She visited a local cake-making company,

0:19:090:19:12

where she met manager Andi.

0:19:120:19:14

-Thank you.

-On the Gold Coast, there's a lot of weddings.

0:19:140:19:17

So wedding cakes is definitely a good place to start.

0:19:170:19:20

But then everybody has got children who want birthday

0:19:200:19:23

cakes for their children. So it's...

0:19:230:19:25

I think it's one of those businesses

0:19:250:19:28

-there's room for everybody.

-OK. Lovely.

0:19:280:19:30

It was encouraging news for Laurra.

0:19:300:19:32

Meanwhile, Dave had met local builder Shaun to get

0:19:320:19:35

the lowdown on working in Australia.

0:19:350:19:37

About the sort of money over here...

0:19:390:19:41

Would you have any idea of how much I could earn if I come over?

0:19:410:19:44

It depends what you get into.

0:19:440:19:46

If you went and worked for someone, you'd probably earn around

0:19:460:19:49

50,000 a year, average.

0:19:490:19:52

If I was sort of self-employed, working for myself,

0:19:520:19:55

would there be any difference?

0:19:550:19:57

Yes. There's the potential to earn a lot more.

0:19:570:20:00

You can earn up to 150,000 if you work hard.

0:20:000:20:03

Laurra was keen to find out how much dough there might be in cakes!

0:20:030:20:07

If you were to start it as a business,

0:20:070:20:10

what would your potential earnings be?

0:20:100:20:13

Most cake decorators working from home,

0:20:130:20:17

I would say, probably charge about 25 an hour.

0:20:170:20:20

However, if you were running a business from a business premises,

0:20:200:20:24

you'd have to take into account your overheads and things like that,

0:20:240:20:28

-so you should be charging more along the 50 an hour.

-OK.

0:20:280:20:31

Dave had discovered working for someone else in Australia

0:20:310:20:35

would give him a salary of £46,000 a year.

0:20:350:20:38

And he knew that wouldn't be enough to get the lifestyle he wanted.

0:20:380:20:43

If I take it on the 46,000,

0:20:430:20:46

it means Laurra is going to have to get a decent-paid job as well.

0:20:460:20:50

Because on that money, I know we couldn't survive.

0:20:500:20:53

After waiting ten years, was Dave's dream a lost cause?

0:20:530:20:57

It was time to vote.

0:20:570:20:59

OK, after seeing our work opportunities here in Australia,

0:20:590:21:03

our vote goes to...

0:21:030:21:05

-Undecided.

-Australia.

0:21:120:21:14

Why have you gone undecided?

0:21:160:21:18

With a bit more research, maybe it would've been Australia, but...

0:21:180:21:22

I need a bit more time to check out pay and...

0:21:220:21:26

You can't just get over here and start working.

0:21:270:21:30

But, you - Australia - what's going on?

0:21:300:21:33

There's more opportunity down here in regards to the clients.

0:21:330:21:35

It's such a long coastal area that it...

0:21:350:21:39

There's so much more work available. So, yeah.

0:21:390:21:43

-So that's an Australia and a...

-No, that's...

-..maybe, so...

0:21:430:21:47

-OK, OK. Calm down.

-..that's pretty good.

0:21:470:21:50

Calm down, calm down.

0:21:500:21:51

Dave may have been worried about work prospects,

0:21:580:22:01

but Laurra's vote for Australia meant his hopes of a life

0:22:010:22:04

down under were still very much alive.

0:22:040:22:06

Next it was time to find out if they could afford it.

0:22:060:22:10

While Jack and Carmen took a nap,

0:22:110:22:13

Dave and Laurra get to grips with the figures.

0:22:130:22:16

To see how their finances would work,

0:22:160:22:18

we'd provided a breakdown of living costs in the UK and Australia.

0:22:180:22:23

First up, the weekly food shop.

0:22:230:22:25

Everything seems to be just that little bit more, doesn't it?

0:22:250:22:29

-Yeah.

-Nappies?

0:22:290:22:31

-That's a big difference.

-Yeah.

-Wow.

0:22:310:22:34

£5 more.

0:22:340:22:36

So what did the weekly shop add up to?

0:22:360:22:39

£56 more...to do your shop here than it is back home.

0:22:390:22:45

Yeah.

0:22:450:22:46

It was a big jump for the shopping bill.

0:22:460:22:49

Basing their sums on the traditional Queenslander property

0:22:490:22:52

which Laurra loved,

0:22:520:22:54

the couple would've faced a mortgage increase of more than

0:22:540:22:57

£400 per month in Australia.

0:22:570:22:59

Then there were the other household outgoings.

0:22:590:23:02

The electricity. Wow!

0:23:030:23:05

-Mm.

-£60 back home, £188 here.

0:23:050:23:08

So where did their calculations leave them?

0:23:090:23:12

£192.34 worse off in Australia than in the UK.

0:23:120:23:18

That was just over £2,000 a year.

0:23:190:23:21

-So...

-That's me working full-time.

0:23:230:23:25

I want to work, but I also want some time with the children.

0:23:250:23:28

With the children, yeah.

0:23:280:23:30

It is quite worrying, really.

0:23:300:23:32

-It's one of those things, isn't it?

-Yeah, yeah.

0:23:340:23:38

-Sorry.

-No, it's... That's how it is. Figures don't lie.

0:23:380:23:42

After ten years of hoping, the hard reality of money risked

0:23:420:23:46

destroying Dave's dream of a better life for his family down under.

0:23:460:23:50

-BOTH:

-UK.

0:23:520:23:53

-Sorry.

-I've got the same.

0:23:570:23:59

There's no point coming if you're going to be worse off, really.

0:23:590:24:05

The finances had been a huge disappointment,

0:24:050:24:08

but Dave wasn't giving up on his dream just yet.

0:24:080:24:12

I hope it isn't a dream killer.

0:24:120:24:14

I'm hoping I can maybe look at the figures a bit more

0:24:140:24:18

and be able to come over here to work like back home.

0:24:180:24:22

Come here for the lifestyle.

0:24:220:24:24

High on the couple's wish list was time outdoors with the children.

0:24:280:24:31

So if Brisbane could offer a lifestyle they'd enjoy,

0:24:310:24:34

it could've meant a step in the right direction for Dave.

0:24:340:24:38

With Jack a big fan of animals and nature,

0:24:410:24:44

the Howes visited a local wildlife sanctuary.

0:24:440:24:47

It was a taste of what they could've done on a regular basis,

0:24:480:24:51

and it's going down well with Laurra.

0:24:510:24:54

Oh, he's lovely. You can't deny that's...

0:24:540:24:57

He's so sweet! It's just lovely, yeah.

0:24:570:25:00

Being in a place like this does make me feel different about moving here.

0:25:000:25:04

Because Jack is enjoying it so much. And Carmen. And she's...

0:25:040:25:09

She's loving interacting with the animals.

0:25:090:25:11

It's a lot different now to ten years ago, obviously,

0:25:110:25:14

because I was a single man. But seeing stuff like this

0:25:140:25:18

really does bring back how good Australia is.

0:25:180:25:21

After sampling just a little of what was on offer,

0:25:240:25:26

had everyone been convinced by the Australian lifestyle?

0:25:260:25:30

After an amazing family day today, it's time for us to make our vote.

0:25:300:25:34

You ready?

0:25:340:25:35

-DAVE AND LAURRA:

-Australia!

0:25:410:25:42

Oh, little man! You've gone UK?

0:25:440:25:47

Why have you picked home?

0:25:470:25:49

Because we would miss all our friends.

0:25:490:25:52

-We'd miss all our friends?

-Yes.

0:25:520:25:54

-Would you miss Nanny and Grandad?

-Everybody.

-Everybody.

0:25:540:25:58

I knew she'd vote Australia today,

0:25:580:26:01

but I still know that it's going to take so much for Laurra to

0:26:010:26:04

want to come because of the family, and how close she is.

0:26:040:26:08

Laurra's second vote for Australia had been a boost for Dave,

0:26:150:26:19

but there was one hurdle left to overcome.

0:26:190:26:21

And he knew it wasn't going to be easy.

0:26:210:26:24

Laurra had always been clear leaving family and friends behind

0:26:250:26:29

would be a massive wrench.

0:26:290:26:30

And her mum was dead set against the move.

0:26:300:26:33

So what did messages from loved ones back home

0:26:350:26:37

mean for Dave's dream?

0:26:370:26:39

The couple settled down to watch a DVD of friends and family at home.

0:26:400:26:44

-ALL:

-Hi!

-Hi, love.

-Hiya, Laurra! All right?

0:26:460:26:50

Hi, Laurra. Hi, Dave. My babies - Jack and Carmen.

0:26:500:26:53

Hello, everybody.

0:26:530:26:55

Hello, everybody.

0:26:550:26:57

-Hi, Laurra.

-Hiya, Laurra, David, Jack...

0:26:570:27:01

-And Carmen.

-Carmen.

0:27:010:27:02

Oh, they're a lovely little family. Very hard-working.

0:27:020:27:06

David is a lovely lad.

0:27:070:27:09

Dave's always been the same, hasn't he?

0:27:090:27:12

Perfect gentleman, sort of thing. Isn't he?

0:27:120:27:14

Well, to me, Laurra is my little girl.

0:27:140:27:17

Although she is 28, or whatever it is, she is still my little girl.

0:27:170:27:20

Stunning. Erm...

0:27:200:27:22

Gosh, you're making me cry!

0:27:240:27:25

Just a beautiful girl.

0:27:270:27:29

And we'll miss her if she goes.

0:27:300:27:32

The children are...

0:27:340:27:36

well, they're everything to us, really, aren't they?

0:27:360:27:39

Not being able to touch them, hug them, that would be the hardest.

0:27:390:27:44

My initial feeling was...fantastic.

0:27:460:27:50

If I'd had my time again, I'd do it.

0:27:500:27:54

I wouldn't hesitate.

0:27:540:27:55

I think it's an amazing opportunity.

0:27:550:27:58

Then my reservations started to creep in,

0:27:580:28:01

because obviously it would break my sister's heart.

0:28:010:28:03

We are close. I'm quite close to David.

0:28:030:28:06

He's always been there, as a brother. I'm getting choked up!

0:28:060:28:09

Erm... I can't. I'm gone.

0:28:090:28:12

I didn't think I was going to cry!

0:28:120:28:14

-Well, it is the grandkids.

-Yeah.

0:28:170:28:19

You know, because we do see them a lot.

0:28:190:28:23

Well, you can tell, we are a close family. So, yeah, it would be hard.

0:28:230:28:27

I just hope that you make the right decision for yourselves.

0:28:280:28:33

Erm...and I'll support you 100% in whatever decision that is.

0:28:340:28:39

Wholeheartedly.

0:28:390:28:40

We're all going to miss you, of course we will.

0:28:420:28:45

But you must follow your dreams.

0:28:450:28:47

And just stay safe and be happy.

0:28:480:28:52

I really can't believe that you're thinking of leaving us all

0:28:540:29:01

and going to Australia.

0:29:010:29:02

Erm...

0:29:050:29:06

I shall miss you all very much.

0:29:060:29:08

I hope that you don't go, or decide to stay.

0:29:110:29:16

Erm...

0:29:160:29:17

Just...

0:29:210:29:22

But if you do, then we'll support you in whatever you decide.

0:29:220:29:28

But I hope you come back.

0:29:280:29:31

And I love you all.

0:29:310:29:32

I would be devastated if he went,

0:29:360:29:41

but if it's your dream,

0:29:410:29:44

and it's what you really want to do, then...

0:29:440:29:49

..we'd deal with it.

0:29:520:29:53

So good luck. And have a good time.

0:29:570:30:01

-Not easy, is it?

-No.

0:30:100:30:11

This is an idea of what it would be like if we said goodbye to them.

0:30:120:30:17

And that's why I am upset.

0:30:170:30:19

Seeing my family as emotional as they were,

0:30:190:30:24

it does make me think how special our family are back home.

0:30:240:30:31

Messages from loved ones at home had been a poignant reminder

0:30:340:30:39

of everything the Howes stood to lose.

0:30:390:30:41

As the end of their week approached, the couple had plenty of time

0:30:410:30:45

to think before they made their final decision.

0:30:450:30:48

Dave had been dreaming of a life in down under for a decade.

0:30:520:30:56

We've had a great time, seen some great properties, locations...

0:30:560:31:01

We had great time on the beach the other day.

0:31:010:31:04

I actually think Laurra hasn't thought about home

0:31:040:31:08

too much this week.

0:31:080:31:10

In the morning, I've been waking up and thinking,

0:31:100:31:12

"Maybe this is a good move. Maybe it is the right place to be."

0:31:120:31:17

But the thought of leaving family had left the Howes torn.

0:31:170:31:22

Seeing the videos of family back home really made me think,

0:31:220:31:27

"Am I doing the right thing?"

0:31:270:31:30

I don't know, I'm still really confused on...

0:31:300:31:33

..the UK and...

0:31:350:31:37

All I know is that, in the UK, I've got my family.

0:31:370:31:40

I still think we could have an amazing life over here,

0:31:400:31:43

but the family would be a massive, massive issue for us both.

0:31:430:31:48

But definitely for Laurra.

0:31:480:31:51

Without her family, she's still struggling.

0:31:510:31:53

And you could see that.

0:31:530:31:55

It was a huge moment for Dave.

0:31:550:31:58

Ten years of dreaming rested on the final turn of the cards.

0:31:580:32:02

-Australia.

-UK.

0:32:110:32:12

-It's family. I'm sorry.

-I know.

-I just...

0:32:150:32:18

-I don't think I could be that far.

-I know.

0:32:180:32:21

-You enjoyed yourself, didn't you?

-We did.

0:32:210:32:23

-If the family were living over here...

-Yes.

0:32:230:32:26

-You'd live here then, wouldn't you?

-Yes!

0:32:260:32:28

Well done.

0:32:280:32:29

While Laurra had seen some advantages in a life down under,

0:32:370:32:41

it appeared for her the pull of home was just too strong to resist.

0:32:410:32:45

So, two years after their trial week on the Gold Coast,

0:32:450:32:49

is it still the West Midlands the family calls home?

0:32:490:32:53

It's November 2015 and the Howes are living in...

0:32:550:33:00

the UK.

0:33:000:33:02

But not for long.

0:33:020:33:04

At the end of the trial week, Laurra's fear of disappointing

0:33:040:33:07

her family meant she couldn't commit to a move down under.

0:33:070:33:10

It was...

0:33:100:33:12

I can't say yes, because I don't want to upset my family

0:33:130:33:16

and Dave's family.

0:33:160:33:18

I don't want to jump into it and say, "Yeah, I'll do it."

0:33:180:33:21

And then turn round and say, "Oh, actually, no, I don't."

0:33:210:33:24

So that would upset him, then.

0:33:240:33:26

I didn't want to hurt Dave and I don't want to hurt my family.

0:33:260:33:30

But while the vote wasn't what Dave had hoped for, he did have an

0:33:350:33:38

inkling the week down under had begun to work some magic on Laurra.

0:33:380:33:42

Burleigh Heads was definitely where Laurra enjoyed the most.

0:33:420:33:47

And I think at the end of the week, we kind of nailed it.

0:33:470:33:51

Even though she showed the British flag, I think,

0:33:510:33:56

in her head, it definitely put doubts.

0:33:560:33:59

The couple stayed on in Australia for a fortnight,

0:33:590:34:02

living with family friends.

0:34:020:34:04

We stayed with Lynn and Danny, Dave's mum and dad's friends.

0:34:060:34:10

It was just perfect.

0:34:100:34:12

Familiar faces made a big difference to Laurra's perspective on a move.

0:34:120:34:17

You could see that if you lived there and you lived near them,

0:34:170:34:20

you'd have people around you, wouldn't you?

0:34:200:34:23

And their family as well.

0:34:230:34:25

That, for me, made me feel better.

0:34:250:34:27

It was great and I could see Laurra getting really into it then.

0:34:270:34:30

Living a typical Aussie family life for a fortnight gave them

0:34:300:34:34

both the opportunity to ponder more on the decision they'd made.

0:34:340:34:38

You could see how they lived.

0:34:380:34:40

They went off to work and seeing what the kids had done...

0:34:400:34:44

You could see how we perhaps could be in the future.

0:34:440:34:48

It was just so much fun. It was really good.

0:34:480:34:52

It couldn't have been any better. It was absolutely perfect.

0:34:520:34:55

The extra two weeks made me think about it more.

0:34:550:34:58

Not necessarily change my mind but brought me round

0:34:580:35:01

to a different way of thinking.

0:35:010:35:03

On the long journey home,

0:35:030:35:04

Laurra continued to question the choice she had made.

0:35:040:35:08

You have 26 hours and you've just then got time to think.

0:35:080:35:11

And for me, it was, "Could I? Couldn't I? No. I can."

0:35:110:35:16

It was just a battle of could I and would I?

0:35:160:35:20

Once back in the UK,

0:35:230:35:24

Laurra initially kept her new-found feelings to herself,

0:35:240:35:28

but on the quiet started researching a possible move.

0:35:280:35:32

I was just having a look for myself, looking at houses,

0:35:330:35:36

what we could afford, if he could get a job,

0:35:360:35:39

if I could get a job, what the visas are like.

0:35:390:35:43

I want to do all that first before I said, "Yeah, I want to go."

0:35:430:35:48

Cos I don't want to get his hopes up.

0:35:480:35:51

I caught her one day just checking out jobs in Australia.

0:35:510:35:53

I said, "What are you doing?"

0:35:530:35:55

"Oh, nothing. Nothing. Just checking out jobs in Australia.

0:35:550:35:59

"There's a couple of jobs here for carpenters and builders."

0:35:590:36:03

I was like, "Oh, right, OK. OK."

0:36:030:36:05

Once her change of heart had been rumbled,

0:36:050:36:08

Laurra finally felt able to admit she was ready to take the plunge.

0:36:080:36:11

We'd been home a few weeks and then I started to think, "This is crazy.

0:36:110:36:18

"Why don't we just go and enjoy it for a few years and just enjoy..."

0:36:180:36:23

-An adventure.

-Yeah.

0:36:230:36:24

Laurra and Dave took the bull by the horns

0:36:240:36:28

and put their house on the market.

0:36:280:36:30

That was the biggest decision.

0:36:300:36:33

Cos it was our home. But it was time.

0:36:330:36:35

You know, that was the biggest decision to make.

0:36:350:36:37

-So we made that decision...

-That's the first step, we thought.

-Yeah.

0:36:370:36:40

But the process didn't go entirely to plan.

0:36:400:36:44

It's old and...

0:36:440:36:46

We're like, "Yes, OK. This is it now. Ready to go."

0:36:460:36:50

And the woman who bought it pulled out at the last minute.

0:36:500:36:57

It's like a wrench, it is.

0:36:570:36:59

It's like a wrench and you just think, "Oh! Why?!"

0:36:590:37:02

-It wasn't meant to be.

-No, it wasn't meant to be.

0:37:020:37:05

-It wasn't the right time.

-No.

-That's how we see it.

0:37:050:37:07

The loss of a close friend made them

0:37:070:37:09

more determined than ever to make the move.

0:37:090:37:13

It really hit home...how...

0:37:130:37:16

..how sad life can be. How short life can be.

0:37:180:37:22

Cos, unfortunately, he was only young.

0:37:220:37:24

So it really kind of hit home.

0:37:240:37:27

If we were to do something, just do it now.

0:37:270:37:31

What you do take from it is that you live every moment

0:37:310:37:35

and you grasp every single second.

0:37:350:37:38

Enjoy every moment.

0:37:380:37:39

Not wanting to delay, the couple put their house back on the market.

0:37:410:37:46

While signed up to the move,

0:37:460:37:48

Laurra's only committing to an initial

0:37:480:37:50

four-year trial run down under.

0:37:500:37:52

If you're just going over there for four years, that's not a lifetime.

0:37:520:37:56

That's how I look at it. We'll go there.

0:37:560:37:58

And we're going to have our adventure as a family,

0:37:580:38:01

and then we'll come back here.

0:38:010:38:03

-That's how I see it.

-Yeah.

0:38:030:38:05

You might see it differently. That's how I see it.

0:38:050:38:08

I think we need to be there for a certain amount of time

0:38:090:38:12

to give it a go.

0:38:120:38:13

And hopefully, when we get around the four years,

0:38:130:38:16

she's made a good career over there and enjoying it,

0:38:160:38:20

and the kids are loving it, and they're settled,

0:38:200:38:22

it's going to be a little bit harder to come home.

0:38:220:38:25

Over the last two years,

0:38:250:38:27

Laurra's love of baking has turned into a full-time occupation.

0:38:270:38:31

I decided to take the plunge and I got myself a shop.

0:38:310:38:36

Now it's a proper business,

0:38:360:38:39

so it's something that I want to take forward wherever I go.

0:38:390:38:42

Demand for her cake creations has risen so fast

0:38:430:38:46

the Australian move will have to wait for at least a year.

0:38:460:38:50

I'm busy throughout next year with weddings, and then...

0:38:500:38:55

And that's my business and I don't want to jeopardise that,

0:38:560:38:59

so I think give us 12 months.

0:38:590:39:02

It gives us some time to put more money into savings as well.

0:39:020:39:05

-Well, that's it.

-Be a bit more comfortable.

-When we get over there.

0:39:050:39:09

But Laurra's plan for work in Australia is now anything

0:39:090:39:13

but half-baked.

0:39:130:39:15

I hope that I can take this over there. I hope that...

0:39:150:39:19

that they feel that the standard is good enough

0:39:190:39:22

and they'd appreciate what I'm about.

0:39:220:39:25

I'd like to see Laurra's business really boom over there.

0:39:250:39:29

I'd like to concentrate more on that than myself, really.

0:39:290:39:32

-So I can kind of retire early.

-THEY LAUGH

0:39:320:39:36

The move may be some way off,

0:39:360:39:38

but attention has already turned to dealing with more emotional matters.

0:39:380:39:42

It'd be so tough leaving my family, because we are close.

0:39:420:39:46

So it would be very tough. And I...

0:39:460:39:49

I'd miss them loads.

0:39:490:39:50

They don't really want to talk about it.

0:39:500:39:53

We do drop subtle hints.

0:39:530:39:55

I've only brought it up with my mum the past few months that I'm...

0:39:550:40:00

That I've changed my mind. But we don't really talk about it.

0:40:000:40:05

The thought of separating Jack and Carmen from their grandparents

0:40:050:40:09

is weighing heavily on the couple's shoulders.

0:40:090:40:13

It's probably the worst feeling I have.

0:40:130:40:17

Because of the fact they are so close to both sets,

0:40:180:40:22

equally as close to both sets, and they see them equally as much.

0:40:220:40:26

They get spoiled absolutely rotten. They love it.

0:40:260:40:29

They love seeing their grandparents.

0:40:290:40:31

I know that and I feel so bad...taking that away.

0:40:310:40:36

-There's always going to be guilt, isn't there, because...

-Oh, yeah.

0:40:360:40:39

..you know, this is your decision.

0:40:390:40:41

That you're moving them somewhere else.

0:40:410:40:44

Jack is in two minds about living on the other side of the world.

0:40:440:40:49

One day he'll say, "Yeah, I really want to go."

0:40:490:40:53

And the next he'll say, "Nope. I've got football."

0:40:530:40:56

And, "I want to go and watch Chelsea."

0:40:560:40:59

I'll miss...

0:40:590:41:01

my dog. And I'll miss...

0:41:010:41:05

my friends.

0:41:050:41:07

But I'll be happy there.

0:41:070:41:10

But Carmen has proved open to persuasion.

0:41:100:41:13

Being daddy's little girl, she kind of listens to everything I say.

0:41:130:41:16

I have said to her, "Would you like to go over to Australia?"

0:41:160:41:19

And, "Yeah."

0:41:190:41:20

Because it would be fun.

0:41:200:41:24

With just a year to go, Mum and Dad are cautiously optimistic.

0:41:250:41:31

I have days where...

0:41:310:41:32

..I am really excited. I think, "Wow, I really want this to happen."

0:41:340:41:40

And I think Laurra feels it as well.

0:41:400:41:42

I can see myself in that area by Currumbin.

0:41:420:41:45

I don't want to let myself think about it too much in that way.

0:41:450:41:49

Cos I always think I'm going to jinx it.

0:41:490:41:51

If I get too excited about something by focusing on it,

0:41:510:41:54

then I'm going to jinx it and it's not going to happen.

0:41:540:41:56

Though it's been his dream all along,

0:42:020:42:04

Dave's hoping the move will benefit Jack and Carmen most.

0:42:040:42:08

We want it all for the kids.

0:42:080:42:10

I really want them to blossom over there.

0:42:100:42:13

Make friends very easily, I hope.

0:42:130:42:15

And just do really well at school.

0:42:150:42:17

14 years after the trip that inspired him,

0:42:170:42:20

Dave can't wait to be down under once more.

0:42:200:42:23

In three years' time, I'd like to be settled in a nice, decent house.

0:42:230:42:29

I'd like to think I would...maybe be working, possibly for myself.

0:42:290:42:35

I'd like to think Laurra's found a place, she's working close,

0:42:360:42:41

and the kids are settled at school.

0:42:410:42:43

That would sound a really nice place to be.

0:42:430:42:46

Sitting down with a load of friends, kids enjoying themselves,

0:42:460:42:49

in nice little place, with a cold one.

0:42:490:42:52

That'd be great.

0:42:520:42:54

It may have been a long time coming,

0:42:580:43:00

but Laurra's change of heart means Dave's dream

0:43:000:43:03

of a life in Australia with his family is finally within reach.

0:43:030:43:08

We hope the move goes smoothly and that the Howes go on to have

0:43:080:43:12

a successful and happy future together down under.

0:43:120:43:16

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