Atkins Family Wanted Down Under

They say it's not where you live but who you live with that's important.

But what if you and your partner are at loggerheads over where to spend

your future, and that's threatening to ruin your relationship?

Having arrived in the UK 15 years ago,

Shari Atkins is now desperate to return to Australia.

As much as home is here now, there's a part of my heart in Australia.

But husband Karie can't bear to leave the life he loves in the UK.

There are family, there are friends, there are the finances,

you know, the reality of it all.

After years of indecision,

a trial week down under is crunch time for Shari's dream and marriage.

If Karie voted to stay in the UK, that's kind of putting a bit of

a nail in our coffin because I just think I'll be done with waiting.

The flattest and lowest landmass on Earth,

Australia's a nation people have called home for over 40,000 years.

Offering stunning landscapes and a fabulous climate,

in more recent times it's been considered a land of plenty

for British families on the move, with recent figures showing

an estimated 34,000 people emigrate there every year.

When Shari Atkins arrived in the UK from Australia in 2001

as a fresh-faced traveller, it was always planned as a temporary trip.

15 years on, however, despite repeated promises from husband

Karie to make the move down under, she's still living in Wales

and the issue's putting their marriage under pressure.

Now, Shari has one week to convince Karie to follow her home or

face the possibility of losing her for ever.

The couple's return trip to Australia starts with

a flight from London to Dubai and then on to Perth.

And, after almost 18 hours in the sky, Karie's exhausted

when they finally touch down.

The journey was very long, didn't get much sleep.

Shari's delighted to be back on Aussie soil.

I'm just excited to be home, to be fair,

and just looking forward to getting back into it and showing

Karie kind of the lifestyle that he could potentially have here with me.

But he's more anxious than excited.

I'm pretty nervous, bit of pressure on me this week.

Yeah, I'm hoping everything goes well and, you know, all the things

that we see kind of, you know, take us in the right direction.

Their emotions may be conflicting

but the couple agree on the importance of the next seven days.

There's a lot riding on this week.

Yeah, there's a massive amount riding on this week.

I guess it's us, at the end of the day, that's riding on this week.

Pretty much.

As the couple head out into Perth, they're all too aware their

marriage could be on the line if they can't agree come the end of the week.

Back in the UK,

Karie and Shari Atkins live in Chepstow in South Wales.

Born in Australia, Shari was considering travelling the world

when, in 2001, the flip of a coin changed her future for ever.

It came up heads and I literally walked out the door

and went straight to the closest travel agent

and booked a one-way flight to the UK.

Five years later, Shari was just six months from returning home

when she met Karie.

Their first date didn't start well.

I was over an hour late.

-Hour and a half.

-OK, an hour and a half!

But, having hit it off, Shari temporarily delayed

her return to Australia on the understanding

if Karie remained in her life, he'd eventually go with her.

I pretty much told him from the word go that if, you know...

anybody who was going to be with me would have to realise that

at some point I'm going back and, hopefully, that they

would want to come with me, but that it was a non-negotiable deal.

I kind of didn't really think much about it, to be honest,

didn't really contemplate such a huge thing.

When the couple decided to tie the knot three years later,

Karie promised Shari a future down under.

When we got engaged, Karie had said that we would,

at some point in the future, move back to Australia.

It would be part of the deal, part of the engagement package. Um...

And, yeah, I just always thought that it would be part of our future at some point.

The couple took a trip to Shari's home country in 2012,

but if she was hoping to use it to persuade Karie to make the move

her plan didn't work out.

Almost 15 years after she arrived in the UK,

she's now longing to go home.

It's something to do with feeling home,

and as much as home is here now,

there's a part of my heart in Australia.

But, despite his earlier promises,

Karie still can't commit to the life his wife wants.

She can just flip a coin and make a decision based on that.

Whereas I'm much more considered.

I need to be on the way to 100% certain that these

things are going to...

You know, this is going to work for us.

A fan of outdoor pursuits, Karie has concerns about a move.

I'd need to be confident that there was a job there for both of us.

I'd need to know that we could afford a house.

To know that we could at least match the life that we have in the UK

and also that I could fit into the lifestyle.

He's also wavering at the thought of leaving family in the UK.

I do love them very much and it just...

It'll be a real struggle for me, I think.

The prospect of saying goodbye to ageing grandparents

is especially tough.

I'd really miss them, obviously, but it's just, yeah, not knowing

whether I would actually see them again and that's really difficult.

Nine years since their first conversations about Australia,

Shari is running out of patience and she is so desperate to return home

she's even contemplating going on her own.

Threatening to leave Karie and leave our relationship

and leave everything we've got built up here, it's...

Nobody wants to do that.

But, I've realised that that's...

You know, I've got to give it a go, so that's, erm...

..that's where it's come from.

Sorry.

The couple now face a week that will make or break their relationship, as

Shari gives trying to convince Karie to follow her home one last shot.

It was always part of the deal that we would do it one day.

You know, I've been open and honest about wanting to go back

since day one and I think it's fair.

Blatantly, I've not come through on my promise.

I do feel bad about that.

Just give it a go. That's all I'm asking.

-Not, you know, not the world, just give it a go. Be fair.

-I know.

Shari and Karie are spending their trial week in the coastal port

of Fremantle, just 12 miles from central Perth in Western Australia.

Their temporary home is a one-bedroom cottage

on a leafy street close to the beach,

but will it live up to Shari's memories of Australian living?

-What do you reckon?

-Hi, honey, I'm home.

Happy so far, then.

-Oh.

-Finally here.

-Wow!

The quirky interiors of this former fisherman's cottage

appeal to Shari straightaway.

I could live in something like this. I'd be very happy.

But Karie's not so sure.

It's, like, kind of not Australian but...

I don't know.

-It's probably not what you were expecting, no.

-Yeah, exactly.

-The kitchen isn't quite what he expected, either.

-I don't know.

It's sort of open plan, but it's not quite what, I guess,

we were thinking, maybe, but I really like it.

-No, it's awesome. They have a nice back yard.

-Yeah.

It's not huge, but Shari quickly spots something that should

appeal to Karie.

-Shed. Yeah.

-Off you go.

-Yeah, I know where I'm sleeping.

Hopefully, it won't come to that.

After checking out the rest of the house,

the couple appear happy with everything they've seen so far.

It's a lovely place. It's very homely, very quirky.

It's a good start.

I just can't wait to get out and rediscover it all

and remind myself of how good it is.

But, as they make themselves at home, Shari's enthusiasm for being

back on home turf is already unsettling Karie.

You know, there is a bit of pressure there for me

to like things and want to feel the same way,

but, you know, I've got to look at it

with a clear mind and see what I think and see what's possible.

After years spent longing to be back home,

Shari knows the week ahead is critical

if she and Karie are to have a future.

A decision has to be made, one way or the other.

I know ultimately that I want to be here

and I'd like Karie to be, but if he chooses not to, then...

Well, I guess we'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

Hopefully not, though.

# Are you with me... #

Back in the UK, home for Shari and Karie is a two-bedroom

mid-terraced cottage in Chepstow, South Wales.

We've worked really, really hard to get it exactly how we like it.

It was our first home as a married couple,

so, you know, it has great importance to us.

Still, Shari is prepared to give it up to return to the country

where she was born, and if she does persuade Karie to join her

the couple agree on the kind of house they'd like next.

I would love a big back yard.

A small house on a big piece of land.

Three bedrooms would be great.

-A shed for you.

-Yeah, a shed or a garage.

Close to the beach.

In an ideal world, it will also be quite close to some wooded area,

so you could go off and do some biking.

But there's a difference of opinion on whether

their £330,000 budget can get them the perfect property.

I think there's a dream property for that kind of money out there.

But, I think, in Australian terms with Australian wages,

-probably lower-ish rung.

-OK.

To find out what kind of house they could actually have,

today we'll show Karie and Shari three properties.

Two based on their budget and a third which could be their dream home.

Only after they've seen each one will they find out what it costs.

House-hunting gets underway in Bayswater,

just over three miles north-east of central Perth.

Stretching along the banks of the Swan River,

the area offers plenty of open space for running and cycling,

so could be perfect for Karie.

But will it be the house to persuade him

to make Shari's wish to return home come true?

-Seen this garage?

-I know, it's brilliant.

That's one thing off the wish list. Hopefully, inside won't disappoint.

Oh, this is nice, isn't it? Nice open plan. Straight into the lounge.

I wasn't expecting that, actually.

Karie doesn't sound sold.

I like the layout, but I'm not so keen on the look of the kitchen.

-Oh, that's OK, that can be changed.

-Yeah, true.

Shari is determined to sell Aussie homes.

But first, the spacious master bedroom helps her case.

-Wow! Oh, it's beautiful.

-That's not a bad size, is it?

-That's absolutely beautiful.

-Yeah.

But, on further inspection...

It's kind of weird, for me, having a bedroom at the front of the house.

Well, British houses are all upstairs downstairs, aren't they?

So, Aussie houses are a bit more...

You always have bedrooms at the front.

The layout might take some getting used to, but with three

good-sized bedrooms, the house offers the space the couple want.

-The bathroom, though, shows less promise.

-It's kind of...

-It's a bit disappointing.

-It is disappointing.

It doesn't fit well with the house, I don't think.

It may not be the stuff dreams are made of but, moving outside,

the huge garden is a big hit with Shari.

Whoa! That is awesome.

No way! This is brilliant.

This is, like, exceeding my expectations at the moment.

And additional space for bikes and sporting equipment

almost leaves Karie speechless.

If this fits with the budget we've got in mind, wow!

Would you move in tomorrow? I'm not joking.

I know you're not joking. I know. I know you're not joking.

It's the first place they've seen,

but this could be the house to tempt Karie to swap Chepstow for Perth

if their £330,000 budget would be enough to buy it.

Time to find out.

Whoa! £343,200.

That is amazing.

-OK, it's over our budget.

-Yeah, yeah.

-But it's not that much over.

-That's really impressive.

-That is promising, isn't it?

Really impressive.

Just over 13,000 over budget hasn't dented the couple's enthusiasm,

and, encouraged, they move on to view the second property of the day.

It's situated in Karrinyup, a well-established suburb

15 minutes' drive from the city.

-Properties along here are not cheap.

-Oh, it's by the coast.

It's right there.

Close to one of Perth's most popular beaches,

the area should appeal to Shari and plenty of green areas suited

to running and cycling, make it perfect for Karie, too.

But will this three-bedroom cottage be somewhere

the Atkins could make themselves at home?

-Oh, yeah.

-Wow! This is quite a nice little sitting-room, isn't it?

Front lounge. It's much bigger than ours and...

-Huge, compared to ours, yeah.

-Really nicely decorated.

The recently renovated interiors have plenty of charm

and the master bedroom wins Shari over, too.

-Really, really nicely done.

-Yeah.

-Isn't it?

Unlike the last house, though, the bedrooms here aren't as big on space,

but Shari's not too bothered.

The rooms might be a little bit smaller, but I think it's quite nice

because you've got the character of the property in it, not just boxes.

Yeah.

The house offers the open plan living Australian

properties are coveted for,

but it's the furniture and fittings that get Shari and Karie's attention.

The decor, everything in here is absolutely beautiful.

-Really cool, isn't it?

-The bathroom has also been updated.

Oh, wow!

But it's not quite to their tastes.

-Corner bath, not so keen on that myself.

-Looks like it's a Jacuzzi.

Again, not so keen, but... It's nice to have. It's a feature.

Wandering outside, Karie is further underwhelmed in the garden.

-You've got a house right there.

-But, look at this.

This space is beautiful.

But I was expecting, maybe, a little bit of greenery.

But think, no mowing the lawns,

-so there's no gardening you have to do.

-Yeah.

Shari is skilfully keeping Karie on side.

Now, all they need to do is find out how much this house costs.

Their budget is £330,000.

I reckon this is going to be 400,000.

Yeah, I'm going to go 440.

Let's see if anyone's right.

Oh, my God! 353?

Don't forget about the 600.

That's really impressive.

Yeah, I wish that was nearer the 300,

but then we were expecting 400, so that's a really good surprise.

Good way of thinking about it. I'm really impressed with that price.

£23,000 over budget, cheaper than they thought.

With the right jobs and salary, this house could be within reach.

To see the final property, the couple head for Doubleview.

Six miles north-west of central Perth

and less than two miles from the beach, this thriving suburb

offers a good compromise between beach and city living.

-They're huge, though, aren't they? Some of these.

-They are huge.

I don't think any of these can be for us, surely.

We think this immaculately presented house three-bedroomed house

could be the couple's dream home. Will they agree?

I mean, it's, sort of, a bit terracotta.

I'm not sure about the style of it.

It's lacking kerb appeal for Karie.

Will the interiors be more desirable?

Here we go.

-OK.

-It's a little bit more bright and airy in here

than I thought it was going to be.

First impressions are all right, actually.

Obviously, the layout is a bit weird with the furniture,

but, then, that's furniture.

Moving into the heart of the home,

-the main living area has plenty to offer.

-This is good.

-Look at this space.

-This is a brilliant area, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Open plan. Looking out onto the garden, as well, which is cool.

The interiors are modern and fresh, but Shari has a slight concern.

I must admit, looking at the kitchen, a bit small.

Yeah, I was going to say, kitchen is not massive

but the fact that it's, kind of, open doesn't matter so much, maybe.

The couple can see potential here,

but the main family bathroom proves distinctly average.

It's not a wow factor, but it's just very... It's nice, it's tidy.

-It's practical.

-It is practical.

-It does the job.

-Yeah.

The house also has plenty of rooms for guests.

What do you think of this as a main bedroom, though?

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

It's a really good size and you've got some really good views

out of the window, as well.

Inside is evoking mixed reactions and outside...

Ha! Got a Jacuzzi.

Or a very, very tiny swimming pool.

The manicured north-facing secret garden is perfect for entertaining,

but not quite what Karie or Shari was expecting.

-It's quite...

-Interesting.

-Quite weird.

That sunken feeling but, again, it is

quite private but I'm not too sure about it.

It may not be Shari or Karie's dream home after all

but, with all the space they need,

is it somewhere they could afford on their £330,000 budget?

-Let's have a look.

-Ready?

-Yeah.

379,700.

That's around £50,000 over budget.

Yeah, OK, I think this is all about location.

If we were going to go nearly 50K over our budget,

I'd want it to be a bit nicer than this.

I was probably expecting a bit more for this kind of price,

as well, but then I guess you're trading off against location because

it's very near to the ocean and nearer to the city centre, as well.

That's right, yes.

It wasn't the perfect property but, overall,

house-hunting has given Shari and Karie plenty to consider.

Property one was almost perfect,

with the huge garden Shari dreams of and the shed Karie longs for.

The interiors of property two won both Karie and Shari over

and, despite initial reservations about the garden,

Karie could see himself settling in.

The location of property three was perfect but, at almost £50,000

over budget, the house fell short of being the couple's dream home.

So, will the day have done enough to make both Shari and Karie pick

Australian properties over the house they already have in the UK?

Our vote is...

-Australia.

-Australia.

-Woo! That's good.

I'm really impressed with the houses we've seen today.

Even I'm quite impressed with what we could, potentially, afford here.

-Yeah.

-I'm really, really stoked you chose Australia.

-Cool.

A vote for Australia from Karie means Shari's crusade is off

to a flying start, but if she is to keep him by her side,

laying his job concerns to rest will be crucial.

Back home, Karie enjoys his work as a programme manager, looking after

aircraft equipment repair contracts.

It'll be really important for me to find something

that is akin to what I do in the UK.

Shari's been running her own company providing

public relations for utility companies for the past three years,

but she's prepared to give it all up to move back home.

Ideally, I'd love to continue working for myself in Australia,

however, I am quite open to the fact that

I haven't got contacts behind me, so I might have to work for somebody

else for a change, but I'm quite excited about something new, really.

Karie, on the other hand, isn't as flexible.

I think it will be really hard for me

to consider a move without having the ability to see

that I could get a good job and a good wage in Australia.

As the couple prepare to gauge work prospects in Perth,

Shari's anxious about how much the day really means for her and Karie.

If things don't go to plan, then that's, you know...

Ultimately it might be the end for us, and that's a horrible thought.

We've arranged for Karie to meet Amy Nicholls,

an executive consultant in the recruitment department

of one of Australia's largest transport logistics companies.

After a look around one of the warehouses,

Karie's ready to talk business.

You've seen my CV.

I'd like to know whether I have transferable skills

-that could work for this company.

-Absolutely.

The industry that you worked in is quite specialised,

but the skills that you have in that role

are quite generic and transformable.

That's really put my mind at rest. I was really concerned about that.

That's just what Karie needed to hear.

Hopefully, the outlook will be as promising for Shari.

She'd like to gain some experience in the local market before

possibly setting up her own business, so we've arranged for her to meet

Peter Harris, managing director of a global public relations consultancy.

Shari welcomes the opportunity to look around,

and when Peter shows her through to his office

she's keen to explore her chances of securing a job here.

Do you have any sort of placements available for someone like me?

At the moment, there isn't any specific placements, but I would say

that someone of your experience and skill sets,

I believe you'd have a very strong chance

of securing employment in that particular sector in WA.

That is absolutely brilliant news.

Shari might not walk into a job straight away,

but knowing she'd make a desirable employee is encouraging news.

Back at the logistics company, Karie has discovered, while the aviation

industry in Perth is relatively small, other options are available.

I would see you in the future looking to get towards

-a project management role.

-OK.

However, you might have to take a bit of a step back to get

some of your Australian experience,

understand the culture and the way they work out here.

Use a particular role as a kind of stepping stone.

Say, a project coordinator, for example,

in logistics maybe heavy haulage.

That could be a really good foot in the door for you.

OK, that sounds really interesting, actually.

Karie is encouraged, but would the potential salary for a junior role

be as promising?

If you went into a project coordinator role, 40 to 45,000,

you're probably looking at 60,000 plus for a project manager, pounds.

That's a really impressive wage, actually.

Karie earns around £38,000 in his current job,

so, even though he'd be doing a different role down under,

his prospects look good.

Meanwhile, having discovered working hours in Perth would be similar

to back home, Shari is investigating her earning potential as an employee.

The starting point for someone with your experience, I would

suggest would be in the approximate range of £57-£60,000,

but then increasing as you gain

further experience of the local marketplace.

Well, thank you so much for your time today,

I really do appreciate it.

Outside, Shari admits the salary makes working for someone else

an attractive option.

It was almost double what I earn in the UK, for what seemed

similar hours and the conditions were brilliant,

so, that was a real plus for me.

And, when she reunites with Karie,

Shari is relieved to hear he's had a good day, too.

It went really well, actually.

-The good thing is my skills are transferable.

-Fantastic.

They talked about a project coordinator role,

so it wouldn't be doing exactly the same thing,

but I'd be looking at, maybe, similar to what

I'm earning in the UK.

Not as great as I was hoping for.

That would be, like I say, a stepping stone.

It's been positive all round, but will Karie's on-the-ground

research be enough to see him fly the Australian flag

when it comes to choosing between work at home or away?

Today was a really important day finding out about job

prospects in Australia and now it's time to vote.

-Australia!

-Australia!

Woo! Awesome. I didn't think you'd go that.

Well, I may have to take a step down in Australia, initially,

but, you know, I really want this to work for us

and if I need to make some compromises then, you know,

-I think I can. I think I can do that.

-Yay!

Bowled over by Perth's properties and buoyed

by potential job opportunities, one by one, Karie's

concerns are being laid to rest.

So will experiencing the Australian lifestyle

Shari's longing to return to be enough to tempt him further?

The couple enjoy an outdoor lifestyle in the UK.

But, with Shari keen to add watersports to their repertoire,

the pair head to Lake Leschenaultia, in Chidlow,

to start their day with some canoeing.

-Hiya.

-How you doing?

-Good, thanks.

-There you go.

-One-hour canoe hire?

-Yeah, please, yeah.

After a quick safety briefing, the couple are ready to go.

-Here we go.

-Are you ready?

-Yeah.

Just 45 minutes from the city, this former railway dam

-is the perfect place to enjoy some time on the water.

-Lovely, isn't it?

Karie looks like he could have found a new sport.

We do canoeing in the UK but the weather is fantastic,

it's autumn, so it's really matching up quite nicely at the moment.

And Shari looks right at home.

How's the steering going?

It just reinforces what I've always, you know,

remembered Australia to be.

Next, the pair hit the popular mountain biking trails

of nearby Paulls Valley.

Karie is an avid mountain biker back home, but Shari's hoping

today will convince him there's plenty of scope for cycling

down under, and it looks like she could be in luck.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

The trails in the UK are fantastic, but these are great too.

It's just beautiful out here today.

I can't really have a bad word to say about it, you know?

Don't, you'll push me off!

The afternoon has worked wonders on Karie

and, as the couple round off their day with a picnic on Gooseberry Hill,

Shari admits she's more determined than ever to come home.

If Karie chooses not to want to come back,

I will be gutted because this is...

You know, it is everything that I want for us.

But as the sun sets over Perth, it could yet be setting on her dream.

These aren't just the things I have to consider.

There are family, there are friends, there are the finances, you know,

the reality of it all.

The couple face some tough decisions come the end of the week,

but has the lifestyle seduced Karie into choosing Australia over the UK?

After an awesome day doing activities that we both love,

our vote today will be...

-BOTH:

-Australia.

-Woo! Did you? Really?

-Yeah, yeah.

I'm so, so happy that you've gone down the Oz route, for that,

because I was actually concerned that, as much as you loved today,

it wouldn't be enough to convince you.

It was great, it was just absolutely great,

and just today is kind of, like,

starting to underline that we can potentially have a life

in Australia that can match up equally

-or, if not, better than the UK. So, yeah.

-Yay! Cool.

-Yeah.

Karie's consistent votes for Australia are Shari's clearest

signal yet she could soon return home with her husband by her side.

But she still needs to prove the move won't rob them

of financial stability.

If she succeeds, the couple hope to sell their house in Wales

for around £150,000.

We've arranged for valuations from two estate agents

to see if that's achievable.

Ah, no!

Sticky front door.

-Wow! Lovely room.

-Ah, OK.

-Nice and bright. Nice floor.

-Positive.

-Yeah.

-Nice space. This is really impressive.

They're often quite small in these older houses, but this is lovely.

And they've done a good job of the decor.

It can be a bit dark, but they've really made it nice

-and light with these colour schemes.

-Awesome.

What a nice garden. Really pleasant.

Courtyard garden, plenty of storage space. Really nice.

Ah, the main bedroom. That's a nice space, as well.

Like the fact that it's south-facing, a lot of sun.

It's onto the road, so maybe a bit of noise but it is double-glazed.

This is sounding good, isn't it?

Lovely, tasteful bathroom. Really modern, updated.

Very, very nice indeed. Everything you could want.

In the current market, I would value this property at £166,500

and for a quick sale, I would value the property for 166,000.

-That's great.

-That was a quick sale.

On the open market, today, I value this property at £185,000

and for a quick sale I'd say £174,000.

No! That is awesome.

-That is seriously awesome.

-Oh, my God.

To have that cash behind us and stuff, is...

-I know! 180.

-I know.

-That is incredible.

Valuations exceeding expectations is a good start.

The couple sit down to work out how much living in Australia

would really cost, beginning with their weekly food shop.

-Milk is cheaper.

-Yep.

-By £1, almost.

Greens and vegetables seem to be a little bit more expensive here.

-Eggs.

-Eggs are more expensive. Tuna is a lot more expensive.

Chopped tomatoes are way more expensive. That's weird, isn't it?

The items add up to reveal they would spend around £10

more on groceries every week.

Next, the couple move on to the bigger bills,

basing their mortgage repayment on the first property they viewed.

Wow, that's a significant cost.

It would be £1,000 more a month on the mortgage.

But, I guess, at the end of the day we're upgrading.

Don't get me wrong, that is a significant jump, isn't it?

Fortunately, there are some savings to be made elsewhere.

-Gas and electricity...

-Cheaper here.

Gas is. Electricity is more.

Car running costs, they're kind of the same.

Gym membership is the same. You can get rid of that cos

we'll spend all our time outside, so that's good.

Shari is desperate to make the sums work in her favour.

Our monthly costs would then be...

-Ooh.

-4,166.

That's £828 more than they spend in the UK every month.

-That's not good.

-No, it's not good.

Everything now rests on the couple's potential salaries down under.

-OK, so, in Australia our wages will be, combined, £5,887.

-OK.

And in the UK they are £5,058.

Wow.

That's £829 more in Australia,

and when they factor in those bigger bills they're back in the black.

So, we would be one whole pound

-better off here.

-OK.

£12 a year better off might not be life-changing, but Shari's

just relieved to prove they can afford the lifestyle she wants.

Can I do it? I told you so.

-Nine years it's taken me to prove this to you.

-No, I can see this now.

This is starting to dawn on me that, actually, we can have...

-A better house.

-..an upgrade. I know, I know.

A back yard, a man cave, more lifestyle - need I say any more?

No-brainer, surely, surely!

I can't argue with you on this, can I, really?

It's there in black and white.

It's a great outcome for Shari,

but will the figures have done enough to put Karie on the same page

when it comes to choosing between finances in Australia or the UK?

It's now time to vote.

Australia. Yay! Yay!

There is still a hell of a lot going on in my mind.

I can see that, yeah.

But, you know, I can't argue with you any longer

-or stick my head in the sand. It's like...

-Yes!

Convinced the finances can work, Shari's attempts at selling

her homeland to Karie seem to be paying off.

But there's still one final fence to clear.

As the couple sit down to watch messages from loved ones at home,

Shari knows this could be the thing that keeps Karie rooted to the UK.

-So, are we ready for this?

-Yeah, let's do it.

-Yeah.

Hi, Karie and Shari.

Hope you're well and having a fab time in Australia.

Hello, Karie and Shari.

-BOTH:

-Hi, guys.

Hope you're having an amazing time.

-Hope the sun is shining.

-And hi from Austin. Hi.

-They bounce off each other. Both full of energy. Brilliant couple.

-Ah.

Karie, as a man today, he's very caring.

-I don't think you could meet a nicer man.

-Ah.

Shari is great. She's really welcoming, she's very friendly.

I think it must be kind of the Australian-ness in her.

Shari is one of the best friends you could possibly ask for.

It's important that Karie does what he wants to do,

not just for Shari but for himself.

He was my first grandchild, you see,

so he's always been that little bit special.

I shall really upset myself before he goes.

Karie and Shari, you probably mean more to me than you know you do,

but at the same time I think

this is an incredible opportunity for you...

-Good work, Bambi.

-..and I think you should go for it.

I'm going to miss you guys more than you can believe,

but I truly want you to be happy.

Shari, I think we already know you've made up your mind,

so, Karie, this is down to you, mate. We will miss you.

I just want you to know that, whatever you decide,

then I am 100% happy.

Well, Karie and Shari, I shall miss you very, very much,

and you know how much I love you.

-Likewise.

-Ah, miss your gran.

-That was quite a hard watch, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

-Are you all right?

-Yeah, sorry.

-They're not going to go away.

We're not going to lose them.

It's going to be a real big thing to overcome, I think, for me.

I knew it was going to be difficult. I didn't know quite...

-How difficult.

-...yeah, how difficult it was

seeing them, you know.

-This was always going to be the hardest bit, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

Always.

The prospect of leaving family has always been

a stumbling block for Karie, and actually hearing

heartfelt messages from home has only magnified his concerns.

After being consistently sold on Australia all week,

will his strong emotional ties to the UK

now see Shari's dream for their future unravel?

When they arrived a week ago, Shari was on a mission to convince

her husband they could make a great life for themselves

in her native country,

and the last seven days have shown plenty of potential.

I've felt exceptionally at home.

It's reinforced everything I believed about Australia.

It's been a brilliant week, it's been so, so good.

I've had some awesome experiences this week.

It has shown me that, you know, there could be a life here for us.

Karie has voted Australia throughout the week,

but the reality of putting half a world between him

and everyone he loves back home is playing on his mind.

I've got a fantastic wife that I love very much,

but I've also got a family in the UK and I am and always will be a Brit

that loves the UK and it's...

It's, er...

It's a real dilemma for me, this.

I think watching the friends and family clips

has really kind of dented him a little bit

and kind of made him really question what,

you know, what he will be leaving behind.

Having rediscovered life on her home turf,

Shari's more determined than ever to get the life she wants.

I want this so much.

I don't want it to get back into the situation we had before

of, you know, it's just forgotten about and then we are kind of

back to where we are, because it's been nine years and it's been hard.

A flip of a coin almost 15 years ago

meant Shari met the man of her dreams.

Now a turn of flags will decide if she has a future with him.

I love her so much and I know she's hoping

for a good decision from me and...

You know, I know I've got to go with my own decision here, but I...

You know, I don't want to...

I don't want to lose her.

Whatever decision I make, I don't want to lose her.

If Karie voted to stay in the UK, that's kind of putting

a bit of a nail in our coffin, because I can't wait around forever.

I just think...

I think I'll be done with waiting.

Sorry.

It's crunch time for the couple as Shari ultimately finds out

if she'll be moving home, with or without her husband by her side.

After nine years and a trial week in Perth, our decision is...

-BOTH:

-Australia.

-Did you really?

-Yeah.

Ah. That's awesome.

I am just absolutely relieved, actually,

that you chose to go Australia.

I think it's awesome and I'm really excited.

The thought of leaving my family in the UK

and the thought of leave leaving the UK full stop

just completely tears me up.

Seeing it with my own eyes and kind of experiencing it all with you

has just made me realise, like,

this will make me happy as much as it will make you happy.

It just... It just means the world.

-It means the world to me too.

-I know.

-You mean the world to me.

Ah, bless you.

It's been a long time coming but, nine years after the first

discussions about Australia, the waiting is finally over for Shari

as Karie commits once and for all to her dream of returning home.

We wish them a long and happy future as they prepare to start

a brand-new life down under together.