Cook Family Wanted Down Under

Kiwi-born Felicity stayed in Britain so that her daughter would grow up here.

She feels now is the right time for her to return down under.

I'm just going to try and make it work whatever way I can.

But daughter Lucy says this is her mum's dream.

Not hers.

I want to make her happy, I don't want to make a decision that ruins her life.

Has Felicity any chance at all persuading steadfast Lucy to leave her dad

and make her move with Mum?

Leaving my dad behind, like, even the thought of it just feels awful.

Just talking about it I feel sad, I feel upset.

I think if Lucy gave it a big flat no I'd be so disappointed,

I think that I would be... OK, I'd be devastated.

Any move to Australia for this single mum could be on a single ticket.

The world's sixth-largest country,

Australia accounts for 5% of the world's landmass.

Stretching for 2,500 miles from East Coast to West.

But with just over a third of the population of Great Britain,

there's plenty of room for newcomers.

Drawn by the lure of an outdoor lifestyle,

and more than 10,000 beaches on which to enjoy it, every day,

23 families jet off from the UK, hoping to make the country home.

Single mum Felicity has given the last 20 years of her life to raising

daughter Lucy in the UK.

Not that she regrets a minute of it,

as Lucy also has a wonderful relationship with her father.

But Felicity was born down under,

and living in the UK was never part of her intended life plan.

Now, with Lucy almost grown up,

Felicity's desperate to head back home to Oz before it's too late.

But she can't bear the thought that soul mate Lucy might not come with

her. She has a week to convince Lucy hers is a dream they can share.

At the end, Lucy will have to vote on where her future lies -

a decision that will leave Felicity happy or heartbroken.

To get to Australia from the UK,

mum and daughter have spent over 22 hours in the air,

but Lucy's taken it in her stride.

I quite liked that flight, actually.

Cos normally we go to New Zealand and that's a lot longer.

It's been many years since Felicity last set foot in Brisbane.

So it's exciting.

It's a bit of fear as well but it's exciting more than anything, yeah.

Lucy's only visited Australia once before when she was very young.

Being here kind of gives me a chance to see what Mum's always talking

about, to see if it actually lives up to the hype.

The long journey's given Felicity plenty of opportunity for

-thinking.

-It's a lot of time just to reflect on what I need to do here

and what I'm hoping to get from being here as well.

I'm quite nervous about the week ahead because there's that part of

me that thinks, what if I really like it here then I choose to live here then

I have to leave everyone behind? I'm feeling quite conflicted at the moment.

Mum's also got no illusions about what's at stake.

Really important week for me.

Feeling the pressure.

This is your dream and I don't want to crush that and I have that

feeling on my shoulders, it's quite heavy.

This is just the opportunity for me to see if I can do it,

how I can do it, how I would do it.

Yeah, just have to convince my daughter.

Yup. Pretty much.

Felicity's got just seven days to find out and persuade Lucy

their future lies on the other side of the world.

Meet the Cooks - mum Felicity and daughter Lucy, who's 17.

They live in Surrey in the southeast of England.

Felicity was born in New Zealand,

and, at the same age as a Lucy is now, decided it was time to spread her wings.

The New Zealand I come from - a small suburb beach area,

and I look back now as an adult and I think, yeah, it's beautiful.

But I was ready for something bigger.

She found what she was looking for in Australia.

I spent ten years in Sydney, sowed my wild oats,

for want of a better way of saying it, had a great lifestyle.

I got more into the spiritual side of things,

meditation,

started to study naturopathy,

traditional Chinese medicine, massage,

and that was at a time and it wasn't such a big thing so I was considered

a bit, by my family and other people, a space cadet.

But Felicity was serious about her lifestyle,

and decided to become a Buddhist and found herself heading for the other

side of the world.

There was an opportunity to come to the UK and work in the office at the

Amaravati monastery.

I always knew I'd come to England and do some travel or do something

so it was sort of like putting it all together.

The plan had been to stay just for a few years but then Lucy came along

and everything changed.

I met Lucy's dad in the UK,

unfortunately we split up when Lucy was quite young.

I made the decision to stay in the UK cos I feel that every child should

have the support of both parents if that's possible.

But it wasn't an easy choice.

At the time it was a very difficult decision to make cos I've got a big family back in New Zealand.

It's a sacrifice Lucy's come to appreciate as she's grown up.

My relationship with my dad is so important and such a key part of my

life, I'm really grateful that you made that decision.

Felicity has no regrets about the choices she's made but, nearly 20 years on,

her antipodean roots still have a firm hold.

I love Australia I guess cos it's bigger,

there's a lot more going on and I think now that Lucy's 18

or coming up 18 that it might be a country where she can have a lot more opportunities.

It's not just the Aussie lifestyle drawing Felicity back.

Over the years, she's felt the separation from her own family down under.

Simply, she misses them.

I'm very close with my sisters,

they meet up for sister time and I see it on social media and I'm thinking,

oh, what about me? I'm one of the sisters.

So I do miss it.

On the downside, moving closer to Felicity's family would mean Lucy

leaving her dad.

Leaving my dad behind, even the thought of it just feels awful.

Lucy agrees to at least give it a go.

No, that's fine, that's grand.

I'm willing to give Australia a trial because of Mum,

because she was willing to put herself second and stay here to help my relationship with my dad grow.

I think doing this will help her to make her mind up,

it'll help her say, yeah, definitely,

I want to try this, or maybe I want to try this or she's going to say

flatly, no, I don't want to do this.

This trial week will finally bring an end to the "will we/won't we?"

-Will we, won't we?

-Yeah.

What if it's a no?

I think if Lucy doesn't want to go,

then I'd have some very hard questions to ask myself.

There's a lot riding on the week ahead.

It's my shot of looking at getting back, definitely, this is it, I'm going for it.

For their trial week, Felicity and Lucy are staying

in a three-bedroom new build in Brisbane's

inner-city suburb of Hamilton.

Location-wise, it couldn't be closer to all the facilities mum and daughter

might want. The airport, city centre, the river, all just a few miles away.

-Feel that sun.

-It is nice, isn't it?

It's really nice. I really like it!

-I know!

-I can see myself living here, 100%.

Oh, it's nice, this looks really big.

Not even through the front door and it looks like Lucy's already sold.

Oh, I like this, this is lovely.

-Yes.

-So bright as well.

Yeah. I think we should just move in.

-This is it.

-I think so, yeah. This is it.

-We're done.

-Well, that was easy.

As they unpack, Lucy can see just how delighted Mum is to be back in Australia.

# I'm so excited. #

Please don't start singing!

On a scale of one to ten, how excited are you?

100.

It's not long before the reality of the week ahead starts to sink in.

It's like crunch time.

I'm a bit worried as to how it's going to...

It could change my opinion about living in England.

-Oh, OK.

-Yeah.

I think I need some flip-flops.

Yeah. We could do a little flip-flop shop.

They're called thongs down under, Lucy, but you weren't to know -

there's still a lot to find out.

You've got seven days to discover if this is the place for you and your

-mum.

-Think this week I've got to be persuaded that Australia offers the

same or more as England because what I've got at home is so important to

me and I don't want to lose that.

If Lucy decides that she doesn't want to come here and it's a really

flat no, it would upset me the most.

Cos I've always wanted to be in a reasonable distance to wherever Lucy is...

..and not the other side of the world.

Back in the UK, the Cooks live in a rented two-bedroom semi in Surrey -

they've been there for ten years and love it.

It has got a nice little back garden, off-street parking.

It's a bit small, though, isn't it?

Oh, it is a bit small but we've lived here for ten years so we made it really nice.

Location-wise, it's perfect.

Where we live Surrey is beautiful.

Yeah, Surrey's like the perfect place to live.

Yes, they've become very attached to their home.

I'd find it quite emotional leaving this house, it'd be quite hard

and also there are good memories here.

The two will be renting if they make the move with a budget of £1,200 per calendar month.

So what's their perfect home down under?

Lots of light, lots of air,

one of those lovely beautiful outdoor areas that come furnished with the lounge equipment

and I'd like to have at least three bedrooms, maybe four bedrooms.

-Yeah. Yeah.

-Separate dining room and a kitchen where I can have a kitchen table.

Yeah, I think finding the right property would be a key.

-Key, definitely.

-Yeah.

You would need to go to something equivalent or better.

To find out what £1,200 per month could get them around Brisbane,

we've lined up three houses - two close to their budget,

and one that might be their dream home.

I feel like it might be a bit far out for someone like me if I want to go out with friends.

Might be a bit far out for someone like ME!

-Really?

-The search begins in the leafy city suburb of Moggill.

Less than 30 minutes out of Brisbane,

this three-bedroom new build has a country feel yet the city on its

doorstep. Open plan is a must for the Cooks,

so surely this space will be to their liking.

-Oh, it's really open plan.

-Yeah, nice and light.

It would be nice, though, cos I can sit here doing work and you can cook my dinner.

-Yeah. That's fine.

-And we can talk.

It's a good-size kitchen, bigger than the one at home.

Yeah. Well, a lot bigger.

-Yeah.

-Big cooker, get a whole pig in there.

Then it's off to find the bedrooms.

-First bedroom?

-Yeah.

Not so sure.

Yeah. No, same feeling.

If this has the en suite, it's my room.

You can have this room, Mum, that's fine.

-Oh, it's nice!

-It is quite nice, actually.

-Yeah.

-That's a good-size shower.

Yeah, I like this bathroom.

Looks like Lucy might be warming to it.

-Oh! Walk-in wardrobe.

-Yeah, you're in my room now.

-OK.

-I can imagine myself and all my clothes out.

The second bedroom impresses, too.

I think I could have this room, definitely.

-Yeah, OK.

-I'll let you have the other one, that's fine.

-Deal, done.

Done deal, but wait, there's another bedroom!

-Guest bedroom, where all my friends come and stay.

-Yeah, oh, yeah.

Time for some hard selling from Felicity.

You can have your en suite and I'd have this bathroom.

Yes. And your friends visiting from the UK.

Of course, yeah.

Inside, very much a thumbs up. What about the outside?

-It's nice out here.

-Yeah.

I could see ourselves having breakfast out here, definitely.

-Breakfast.

-Lunch and dinner.

So this place is almost perfect for the pair but can they afford it?

So what do you think of the house?

-I really like it.

-Think it's a bit far out, though.

-Yeah. There is that.

-How much?

-Oh, I don't know.

I think it's going to be 1,400.

I was thinking that, too.

Their budget, £1,200 a month.

-Ready for this?

-Yeah.

-Oh, wow!

£1,150 a month.

Wow! That is such a surprise!

-Gosh.

-That's all right, actually - that makes me feel quite happy.

-You'd be coming over?

-Maybe.

With things off to a positive start, it's time to move to property two.

It's back towards Brisbane and the inner-city suburb of Paddington.

I'm excited!

And once through the door, they remain cautiously upbeat.

-Oh!

-It's nice.

-I quite like it.

-I love it.

Well, it's a lot of space.

It is, actually - it's quite long, isn't it?

Yeah. A traditional style of house.

I prefer having the hallway. It's nice to have somewhere for your

shoes but I think it's all right, it's an OK compromise to have.

Oh! It's a nice surprise.

I don't know, I don't know if I like this kitchen.

-It's quite dark.

-But, uh-oh, split opinions on the kitchen.

I think upstairs is a bit better.

All right. Oh, I really like downstairs.

Upstairs next and you can tell Lucy is getting more and more downbeat

about this property.

I think it's smaller than what I was expecting, but it's still a good size.

-Yeah.

-Not so sure about the red.

I really like the colour scheme.

-I know you're going to like the colour scheme.

-I do like it.

This can be your room, then.

If you like the red, you can have it.

-Thank you, darling.

-That's OK.

Bedroom number two.

I don't know, not really getting a good vibe from it.

Getting the feeling that it's not really your style.

Yeah.

-OK.

-But the bathroom is a game-changer.

Look at this! This is nice.

-This is like my dream bathroom.

-Is it?

-With the bathtub.

Think this makes up for the rest of it.

I'll just move in here, that's fine. This can be my room.

Might be a bit uncomfortable for you, darling.

-Yeah, I think so.

-Changing minds with this one.

Outside could be the decider.

-Nice.

-It's really nice out here.

Yeah. Wasn't expecting a garden for so close to the city.

Yeah. It's really lovely, actually.

It's quite simple but you could do a lot with it.

Yeah, I can imagine us sitting out here in summer, just sunbathing.

Really nice, yeah.

And a barbecue. I think the garden is better than the house.

-OK?

-Yeah, but that's cos I don't really like the house that much.

-OK.

So mixed feelings, and could they even afford it?

So what do you think?

I think it's going to be about 1,600.

Yeah, I'd say 1,600, 1,500 maybe.

-OK.

-Yeah. We'll find out.

-All right.

-Remember, their budget is £1,200 per month.

-Wow!

-£1,280 per month.

-I wasn't expecting that.

-Me neither, actually!

I thought it'd be a lot more because of the location.

Yeah! That's good but I still wouldn't pay that for a house I don't really like.

I know what you mean.

But I think now that gives me a good idea of what our money can get us.

Expectations may well have been lowered but there's still the dream

property to see.

It's ten minutes away in the leafy inner suburb of Bardon.

A popular residential area with all the cafe-society comforts

this mum and daughter could want. Might here deliver the full package?

-Oh, wow. This is nice.

-It's so nice.

It is, this one.

-Proper look.

-Looking forward to this one.

-Me, too.

-It's gorgeous.

-Really lovely.

-Wow!

-Oh, my!

-This is...

-What do you say about this?

-Wow!

-Very open.

Lucy's already picturing herself at home - a good sign.

I can just picture me like lying on the sofa, you in the kitchen.

-Cooking.

-Yeah.

-Oh, look at the big sliding door.

Yeah, it's beautiful.

-Made for us.

-I could see us living here.

-So could I.

-Really nice.

-Yeah.

Can Felicity dare to hope this home might seduce Lucy to move?

When they see the kitchen, perhaps she can.

Oh. Nice kitchen.

Yeah, dream kitchen. Definitely. Lovely.

-Have a look?

-Yeah, might as well.

And an unexpected downstairs bedroom hits the right notes with Lucy, too.

This is so big.

Perfect room for you.

-Yeah!

-Lounge, sitting in here with friends.

-Actually, yeah, I just close myself off.

You wouldn't see me for days.

-Oh, it's perfect.

-I really like it.

I know! Let's move tomorrow.

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Maybe.

Could they be on the same page at last?

-Bedroom number two.

-Oh, this is sweet.

It is lovely, isn't it?

This would be nice for a guest coming over.

-Yeah.

-Nice-size room.

-Yeah, really lovely.

-Bedroom number three.

-Got another one.

-Oh, wow!

-Never ending.

-They're actually good-sized rooms.

-They are.

-Oh, it's nice.

-Yeah.

-Oh, this is bedroom number three.

-No four!

-Four!

-You're losing track!

-You're right, yeah.

-It's really nice.

-This is nice, this is my room.

-I knew you were going to say that!

-Yeah, and it's beautiful.

It's really lovely.

-Can you see yourself sleeping in here?

-I could, definitely.

I'm surprised there are so many rooms.

-Yeah, brilliant.

-I think that is a factor that could persuade me.

I think so, definitely.

-Yeah.

-So is it a yes?

Not just yet, wait!

Too soon, Felicity, too soon.

-It's nice. En-suite bathroom.

-Yeah, it is nice.

-It is a good size for me.

-It is good.

-Doesn't need to be big.

I mean it's pretty big, Mum.

Think this'll do me very well.

And me.

-Sharing.

-Of course.

And once outside, the superlatives keep coming.

The garden's quite small.

And compared to the house, cos it's such a big house.

I quite like it. Think it works really well.

-Yeah, I like it a lot.

-Yeah, me, too.

-I'd love to live here.

-Yeah, definitely a dream.

Pretty nice house.

Both are smitten. But can they afford it?

-So what do you think?

-I love it.

-This one has everything.

-It does, it does.

-I think that might reflect on the price.

-Yeah.

I think I'm going to go for 2,500.

Oh! I think this was going to be about...

-..1,800.

-1,800?

OK.

-Ready?

-Yeah! Not really.

Oh! Look at that!

-1,600 a month.

-That's actually...

Not actually too bad.

-I mean, that's over budget but that's...

-It is. Yeah.

-I still couldn't afford it.

-Yeah, we still couldn't afford it

-but it's nice to think that one day we could do maybe.

-Yeah.

If I get a good job I could afford this, don't worry. I got you.

It's been a mainly positive day on the property front.

House number one they liked very much.

The three bedrooms would give them the room for visitors

and Felicity loved the open-plan living space.

The garden was a bit of a let down,

but the property coming in at £50 a month under budget raised spirits

again. House number two had a better location, being closer to Brisbane,

but while it reminded Felicity of childhood homes in New Zealand,

Lucy wasn't taken with the layout or decor and certainly wasn't impressed

with the rent being more than their budget.

House number three was the dream home and, boy, did it deliver!

Both Lucy and Felicity adored the open-plan kitchen and the four bedrooms,

but the rent was well out of their league and Lucy soon brought

things back to earth with a bump.

So when it comes to the vote, will it be home or away?

After an informative property day today, it's time to vote.

-Australia!

-UK!

Why did you go with Australia?

Well, because I want to live here.

And what about you? Why did you decide UK?

Just because where we live right now gives us everything we want.

-I know it does.

-I love where we live, I love the location.

-Yeah.

-So I don't really see the point of making such a long move.

I agree with that but I'm sort of thinking that it might be more out there that we haven't yet seen.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

So I want to keep my options open.

Mixed reactions to the property day means Felicity's dream has yet to

get out of the starting blocks.

So finding the right work opportunity down under becomes more crucial than ever.

Back in the UK, Felicity is a social worker.

Having a background in nursing and homoeopathy,

she feels she's a very good fit.

I enjoy assessing people,

going out and listening to what their stories are,

what their health concerns are, how they're managing at home.

And I've drawn on my skills that I've learned through the years so when

I'm out assessing people I bring to the fore my holistic skills

and I feel that helps me in being able to provide a good service.

Here's hoping her experience can open doors for her in Australia.

I've got a great skill set and I'm looking for other ways that I can

-employ those.

-Giving up a secure job in the UK would be a huge risk.

It's quite a big consideration for me given my age and my biggest fear

is that I'm not going to get paid a great salary, I am a single mum, I'd be

having to move from part-time work to full-time work to support Lucy

to get through university and the lifestyle that we have here is good

and I would want just as good or better.

To find out what work she could get, we've arranged for her to visit

an organisation dealing with social work in Brisbane.

-Hi, I'm Carly. How are you?

-Hi, Felicity.

Felicity gets the lowdown on what the not-for-profit

Life Without Barriers does.

It's a big organisation with over 12,000 clients and 4,000 staff.

There would definitely be some transferable skills based

on what you are doing in your current role with adults.

Perhaps something for you to consider would be to look at a three-year diploma.

I think looking at something like that could certainly broaden

your experience and may potentially bump you up into a higher bracket.

Definitely worth considering.

If I were able to find employment in Australia,

what could my potential earnings be?

So based on your current experience,

and your current diploma I think you'd probably be looking at around £29,000.

If you were looking at doing the additional three-year diploma then you

would probably be looking at around £31,000.

Oh, that's exciting.

That's considerably more than she earns at the moment.

Based on my work experience, would I be able to find work here?

This kind of support-worker role does come up.

I think potentially, yes, we would have a position for you.

-Oh, that's really exciting.

-It's a positive result for Felicity,

being able to earn more money means a move could be a viable option.

So when it comes to work in Australia, how will she vote?

Home or away?

After today's workday it's time for me to vote.

Australia!

It was a very positive outcome for me,

it's important that I can secure a job to make it a financially viable

move to come to Australia.

And today's day was really great news.

But it will come to nothing if Lucy's not on board.

Back in the UK, she's still in full-time education.

At the moment I'm studying my ASs

so I'm thinking of studying accountancy and

I'm in the process of looking at different universities that offer that.

I want to be quite successful and I think university is the next step in

the right direction. I think Australia would need to offer

at the very least the same as what England offers for me to want to move.

To give her an idea of what Oz could offer, we arranged a trip to the top

uni QUT, where she meets two senior members from the school of accountancy -

Peter Green and Sherena Buckley.

This is a large uni -

48,000 students and a massive campus right in the heart of Brisbane.

After a quick look around, Lucy has plenty of questions.

Are my UK qualifications transferable over here?

Most definitely, Lucy, there are mechanisms here at the university

which can take your school qualifications

and work out their equivalency here in Australia for entry purposes to the QUT.

How hard is it to get a job after leaving QUT?

Our graduate destination statistics tell us that within three months of

graduating, approximately 75% of our graduates are employed

and then certainly within 12 months 100% are employed.

That's really good. Thank you for talking to me, I really appreciate it.

Next up, Lucy gets the inside info from three undergrads - Kaitlyn,

Veronica, and Georgie.

What's work load like? Is there time for a social life?

There's definitely time to have a social life.

The timetable is quite flexible.

What's actually on offer here in Brisbane? What is there to do?

We're on the train line,

people often get trains down to the Gold Coast or you can walk into

the city to shop which is really good.

Now that you've been here for a few years do you feel like you've made the right decision?

I remember when I just started at QUT,

I honestly had no confidence, but five years on

I really feel capable to finish the degree

and get into the workforce.

For once, it's been a good day for both of them.

Mum's keen to find out how Lucy got on.

Hi! How'd your day at the university go today?

-You'll be happy to hear, really, really, really well.

-Oh, great.

So I got to meet people who work here and see the more

professional side and also see more of the social side.

Did it meet expectations, do you think?

-It was better than expectations.

-That's good to hear.

So how did your day go?

Very positive, great outcome.

Salary rise, earning more money.

Could you see yourself coming to the university?

I think so, I could do. Yeah, yeah.

-So it sounds like we both had a really positive day.

-Yeah, yeah.

Halfway through the week, and it's not clear how these two will vote.

Mum and daughter, usually so close,

to be at odds with each other is both new and troubling.

There's still the all-important financial reality check and messages

from home to come and Felicity knows Lucy's dad back in the UK could change everything.

First, though,

it's time for the two of them to enjoy a day out in the city -

they're off to a farmers' market to sample Brisbane's delights.

The sights and smells of the local market is a timely reminder of why

Felicity wants to move.

-The thing is...

-Yeah?

That maybe we live here and life is just one big holiday.

Maybe. Maybe you're right.

This is the kind of thing she could see them both doing.

To come to the markets like this in what is verging going into winter

and the blue sky and the smells and the colours, you know,

it's just what I really enjoy doing.

I love it.

-This looks good, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

-Good morning, ladies. Can I help you?

-Hi.

-Hello.

Just having a look.

It's got a bit of a kick, but it's really nice.

Spicy. I really value spending time with Lucy,

particularly as she is getting a bit older and wants to be out with her

mates, so doing something like this I can see would be a great thing for

mum and daughter to do.

Next up, time to make a few memories along the Brisbane River.

It is beautiful, though, isn't it?

Stunning. Do you think you could see yourself living here?

-I think so.

-Felicity seizes the moment.

You have lots of things to tell your friends and we get back.

Yeah, I think I have a lot of things to think about, as well.

-We're talking like we're already moving out here!

-I know, it's good, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-There's a lot to consider, you've got to weigh up the pros and cons.

A step at a time, Felicity, a step at a time.

But all good as the day rounds off with a treat.

-The koalas.

-Yeah. The only reason I'm here!

Oh, look at you posing.

Aren't you beautiful?

I quite enjoyed being outside.

Being able to spend time with Mum, like, quality time,

not just sitting in the house cooking dinner together,

it's just nice to do something different like when I realised that

that's what our life could be like if we moved here.

After a 20-year gap, Felicity has no doubts where her future lies...

It is just such a relaxed way of living, it's very open,

people are very friendly and this is where I would like to resettle and

make a home.

..while Lucy's happy for her mum, but feeling the pressure.

She's been talking to me about how much she's been enjoying it and I

think it's really lovely to see that. I want to make her happy,

I don't want to make a decision that ruins her life.

It's quite a difficult thing to be aware of and I don't want to make a

decision that works for her, but then doesn't work for me and that just creates resentment.

I think if Lucy gave it a big flat no, I'd be so disappointed.

I think that I'd be... I'd be devastated.

Yeah, I'd find that tough.

I can't even think about it at the moment.

I'm just taking it day by day,

cos I think if I try and think about that far,

it's just too much for me to handle.

Don't - you're going to make me cry now.

Lucy has seen what Oz has to offer, but will it be enough?

Felicity needs an Oz vote from Lucy to keep her dream alive.

After an exciting leisure day, it's now time to vote.

-BOTH:

-Australia!

We did the same for once.

-I know!

-Yeah.

Right, has it given you a nudge towards Australia, ticked a few more boxes?

-I think so.

-Yeah.

Yeah, it has been a move in your direction.

I wouldn't say the right direction...

-Oh, "my" direction?

-Yeah.

I don't really know what the right way is yet.

It's been a really, really lovely day that we had together.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Ready to go?

-Yeah.

Well, not really ready to go - I don't really want to leave, but you know.

But as the excitement of the day starts to fade,

a call from her dad brings Lucy back to reality,

reminding her of the dilemma she faces.

So, have you missed me?

I have.

It's only been, what, less than a week?

I don't know, the long flight made me realise how far away everyone is

-and how far away you are.

-Yeah. Oh, I'm feeling that.

I'm really starting to feel it in my chest.

-Aww!

-Lucy's vote for Oz is a big step in the right direction for

Felicity's dream, but after talking to her dad,

a move's a far-from-done deal just yet for this thoughtful young woman.

To have a fighting chance at relocating,

the sums will have to stack up - and remember,

number crunching comes as second nature to this would-be accountant.

-OK.

-First up, the weekly shop.

Apples are 1.10 more expensive.

My veggie sausages...

-Yeah.

-That's 2.10 more expensive.

Cooking sauce is 66p more.

Adding it all up...

Oh, wow. £40.50 more in Australia for our weekly shop.

-That's a lot, isn't it?

-Considering ours is normally £72.35 in England,

-it's almost double.

-Moving onto the big bills.

Basing monthly rental, on the second property,

the pair would be paying £150 more every month for a home down under.

There are some savings.

So council tax over here would be £96 less than back in England.

-That's good, isn't it?

-That's really good.

The upbeat mood doesn't last long, though.

51.72.

-OK.

-God, it's all adding up.

-Yeah.

-In the UK, Felicity works part-time.

Working full-time in Australia would see a significant increase in

earnings.

£1,077 better off if you worked in Australia.

-Oh, that's good.

-That is good. That's lifting me up a bit

-from the previous cost.

-That's great, isn't it?

Things are looking up, but only just.

In the UK, Felicity receives extra income from Lucy's father and benefits.

In Australia, this would be reduced by over £800 per month.

So you would have £234.97 more in income.

So taking everything into consideration,

would the pair be better or worse off down under?

-So that would be £13.53 worse off in Australia.

-£13.53.

-Oh, gosh, that's really disappointing.

-It is.

I would certainly want it to be better than that figure if we were going to make the move.

So a bit disappointing.

-Yeah.

-Well, a bit more than just a bit, but, you know,

we'll just... Erm...

Yeah.

After an interesting reality check today, it is time to vote.

-UK!

-Undecided.

Undecided?

-How come?

-It's not a great amount, but it's under...

-Yeah.

And I would like to see what other options would be available because

the figure has come from what we've done today,

but there may be other job opportunities and I'd really need to go away and check that.

I kind of disagree with you there, just because you can't base

a massive change like moving over to Australia on what could be.

I get it and I understand that for you it would need to be a bit more

secure, and I guess for me because I am a risk-taker,

that's the type of person I am, but,

you know, it does need to be a lot more stable and better than what the

figures have come out today.

Yeah.

Felicity may still be glass-half-full,

but there's no doubt finances have put a disappointing dent in

her hopes of a new life down under,

and now there's the emotional cost of a move to confront.

Ready?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-Hello!

-Oh!

-Hello!

-Hope you're having an amazing time.

Hi, Felicity!

-Hey!

-Hi, Lucy.

Hey, guys!

I think Lucy, she's caring. I think she's quite cheeky.

She brings light.

Yeah, she's like a little ray of hope.

Yeah. Like a burst of sunshine.

Really special friendship, something that I don't think I'll find in

anyone else.

Felicity is a crazy, adorable kiwi.

You get a little twinkle in those electric blue eyes and you know to

buckle in because you're in for an adventure.

Felicity has talked on and off about going back down under,

back to the other side of the world, for a long time on and off,

but it's never felt like a reality as much as now because Lucy is coming up

to finishing her schooling.

I'm not one of those people who feels like your children owe you

something. I don't think that they owe me anything.

It really would be like losing family, yeah.

I'm feeling all tearful now.

Just talking about it, I feel sad, I feel upset.

I feel slightly tearful, no question.

If you are a true friend, you're not going to hold somebody back.

Take the opportunity, go to Australia, see the world...

-She looked down, didn't she?

-Yeah, she did.

-And grow as a person.

I want you to follow your heart,

I want you to do what's best for you and Lucy.

Me and Mum will miss you so much.

You really are family to us.

And who will I have to do dating websites with now?

No-one, mate.

-The secret's out!

-I love you unconditionally...

..and what you decide to do gets my full support.

I hope I've...

..equipped you with the tools you need.

There's always more to learn, but...

Yeah, as you know, I wish you all the best and I love you.

That's nice.

I know it's supposed to help me,

but it's made this decision quite difficult because it's reminded me

of what I would be leaving behind.

I really entirely understand that it's difficult.

I guess you being close to your sister comes at the cost of me being

not close with my dad, but the thing is,

this has only been a week and I've been missing people so much -

what happens if we move over here? That would be years.

I don't know how I'd deal with that, like, without missing, like,

feeling like something is missing from me.

Hmm.

The trial week has left Felicity more convinced than ever that Australia

is where she wants to spend the rest of her days,

but while it has been an emotional day for Felicity,

Lucy has managed to remain cool, calm and collected throughout.

How would you vote if you were Lucy?

Oz with Mum or UK with Dad?

Felicity is distraught at the thought that Lucy may choose the UK.

It just makes me realise how much I really do want to be in Australia,

so I'm just going to try and make it work whatever way I can.

For her, it's about her future and this is what her dream is.

With me, it's about my life right now and how that suits me.

I think it's quite difficult to make a decision that works for both of us.

Watching the friends-and-families video really brought it home about how much this would impact

other people in my life, especially my dad.

Lucy is so between a rock and a hard place.

She must feel very split.

She has her dad living in the UK.

However, I think it's my time now and it would be wonderful for her to

experience life here,

to be close to her New Zealand family and see what that is like

and how that works for her.

But for Lucy, she's really struggling with the decision she's about to make.

This decision has been over our heads for such a long time now and I

think this moment in a few minutes is so huge it's really important for

us to make a final decision and just to go with that and see where it takes us.

Time to find out what they choose.

Nerves are tingling. It's the final vote.

After an emotional day, it's now time for the final vote.

-Undecided!

-Australia!

Not a surprise there, then, is there?

Yeah, Australia, and undecided.

-Yeah.

-I thought you would be fully, like, "I'm not coming, you can."

Well, I thought that, too, but then I was, like,

thinking about it and realising the benefits of coming here and it's

really balanced. I need time to think about it.

I feel really, really happy because the truth is, I kept thinking,

"She's going to go UK, UK, UK," and I'm just so pleased

that you considered it and that it's undecided.

And I'm willing to listen to you now and I see why you were so...

Like, you put so much into wanting to move over here and I'm here for

that and I'm here for your future and my future, as well.

Oh, thank you, darling.

Yeah.

I feel lighter that the decision has been reached and here's to our

-future.

-Whatever it may be.

So, even after the trial week, the decision remains at stalemate,

but the journey for Felicity and Lucy isn't over.

In fact, it's only beginning.

Both need more time to think just where their futures lie and it may need

them to accept that's on opposite ends of the world from each other,

and whether that's a price they're willing to pay, only time will tell.

Whatever they decide - together or on their own -

we wish the two of them all the best of luck and happiness.