Walters Family Wanted Down Under

Lynn Walters has been infatuated with Australia

since she travelled there as a young girl,

and now wants to move down under with her family.

If you said to me, "You could never go to Australia again," I'd cry.

I just need... I need it in my life.

But her husband, Owen, doesn't share her Aussie obsession.

We all want to make a go of it,

it's not like we're really pulling in different directions,

it's just I probably have more concerns than Lynn.

A trial week sees husband and wife sample the sort of life

they could have in reality...

Shall we have a family cuddle?

..but will the call of home be the deciding factor?

Why should we take their granddaughter away from them?

Yeah.

Home to no fewer than 200 nationalities,

Australia boasts a vibrant, multicultural society.

And with the promise of an easy-going, outdoor lifestyle,

it's no wonder the country remains an irresistible pull

for Brits seeking a better life down under.

Not everyone stays for good, however.

Almost half of those who emigrate end up returning home.

Lynn Walters loves Australia so much,

she even called her daughter Matilda,

and she wants her daughter to grow up as an Aussie.

But Lynn's dream of waltzing off to the land of Oz

could come to a halt if husband Owen has anything to do with it.

He wants to be convinced that the realities of living down under

are affordable and practical.

And so, they're off for a trial week together.

At the end, they'll vote - to stay in the UK,

or to finally make the move.

After a journey lasting 18 hours via Abu Dhabi,

the Walters have arrived at last in Perth.

And it's been a tale of two flights.

It was very long. I couldn't do that very often.

No, I mean, it's our first flight with Matilda.

-So, yeah.

-First time she's ever flown.

So, she didn't take to the first one very well, did she?

But the second one, not a problem.

-The second flight through, she was absolutely fine.

-Yeah.

For Lynn, though, it's already more than just a visit.

-I'm home.

-Looking forward to it...

-I feel like I'm home.

I know that sounds really stupid.

I just feel comfortable.

That's the only way I can describe it, just comfortable.

Owen, however, is determined to focus, from the start,

on the practicalities.

Actually, the day-to-day, dealing with things like jobs, childcare,

hopefully we can answer questions like that,

and get some answers to really decide whether we want to live here

-or just come here on holiday.

-Yeah.

So, that's going to be the difference, I think.

And in just seven days' time, we'll have the answer

about what side of the world their future lies.

Meet the Walters family.

They're Dad Owen, Mum Lynn, and their two-year-old daughter Matilda.

Ever since the couple met, Lynn has known exactly

what she wanted in life.

I guess the first time we met was early morning at my job.

When I went to...

I went to open the front door of my shop in London,

and Lynn was stood on the doorstep waiting

and I told her to go away.

Because I thought she was a customer.

-But, erm...

-I'd totally forgotten about that!

I hadn't realised that she was actually starting work that day.

I had my sights on you by day two, didn't I?

-Yeah.

-I went home and said to Cath, "We're going out together."

-Yeah, we went out together.

-Yeah.

And that was 17 and a half years ago.

-Goodness me.

-Seems like yesterday.

Once she got her man, the only other thing that has tugged

on Lynn's heartstrings is a move to Australia.

So, I first went out to Australia in 1997,

and drove the whole way from Sydney to Sydney,

a massive great big circle - took about a year to do it.

And then I had to come home because my big sister was getting married.

And then got back out there, actually,

as soon as I possibly could.

And then, suddenly, visas ran out so I had to come home.

If you said to me, "You could never go to Australia again," I'd cry.

I just need... I need it in my life!

I don't know why, just has to be Australia.

Yeah.

It's a dream Owen has always known about.

Even when I first met her,

she'd applied for a visa to go out to Australia,

and unfortunately that didn't work out.

And the disappointment I saw with her then,

I knew that it was something she really, really wanted to do.

However, over the last few years, the dream has taken a back seat,

as the couple started a family and settled down.

But Owen always knew it was only a matter of time.

There's the Australian element that I think needs to be seen through,

for everybody, just to not get it out of the system,

but kind of make the dream happen.

She's been working towards it for so long.

I am willing to go along with that, so...

And for Lynn, that time has arrived.

I've just not felt settled.

I've just...

I feel like...

I almost feel like we're camping, you know,

we're moving the tent around.

And I don't want the tent any more, I want a permanent structure now.

Erm...

Yeah, I want somewhere with some roots.

Would be quite nice.

While Owen isn't totally opposed to the idea,

he is a lot more level-headed when it comes to a possible move.

We don't want to be going halfway across the world and then be

really struggling and have to eat beans for the rest of our existence.

But I probably have more concerns than Lynn,

and also she hasn't been out there for quite a while,

certainly not lived out there long-term for quite a while.

She's been on, sort of, three-week holidays and things like that,

but that's not the same as day-to-day life.

And he's concerned about what, or rather who,

they'd be leaving behind.

Family, everyone is getting a bit older now,

and health issues with my family, my dad, particularly,

kind of scared me a little bit because he was very seriously ill

about a year and a half ago, and was in hospital for quite a long time.

And that then scared me to think,

"Well, if I was on the other side of the world, what would I do?"

It's something Lynn is worried might cloud his judgment

on the trial week.

I've thought every day about what would happen if Owen didn't like it.

I don't know. Let's cross that bridge if we come to it -

IF we come to it.

Over the next week, we'll find out where the family's future lies.

The family's base for the week is a holiday rental in the beach-side

suburb of Mindarie, 30 minutes north of Perth.

Wow! It's amazing!

Look at this! Wow!

And it seems Lynn can't wait to get in.

You getting stuff in, or shall we just go in and have a look?

That's told you, Owen!

And it doesn't disappoint when they get inside.

-Wow!

-Wow.

Matilda, meanwhile, has found something she likes outside.

-Oh, look, Mum.

-I know!

Look!

Yay!

And not surprisingly, it's got Lynn excited.

It's gorgeous.

This is exactly what I had in mind, you know.

The pool, that's just a bonus.

Even Owen is impressed.

I can imagine us living here.

-Really, already?

-Yeah.

Like, we've only been here five minutes.

Well, well, looks like Lynn may have persuaded Owen on day one!

It won't get him out of unloading the car, though.

Back in the UK, the Walters rent a small,

three-bedroom house in the village of Overton in Hampshire.

It's a lovely little village, isn't it?

Really, really nice network of people.

But there's kind of not really much to do, is there?

Yeah, it does...

If you want to do activities, you do tend to have to drive to places.

And at the moment, we rent our house.

We pay 950 a month for the rent on this place.

It's three bedrooms, but they're not really three bedrooms.

-It's two bedrooms and a boxroom.

-Two small bedrooms and a box.

The cost of renting in the UK is just going up and up.

It's just gone beyond our reach.

For Lynn, though, the move isn't about what they live in.

It's more about location, location, location.

We have to be near a beach.

What's the point of going to Australia

and not being near a beach?

Owen agrees, but again, the practicalities are

at the forefront of his mind.

-Look at you!

-We don't want to be spending, well, if we can avoid it,

as much rent as we're paying now.

And we are willing to downsize a little bit

from what we've got at the moment.

They have a budget of £220 per week to spend

on a rental property down under.

To find out what sort of home their money could get them in Perth,

we'll show them three properties - two based on budget,

and a third which could be their dream home.

Only after they've seen each one will they find out its value.

The search begins in family-friendly Clarkson.

Close to schools and shops,

this new-build three-bed rental is a great place to start out

in Australia. After leaving Matilda with a childminder,

Lynn and Owen's reaction as they pull up outside is a positive one.

Wow! This looks amazing!

This is a nice neighbourhood.

And the positive vibes continue into the open-plan living area.

Oh, this is nice!

-Really nice.

-Isn't it?

-Really light.

-It's bigger than I thought it would be.

-Yeah.

Really nice kitchen as well.

While you're here making me a cup of tea,

I can just be sat there out on my deck.

You could bring me drinks.

-That sound all right to you?

-Yeah, lovely!

It's into the main bedroom next.

Oh, this is nice. Much bigger than our bedroom at home.

-Nice and light again.

-You can actually walk around...

-Yeah, you can actually walk around the bed.

-And it's got...

-A walk-in cupboard.

-A walk-in wardrobe!

-That Aussie staple!

It's going well!

-And an en-suite bathroom.

-And an en-suite.

Wow! Oh, this is nice.

Quite big as well.

-It's like a hotel room, really.

-It is like a hotel room, yeah.

It's like you'd wake up in a hotel room, with the wardrobe, en suite...

-Yeah.

-Is it just me, or is Lynn keener on this place than Owen is?

Oh, my goodness. It's like a whole other house.

-Oh, wow.

-This is quite a dinky little room.

Do you know, I was just going to say it's quite big, isn't it?!

Hmm...

It does feel a bit enclosed, with all the fencing round it, though.

It does a bit, but would you want to be looking at another house?

And you could put things on there anyway.

-That's true.

-We could make it all pretty and put murals on there and

-stuff, couldn't you?

-Yeah, it does feel a bit stark at the moment.

-Plants. Yeah, but you'd... Me and my plants.

-That's very true.

There'd be plants everywhere, wouldn't there?

Lynn's definitely trying the hard sell on Owen!

Another bedroom. Wow!

Twin bedroom as well. Yeah, this would make a great guest bedroom,

-wouldn't it?

-Yeah.

A second small bathroom is the next stop on the tour.

-Yep.

-Oh, nice.

-Dinky little bathroom.

It's small, but it's got what you would need.

-Let's go and have a look at the rest.

-OK.

Lynn's determined to see the positives in this house,

right down to the laundry room.

-SHE GASPS

-A separate laundry!

-Oh, yes!

-That's brilliant.

-So, you wouldn't have to have your

-washing machine and everything in the kitchen, which I hate.

-No.

-Keep all this clutter.

-Your mop, and have all your stuff underneath.

-Hoover...

-Hoover, mops, everything out of the way.

-Oh, how brilliant!

-Yeah, you're pretty enthusiastic about that.

I know! But you know this is the one thing that I've always loved about

Australian houses, is that they have a separate laundry.

-That's true, yeah.

-And I have always said that to you -

"They have separate laundries!"

It's certainly got Lynn in a spin.

Outside isn't exactly big, but it's getting the thumbs-up from Lynn.

-Ah, this is nice.

-Outdoor...

-Outdoor seating.

Barbecue area as well.

Back door straight onto outside.

So, you could make your tea, just come and sit here,

and then she could play in the shade.

The big question, of course,

is whether a house like this could be affordable to the Walters.

Their budget? £220 per week.

Do you know, I really don't know, I'm not sure.

-It's difficult.

-Gut reaction would be, this is...

-Over budget.

-This is over budget, yeah.

Yeah, definitely. Shall we have a look?

Yeah.

SHE GASPS

£205 per week.

-So, it's under budget.

-That is under budget. That is a surprise.

That's substantially under budget.

-I'm really surprised by that.

-I'm really surprised.

Yeah, I didn't realise you'd get something quite this nice.

-I think we're probably a little bit further away from the sea.

-Yes.

Well, under budget is great news,

and they've still got two properties to go.

The next one is situated in Connolly,

just 15 minutes' drive away.

But as the couple arrive, they're not sure exactly what's on offer.

Do you think this is flats, or houses or...?

I don't know, do you think they're units maybe?

It looks like it, doesn't it?

-It's hard to tell.

-Yeah, shall we go and have a look?

-Yeah, come on.

Oh, wow! OK.

-There's an upstairs.

-Oh, yeah, so it's like a house.

-It's not a flat.

-Oh, OK, so, two-level.

It's more like a house, erm, a home, then, isn't it, really?

-Oh, wow!

-Separate dining room.

-So...

-A kitchen is well.

-Kitchen.

Quite a nice big kitchen, actually, as well.

It's nice, I still like it.

I mean, it's not as nice as that other one.

Did I hear Lynn being negative?

Quick! Time to get upstairs!

Oh, quite a big room.

-Double bedroom.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, it doesn't have any...

It's weird coming upstairs in Australia, isn't it?

Not great so far, but that might be about to change.

Oh, nice. Oh, look, it's got a balcony!

At last! This house feels like it's in Australia.

Oh, wow! This is nice, look at the view.

-It's beautiful. Shall we go and see the other bedroom?

-Yes.

Finally, a look at what might be Matilda's room.

Oh, this is a nice-sized room again.

All the bedrooms are bigger than our rooms at home.

-Yeah.

-All of them. They make our rooms at home look so tiny.

Outside, and it's certainly sunnier than property one.

-It's pretty bright out here, isn't it?

-It's very bright, actually.

-I think it's reflecting off all the white walls.

-Yeah, proper squint.

-Sun trap.

-Yeah.

-Erm...

-It's a smaller area than the last place.

Yeah. I mean, I don't know where you'd play.

It's weird, there's a part of me that kind of goes, "Oh..."

But there's another part of me that thinks,

"It's in Australia and I just don't care."

Hmm. The question is, what would you pay for such a compromise?

So, this property is a lot more like a house we'd see at home.

-Yeah, a UK property.

-Sure.

-It's very different to the other ones.

Yeah, I would have said it's probably around our budget.

-Do you think it's on budget?

-Probably on budget, yeah.

-On budget?

With their budget of £220 a week, fingers crossed they're right.

-Shall we have a look?

-Yeah, OK.

-OK.

£220 per week.

-So, that is...

-Wow, so that is on budget.

-That is exactly on budget.

-Exactly on budget.

-So, this is what we pay at home.

-Yeah.

Bang on budget, and things are looking very positive

for the Walters.

Property three is situated in Queen's Rock,

a mere 7.5 miles up the road.

This four-bedroom house on the coastal side of the highway

could just be their dream property.

And from the outside, it set Lynn's pulse racing.

Oh, wow.

Look, look what's in the garden.

-Oh, you've got your palm tree.

-Three palm trees!

-Awesome.

-Wow, this is beautiful.

This is really nice.

Oh, this is nice. Oh, look, like a nook lounge.

-Yeah. Little lounge.

-That's nice.

And a nice window opening out onto the garden there as well.

Looking onto palm trees.

-Yeah, onto your palm trees.

-Very nice.

From the small entrance area, to something...

Look at the space in here!

SHE GASPS

..bigger.

-Ooh.

-Oh, my goodness!

-This is big.

-It's huge!

And this is just the dining room.

Absolutely massive!

Into the main bedroom next.

-Oh, this is nice.

-Big master bedroom.

Yeah. Nice room again.

You can walk around.

Bathroom. This weird little door, look.

-Oh, yeah.

-It's tiny, for small people.

-Really narrow door.

Oh, this is a nice bathroom.

-Very nice bathroom.

-Lovely shower.

-Yeah.

And you've got palm trees right in front of you.

-Like a happy thought as soon as you woke up, wouldn't it?

-Yeah.

Very nice.

This house definitely seems to be impressing both Lynn and Owen.

There's a load of rooms here.

Oh, wow. Oh, these are nice.

-This is nice.

-Yeah.

Oh, it's a really cosy feeling, isn't it?

I could see Mum in this room.

-And then you've got storage.

-Yeah.

-A nice double bed.

-Yeah.

So, what would Matilda's room look like?

Oh, this is nice. Smaller...

..but still nice. It would still be big enough for Matilda...

I mean, because that's a massive bed.

It would still be big enough for Matilda to have a bedroom.

-Yeah, this could be Matilda's room, easily.

-Wouldn't it?

But there's more.

A fourth bedroom.

My goodness! A house with four bedrooms!

A bit of a luxury, wouldn't it?

-It would be, yeah.

-Would be very nice.

I'd have to clean them. Ooh!

It's the outside space, however,

where this property really comes into its own.

-Look at this.

-Wow.

-Oh, my goodness.

-Amazing pool.

-A swimming pool, with palm trees on it!

-Ah!

-Can't ask for more than that, can you?

-Oh, wow!

Oh, that's cold!

-Is it?

-Yeah!

-Nice after a summer's day, though.

-Oh, yeah.

-I think this would be out of our range completely.

-Yeah.

Seeing how it compares to the other properties, then...

-Yeah.

-..I think this is going to be out of our league,

-to be honest.

-Yeah.

-Let's hope it doesn't leave a bitter taste.

It would be something to aspire to.

I'd be amazingly surprised if it was near our price range.

-Yeah.

-I don't think it's going to be.

-Certainly considerably more than the other places.

-Yeah, definitely.

Time to reveal all.

No way!

£280 a week.

-Wow!

-That's £60 per week more than their budget,

but they're pleasantly surprised they could get so much

-for that money.

-That's actually a lot cheaper than I thought.

That's really surprising.

-I mean, it's...

-To get all this for that.

It is a little bit above budget.

-Wow.

-Yeah, I mean, it's not that much above budget.

-No.

A day's house-hunting has given the Walters a real idea of what they

could afford on their budget.

Property one was small, but being at the bottom end of their budget

made it very attractive to the couple.

House number two didn't live up to the Aussie-style layout

so important to Lynn. But the balcony and the price was a bonus.

Property three was exactly the sort of house that would make

Lynn's dream a reality. And although it was out of their price range,

they were upbeat about getting bang for their buck.

So, when it comes to property in Perth,

will the couple vote for the UK or down under?

-Australia.

-Australia.

Really?

-Really?

-Yeah. To have this as your back garden at the end of the day...

-Yeah.

-..it's a no-brainer, really.

It's a great start for Lynn's mission to persuade Owen.

But affording anything will ultimately come down

to the jobs they can secure in Australia.

Back in the UK, Lynn, who for years underwent treatment

for a serious spinal condition, is patient turned professional.

I've had X-rays, I've had scans.

Me and my mum were sat in the waiting room, and she said to me,

"I don't know why you don't do this.

"You'd be so good at it. You've been the patient for years."

I thought, "Do you know what, you're right."

So, I went in for my X-ray and I actually said to the radiographer,

"What do I need to do to become a radiographer?"

And went home and started the ball rolling, really.

And here I am!

Before committing herself, though, she needed to check

on one important detail.

Next patient, please.

The first thing I did was go home and see what was

on the skills shortage for Australia.

And luckily, diagnostic radiographer is on the list.

Had it have not been on the list, I would have chose something else,

because the whole point of doing a degree was to do it

to get to Australia.

Having qualified five years ago, it's a job she now cherishes.

I really, really enjoy my job.

I enjoy talking to my patients, I enjoy meeting

all the different people.

I enjoy the gore of it!

And it's brilliant.

I love it.

Owen, meanwhile, is an assistant manager

for an outdoors clothing company in Winchester.

Given his love of adventure, it's almost the perfect job.

Working with the outdoor kit and...

..having that experience makes it all the more enjoyable.

I feel comfortable doing it as well.

And it's something he would like to continue doing down under.

Whether it be with an outdoor clothing company,

or something to do with outdoor activities,

where I can use my experience and my expertise, then yeah,

any transferable skills would be good.

And money? Well, that's always on Owen's mind.

It really depends on cost of living, when we're out there.

But I don't think we could really afford to go any lower

than I'm earning at the moment.

This is the sort of, the point where it becomes almost comfortable.

Ultimately, Lynn knows that if there's any way to move,

it's all down to her.

The visa is completely on me.

I'm the main applicant.

So, I need to find work in Australia as a diagnostic radiographer...

..in order to make this dream come true.

If I can't find work, then that's kind of it, really.

Today will give the couple the opportunity to explore their chances

of finding work down under.

First up, Lynn is visiting a private radiography centre,

where she meets Lee Parker.

-Hi, Lynn, how are you? Lee, nice to meet you.

-Hi. Nice to meet you.

-Would you like to come for a bit of a look around?

-I'd love to.

-Thank you.

-Thank you. Come with me. This is our general X-ray room...

-Oh, OK.

-This is kind of the space we have.

Same as we use at home.

So, it'd be a nice transition, just the same equipment.

-Very good, very good.

-Yeah.

And looking around the facilities is reassuringly familiar.

-This is a true, sort of, a clinical environment.

-Yes.

Across town, Owen has come to the local high street,

where he's checking out opportunities

in an outdoor pursuits store.

Inside, he sits down with store manager Isabel.

-Hiya, nice to meet you, I'm Isabel.

-How are you doing?

-Fine, thanks, how about yourself?

-Yeah, good, thank you.

-Good.

First up, what sort of hours would Owen be working?

You're looking at 76 hours a fortnight,

so roughly a 38-hour working week.

So, if I wanted to get a similar role that I have at home,

like assistant manager, just ballpark,

what sort of wage figure would we be looking at here?

You're roughly looking about 46,000 per annum.

That's around £28,000 - £8,000 more than he gets now.

That... That is quite encouraging,

because that is more than I'm earning at home at the moment.

Back at the radiographer's, Lynn has finished her whirlwind tour,

and is sitting down with Rosie to dig deeper

into her career prospects.

-Hi.

-Hi, Lynn, nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-You, too.

Rosie's our branch manager.

So, for someone like myself, a qualified radiographer,

what would my opportunities be in Perth?

If you've already got the qualifications,

you just have to register with our board over here, so that way

we look at all the qualifications,

make sure that everything sort of matches what we require.

You don't have to be full-time.

There's a lot of opportunity to do part-time work,

so you might choose to job-share with someone,

or you might do school hours,

it all depends on what's available obviously at the branches

at the time and the demand.

But what about the all-important wage?

At the moment, Lynn earns £15,000 a year,

which is roughly 25,000 Australian dollars.

So, what would be the average earnings in Perth

for a diagnostic radiographer?

Generally, about 70,000 per annum would be an average wage.

That's around £42,000 -

double what Lynn would be earning if she worked full-time in the UK.

It's been a really positive morning for both Lynn and Owen,

and they meet up afterwards along with Matilda

to discuss how they got on.

-How was your day?

-It was good, really good.

-Yeah?

-Yeah. So, how do you think it went?

It was really, really good.

It was brilliant to see that things were the same.

-So, what are the wages like?

-Yeah, good.

What I thought. Kind of starting off at 70,000 a year.

To know that you could do your job,

still keep your skills, but still have a life outside,

that made me quite happy.

So, how did your day go today?

Really, really good. It was really encouraging.

The salary was more than I'd be earning at home.

-Good.

-So, really good.

With all this good news, dare we presume which way

they're going to vote?

-Australia.

-Australia.

Quite emotional, actually.

Weirdly!

Kind of...

That's two out of three.

I am actually really emotional!

At this rate, it looks like the family could get used to this view.

Halfway through their trial week, and for Lynn,

it's all going according to plan.

Slowly but surely, Owen seems to be buying into her Aussie dream.

However, with the all-important financial reality check

and messages from home to come, things can still very much change.

First, though, a day sampling the sort of lifestyle

the family might be able to enjoy in Perth gives the couple a chance

to gather their thoughts before moving forward

to the second part of their week.

At last, it's a chance for Lynn to show Owen and Matilda

the kind of laid-back lifestyle Perth has to offer.

And where better to start than the beach, with some outdoor fun?

The sea's over there!

This way!

First up, how to paddle like a pro.

SHE SCREAMS

-Yeah! Maybe not!

-There it is, yeah.

Shall we wave to them? Hi!

Shall we have a family cuddle?

Yeah!

Time to bust out the trusted sandcastle.

One, two, three...

Hurray!

I just love being here.

I could definitely see us having this life and doing this.

And it looks like they're having a ball.

-Go!

-Yay!

Oh!

Finally, Owen gets to show off his high-flying skills.

Today has been pretty amazing.

I've got to fly my kite, which, I mean, I can at home,

but in this kind of surroundings - beautiful sunshine, sandy beaches...

Normally, to fly my kite at home when it's windy,

it's normally horrible weather.

So, what have Mum and Dad made of the Aussie lifestyle today?

This is the perfect day, isn't it? I mean, it's so relaxing.

I definitely, definitely am in my happy place.

I just hope that Owen and Matilda find it a happy place as well.

Overall, I mean, the experience so far has been incredible,

and really, really positive.

So, I mean, it points the way towards...

..thinking about the overall yes.

But there are still factors that I want to have a think about,

and, erm, people back home, that's the main concern.

And that always has been the concern, from the very beginning.

I really don't know if...

Which way... If leaving his parents could sway him to not come here.

I don't know, I don't always know what's going on in that little mind.

And I don't know, on that one, I have no idea.

I hope not.

Knowing that my dad can't really travel long distances

in any country is a worry.

So, there's still a bit to decide yet.

I hope we can move over here.

We'll wait and find out.

So, has Lynn done enough to convince Owen to choose Australia

over his family in the UK?

-Australia.

-Australia.

-Again.

-Again. Yeah!

-Really?

-Yeah.

Well, for this, it's...

It's so different to home.

-Yeah.

-It's made me cry.

I'm crying!

That's really cool. I was so scared that you maybe didn't like it

and then I'd have to give my dream up.

But then you've got to like it as well,

it's got to be a dream for you as well.

This is my choice.

I'm so happy!

So far, Lynn is on a high, as Owen has voted for Australia every time.

But as money is a huge concern for him,

will looking at the finances bring them both back to Earth with a bump?

OK...

First up, it's the dreaded groceries.

-Satsumas are a little bit cheaper.

-It's all the fresh stuff.

Blueberries, look at the blueberries,

£2.50 more expensive for 150g.

What's this one, that's crazy?

Pork steaks - right, we're never eating those again.

£6.73 more expensive.

-That's extreme, isn't it?

-Wow, yes.

It's time to tot up the food bill.

Whoa! That is serious difference.

That is double the amount we spend at home.

More than double.

This means they are worse off by almost £60 a week in Oz

with their food shop.

-That's a shock, a real shock.

-Yeah.

Dare they even tackle the bigger monthly bills?

Here goes.

-OK, so that's a good start.

-Can already see rent's cheaper.

Yeah. So, our rent at home, 950...

..minus rent over here, is 823...

You've got a £127 difference a month.

-That's quite a lot.

-That is quite good.

-Makes up the groceries.

-Yeah!

-Daycare for Matilda three days a week...

-Yeah.

-..640.

-Yeah.

-And over here is 375.

-Really?

-Yeah.

Will these two be able to keep their feet on the ground

as they do the sums?

£1,505.

That's amazing.

Because that's how much better off we'll be per month.

-So, we'd be £1,500 better off a month living in Australia?

-Yeah.

Shall we book the flights?

That's really good. It's weird, it's actually made me really nervous,

because it might actually happen!

So, which way will the couple vote,

knowing they could keep their heads above water?

-Oh!

-THEY LAUGH

Turns out that's the only thing!

You div!

Has disaster been averted?

-Ha-ha!

-That was awesome!

Back on dry land...

-Australia.

-Australia.

Yes!

Kerching!

Lynn is well on her way to achieving her 20-year dream

of moving to Australia.

But as the couple prepare to watch messages from home,

could it mean a complete U-turn for both of them?

Hi, Lynn, hi, Owen. I was really missing you.

See you soon hopefully.

-Hello!

-Hello!

-Hiya.

-Hello!

Hi, Lynn, hi, Owen.

Hello!

She's very energetic, she's very chatty, very bubbly.

She's really supportive.

She's always there for me.

Erm, yeah - she's my sister!

She's crackers. She's lovely, she's the loveliest person.

I've known her all my life,

she's like the closest thing I'll ever have to a sister.

She's a very, very good mum.

Loads more patience than I have.

So, she's in charge of Owen, because he's a bit

more laid-back than she is, put it that way!

I would say that he's...

He can be very cautious about things,

he likes to know what he's going into.

Yeah, I don't think he'd just jump in feet first.

Obviously, having a niece that's so young,

it would be hard not seeing her kind of growing up,

and becoming kind of school age,

and then telling me about everything she's been doing at school,

and then a teenager, and potentially I'm going to miss quite some

big steps in her life.

She's funny, lively, gets on very well with her cousins.

My kids are going to miss her, especially my daughter.

Our thoughts are obviously with Matilda, as a grandchild, you know,

-because we...

-Our only grandchild!

-Yeah, our only grandchild, yeah.

-Yes.

That will be the worst thing, really,

the fact that we won't be able to see them very much.

And in your case, maybe not at all.

-Well, yes, it is a fact.

-But to go there...

Yes.

Hope she doesn't forget us.

Lynn's idea to go to Australia has been with her for as long as I can

remember, so I've always known that she's going to go there eventually.

And I'm really pleased that she'll be going.

She knows obviously how far away it is, but I'm not sure...

..how... Now she's got Matilda, it's going to be really hard,

and I am a little bit worried how hard it's going to be,

because she is very close to her mum and her sisters.

So, I think that's going to be a bit of a shock.

It's going to be hard for all of us, it will be.

I'm under no illusions.

But my mum, you know, if she's fine with it,

then we're all fine with it, really.

But, yeah, it is going to be tricky.

I just will miss her very, very much.

I'll miss my mum.

And...

But what can you say?

-I'm not going to cry.

-I am!

The fact that I've just had a baby,

it would be lovely if the cousins could grow up together.

That is the only thing that would be a negative,

that I just wouldn't have my sister around whilst I'm looking after...

..raising my son. Yeah.

It is a shame, if they go. But...

..if that's really what they want to do and they feel

that that would be a better life, then...

Oh, we'd support them all the way through.

-..we'd support them, definitely.

-Of course we would, yeah.

I don't want you to go. No, actually I do.

I want you to go, Lynn, because you've wanted this forever,

and you just need to go, enjoy every minute of it,

and just don't look back.

But don't forget me.

Love ya!

I think my advice, guys, is just do it.

Life's too short.

You can always come back.

But if you don't do it now, you'll regret it forever, so go for it.

If you think it's the life for you, then just go with it,

because I think it would be very, very good for you.

Lynn, we know you've always wanted to go.

We know it's your dream, you've strived hard to do this,

and you've worked hard.

-I'd really miss them.

-If you get to move out there permanently,

I know you'll love it. And we'll come and visit, of course we will.

Well, if you do decide to go to Australia,

we obviously will miss you a lot.

Miss you loads, in fact.

But if that's going to be a better life for you all,

we wish you all the best.

Obviously, we'll miss you, but you've got to do

what you want to do, in the long run.

And we'll support you in everything you do.

Good luck!

-You're as red-eyed as I am!

-Yeah.

-Your dad...

-Mum and dad, and...

My mum would come out, but your parents...

-My dad wouldn't be able to.

-No.

And he's always been really supportive,

but you can tell this has upset them.

Yeah.

-It's hard.

-It's really hard.

This is the bit that I was worried about originally.

-Yeah, me too.

-Why should we take their granddaughter away from them?

That's what's in the back of my mind, we're taking her away from...

-From that.

-..all of that.

-Which is her family.

So, yeah, do you take her away from her family

so she can go down the beach?

-Yeah.

-It's got to have more than that, hasn't it?

-It's got to have a bit more balance than that.

-Yeah.

For four full days, through property, work,

the leisure day and reality check,

Lynn had Owen exactly where she wanted him,

voting for Australia every single time.

And then came messages from home.

Has the incredibly emotional pleas from friends and family

for them to stay put in the UK been enough to sway Owen

back into the stay camp?

What would YOU do?

It's time for the Walters to pack up,

in preparation for their return to the UK.

And as they do, there's only one real topic on their minds -

the messages from home.

Most... Well, everything we've seen over here has been overly positive.

It has been really, really good.

And it's the bit back home that's the kind of thing

that's still kept me in two minds, really, and that is something...

..I'm going to have to sort of resolve and make a decision on.

You don't see Owen get emotional.

That's not what we do.

Erm, so, I think it upset him seeing his mum upset.

He's such a good-natured person, and he would never,

ever want to hurt anybody.

So, I think when he realised that our actions

could potentially hurt someone, that really upset him.

Obviously, I've probably talked more about my dad being ill

and not being able to come out here.

But to sort of visually just see it on the screen,

that Mum's obviously upset about not being able to see Matilda grow up,

that did catch me off guard a bit and I did feel quite upset

while we were watching that.

I didn't quite feel beforehand that it would have that

effect on the, but, yeah, obviously it does.

It's in there, and that is a big thing.

You don't really realise quite how you feel until you watch that video.

It's hard.

It would just... That's the first thing that's happened

that's made me think...

"Oh, could I?"

But nothing is permanent.

Nothing.

And you can do anything, and if you don't like it, you can turn around.

It doesn't matter. It doesn't mean failure, it just means...

If anything, I think it's more courageous to try it

and not like it than to never try it.

It's something that Lynn has always wanted.

I would love to do it as well.

But we want to make sure we're doing the right thing,

and especially doing the right thing for Matilda as well.

I think while I'm watching Owen spin the flag on our final vote...

..I'm a little bit... Well, you know,

he's surprised me the last few times by voting Australia...

Now, I don't know.

I'm just really hoping he chooses Australia.

You know, what if he doesn't? What if we have to go to plan B?

I don't know, I can't really think how I feel about it until I see it,

to be honest.

Well, the wait is over,

and it's time for Lynn and Owen to make their final vote.

After everything we've seen in Australia, our vote goes to...

..undecided.

Australia.

Everything I've seen here has been absolutely amazing.

-Yep.

-And today has kind of been a bit of a roller-coaster of emotions,

because of the distances involved.

We need to have a proper thought about it, I think.

-OK.

-Just a little bit more.

OK. Erm, yeah, no, that's fair enough.

I think I understand,

seeing how upset you got when you saw the video.

I don't think it's a total negative at all.

It's just we need a bit more time to have a think about it.

-Need to think about it.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

OK.

In the end, the impact of those messages from home did it again.

They changed the whole game.

But Owen has far from closed the door on a future move,

and whatever the Walters family decide to do,

we wish them all the very best of luck.