Mehra Wanted Down Under


Mehra

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Transcript


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Hello and welcome to Wanted Down Under,

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the show that catapults a British family right across to the other side of the world

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to help them make the biggest decision of their life.

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Peel and Zoe Mehra have big dreams for baby Archie

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and they all include the sun, sand, sea and surf Down Under.

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But the reality of house-hunting in Australia comes as a great shock.

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-We could move in here...

-It is, but us, we'd have to spend money on it.

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I'd want to modernise the kitchen and bathroom.

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And have they really thought about how their move

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to the other side of the world would affect their loved ones?

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I think we'd miss Archie more than anything in the world. He is lovely.

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He's my world, he really is.

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It's just really hard.

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So will their idea of the Australian dream tempt the Mehra family to go where they're Wanted Down Under?

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With the economy competing with the weather for the gloomiest forecast to the UK, it's not surprising that

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the Mehras are tempted by the sunny blue skies of Australia.

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If you're under 45 and with a skill that's in demand, you could be packing your bags

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for a new life Down Under, but what goes into making such a massive, life-changing decision?

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We've put the dreams of 20 more British families on the line,

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as they face the reality of a new life Down Under.

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But, after just one week, they'll have to vote -

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do they stay in the UK or do they move to Australia?

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Peel and Zoe Mehra and baby Archie are about to leave their home in Warwickshire to discover

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if Zoe's long-held dream of moving the family to Australia could become a reality.

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It was my decision to move to Australia, because

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I went travelling there after I was a graduate from university and it just seemed so relaxed and so calm.

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Everybody just seemed so less stressed than they are in England.

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While Zoe's heart is set on a move Down Under,

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she's got to persuade Peel, who's yet to be convinced about leaving the UK behind.

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As a self-employed painter and decorator,

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he works six days a week just to make ends meet, leaving little time to spend with his new family.

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For me, working six days is a necessity, really.

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I could do with spending more time with Archie, because by the time

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I get in from work, especially if I've been to quote jobs,

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it's usually anything between 6pm and 7pm sometimes, and he gets to bed at 7pm, so I do miss out a lot.

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I'd really like us to be able to spend some time outdoors and maybe

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do some different, fun things together as a family, because Peel doesn't get a chance to do that here.

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The eldest of three girls, Zoe would be leaving her close-knit family,

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who all still live in her parents' pub in a nearby village.

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I would find it really hard to say goodbye to my family and friends.

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My family have been fantastic ever since I've had Archie. My mother was there at the birth.

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She loves him dearly and I think it would be really hard for me to take that away from her.

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It's... There isn't words to describe how she feels about having him in her life,

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erm...but...I've got to do this... for my family now.

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She'd say she doesn't rely on them, but they're always there for her.

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If we went there, I think she'd miss them a lot more than she'd tell you.

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Peel's family connections are even closer to home.

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Peel's very close to his family.

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We've got his mother living with us, so we see her every day

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and he takes very good care of her and looks after her really well.

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To be honest with you, she's quite against it.

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I've mentioned to her that we're gonna go on this trip

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as more of a recce than anything else, to see how we get on.

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-HE SIGHS

-I haven't put into concrete that we might actually go.

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I don't know whether he would come back and look at his mother and think, "I can't leave her."

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With so much at stake, Peel would have to be absolutely convinced before agreeing to such a big move.

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I'd like to say I could do it, but I'm not very impulsive.

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I'd need to be totally won over to do something like that.

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Will Australia live up to Zoe's memories

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and will Peel fall in love with it enough to give up his life in the UK

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and start again Down Under?

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I don't really want to spend the rest of my life here, if I'm honest.

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I would actually like to end my days in Australia - or I think I do at the moment.

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The Mehra family have so much to think about in considering a move to Australia.

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To help them discover whether it can live up to their expectations,

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we gave them a trial run of life in Sydney for one week.

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We have three different lifestyles for the family to sample -

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one in the country, one in the city and one on the coast,

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each with an offer of a job and a brand-new way of life for them to enjoy on their budget.

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First, let's take a look at the country lifestyle.

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Sydney's countryside is full of exciting wildlife and there are

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plenty of parks to work out in, walk your dog, even play golf.

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For around £300,000 to £400,000,

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you could buy a spacious, chic and quirky three-bedroomed home.

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Heck, there are even converted churches in the country!

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This option comes with a painting job at a small family company.

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Stuart Dopper is keen to tell us more.

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My mum does all our paperwork and office duties.

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My dad basically does nothing but stand around, drink coffee, eat biscuits and yell at the boys.

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Myself and the boys always love the challenge

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of drinking a new Pommy under the table when they arrive.

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Give us a call when you're out here. We look forward to seeing you soon.

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So that was the kind of lifestyle they could expect in the country,

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but what might be possible in the city on their budget?

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Sydney is a whirlwind of colour and glitz.

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From the imposing Opera House to the Harbour Bridge,

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there's plenty to do and see.

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Apartment living will keep you immersed in the metropolis -

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but, be warned, this city ain't cheap.

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A sizable family flat will set you back around £300,000.

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This city-based decorating company specialises in commercial jobs

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and comes with a basic salary of £20,000.

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John Carlachi is the state manager.

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There can be two to 22 painters on any project,

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which instils a great sense of camaraderie in our organisation.

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Apart from the wonderful climate Sydney offers, there are a great range of things to do.

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In fact, only on the weekend, I took my family out on the river for a bit of fishing and some swimming.

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If what I've talked about today interests you, give us a call.

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It looks like they could shape up pretty well in the city, but what about a new life on the coast?

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Sydney's glorious coastline is known the world over.

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Offering so much to do, from surfing to paragliding,

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these sunny beaches are perfect for the whole family.

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Although apartment living will keep you on the coast,

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affordable family homes, priced between £300,000 and £350,000,

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are a short drive away.

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A painting job at this award-winning decorating company

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will earn you a base salary of around £25,000.

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Boss Marek, originally from Poland, specialises in prestigious waterside properties.

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I'm looking for all the time new members and, whenever I know

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it's someone coming from England, is giving already big credit for him.

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So, Peel, if you're really good, as I think, just give me a buzz.

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There's plenty of work here and definitely we can make a good deal.

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I'm waiting for you.

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So there's the countryside of New South Wales,

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with its wide-open spaces for all the family,

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or the cosmopolitan city of Sydney, with its beautiful harbour,

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or the coast, with its golden beaches and sparkling surf.

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Three very different possibilities for our family to try, so which one did we decide would suit them best?

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Zoe's dream is to live by the sea, so we've

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chosen the coastal option in Sydney for their trial week in Australia.

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22 hours later, they emerge on the other side of the planet at Sydney Airport.

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With high hopes for the week ahead, Zoe and Peel are raring to go.

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Our family are staying in the beachside suburb of Coogee in a two-bedroom apartment.

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Wow, look at the view!

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Look at that!

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With stunning ocean views.

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-So beautiful.

-It's unbelievable! It's breathtaking, actually.

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I didn't expect it to be like this. It's brilliant.

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-Do you like it?

-Archie's excited.

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Ahh, even Archie's loving the view.

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Very nice.

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The apartment occupies the ground floor of a larger house, but Peel

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can't take his eyes off the view.

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Plenty of light. We've got a good view as well.

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That's what you're here for, the view. It's beautiful.

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I think you like, Arch.

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The flat only has two bedrooms, but even

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a small apartment like this in Coogee will cost around 600,000,

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or roughly £300,000.

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It's beautifully finished, but it's the view that's the star attraction.

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-It's lovely.

-See yourself here?

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-YOU could definitely. You're already here, aren't you?

-Definitely.

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Dragging themselves away from the window for a minute,

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it's time to take stock.

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The places we stopped are so far flung, it really made me think we're a long way from home.

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When you get to Bangkok and you've got another eight hours, I was like, "Crikey!"

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When you're looking at that map changing on the plane, it really sinks in how far away you are.

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Which reminds them why they're here and what the priorities are for the week ahead.

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It needs to be financially viable, as much as I'd love to do it.

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-As much it's a dream of mine, it has to be financially viable.

-You don't want to come here and be broke.

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Naturally, Zoe's vision of a new life Down Under

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includes her ideal house.

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Possibly a beautiful view like this.

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Obviously, this is a very expensive view.

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A pool, open-plan new-build...

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Yeah, that'd be it.

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You do remember what property we've got to sell?!

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I know, but that's the dream property, and then I suppose you work downwards.

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But is their dream of a home near the beach realistic, with Sydney house prices?

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There's a lot to reflect on

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and tomorrow they'll find out if they could afford to live here.

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In the UK, Zoe and Peel live in a three-bedroom detached house

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on a small estate in central Warwickshire.

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Inside, it's a showcase of Peel's decorative skills.

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However, a growing family and rising mortgage payments

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mean he has to work six days a week to maintain their lifestyle.

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Zoe's dream is to live by the sea

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but, in Sydney, a beachside property is the ultimate address

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and comes with a price tag to match -

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the nearer to the beach, the higher the cost.

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So, using the Mehras' budget of £150,000 as a deposit,

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we've lined up three houses for them to view

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within 20 minutes of the beach.

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The first is in the popular suburb of Belrose.

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This three-bedroom home is on the market for 750,000.

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That's around £370,000, depending on exchange rates.

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Estate agent Joshua Keefe is there to greet them.

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Nice to meet you.

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It's a typical Aussie bungalow and could do with

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a bit of updating, but somehow I don't think

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that's what Zoe has in mind.

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She's been dreaming of a modern, open-plan new-build.

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It's nice but it's dated, isn't it?

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Yeah, it is a bit. It's nice and light, though, isn't it?

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Yeah, but it would need some... modernising, I think.

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It's other people's taste. You've got to put your own stamp on it.

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There's a second living room overlooking the garden

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and leading out to a big deck, but Zoe's looking unimpressed.

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-Not too much lawn to cut...

-No!

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The garden's small and there's no pool, and even this property,

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with all its shortcomings, would mean taking on a huge mortgage.

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It's 750, isn't it? I think we're

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kind of looking more at 550 or something.

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That's mortgage-free.

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It depends what we sell ours for, doesn't it?

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So you just don't know. But it is very nice.

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Their dream of mortgage-free living is impossible

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if they want to live this close to the beach.

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-This is obviously what you're getting for your money, isn't it?

-This is still out of our price range.

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If this is 750, what's what you're gonna get for what we're looking at?

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-I suppose it depends on salaries...

-We want to work less hard, don't we?

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Yeah, that's the idea.

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Zoe is shocked at the high price of this property

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and tackles estate agent Joshua.

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Is this area quite an affluent area?

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Cos it seems, to be fair, this house is probably a little bit out of our price range.

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We've most probably got about 500, haven't we?

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500, 550, yeah.

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Being close to the beach and everything, it's ideal for families.

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Basically, when you look at this home, you're getting a home

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that you don't have to spend anything

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and it's ready to move straight in.

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-I tend to disagree that it's ready to move in to.

-You could move in it.

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It is, but, for us, we'd have to spend money on it.

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I'd want to modernise the kitchen and bathroom, which are the main things that are costly.

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She's looking at a property really that we haven't got to change the kitchen and bathroom.

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If this property was more modern and had a new bathroom and kitchen,

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obviously there would be a higher price.

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The reality of Sydney house prices has left them feeling deflated.

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Let's see if the next property picks them up.

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It's in the same area, and is on the market for 720,000,

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or about £360,000.

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It's slightly cheaper

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due to the fact that it's a smaller plot on a main road.

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Spirits are immediately lifted.

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The modern funky interior is much more their style.

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This is nice.

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This is more what I was thinking about. It's beautiful. Open plan.

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-Very pretty.

-More modern.

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There's a spacious living area.

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Nice dining area.

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And an open-plan kitchen.

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The bright and airy first bedroom is downstairs.

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This is nice. This has got the en-suite bathroom as well.

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It's quite vintage-looking.

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There's even something to remind them of home.

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I like the fact that you've got stairs to go up to, as well.

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-No, I didn't fancy a bungalow.

-No.

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Upstairs is the light-filled master bedroom.

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I love all the whole whitewashed effect.

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-It looks quite beachy, doesn't it?

-Yeah, it does.

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And a colourful children's room.

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Look, Arch. Little baby's room. Look at that carpet.

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Have a little rest on there.

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Oh, this is sweet.

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Nice big room.

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It's much better than the last property, isn't it?

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It is. Much more appealing to us.

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-I wonder why it's cheaper?

-Maybe it's because it's on a main road.

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OK, the main road is not ideal,

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but is this more the kind of place they're looking for?

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I could definitely see myself living in a house like this.

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It's quite a quaint, modern little place, quite pretty.

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It is the sort of thing I envisaged.

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Has this house restored their hopes of finding a home in Sydney?

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It's still not my idea of what I wanted.

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But I think what I'm looking for we're not going to be able to afford, realistically.

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I think from the views that I have in my mind of what I would like

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as a perfect Australian home... are unrealistic.

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Yeah, I think the prices are higher than what we were expecting.

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It's back to earth with a bump.

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They love the house, but not enough to double their mortgage.

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Zoe and Peel's idea of the perfect Aussie home is a modern new-build

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with a garden and preferably a pool.

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Property number three may not have the pool, but it is new-ish.

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This four-bedroomed house is the most expensive yet.

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At 790,000, or nearly £400,000,

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this would be something to aspire to.

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They would both need to work if they were to afford the hefty mortgage.

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But they could move straight in.

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Oh, this is nice.

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-Very nice.

-It's lovely.

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Nice and airy, isn't it?

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Nice area to dine, which is what we haven't got at home.

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-No.

-Oh, wow, look at the garden.

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-It's much bigger, isn't it?

-I like the kitchen as well.

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-It is the best one we've seen, definitely, isn't it?

-Definitely.

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This house is ticking all the boxes.

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Could it be Zoe's dream home?

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Oh, wow, this is lovely.

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It's got a balcony on each side.

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I can't believe how big this bedroom is.

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You could only dream of a bedroom like this at home.

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The four bedrooms are upstairs, and all with plenty of room.

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Nice big bedrooms, aren't they? They're all good-sized bedrooms.

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Oh, yeah. You can't believe it, can you?

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Some even have views of next door's pool.

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I didn't notice that.

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-I did.

-We'd have to make friends with them, wouldn't we?

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At this price, you'd have to,

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because it would be a stretch to build your own.

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It's really nice, isn't it?

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You'd never afford it straight off. You don't want a 150-grand mortgage.

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That's double what we've got now.

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Come here to be better off, not worse off.

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Zoe's got that faraway look in her eye.

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But she's not going to let go of her vision that easily.

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If we upscale in the UK, we'd end up having a bigger mortgage, regardless.

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And we would never, ever, get anything like this in the UK.

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Not as beautiful, and the grassland as big as this.

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-You can only afford what you can afford, Zo.

-I know, but...

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This one's out of your bracket.

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By a long way, I would say.

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A hell of a long way.

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Tap your dad up when we get back!

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Get him to sell a corner of the pub.

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Well, a girl can dream,

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but it would mean they'd both have to bring in a decent wage.

0:19:400:19:43

The price of Sydney property has been a huge shock.

0:19:430:19:47

Property one was too old.

0:19:470:19:50

Property two was on a busy road.

0:19:500:19:53

And the third house was way out of their reach.

0:19:530:19:57

So, how will they vote on property?

0:19:590:20:01

Which is the best, the UK or Oz?

0:20:010:20:04

My vote for houses in Australia based on what we've seen today...

0:20:040:20:09

is UK.

0:20:090:20:11

And my vote is...

0:20:120:20:14

UK.

0:20:140:20:16

I'm looking for a pretty much brand-new house, something we don't have to do any work to,

0:20:160:20:20

something that's got a pool, and I don't think that we're going to find that for

0:20:200:20:25

anything that we can afford to pay in and around Sydney, so...

0:20:250:20:29

it's just, er...too much.

0:20:290:20:32

With houses in Sydney proving far more expensive than expected,

0:20:380:20:42

it's vital that Peel finds work to help pay the bills.

0:20:420:20:46

But how easy would that be?

0:20:460:20:48

Peel's spending the day with

0:20:480:20:49

a local painting and decorating company

0:20:490:20:53

to compare his work in the UK with how it could be Down Under.

0:20:530:20:57

He meets the boss, Marek.

0:20:570:20:59

Having moved to Sydney from Poland ten years ago,

0:21:000:21:03

Marek now runs a busy decorating business,

0:21:030:21:06

and is always on the lookout for skilled tradesmen to join his team.

0:21:060:21:10

I'm looking for the good painters.

0:21:100:21:12

If you are one of them, definitely I won't let you go back to England.

0:21:120:21:18

Marek introduces Peel to site foreman Keith.

0:21:180:21:21

At last, a chance to meet a local.

0:21:210:21:24

-This is Keith, the foreman on the site.

-How are you doing, mate?

0:21:240:21:27

-How are you doing?

-That's a local accent! Where are you from, Cardiff?

0:21:270:21:31

Cardiff boy, born and bred.

0:21:310:21:33

Maybe not! Marek leaves them to it, and Peel starts quizzing Keith about life Down Under.

0:21:330:21:37

I've been over here now for two years.

0:21:370:21:40

-Loving it?

-It's great stuff. Really enjoy it.

0:21:400:21:44

-You have got the old environment, haven't you?

-The weather's beautiful. The start of spring.

0:21:440:21:49

-20-odd degrees today.

-Wicked.

0:21:490:21:51

Is that my paint there? What are we doing?

0:21:510:21:55

We just want to tidy up these.

0:21:550:21:57

While Peel gets to work, Zoe's doing some job research of her own.

0:21:570:22:01

If they're going to afford the beachside lifestyle of their dreams,

0:22:010:22:05

both of them will need to work.

0:22:050:22:07

In the UK, Zoe's studying photography, and she'd love to turn this passion into a career.

0:22:070:22:12

She's meeting professional photographer Justin McIntosh to get some advice.

0:22:120:22:18

So, you want to be a photographer someday?

0:22:180:22:21

I would like to, yeah.

0:22:210:22:23

Well, welcome to the studio.

0:22:230:22:25

While Justin shows Zoe around the studio, Peel wastes no time

0:22:250:22:29

in asking Keith about work prospects in Sydney.

0:22:290:22:32

Looking at work's important to me. I want to know what it's like.

0:22:320:22:36

-There's plenty of work over here.

-That's what I was going to ask.

-There really honestly is.

0:22:360:22:41

If you're willing to work, you'll never be out of work.

0:22:410:22:45

-What are the wages like?

-I'm probably earning roughly around 1,200-1,500 bucks, dollars, a week.

0:22:450:22:52

-1,500 a week?

-Yeah, 12, 15.

0:22:520:22:54

Really? So, over 600 quid, then?

0:22:540:22:56

Roughly round about that, about five and a half, six hundred.

0:22:560:22:59

That's roughly £31,000 a year, about the same as Peel earns in the UK.

0:22:590:23:05

We're coming here so I don't have to work six days a week, and we can spend more time with the little one.

0:23:050:23:10

We're called the Tradies.

0:23:100:23:12

-Yeah?

-Seven till 3.30, and hopefully an early finish on a Friday.

0:23:120:23:17

That's just the kind of work-life balance he's looking for,

0:23:170:23:21

and Keith's convinced that Peel should give Australia a go.

0:23:210:23:25

You've got to give yourself a chance. You've got to give it a go.

0:23:250:23:28

You worry that if you don't like it then you've sold up at home.

0:23:280:23:31

Well, you've got the other dilemma.

0:23:310:23:34

If you don't come over here, you're always going to be thinking about it. "Why didn't I do this?"

0:23:340:23:39

But if you come here and give it a try and it doesn't work out for you, you've tried it.

0:23:390:23:44

Keith's certainly giving Peel a lot to think about.

0:23:440:23:47

Keith, I'm done, mate.

0:23:470:23:49

You are, are you?

0:23:490:23:50

-Time for a break. Or a smoke-o, as they call it over here.

-Smoke-o, eh?

0:23:500:23:55

Back at the photography studio, Zoe is picking up some valuable tips from Justin.

0:23:550:23:59

So, this is one of my wedding albums.

0:23:590:24:03

This is up at the Hunter Valley, which is a wine-growing region not far from Sydney.

0:24:030:24:07

I like the fact that it's all so candid and so natural.

0:24:070:24:10

When you're looking back at your wedding photos, you can actually see what your day was like.

0:24:100:24:15

These days, you can't just be average.

0:24:150:24:18

You have to strive to be better than that.

0:24:180:24:21

Having a thick skin helps, because you will get clients who won't like your work.

0:24:210:24:27

And you have to...

0:24:270:24:29

evolve and work around...

0:24:290:24:30

And how would you deal with that?

0:24:300:24:32

If you've done an album for somebody, say, and they are really not happy?

0:24:320:24:36

I don't just present the album to them and say, "Here it is."

0:24:360:24:39

Prior to this, we have had several meetings designing an album and planning an album.

0:24:390:24:45

So it's never a complete...

0:24:450:24:47

The finished product

0:24:470:24:49

at this stage is not a surprise.

0:24:490:24:52

So, Zoe's learning a lot, too.

0:24:520:24:54

Back at work, Peel continues to grill Keith on his inside knowledge.

0:24:550:24:59

It did throw me, the prices of the houses, the ones we saw yesterday.

0:24:590:25:03

Like you said, the high sevens, 800,000. It's not the kind of budget we were looking at.

0:25:030:25:07

We wanted something modern, but not spending that sort of money.

0:25:070:25:11

The place I am, Prospect, a new housing site there has gone up,

0:25:110:25:15

-and I'm sure you can buy houses there for less than 400.

-So they're new builds?

0:25:150:25:20

-They're new builds.

-So what would you be looking at there for 400 grand?

0:25:200:25:24

A three- or four-bedroom house.

0:25:240:25:25

-That sounds good. So, 400,000 Australian?

-Aussie dollars.

0:25:250:25:30

That's encouraging. Affordable housing could make all the difference.

0:25:300:25:35

Peel wants to know everything, and you can't blame him.

0:25:350:25:39

We're talking about moving to the other side of the world.

0:25:390:25:41

It's just such a big thing. There's so much to think about. You're bringing your whole life here.

0:25:410:25:46

It's a massive move. It's a life-changing one.

0:25:460:25:50

But you've got to treat it as an adventure as well.

0:25:500:25:53

Give yourself a minimum of two years. Give yourself two years.

0:25:530:25:57

Keith's enthusiasm for life Down Under seems to have struck a chord with Peel.

0:25:570:26:02

But how is Zoe getting on back at Justin's studio?

0:26:020:26:04

He's lent her a camera, and she's putting what she's learnt into practice.

0:26:040:26:10

Photo session over, Zoe's got some great shots.

0:26:140:26:18

But she's thinking about Peel.

0:26:190:26:21

If he doesn't find that work fulfils his expectations, the move could be in jeopardy.

0:26:220:26:27

I'm feeling quite apprehensive about his work experience going well today.

0:26:270:26:32

It is going to be a huge deciding factor to him, whether it goes well.

0:26:320:26:36

If it goes well, then brilliant, it's a few pluses in my corner.

0:26:360:26:40

But if it doesn't, then...

0:26:400:26:43

we won't be coming.

0:26:430:26:45

So, how will Peel vote on work?

0:26:450:26:47

Does he prefer his job at home or could he see himself working here in Oz?

0:26:470:26:51

It is a close-run thing with money and stuff, but...

0:26:510:26:55

I think the sunshine sways it for me, so my vote for working, UK or Australia...

0:26:550:27:01

is Australia.

0:27:010:27:02

It swung it for me a bit talking to Keith, because he's an expat.

0:27:030:27:06

You find out a lot more from people there who know what you're going through, thinking about moving.

0:27:060:27:12

I think he put me at ease a bit, about the house prices and stuff

0:27:120:27:15

and what he's looking to buy and how much money he's earning, so...

0:27:150:27:18

And obviously, if you do it yourself, you could earn even more.

0:27:180:27:22

So it's all right. It is all right.

0:27:220:27:24

It's a big gut wrench, though, but...maybe it will be better.

0:27:240:27:28

That's one for Zoe. Is Peel beginning to see

0:27:280:27:31

the advantages of life Down Under?

0:27:310:27:33

Peel and Zoe hope that a move Down Under would offer them

0:27:370:27:40

the outdoor lifestyle they dream of.

0:27:400:27:42

They've been blown away by Sydney's coastline.

0:27:420:27:45

And Peel was pleasantly surprised by his work experience.

0:27:450:27:49

But Sydney house prices were a huge shock.

0:27:490:27:53

-You can only afford what you can afford, Zo.

-I know, but...

0:27:530:27:58

This one's out of your bracket, by a long way.

0:27:580:28:01

And how would they cope when the reality of moving to Australia kicks in?

0:28:010:28:05

I want this so much, I really, really want to come, but I don't know whether I can leave my family.

0:28:050:28:10

I really don't.

0:28:100:28:12

For Zoe and Peel, making this decision is proving the biggest challenge of their lives.

0:28:120:28:17

The Mehras want to spend more time together as a family,

0:28:210:28:24

and are hoping a move Down Under will help them achieve this.

0:28:240:28:27

But what exactly does the Aussie lifestyle have to offer?

0:28:270:28:31

Sydney's beaches are studded with spectacular coastal walks,

0:28:310:28:35

and this one between Coogee and Bondi is right on their doorstep.

0:28:350:28:39

As they take in the view,

0:28:400:28:42

Peel spots a cunning way of reducing their mortgage.

0:28:420:28:46

That's a cracking piece of real estate, isn't it?

0:28:460:28:50

-Fair play. He looks happy, though, doesn't he?

-Yeah, I know.

0:28:500:28:53

You won't get insurance on that place, mate.

0:28:530:28:56

It's a spectacular walk, but how does it compare to an afternoon in Warwickshire?

0:28:560:29:01

It's a free thing. You've got to utilise it, haven't you?

0:29:010:29:04

It's put there by nature.

0:29:040:29:05

It doesn't cost you anything to walk down the beach.

0:29:050:29:09

To have it on your doorstep, to fully appreciate it, make the most of it.

0:29:090:29:13

Like we used to grow up kicking a football around, he could grow up down the beach doing it.

0:29:130:29:18

But would Peel really want Archie to grow up as a little Aussie surfer with no attachments to the UK?

0:29:180:29:25

You have to teach him about his roots, where he's from.

0:29:250:29:27

You can't just forget. It's a bit like me with Mum and Dad.

0:29:270:29:31

When India were playing cricket,

0:29:310:29:33

if India were playing England, I'd always want England to win.

0:29:330:29:36

But if India were playing someone else, then I'd want India to win.

0:29:360:29:40

He'll be the same, I think. Which one he chose for his first team, it's up to him, really!

0:29:400:29:44

As long as they've got three lions on!

0:29:440:29:47

The idea of, erm, living in Australia has become more of a...

0:29:470:29:52

a realistic conversation now, and it's kind of hit home more as to...

0:29:520:29:57

-our thoughts...of coming over here and...

-It's not just a dream now, you can have a look.

0:29:570:30:03

No, if we'd made the move and we were sat here, and it was just the three of us, it's frightening,

0:30:030:30:09

cos it's just the three of us.

0:30:090:30:11

Yeah, but if you've come that far, if you've made that move, you'd be sitting here happy.

0:30:110:30:16

Because we'd both have to do it 100%, or not at all.

0:30:160:30:19

I couldn't go on it 50-60%, cos it wouldn't work.

0:30:190:30:23

You've got to come here and like...

0:30:230:30:25

you've got to block out what's at home, not think about it too much, think about what's ahead,

0:30:250:30:30

and not when you're gonna see your family and friends again.

0:30:300:30:34

Cos it might not be for a while.

0:30:340:30:37

The reality of leaving family on the other side of the world

0:30:370:30:41

is a major issue for both Peel and Zoe.

0:30:410:30:43

But it's not like you're never gonna see these people again.

0:30:430:30:46

Oh, no. But you can't expect people to come and see you.

0:30:460:30:49

-They will!

-It's a helluva long way, Zo.

-Opportunity for a free holiday, they'll come!

-Yeah.

0:30:490:30:54

It's also what it costs them to get here and stuff. It's not like you're going to Devon.

0:30:540:30:59

You've just got to bite the bullet, deal with the homesickness at the start, cos you're gonna get that.

0:30:590:31:05

No, I'm not feeling homesick. I don't know, I just...

0:31:050:31:08

I think, if we came, I'd deal with it better than you.

0:31:080:31:11

Yeah, you must probably would.

0:31:110:31:13

But I think if we came all this way, I think we would...

0:31:130:31:16

I know I would make more of an effort to...

0:31:160:31:19

take it all in, try and spend more time together as a family.

0:31:190:31:24

Australia's great outdoors is living up to Zoe's memories,

0:31:240:31:29

and Peel seems to like it, too, so how will they vote on lifestyle?

0:31:290:31:34

We've done the walk from Coogee to Bondi, we've seen the ups and downs of the hills and the cliffs,

0:31:340:31:40

and we've looked at Bondi Beach, seen a bit of the outdoor life.

0:31:400:31:44

So my vote for Britain or Australia would be...

0:31:440:31:47

Australia.

0:31:480:31:49

And my vote will be...

0:31:490:31:52

Australia!

0:31:520:31:53

The Mehras' week on the Sydney coastline is nearly at an end -

0:31:580:32:02

has life Down Under lived up to their expectations?

0:32:020:32:07

It's been an amazing time, we've had a fantastic time.

0:32:070:32:10

And I just think to myself, this is what I want, I want to do this.

0:32:100:32:13

But, whilst they love it, they can't forget who they'd be leaving behind.

0:32:130:32:17

For Peel it's his mother, who's already told him that she doesn't want them to leave.

0:32:170:32:21

She told me not to move,

0:32:210:32:23

not for her own reasons, nothing selfish about it.

0:32:230:32:26

Cos she's done it. She moved from India to England in '65 or whatever, and she said don't do it.

0:32:260:32:33

But that's her personal opinion. She loved India, she wishes she'd stayed there.

0:32:330:32:38

Peel is torn. He loves the UK, but the week has opened his eyes to the possibilities of a life Down Under.

0:32:380:32:44

I don't know. It gets a bit dreary, doesn't it, at home?

0:32:440:32:48

-Yeah.

-The winter's long and the summers are bad and...

0:32:480:32:50

But now it's Zoe who's troubled by leaving the UK behind.

0:32:500:32:54

It's a huge, huge step.

0:32:540:32:55

What I'm concerned about is possibly...

0:32:550:32:59

uprooting us all and then me getting terribly homesick.

0:32:590:33:06

To the point where - Peel has already said this - I don't want to be here any more.

0:33:060:33:11

And not being able to go back to our country purely because we can't afford it.

0:33:110:33:15

We wouldn't be able to, cos what we'd sell our house for...

0:33:150:33:18

That's why I think we should never sell immediately, we should rent

0:33:180:33:21

for at least 12-18 months to see whether we can settle here.

0:33:210:33:25

If you do it, you do it, that's it. You can't just...

0:33:250:33:28

Cos you're kind of half-heartedly going into it if you rent your house.

0:33:280:33:33

No, I don't... I totally disagree.

0:33:330:33:35

You're just giving yourself a lifeline, you're not half-heartedly going into it at all, I disagree.

0:33:350:33:41

I think you're just making sure that you're doing the right thing. You don't...

0:33:410:33:46

You don't buy a flippin' £20,000 car without test-driving it, do you?

0:33:460:33:51

That's like somebody staying with their ex-partner on the side until they're happy with somebody else!

0:33:510:33:56

-That's rubbish!

-It's not. I think it is.

-That's rubbish.

0:33:560:33:59

If you can afford to keep your house on rent, fine, but we can't.

0:33:590:34:03

Well, no-one said it was going to be easy.

0:34:030:34:06

With so much to consider, it's not surprising that tempers fray.

0:34:060:34:10

So, a week of ups and downs for the Mehras,

0:34:150:34:19

but now it's time to face the emotional cost of leaving the UK.

0:34:190:34:23

Here are some messages from their loved ones back home.

0:34:230:34:27

First up are Peel's friends Steve and Winchie.

0:34:280:34:32

Hi, Peel, Zoe and Archie, how are you doing?

0:34:320:34:35

Hope you're having a fantastic time.

0:34:350:34:37

And we're missing you lots and lots.

0:34:370:34:40

Hi, Peel and Zoe.

0:34:400:34:42

Hiya!

0:34:420:34:43

Zoe, Peel and Archie, I definitely will miss you.

0:34:430:34:47

I, er, hope you're enjoying your stay in Australia.

0:34:470:34:50

Zoe's always been adventurous, and she said,

0:34:500:34:53

"Mum, I'd love to emigrate to Australia, that would be my dream."

0:34:530:34:56

She doesn't ever judge you, erm, she's just been an amazing friend to me.

0:34:560:35:02

She's a calming influence on me, I think, which I need at times.

0:35:020:35:06

We laugh at the same things, we have the same sense of humour and stuff.

0:35:060:35:10

She's my eldest daughter and I've always been very close to her.

0:35:100:35:13

Archie's lovely, he really is lovely, and I think we'd miss Archie

0:35:130:35:17

-more than anything in the world, you know.

-Yeah.

-But it's...

0:35:170:35:22

one of those things, isn't it? You know, but he is lovely, he's my world, he really is.

0:35:220:35:27

If Zoe, Peel and Archie left to go to Australia there'd be a gaping hole in the family.

0:35:270:35:32

Erm, currently I couldn't see the family being the same if they went.

0:35:320:35:36

She's probably my best friend so I wouldn't have anyone to hang around with as much as I do with her.

0:35:360:35:41

I would miss her, we'd both miss her, wouldn't we? We'd miss Peel.

0:35:410:35:45

Mainly Archie, cos it's the, er...

0:35:450:35:48

We're gonna miss probably the most interesting part of his life,

0:35:480:35:52

as he gets to two or three, when they start developing.

0:35:520:35:55

When they're little babies, you, er...

0:35:550:35:58

It's the attachment forms when they're two or three,

0:35:580:36:01

when they start growing, so if they go we'll miss all that.

0:36:010:36:04

Thinking about Mum, I don't quite know.

0:36:040:36:08

I've never broached it, and said to her,

0:36:080:36:11

"How do you feel about the fact that they may go permanently?"

0:36:110:36:14

You know, and...

0:36:140:36:17

So I'm not dead sure how she'd be. I'm not quite sure how she'd be about it, because...

0:36:170:36:22

I know she wouldn't want to stand in their way, that's 100% definite.

0:36:220:36:26

But it's just working out what would be best for her and how we'd care for her again.

0:36:260:36:34

I probably wouldn't want them to go because I would miss them dearly.

0:36:340:36:37

And I don't think I could, you know, sort of... have them not in my life any more.

0:36:370:36:42

With Zoe, I'll just miss...

0:36:420:36:45

Well, I'll miss everything. Everything. Erm...

0:36:460:36:50

It's just knowing that each other's there.

0:36:570:37:00

It would be in the back of your mind, because it's just gonna be the three of them.

0:37:000:37:04

They've got no support out there, and that's kind of important.

0:37:040:37:08

If I had the opportunity to tell Zoe that I didn't want her to go,

0:37:080:37:12

I would tell her, but I think I'd be rather selfish.

0:37:120:37:15

So I know that if we did say that we didn't want her to go,

0:37:150:37:19

we'd put a stop on her dream, which we wouldn't want to do.

0:37:190:37:23

I think we'll really miss Peel, Zoe and Archie

0:37:230:37:26

around birthday times, our children, their children,

0:37:260:37:30

Christmas is always special having everybody around.

0:37:300:37:34

I hope you've had a fantastic time, we look forward to hearing how the trip's gone.

0:37:340:37:38

Love to you all, I love you all very much, give Archie a big kiss for me.

0:37:380:37:41

See you, Peel.

0:37:410:37:43

Give that Archie a great big hug and a kiss from us.

0:37:430:37:46

-And from the kids!

-And from the kids, yes, they will really miss him!

0:37:460:37:50

-See you soon. Bye!

-Bye-bye.

0:37:500:37:52

So I will miss you, but whatever decision you make,

0:37:520:37:56

it's purely down to you and I hope you make the right one.

0:37:560:37:59

Of course we'll miss you. We'll miss you, Peel and Archie.

0:37:590:38:03

Archie is our life.

0:38:030:38:06

But it's your decision, Zo.

0:38:060:38:08

And I'm sure you'll make the right decision at the end of the day.

0:38:080:38:11

That was intense, wasn't it? Are you all right?

0:38:160:38:19

Yeah, I suppose.

0:38:210:38:23

Hearing what people have just said on there has really made me

0:38:230:38:28

wonder whether I can do it.

0:38:280:38:31

Because...I'm so close to my mum and my dad,

0:38:310:38:36

and I'm so close to my sisters. My dad's an amazing person,

0:38:360:38:42

and...

0:38:420:38:43

I don't know whether I can imagine my life without him, really.

0:38:450:38:49

Which is really hard, because I know he's not gonna be around for ever, but...

0:38:490:38:54

Having to...

0:38:550:38:57

When that happens, it happens, and there's nothing you can do about it.

0:38:570:39:00

But I am forcing these feelings and emotions upon myself, just by moving across the other side of the world.

0:39:000:39:06

It's just really hard.

0:39:060:39:09

Ah, bless her.

0:39:200:39:21

My sisters are just... I'm so close to my sisters.

0:39:270:39:30

It's an impossible decision.

0:39:330:39:35

I want this so much, I really, really want to come,

0:39:360:39:40

but I don't know whether I can leave my family, I really don't.

0:39:400:39:43

-Stupid, isn't it?

-Yeah, you can't have both, though, can you?

0:39:440:39:48

You've kind of got me thinking about...really thinking seriously about leaving now, you know?

0:39:480:39:54

So you just have to...

0:39:540:39:56

If it's gonna work and it's what we're gonna do,

0:39:560:39:59

and we find somewhere we can afford that we're happy with,

0:39:590:40:02

you're gonna have to do that.

0:40:020:40:04

-Yeah.

-Ain't ya?

0:40:060:40:08

The Mehras' trial week in Australia has been a mixture of highs and lows.

0:40:130:40:17

Sydney's scenery worked its magic on Peel, to Zoe's delight.

0:40:170:40:21

Moving to Australia would have to include life by the beach,

0:40:210:40:25

but they simply can't afford it.

0:40:250:40:27

You're not gonna upscale your mortgage where you can't pay it.

0:40:270:40:30

This one's out of your bracket, by a long way!

0:40:300:40:33

With such a huge decision to make, the debate can get heated.

0:40:330:40:37

You're half-heartedly going into it if you rent your house.

0:40:370:40:40

-No, I totally disagree.

-You're not committed!

-But you're just giving yourself a lifeline.

0:40:400:40:45

Peel has the responsibility of his mother to consider,

0:40:450:40:48

and Zoe was rocked by the heartfelt messages from friends and family.

0:40:480:40:52

It's the final vote.

0:40:520:40:54

Will they choose to stay in the UK or move to Australia?

0:40:540:40:58

OK, we've had a great week here in Australia in Sydney and Coogee.

0:40:580:41:03

We've seen and done a lot of things, experienced different things.

0:41:030:41:06

And we've had a lot to take in, to be honest.

0:41:060:41:09

There's a couple of things that still worry me about Australia and a couple of aspects of things at home.

0:41:090:41:14

So purely based on that at the moment, my vote is for...

0:41:140:41:17

the UK.

0:41:170:41:19

And my vote is...Australia.

0:41:210:41:23

Oh, dear! It looks like the Mehras are split!

0:41:230:41:27

-Why?!

-Like I said, we need to think about stuff. I'm not...

0:41:270:41:31

I like a lot of the things here, a lot of things are brilliant, and...

0:41:310:41:35

We need to sort out finance-wise what we can afford, how much our house is gonna be worth,

0:41:350:41:40

cos if it's not worth enough we can't do it.

0:41:400:41:44

And also need to sort out personal stuff at home with regard to Mum,

0:41:440:41:48

and I've got to speak to my brother before I can make any decisions.

0:41:480:41:52

I can't resolve all the problems of things that are going on on the spin of a card.

0:41:520:41:56

-How can you not want to live here, look at it, it's beautiful!

-I didn't say I didn't, darling.

0:41:560:42:01

I can't just spin a card and make everyone jump.

0:42:010:42:03

That's not gonna happen, is it? We're not just going to go, "Let's all jump on a plane, we're going."

0:42:030:42:09

-I know. So I don't want to give you...

-I still thought that you would have voted Australia,

0:42:090:42:13

you've said so many things, "I like this, I like that..."

0:42:130:42:15

-Yeah, I do!

-And then you still voted the UK. What is so great in the UK?

0:42:150:42:19

I only voted the UK cos I can't resolve all the problems yet, that's all.

0:42:190:42:23

I'm happy with where we are, we need to find somewhere where we can live.

0:42:230:42:27

We can't afford to live here.

0:42:270:42:29

We'd be like that bloke living on the cliff.

0:42:290:42:32

If he'll move, we'll be all right.

0:42:320:42:34

I'll never park me van there!

0:42:340:42:37

I thought he would vote Australia, I really did think he would.

0:42:370:42:40

Why don't we give Archie the deciding vote?

0:42:420:42:46

Fancy a spin, son?

0:42:460:42:48

Zoe is massively disappointed.

0:42:490:42:51

She's come to terms with the difficulties, but Peel is not convinced.

0:42:510:42:56

What a terrible dilemma for them both.

0:42:560:42:59

It's been a week of pros and cons for the Mehras.

0:42:590:43:03

While Peel feels he can find the right job, both he and Zoe

0:43:030:43:06

were sorely disappointed at the cost of property in Sydney.

0:43:060:43:10

So for now there's no telling where the future lies,

0:43:100:43:13

as they're split on whether to move where they're Wanted Down Under.

0:43:130:43:17

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:43:340:43:36

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0:43:360:43:38

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