Booth Wanted Down Under


Booth

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Emigrating to the other side of the world

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can split families down the middle.

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So if you've always wanted to live in Australia

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but your family doesn't share your dream, would you go without them?

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'Helen's dreamed of moving down under since she was 18.

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'Now she might have that chance.'

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I think Australia is where my restless soul's been.

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I can't see why I would want to leave here.

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'Her teenage daughter, Steph, isn't so sure.'

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I'm still 50/50 on whether to go.

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But perhaps I'm being a bit pampering to my mum there.

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Where really I'm 75% sure I want to stay in England.

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'If Steph can't be convinced, Helen will have to sacrifice her dreams

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'or leave her daughter behind.'

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It's just really hard to think she wouldn't be part of this.

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She's such a big part of the family.

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So I don't know.

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I'd miss her. I'd miss her terribly.

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'If Helen wants to live her dream, it's a sacrifice she might have to make.'

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MUSIC: "Starry Eyed" by Ellie Goulding

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'With its 50,000 kilometres of coastline and sunny climate,

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'Australia has long been a favourite destination

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'of Brits dreaming of a new life abroad.

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'But when around 10,000 return home each year with their dreams in ruins

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'sometimes a life down under isn't all it's cracked up to be.'

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Helen wants her family to share her Australian adventure.

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But if daughter Steph decides her life is in the UK,

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Helen's heart could be broken in two.

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We're giving them one week to try out life down under.

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At the end of it, they'll make the hardest decision of their lives.

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'Tim Booth and wife Helen live in a four-bedroom semi-detached house

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'in the village of Ewloe, near Chester,

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'along with two-year-old Ben

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'and Helen's daughter Steph, who's 17.

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'Since she was a teenager, Helen's dreamed of moving down under.'

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I'm the instigator, the one who's always harped on,

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"Really, we should go to Australia

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"and experience the lifestyle."

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We are an an outdoors, adventurous family, and what it has to offer

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ticks all the boxes for us.

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We could all go out as a family and live the dream.

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'The time has never been right,

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'but with Tim made redundant from his job as a town planner

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'they've started to think about their future in a different way.'

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The whole development industry was affected.

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It meant working around the country at different jobs.

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I happened to get one in Essex.

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It meant moving down there.

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For nine months, I've been living in a caravan just outside Clacton.

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'This time away from Helen and the children brought home to Tim what really matters.'

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You rationalise what's important.

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Working long-term or being close to the family,

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seek a better life and have more quality time with each other.

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'Teenage Steph doesn't share her mother's dream

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'and wants to stay in the UK and go to university with her friends.'

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I kind of see it as THEIR adventure.

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I want my own adventures now I'm older.

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'I'll have a look at universities but it might not be right for me.

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'I just want to be able to go and explore'

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and then say how I feel.

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But at the moment, I'd probably say England's pretty cosy.

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'Helen might be faced with tearing her family apart.'

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I'm really pulled. I don't know. I don't know.

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If I could go and it was just my decision, I'd go.

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Definitely. Without a doubt.

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'I do feel pressure.'

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If I didn't go... I'm not sure they would.

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And then that would make me feel really guilty.

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'That would seem selfish of me.'

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'Yeah, I...don't think I'd...'

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I don't know whether I'd settle without Steph there.

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I hope, whatever decisions we make, they don't influence each other

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and people make the wrong decisions.

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Their week in Australia could be the end of Helen's long-held dream

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or the start of the family's biggest adventure.

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So where in Australia shall we send them?

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'They could try Melbourne, the capital of Victoria,

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'one of Australia's fastest growing cities.

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'Town planner Tim should have plenty of work opportunities.

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'A growing population means a strong housing market.

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'With the average house price £305,000,

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'the Booths may struggle to find a home they like.

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'Maybe Brisbane would suit them better, the cultural capital of Queensland.

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'With three universities, there's plenty of choice for Steph.

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'House prices in the city are on the rise.

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'Tim and Helen may prefer the more affordable Redlands area,

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'with a relaxed suburban lifestyle.

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'They could try Perth in Western Australia.

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'It's another boom area, so would offer work options for Tim.

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'Although average house prices at £300,000 are lower than other cities

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'the cost of living can be expensive.'

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So, three great choices there.

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We decided to send the Booth family east of Brisbane, to the Redlands area.

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'It has good job prospects for Tim,

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'is a short commute to universities in Brisbane,

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'and the Queensland coast is minutes away.

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'Redlands could be perfect, but only if they find the right home...'

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Oh, no. We couldn't live with this.

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'..the finances are affordable...'

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-So we're actually making a saving?

-No. That's a minus.

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'..and the emotional cost isn't too high a price to pay.'

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We miss you lots and lots, and we'll see you when we get back.

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That was heartbreaking. It's making me reconsider my decision.

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My dream wouldn't be anything without my children being happy,

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or my family being happy.

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That comes first.

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'Everything's at stake, as they head into the unknown.

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'Crossing three continents and a distance of nearly 11,000 miles,

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'the Booths touch down in Brisbane airport after 21 hours in the air,

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'jet-lagged but hopeful.'

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It was OK. We were looked after. Ben was OK.

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Feeling a bit tired now.

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The flight wasn't too bad.

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I was trying to get used to the jet-lag, pinning my eyes open!

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Ben behaved himself so we did all right.

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-Have you come for an adventure?

-Yes.

-Everything's an adventure with Ben.

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'Their whole future rests on this "adventure".

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'If Steph doesn't feel Australia is for her, Helen will have a heartbreaking choice -

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'to follow her home or leave her behind in the UK.

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'But who knows where the road could take them?

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'The family is staying in this brand new townhouse in Redlands.

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'It's open-plan with three bedrooms,

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'which Ben is keen to try out straight away.

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'With so much riding on the week, it's vital they feel at home.'

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-What do you think?

-Yeah. It's all right.

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It's nice and roomy.

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-It's nice. It's all brand new.

-It's clean-looking and fresh.

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'But for Helen, the enormity of the choice ahead

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'and the emotional struggle is never far from her mind.'

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The biggest thing for me to come to Australia is -

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without putting pressure on Steph - is her decision,

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and whether she's going to stay at home or come to university here.

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I think she's tending to go for university at home.

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For me, that's the key factor.

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If they're not as good, they don't live up to expectations,

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it's a no-go completely.

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At some point, she's got to fly the nest.

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And, you know...

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..I really don't know. I don't know.

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'With only one week here, the Booths will need to find answers sooner than they think.

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'The Booths live in a beautiful four-bedroom semi-detached house

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'at the end of a leafy country lane.

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'They bought it nine years ago for £110,000

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'and have spent 70,000 on renovations to make it their own.'

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There's no doubt the Booths will want to find the right home

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to make this heart-wrenching move seem worthwhile.

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But finding that dream house will depend on where they choose to live

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and, ultimately, how much they have to spend.

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'For their budget,

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'they probably won't get a property they like on the coast.

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'This house has the style they're after,

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'but is on the market for £500,000.

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'If they move inland, they will get more for their money.

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'This takes us to the country suburbs of Redlands.

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'This five-bedroom house is a good example of homes in the area.

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'It comes with a large garden, but also a longer commute for Tim.

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'On the market for £455,000, it would be a stretch for them

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'at least to start with, when Helen isn't working.

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'Perhaps the city area of Redlands would be the best for the Booths.

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'It gives easy access to nurseries, and Tim could walk to work.

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'This five-bedroom house has a good size garden and is ten minutes from the coast.

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'It's on the market for £365,000, so could be a good choice once Helen is working.'

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The Redlands area does have some fantastic places to live

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but, as ever, the nearer the beach you are, the pricier things get.

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To get the house they want, the Booths have to look at the more affordable suburbs.

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'Helen and Tim are spending the day house-hunting,

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'while Steph and Ben visit the park.'

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Ooooh!

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'They're starting in Victoria Point with this three-bedroom townhouse

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'on the market for £194,000, well below their 220,000 budget.

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'Helen has high expectations.'

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-The estate's quite nice.

-Yeah. It is.

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-It's smaller than I was expecting.

-Very small.

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The kitchen's not too bad. Could do with a little bit of updating.

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I'm surprised at how small... how expensive it is for the size.

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Yeah. We wouldn't be rushing into buying it, I don't think.

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'They're clearly not impressed.

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'In the UK, their home is finished to an exceptional standard.

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'Finding a house to match with the space could be a tall order.'

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They're decent sized bedrooms.

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It doesn't blow me away.

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It'd probably be better if it was all white, just feel brighter and cleaner.

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'With Helen and Tim less than excited by the inside,

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'the outside space may be more appealing.'

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-Garden's not too bad, size wise.

-No. You could make it OK.

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-Don't mind the outdoor space.

-No.

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'I'm a bit disappointed, actually, with the Australian property.

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'I'm a bit worried.'

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We really don't want to mortgage ourselves up to the hilt.

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The idea is that we live and not put all our money into a house.

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A bit worried that value for money isn't what I was expecting.

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'The strong housing market and the weak pound has made property expensive.

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'To find a house that feels like home, they'll need to spend more,

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'but they've only got Tim's salary.'

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It's a nice suburban location. Garden looks nice.

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'Property two is a three-bedroom detached house in Alexandra Hills.

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'It comes with its own pool, but is on the market for £234,000,

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'14,000 more than they had planned to spend,

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'so it needs to be top-notch.'

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The room feels smaller than what I expected.

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-I expected something bigger.

-Kitchen's VERY dated.

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Either very dated or retro.

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It feels a bit dirty and unclean.

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At least it's three bedrooms, but...

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They're not the biggest, are they?

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-'And there's only one bathroom.'

-Oh, no. We couldn't live with this.

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We'd fight for space.

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No!

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'If Tim and Helen can't find a home they like at the right price,

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'the dream will be in jeopardy - maybe the garden will win them round.'

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The whole outdoors is a real social, family and entertaining area.

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You could really enjoy this.

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-Plenty of space for all of us.

-Yeah. I like this a lot.

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Good.

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'The outside may be enough to sway their opinion of property two.'

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I am surprised by the cost of it. The property is quite small.

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The inside lets it down. The kitchen's dated. The decor's dated.

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The bathroom's really dated. So, yeah. Inside isn't great.

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I'm optimistic that the third house will come up with something better.

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'Helen is determined not to let the dream slip through her fingers.

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'She expected more for their money.

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'It's dawning on them that their budget will need to be stretched.

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'Property three is a four-bedroom detached house

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'on the market for:

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'If Helen worked, they could afford a similar home - if they like this.'

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-It's not the biggest living areas.

-It's not at all. No.

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-It's a bit...dark.

-We've worked hard at home to open up space.

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It's almost that this is exactly what we didn't want.

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'Maybe the extra bedroom space will be a plus.'

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Yeah, I mean, for the price I would have expected...bigger!

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'Unfortunately, once again the inside seems to have left them cold.

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'But, as with many Aussie homes, outdoors is the selling point.'

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-It seems like a nice size garden.

-It is.

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The best feature of the house.

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-Shall we have a bit more of a look?

-Yeah.

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'I'm absolutely not impressed by the houses we've seen so far.'

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I think it's better than where we live.

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So in terms of location, I like it.

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But in terms of the decor and the layout, I don't like it at all.

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The garden's all right. Beyond that, doesn't do it for me.

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'Helen and Tim were so hopeful at finding the right house but have been surprised at every turn.

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'They like the outside space at each property,

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'but found the interiors small and dated.

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'If this is all they can afford, the move could be over.

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'How will they vote on property?'

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BOTH: UK.

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-That doesn't mean we're not coming.

-It does mean you have to compromise.

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We've got to go smaller.

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-A newer property would be what we're looking for.

-I'm not certain.

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-I quite like the older ones with more space outside.

-Oh!

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There's a debate to be had!

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Is Helen's dream already starting to slip away?

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They may need to spend more to find a home they like,

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so it's vital Tim finds decent work.

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'In the UK, Tim has worked as a town planner for 15 years.

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'His skills are in demand in much of Australia.

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'The move hinges on him getting a job to fund the lifestyle they want,

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'and Steph finding a university that lives up to her expectations.

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'We're sending them off to find out more - one about the workplace, and the other about college.'

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The job is important.

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For the first year, it'll probably be just my income,

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while Helen looks after and settles Ben into the move.

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I'm looking for some reassurance from the job meeting today

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that they take on UK planners, the systems are the same, fundamentally,

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and there are opportunities there.

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'Tim joins the Land Use Planning team

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'led by Wayne Dorson, to see how things are done in Australia.'

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We're talking about planning we're doing at the moment.

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It's worthwhile to give you an overview of how we structurally operate.

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We're looking at planning at a 25-year time horizon...

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'This department is responsible for residential and business development

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'but needs to protect the environment for wildlife.'

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"To stop the decline of koala populations through advocacy,

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"protecting habitat and increasing community engagement."

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I've seen the koala fencing around the highways

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to stop them getting across.

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It's obviously a national symbol and an iconic wildlife to the city.

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We've tried to remove roadkill by looking at underpass systems

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which link up on both sides to the major corridors

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into areas of habitat.

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'While Tim gets the lowdown of similarities and differences of town planning in Australia,

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'Steph meets Dr Judith Seaboyer, lecturer in English at Queensland University,

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'to find out what studying in Australia offers.

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'The fate of the entire move could be decided with this visit.'

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-Why do you want to study English literature?

-I want to be a writer.

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English will help with that.

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I think it's a subject I'm best at as well.

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I enjoy it the most. That's important.

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We believe strongly that anybody who wants to be a creative writer

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should do an undergraduate degree in English literature.

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More and more, you can include creative writing in your study.

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What would English literature here include?

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In the first year, you get a taste for different things.

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By the second year, you have a sense of what you really want to do.

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So you can do a course in 18th-century literature or in Shakespeare or in tragic drama.

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You have a lot of options in that way.

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I'm going to be a foreign student. What are the cost implications?

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University isn't free for Australians, but it will cost more

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until you become an Australian resident.

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'The course structure seems much the same as back in the UK,

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'but with a disadvantage of £11,000 annual college fees.

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'Tim needs a job that pays enough to support the family and meet these extra costs.

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'He's talking to Eleanor Neunan about opportunities at the council.'

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I'll give you a picture as to where you might fit with the council here.

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We find in Australia the public sector don't pay top dollar,

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but they do offer a lot of flexibility.

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We have a 36.25 hour working week.

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-Some staff opt to work longer days, nine days out of a ten-day fortnight.

-That's interesting.

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Senior planner, what salary is that?

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In English pounds, I'd say that would be around £38,000 to £45,000.

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All right.

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'That's a potential pay cut of between £5,000 and £12,000.

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'With Helen giving up her job as a marketing consultant, that's a massive blow.'

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Tim is really the practical one.

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He's the one that has to bring his career over here.

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If he absolutely couldn't come here,

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it would provide the deciding factor for us

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on whether we could come out to Australia.

0:22:580:23:01

It's not all about money. The move's about a change in lifestyle,

0:23:010:23:06

not getting to retirement and not having done anything

0:23:060:23:10

but lived in the same place and worked 9 till 5.

0:23:100:23:14

There's clearly a balancing act between lifestyle

0:23:140:23:18

and the relaxation and adventure Helen would like to see.

0:23:180:23:23

'But if Steph doesn't like Aussie universities,

0:23:230:23:27

'or the course proves too expensive, she'll stay in the UK.'

0:23:270:23:32

The university seemed really good.

0:23:320:23:35

The academic side as well as the social side of it was good.

0:23:350:23:39

It's easier to say whilst I'm here, "Yes.

0:23:390:23:44

"It's fine. Yeah. Australia, Australia."

0:23:440:23:47

Then it's, "What about my friends? All the things I like about England?"

0:23:470:23:52

'Helen's dream might not seem so attractive without her daughter.'

0:23:520:23:58

Steph is, um...

0:23:580:24:00

You know, we're best friends and I just love having her around.

0:24:010:24:06

It's not just the independence she'll have wherever we go, and that's quite right.

0:24:080:24:14

It's just really hard to think she wouldn't be part of this

0:24:140:24:18

because she's such a big part of the family.

0:24:180:24:22

It's a huge decision.

0:24:240:24:27

-VOICE BREAKING:

-So I don't know.

0:24:300:24:33

I'd miss her terribly.

0:24:330:24:35

Mum's fallen in love with it, more than she had before she'd seen it.

0:24:370:24:43

So, that's...good.

0:24:430:24:45

I don't know. It's... I'm still undecided as to what I want to do.

0:24:450:24:50

Whether I want to stay in England or come here.

0:24:500:24:53

That's worrying, cos she's piling on the pressure a bit.

0:24:530:24:57

I don't think Mum would come - no matter what she said - without me.

0:24:570:25:03

If I don't come, I'm stopping her doing what she wants to do.

0:25:030:25:07

I still have to make sure the decision's right for me.

0:25:070:25:11

'Whatever she decides, right now, the future of the move lies in Tim's hands.

0:25:110:25:18

'Given the cost of property and the reduced salary, will he vote for work down under?'

0:25:180:25:24

Based on today's job meeting,

0:25:240:25:27

I really do like my job in the UK, working on the development side,

0:25:270:25:32

the cut and thrust, more than working for a local authority.

0:25:320:25:36

There are benefits - coming out here could aid the lifestyle move - and on that basis,

0:25:360:25:42

I will vote for...

0:25:420:25:45

..Australia.

0:25:490:25:50

'It's been a mixed week so far,

0:25:570:26:00

'but things are going to get tougher.

0:26:000:26:02

'When they look at the costs, Helen gets a wake-up call...'

0:26:020:26:06

-So we're actually making a saving?

-No. That's a minus.

0:26:060:26:10

'..which makes her question everything.'

0:26:110:26:14

Are you leaning one way or the other?

0:26:140:26:17

Even though I'm the one that's driven it, I'm wobbling.

0:26:170:26:21

'And will the tug of loved ones back home prove too strong?'

0:26:210:26:26

'That was heartbreaking, seeing her upset.'

0:26:260:26:32

It's making me think maybe...this decision is too early for Steph.

0:26:320:26:38

It's making me reconsider my decision.

0:26:380:26:42

While it's encouraging that Tim is happy with the job opportunities,

0:26:450:26:50

they both know his lower salary will mean finances are tight.

0:26:500:26:54

So, to have a new life in Australia,

0:26:540:26:57

it's essential they get the right price for the sale of their UK home.

0:26:570:27:02

'Tim and Helen live in a four-bedroom house

0:27:020:27:05

'which they have lovingly extended and believe to be worth £240,000.

0:27:050:27:11

'They'll need every penny to afford a house they like in Australia.

0:27:110:27:15

'We've sent two local estate agents to give us a professional opinion.

0:27:150:27:20

'There are no guarantees they'll get back the £70,000 they spent on it.'

0:27:200:27:25

Nice sized room. Lovely fireplace.

0:27:260:27:29

Ben's crayon all over it!

0:27:290:27:31

Oh, what a fantastic room!

0:27:310:27:34

Light, bright.

0:27:350:27:37

Fabulous kitchen.

0:27:370:27:39

Yeah. Fabulous room and a fantastic view.

0:27:420:27:46

A really nice bedroom.

0:27:490:27:51

Light, bright, great attention to detail.

0:27:510:27:56

Nice big bathroom. Double shower.

0:27:570:28:00

You can lie in the bath and enjoy the view.

0:28:000:28:03

Fabulous.

0:28:030:28:05

We have a traditional three-bed semi-detached that's been extensively extended and modernised.

0:28:050:28:12

I think it's going to appeal to a young family.

0:28:120:28:15

Good schools, good shops and good commuting links.

0:28:150:28:19

I recommend that it would be valued in the region of £235,000.

0:28:190:28:23

For a quick sale, I'd suggest 220.

0:28:230:28:26

I'd put this in the region of:

0:28:280:28:32

To secure a quick sale,

0:28:320:28:34

it may need to come around 235, 240, but with the way the market is,

0:28:340:28:38

we should secure a quick sale for you.

0:28:380:28:41

That's about what we were expecting.

0:28:420:28:45

-When we got it previously, it was slightly higher, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

0:28:450:28:51

But I'd be tempted to rent out and rent over here,

0:28:510:28:56

as opposed to doing a quick sale at home.

0:28:560:29:00

'That's what they expected, but with Helen giving up her £28,000 job to look after Ben,

0:29:000:29:07

'Tim's reduced salary might not be enough.

0:29:070:29:10

'We prepared a break-down of their living costs

0:29:100:29:14

'to see if they can afford the life Helen dreams of.'

0:29:140:29:18

So we'd be halving our income, then.

0:29:180:29:21

Mortgage is similar.

0:29:220:29:24

Council tax is similar.

0:29:240:29:27

You've not got your gas and heating, but your electricity.

0:29:270:29:31

Leccy is considerably more.

0:29:310:29:34

So it's nearly £4,000 outgoings for the UK, but £3,362 for Australia.

0:29:350:29:43

-So we're actually making a saving?

-No. That's a minus.

0:29:430:29:50

Oh, that's what we'd be short.

0:29:500:29:52

We'd be short nearly £900

0:29:520:29:54

to live in the lifestyle that we've currently got.

0:29:540:29:59

What none of this takes into account is Steph going to university.

0:29:590:30:04

In order to do it,

0:30:040:30:07

it would have to be that that first year was supported by savings

0:30:070:30:13

coupled with me doing some freelance work in the evenings.

0:30:130:30:18

-Or...

-But then...

0:30:180:30:20

What lifestyle is it when I come in and you go out the door?

0:30:210:30:25

I can work from home, like I do at the moment.

0:30:250:30:29

But to build up that client base would take some work.

0:30:290:30:34

Well, that's the challenge, isn't it?

0:30:340:30:37

Yeah. It is a big challenge.

0:30:370:30:39

'So, to afford the lifestyle she wants,

0:30:390:30:43

'Helen would have to work evenings and weekends to make ends meet,

0:30:430:30:47

'which wasn't part of her plan.'

0:30:470:30:50

It's a little bit scary, isn't it? There is that financial pressure.

0:30:500:30:55

You mull it over in your head and you see it in black and white.

0:30:550:31:00

I think it's probably a point that Helen hadn't fully appreciated.

0:31:010:31:07

Tim is obviously concerned that he thinks we're going to come over here

0:31:070:31:12

and we won't be able to live the lifestyle that we're really hoping.

0:31:120:31:18

I think he'll be cautious.

0:31:180:31:20

It'll be his one area of concern on that deciding factor, will we come over or not?

0:31:200:31:26

'After the huge shock of discovering they'd be £900 a month worse off,

0:31:260:31:32

'Helen seems undeterred, but Tim's not so sure.

0:31:320:31:36

'How will they vote on the cost of living?'

0:31:360:31:40

-UK.

-Australia.

0:31:400:31:42

I can't believe you're voting Australia!

0:31:420:31:46

-I don't believe you voted the UK!

-It's far too high.

0:31:460:31:50

-We could go round the world.

-You don't think it's achievable?

-No.

-Well, I do. I disagree.

0:31:500:31:57

Helen seems determined to hold on to her dream.

0:32:020:32:06

Their move has always been more about the opportunity for adventure

0:32:060:32:11

than just money.

0:32:110:32:13

Does a new life in Australia really hold that promise?

0:32:130:32:17

'The Booths have all fallen in love with the outdoors,

0:32:200:32:24

'but the finances have raised a big question.

0:32:240:32:28

'If they do decide to move, they'll be gambling everything on the dream of Australia.

0:32:280:32:35

'They need to know that, even with less money, it can deliver the life they want.

0:32:350:32:41

'Luke Wallace - a town planner - and Susan invited them for coffee

0:32:410:32:45

'to chat about the realities of life in Australia.'

0:32:450:32:50

What I'm hoping to improve is the family outdoors life,

0:32:500:32:54

just giving the family an opportunity to have that adventure,

0:32:540:32:59

that lifestyle where you can do all the things you can't do in the UK

0:32:590:33:04

because of the weather.

0:33:040:33:06

I would say that we have a very active outdoors lifestyle.

0:33:060:33:11

The cost of housing has gone up a lot in the last ten years.

0:33:110:33:15

For example, our house that's an average sort of home, three-bedroom, is worth about 550,000.

0:33:150:33:22

< Our interest-only repayments are nearly 50% of Luke's take-home wage.

0:33:220:33:28

It doesn't leave you a lot of money.

0:33:280:33:31

We've never really taken a family holiday

0:33:310:33:34

since we've had kids and I haven't been working.

0:33:340:33:37

But, in saying that, there's a lot to do that costs you nothing.

0:33:370:33:43

'If Helen and Tim move without properly considering their finances,

0:33:430:33:49

'there's a possibility they won't afford the lifestyle they want

0:33:490:33:53

'and this could force them to return to the UK with nothing.'

0:33:530:33:58

You haven't had a chance yet, I guess, for a serious talk about "Will we or won't we?"

0:33:580:34:04

Are you leaning one way or another?

0:34:040:34:07

Even though I'm the one that's driven it,

0:34:070:34:10

I'm wobbling a little bit on what that decision would be.

0:34:100:34:16

Because it's asking Steph and Tim to come along to Australia

0:34:160:34:21

and change their way of living back home.

0:34:210:34:25

There's a decision about how we do it, whether it's a full migration

0:34:250:34:30

or sampling it for a few years and then make the decision. >

0:34:300:34:35

The problem with that is if I decide to come to university here,

0:34:350:34:39

then I'm signing up to a three or four year contract to stay.

0:34:390:34:44

Whereas, if Mum and Tim decide it's all right for a year or so,

0:34:440:34:48

then want to move back to England, then I'm stuck out here.

0:34:480:34:53

I think it's even a bigger decision for me to make than those guys.

0:34:530:34:57

If you get abandoned out here, Steph, you can always live with us!

0:34:570:35:03

'Even if they can get their sums to work, it's a huge decision.

0:35:030:35:07

'Now even Helen is unsure whether her dream is right for her family.

0:35:070:35:13

'If the Booths move to the other side of the world,'

0:35:130:35:16

they'll have to cope with the huge emotional upheaval of leaving loved ones behind.

0:35:160:35:23

'We've prepared a DVD of messages from friends and family back home.'

0:35:230:35:29

BOTH: Hello, Helen and Tim, Steph and Ben.

0:35:290:35:34

Tim is very loyal, a good friend.

0:35:340:35:38

Tim's got quite a strong personality.

0:35:380:35:41

And, er...he's quite a clever chap!

0:35:410:35:45

And he's a nice fella.

0:35:450:35:48

We rib him for being a northerner and us from Essex.

0:35:480:35:51

He takes that all in his stride and he can give it back as well.

0:35:510:35:56

When Tim and Helen got married, Stephie made a speech.

0:35:560:35:59

It was so good, people still talk about it now.

0:35:590:36:04

Part of it was, "My mum, she has a temper. It must be her red hair.

0:36:040:36:10

"But if you've got a problem, she'll always be there."

0:36:100:36:14

Steph's a really bubbly girl.

0:36:140:36:18

She's got loads of friends.

0:36:180:36:21

-< She's really easy to get on with. She's a good friend, isn't she?

-Yes.

0:36:210:36:28

Everybody loves Stephie. She's got such a lovely personality.

0:36:280:36:32

She's had it since she was a baby.

0:36:320:36:35

She's such a placid person, and knowing.

0:36:350:36:38

< She's a really caring person. And Ben is such a cutie.

0:36:380:36:44

But I think he's got a bit of his mum's little temper!

0:36:440:36:48

LAUGHTER < But he is a little love.

0:36:480:36:52

When they first mooted about going to Australia,

0:36:520:36:56

I said I didn't want to talk about it.

0:36:560:36:59

I didn't want to even consider it.

0:36:590:37:03

< We don't want them to go.

0:37:030:37:06

She needs to get it out of her system,

0:37:060:37:09

to see what it's all about, but I think she'll do well down there.

0:37:090:37:14

With Helen and Tim, when there is trouble in the family,

0:37:140:37:19

they are the first to come down.

0:37:190:37:21

-VOICE BREAKING:

-They're the first to come down to help.

0:37:210:37:25

I think Helen will find that hard, whatever.

0:37:250:37:29

I'd just miss them all, I really would.

0:37:290:37:32

The thought of them being thousands of miles away...

0:37:320:37:36

Oh!

0:37:360:37:38

< She'd be really missed if she went.

0:37:390:37:42

It would be noticeable she wasn't there.

0:37:420:37:45

I think the reason why she wouldn't go is because of uni.

0:37:450:37:49

< Friends will be another reason why she wouldn't go.

0:37:490:37:53

-Make sure that you sort everything.

-Know that we're here.

0:37:530:37:57

< And if you need anything, you can ask us.

0:37:570:38:00

< We miss you lots and lots...

0:38:000:38:03

-STEPH SOBS < ..Bye!

-Bye!

0:38:030:38:07

-We'll be behind you no matter what.

-We'll always be here.

0:38:070:38:11

-Make the right decision. Come home.

-And talk to us about it. Yeah.

0:38:150:38:20

I don't know if we'd go to the airport because...

0:38:200:38:25

er...I think that would be a bit too much.

0:38:250:38:28

But I think I'd like to go up there a few days beforehand.

0:38:280:38:33

To see them before they did leave, like. You know?

0:38:330:38:38

I got to get a hankie.

0:38:390:38:41

'That was heartbreaking, seeing Steph upset.'

0:38:430:38:49

You just...

0:38:490:38:52

You try and shelter them from everything,

0:38:520:38:55

and you feel that you're almost inflicting something on them.

0:38:550:39:00

'It's making me think maybe this decision is too early for Steph,'

0:39:000:39:05

to be putting her through emotional turmoil.

0:39:050:39:09

She should be just living without any pressures at this age.

0:39:090:39:13

Her reaction then really made me think that.

0:39:130:39:17

It was just I got upset because the things they were saying were nice.

0:39:190:39:24

When you see them, it's like, "They're the people I'll be leaving behind."

0:39:240:39:30

It's just whether this adventure would be worth losing all that.

0:39:300:39:37

It's making me reconsider my decision.

0:39:370:39:40

My dream but, you know...

0:39:400:39:42

My dream wouldn't be anything without my children being happy or my family being happy.

0:39:430:39:50

That comes first and she was just so distressed so...

0:39:500:39:55

'It's always tough hearing messages from loved ones.'

0:39:590:40:04

How will the Booths balance the emotional tug of leaving friends and family

0:40:040:40:09

with the opportunities Australia can offer?

0:40:090:40:13

Helen's dream rests on their decision.

0:40:130:40:17

'It's been a challenging week for the Booths.

0:40:180:40:23

'They couldn't find a property they liked.'

0:40:230:40:26

I'm not impressed by the houses that we've seen so far.

0:40:260:40:30

-In terms of decor and layout, don't like it at all.

-Doesn't really do it for me.

0:40:300:40:35

'Steph was pleasantly surprised about the university options.'

0:40:350:40:40

I haven't come across that in any of the English universities.

0:40:400:40:45

'With Tim's reduced salary and Helen not working, money would be tight.'

0:40:450:40:50

-We'd be short nearly £900...

-Yeah.

0:40:500:40:54

..to live in the lifestyle that we've currently got.

0:40:540:40:57

'Tim isn't convinced they can afford to live Helen's Australian dream.'

0:40:570:41:03

It's a little bit scary, isn't it?

0:41:030:41:07

Every Australian doesn't think it's a wonderful lifestyle when they're doing the day-to-day drudgery.

0:41:070:41:14

'Seeing her daughter's distress,

0:41:140:41:16

'Helen's now questioning her own decision.'

0:41:160:41:21

'That was heartbreaking, seeing her upset.'

0:41:210:41:25

It's making me think maybe this decision is too early for Steph,

0:41:250:41:31

to be putting that pressure on her.

0:41:310:41:35

It's making me reconsider my decision.

0:41:350:41:37

'Tim has massive financial worries to overcome.

0:41:370:41:41

'Steph is on the brink of a new life.

0:41:410:41:44

'Helen may have to put her dream on hold for the sake of her family.'

0:41:440:41:49

'What concerns me most

0:41:490:41:51

'is that Tim will vote because he'll want to do what makes me happy.'

0:41:510:41:56

That would make me not happy because we equally need to be convinced.

0:41:560:42:01

'What WILL they decide?'

0:42:010:42:04

We'll be voting...

0:42:050:42:08

ALL: Australia.

0:42:120:42:14

Yay!

0:42:140:42:16

-We're going!

-That's yay!

0:42:180:42:22

What an emotional week for the Booths, but in the end they all agreed on a new life down under.

0:42:240:42:30

That surprised me. I didn't think either of them would vote Australia.

0:42:300:42:35

I know they both LIKED it,

0:42:350:42:38

but I was concerned because of the cost of living.

0:42:380:42:41

I thought Tim would be opposed to that.

0:42:410:42:44

Steph, I didn't know whether she was as enthralled with the university,

0:42:440:42:49

but she clearly was and, yeah, happy.

0:42:490:42:53

Happy. Happy that we did it.

0:42:530:42:56

Join us next time to find out what happens

0:43:000:43:03

when another family has to decide whether they're wanted down under.

0:43:030:43:08

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:43:200:43:23

E-mail [email protected]

0:43:230:43:27

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