Randle Family Wanted Down Under


Randle Family

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Moving halfway around the world to start a new life seems drastic

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but if you genuinely believed it was the best option for your young

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family, you might be tempted.

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The problem is, leaving behind everyone you know and love

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could be the toughest challenge you will ever face.

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The Randles are struggling to balance work and family life.

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We work constantly.

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At the minute, we just feel like two single parents

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just living under the same roof.

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Gemma believes Australia is the answer

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and a week down under doesn't disappoint.

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Oh, my God!

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I'm absolutely speechless. Look at this!

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-Look, you've got your own bar.

-Yes.

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I cannot believe that we could potentially live somewhere like this.

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But the heartache of taking her children away

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from their grandparents has her torn.

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We could have an OK life here and make my mum and dad happy

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or we can go over there and just break people's hearts.

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Thanks to one of the lowest population densities in the world,

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it's no surprise so many Brits flock

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to Australian shores every year in search of a better life.

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Today, the country has over one million UK-born residents.

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But it doesn't work out for everyone.

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For some, the pull of home is too much

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and many return to the UK with their dream in tatters.

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The Randles face a massive dilemma.

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Gemma believes Australia could offer her family the time together

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they desperately need but Chris worries that

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abandoning their life in the UK is too big a risk.

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For the next week, they'll sample everything Aussie living has to

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offer before making a decision that will change their lives for ever.

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By the time they touch down in Adelaide,

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the family have travelled more than 10,000 miles.

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And 26 hours in the air has given Gemma time to think through

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the enormity of the choice ahead.

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I think it's just made me realise how far we are from home.

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But it hasn't put her off.

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I'm excited.

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I just want to get going and see what it's all about

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and hope that it's everything that I think it's going to be.

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Chris, however, doesn't share her enthusiasm.

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I'm a bit nervous that Gemma's got real high expectations

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and we might find out that it's not quite what

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we want or what you think it's going to be. So, we'll see.

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Gemma has just one week to quell Chris's doubts or kiss her

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sunshine dream goodbye for ever.

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Oh, feel the heat!

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Back in the UK, the Randles live in Aldridge in the West Midlands.

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They are Chris, Maddie, aged three,

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wife Gemma and Oliver, who's nearly two.

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Their desire to move down under has been a burning passion

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ever since Gemma and Chris first got together.

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When me and Chris met eight years ago,

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we both said how much we'd love to go to Australia

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and what started as, "We'd love to go to Australia,"

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turned into how much we'd love to live in Australia.

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Unfortunately, we lost my nan quite suddenly

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and I decided I wanted to stay here and be with my family.

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And then we got married

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and we kind of settled down and we had our children and while they were

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so small we didn't really feel that was the time to be looking into it.

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But now, with a young family to support,

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Gemma thinks their jobs are destroying their family life.

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'We don't have time to spend as a family at the moment.

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'I mean, even to the point of sitting down and watching a film together.

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'We just don't...do not have the time'

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to be able to do anything like that and it's sad.

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'We're pushed so much in this country and driven by goals and

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'targets and rushing here, there and everywhere all the time.'

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For Gemma, Australia is the obvious solution.

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They don't seem to have a hundred-million-mile-an-hour pace

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of life over there.

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Everything seems to just be a bit more chilled out

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and that massively appeals to me.

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But while Chris wants a better work/life balance,

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he also loves his job.

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As both a PE teacher and head of house,

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Chris is in charge of the pastoral care or welfare of students -

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a role which is very important to him.

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I'm currently working in the biggest school in the UK.

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The children are split across four different house groups.

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I'm in charge of one house group

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and therefore responsible for 450 pupils,

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which equates to about half of a normal school, really.

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'It does bring quite a lot of challenges throughout the day

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'but I do really enjoy the pastoral side.'

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That is the biggest part of my job which

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I do find quite rewarding.

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And Gemma knows it's going to be a challenge to get him to start again.

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For him to give that up and go over there

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and not enjoy his job would make me feel awful.

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Despite this, Gemma feels spending more time with their children

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is so important it's a sacrifice worth making.

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'We didn't have children for other people to bring them up.

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'You know, that's not what we want.

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'We want our children to see us as a united front,'

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not seeing Daddy on one day and seeing Mummy on the other days.

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It's... You know, we want that family time.

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But spending more time with Maddie and Oliver risks taking them

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away from their grandparents and that hasn't gone down well.

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It has caused quite a bit of... quite a lot of upset, really.

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In particular, Gemma's mum has really took the news really badly,

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-you know, and it has hit her really hard.

-You feel torn.

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We could stay here, we could have a really, you know, an OK life here

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and make my mum and dad happy or we can go over there and break...

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Just...

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SHE SOBS

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Just break people's hearts.

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But give the kids a better life.

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Gemma's completely torn between becoming the parent

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she dreams of and leaving hers behind.

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She doesn't want to upset her parents.

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I completely understand that cos I'm in the same position

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with my parents, you know, and it is tough.

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'But they've got to understand that we're doing it for good reasons.'

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We want a better life and we want a better life for our kids.

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I can't look back in ten years and think,

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"What if we'd have given it a go and possibly been able to have

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"a better life over there?"

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To me, it's worth the risk giving that a go.

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Gemma hopes Australia will offer the family the time together

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they desperately need.

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But after just one week of sampling everything Australia can offer,

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they'll face the biggest decision of their lives - whether to give up

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work and move the children away from the family or stay put in the UK.

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For their trial week, the Randles are staying in Glandore,

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a well-established suburb 15 minutes from Adelaide city centre.

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With plenty of parks and playgrounds, there's lots of

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family-friendly places for the Randles to spend time together.

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Their temporary home is this three-bedroom cottage

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and Gemma's first impressions are positive.

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It's a really good size.

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-What've you found?

-I love the high ceilings.

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But the kitchen's not ideal.

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It's small.

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It's got everything we need.

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I couldn't live...in...with this kitchen.

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I couldn't live with it but it's perfect for a week.

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I think, at the moment, if we had to choose to come over

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and live in a property like this, I wouldn't be very keen.

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And Chris is already concerned about his work prospects.

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'I'm quite apprehensive, really. I'm quite nervous.'

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We've driven past a couple of schools on the way in.

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They look very different. So I'm a little bit nervous about it, really.

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But Gemma's staying positive.

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The sun's shining and, you know, we can't wait to get to the beach

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and have a look round.

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We've only come from the airport to the house

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and already I can see the benefits from us spending that time together.

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I think Gemma's really excited about the week ahead.

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I think she's very much certain that it's going to be for us

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and that we're going to like it

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and that we're going to move over here straightaway, however,

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I'm a bit more sceptical, really, at the moment,

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a bit more dubious.

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Maddie and Oliver may have settled in well

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but Dad's going to need some serious convincing

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if Australia is to become the family's home for good.

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Back in the UK, the Randles live in this modern three-bedroom

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semidetached house in Aldridge in the West Midlands.

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-We moved in, what, four years ago?

-Yeah.

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When we first got married and stuff.

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In the last year or so, we've started doing some work to it

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and it's turned into more of a home now, isn't it, really,

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rather than a house?

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It is everything that we want from a home and we've spent a long time

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building it up but I'm hoping that,

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in Australia, we'll be able to get more.

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Affording the dream home in Australia would

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depend on getting the full value they expect from their UK property.

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I'm quite hopeful that we get something in the region

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of 205,000-210,000.

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Gemma and Chris already have some savings from the sale

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of Gemma's beauty business so, with a total budget of £300,000,

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one thing's definitely on the wish list.

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One of the biggest factors is the spare room. You know, we're moving.

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We're moving away from our family. We want that spare room there.

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The four bedrooms is vitally important

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cos we want people to come and stop with us.

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That definitely is the deal-breaker for me

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-if we can't afford that fourth bedroom.

-The house is a big thing.

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I think if we don't get the right house then it'll certainly

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put me off moving. Yeah, definitely.

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Finding the ideal home in Australia, within budget,

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could make or break Gemma's dream.

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Today, we'll show the couple three properties in the Adelaide area,

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based on what their needs and wants are for an Aussie home.

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Only after seeing each property will the couple discover how much

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they cost. House-hunting begins in Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills.

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It's a thriving community 23 miles east of Adelaide.

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With good transport links to the city centre

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and plenty of nearby facilities for young families,

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it could be the ideal location for the Randles.

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With four bedrooms, this house could be perfect for them, too.

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And Gemma's impressed before she's even out of the car.

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SHE SQUEALS

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-Wow!

-This looks nice, doesn't it?

-Oh, wow!

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Look at this! Wow!

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Go on, then, you go first.

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SHE GASPS

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Oh, my God! Oh, my God, this is amazing!

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I think she likes it(!)

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-I think I've seen something.

-Do you think you've seen something?

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Just come back for a minute, mate.

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CHILDREN CHATTER EXCITEDLY

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Oh, my goodness. Who's... Oh, it's got a walk-in wardrobe!

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That's it. That's sold then, isn't it?

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GEMMA LAUGHS

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-My God. It's got a toilet, Mummy.

-It's got a toilet!

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Even the basics are getting a reaction.

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Just in case you need a wee-wee.

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THEY LAUGH

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-Can we move in now?

-It depends if we can afford it, doesn't it, really?

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This is everything that we wanted and more.

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I don't want to get too excited in case it's too expensive.

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-Stop being so practical.

-It's right though, isn't it?

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-We've got to be able to afford it.

-I could live in this wardrobe.

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Oh, my God, they've got a beauty room.

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Is this house just made for us?

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Gemma's on a real high with this house.

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Oh!

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Oh, my God!

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Just... I'm absolutely speechless.

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-In fact, I'm going to cry.

-Don't.

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I cannot believe that we could potentially live somewhere like this.

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You could do in England, if you can afford it.

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He's playing it safe but even Chris is enthused by what lies outside.

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God, look at this!

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Look, you've got your own bar!

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I can have my own bar, my own barbecue.

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-Job's a good 'un.

-I love it!

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And Gemma can already picture having friends round.

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Oh, my God. Can you imagine Paul and Carla and everyone?

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That's really sad that they couldn't actually...

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..pop over and enjoy it with us, I suppose.

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Remembering how far from home they are has brought Gemma

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back down to earth with a bump, but only briefly.

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I'd move in now.

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I would. If... I'd sell everything and live in this house.

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And even Chris appears sold.

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The location's perfect. It's nice and quiet.

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I think it's worth moving for this if you can afford it.

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That's a great start

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but will it be within reach of the couple's £300,000 budget?

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I think it might be bang on our budget.

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I think it's bang on 300,000.

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-What do you think?

-I'm going to say 350, then.

-Oh, God!

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-OK. Shall we have a look?

-Yeah, go on, then.

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Yeah, I thought so. It's...

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It's expensive, isn't it?

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-It might be that this is 345 but that's it.

-Yeah.

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We haven't got to spend any more.

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Whereas we might get a house that's 100 grand cheaper

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but have to spend 50 on it.

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A lot will depend on how much we can earn,

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though, isn't it, as well?

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That's the other thing because, based on the wages in England,

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-we wouldn't be able to afford that here.

-No.

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This house was a huge hit with the Randles

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but would stretch their budget.

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Finding the right property at the right price will be key if

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Gemma's to persuade Chris a move is best for the family's future.

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Could property number two, also in Mount Barker, fit the bill?

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The house is just three years old and backs onto a communal area,

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perfect for spending family time together.

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It has the fourth bedroom the couple want,

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but will it have the wow factor of the first house?

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-Was it impressive as you walk in?

-No, it's not.

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-You don't like it, do you?

-No, I don't.

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I am feeling a little bit underwhelmed here.

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But if I'd have been here first, this would have been,

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"Wow, this is fantastic."

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-I think it's more realistic.

-Yes.

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-We might be able to afford.

-Yes.

-But, again, it depends

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if it's got everything we need like the four bedrooms.

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Are you interested to see if it has still got the four bedrooms?

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We need to definitely have a look round.

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Hm.

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When you come back into it again, I quite like it, I do.

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-It's big enough for all four of us.

-Yeah.

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-It's about the same size as our lounge at home.

-Yeah. Definitely.

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But have you noticed, there's not a telly in here?

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So this might not actually be the lounge.

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-It's like a sitting area.

-It might just be... Yeah.

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Hm, you might be right there, Gemma.

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Oh, wow. OK, this has the wow factor.

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-That's better, isn't it?

-Yes.

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That's more like it.

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Oh, the fourth bedroom.

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God, this is a big room for a fourth bedroom.

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So, it has got four bedrooms then. Which is good.

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Yeah, but they're four double bedrooms.

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That's plenty of room for all the family and overseas visitors.

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And the outside area goes down well, too.

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-I do like having a deck.

-This is lovely.

-Yeah, it is nice.

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And Gemma's beady eye has noticed something else.

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We've got a gym on our doorstep.

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That's ridiculous!

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Perhaps an hour ago, I thought, "No, I want this house.

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"This was the house. This was the dream house."

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But coming here, now, I think this is more of a...an "us" house

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-and a more realistic house.

-A family home, isn't it?

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-Yeah.

-It's... It's nice.

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Maddie and Oliver look like they've settled in already

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but could the Randles afford this house on their £300,000 budget?

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Thinking about the other one now, I think this one's probably 280.

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I still think it's the top end of our budget

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but I think it might just be within budget.

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I think that's more realistic.

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I think it's top end so I'm going to go about 300.

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It's not quite as big as the other one

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but it's still got four bedrooms.

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-OK.

-Yeah? 280 and 300.

-Yeah.

-Ready?

-Yeah.

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It'll be interesting to see.

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-Oh!

-Oh!

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That's well within budget.

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-That's more realistic.

-Yeah.

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-And that's a big difference.

-Yeah. And it's got that fourth bedroom.

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Yeah.

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-I like...

-That's promising.

-Yes.

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Great result and still one property to go.

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The final house is in Littlehampton,

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a small family-friendly village with a country feel

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and only a 10-minute drive

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from the larger shops and facilities of Mount Barker.

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Because it's further out from Adelaide,

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the couple could be looking at a 45-minute commute to work.

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But with four bedrooms,

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this house has plenty of room for visiting friends and family.

0:18:070:18:11

Oh, my God!

0:18:110:18:12

-This is different, isn't it?

-It is different but I like it.

0:18:140:18:17

-It's like a...

-It's traditional.

0:18:190:18:21

-It's traditional.

-Yeah, it's nice.

-It's huge!

-It's a big room in here.

0:18:220:18:27

It's...um...traditional.

0:18:270:18:30

How else would you describe it, Gemma?

0:18:300:18:32

-It's quite old-fashioned, isn't it?

-Yeah, it is.

-It's quite dated.

0:18:320:18:36

We've just got to decide if we want to take on that challenge,

0:18:360:18:41

-cos this is a big house. This is a bigger house than ours.

-Yeah, it is.

0:18:410:18:45

I know it's all on one level but it's a bigger house than ours

0:18:450:18:48

-in England.

-Yeah, it is. It'd take a lot of work, wouldn't it?

-Yeah.

0:18:480:18:52

But it's very grand.

0:18:520:18:54

It's a grand house and it could be beautiful, this house could.

0:18:540:18:58

Oh, God, no!

0:19:010:19:03

Oh, this is just the most hideous room, isn't it?

0:19:030:19:07

-The room's nice. It's the furniture.

-Who would have furniture like this?

0:19:070:19:12

Surely this was gone in the '80s.

0:19:120:19:16

And outside, things don't get any better.

0:19:200:19:23

-I feel a bit isolated up here.

-It's a bit further out, isn't it?

0:19:230:19:27

Yeah, not what we want for the kids.

0:19:270:19:30

I think, with a three and a one-year-old

0:19:300:19:32

and the fact that we are going to have so much upheaval moving here and

0:19:320:19:38

you changing jobs, me potentially changing jobs, I think

0:19:380:19:42

the last thing that we need is a house that needs work doing to it.

0:19:420:19:47

This house might have all the space they need but it's not

0:19:470:19:50

somewhere Gemma and Chris can imagine their family growing up.

0:19:500:19:54

But if it's within their £300,000 budget,

0:19:540:19:57

could the price win them round?

0:19:570:19:58

-It's obviously completely different to the last two.

-Mm-hm.

0:19:580:20:01

It's a bit further out and stuff. But I think it's going to be cheaper

0:20:010:20:04

and towards the lower end of our budget. So I'm going to say...

0:20:040:20:07

260,000, I think.

0:20:070:20:10

I'm going to go a little bit lower.

0:20:100:20:14

I'll say 235.

0:20:140:20:16

-Shall we have a look?

-Yeah, go on, then. If you're ready.

0:20:160:20:19

What?!

0:20:210:20:22

-Oh, my God. Oh, I would not pay that for this house.

-No, really.

0:20:250:20:29

That's shocked... That really shocked me, actually.

0:20:290:20:31

We don't want a house to do up.

0:20:310:20:34

We want to come and have it done for us already. Modern.

0:20:340:20:38

-It's confirmed what we wanted in the first place.

-Yeah.

-Definitely.

0:20:380:20:42

Looks like this house is a definite no.

0:20:440:20:47

The day did start well with the house which

0:20:470:20:50

wowed both Gemma and Chris, but had a price tag to match.

0:20:500:20:54

Property number two was a slow starter

0:20:540:20:56

but they soon warmed to it and it was within budget.

0:20:560:21:00

Neither of them were sold on the final house

0:21:000:21:02

and the price left them stunned.

0:21:020:21:05

So, when it comes to property, will they vote for Australia or the UK?

0:21:050:21:10

Based on the houses that we've seen in Australia, our vote goes to...

0:21:100:21:15

ALL: Australia!

0:21:200:21:22

I think the first two houses just showed me that we

0:21:250:21:29

really could have what I dream of in Australia for us. I'm very happy.

0:21:290:21:36

That surprised me. I wasn't sure if it would as well. It shocked me.

0:21:360:21:40

Just have to get a job now.

0:21:420:21:44

A yes vote for Oz is a great start

0:21:480:21:50

for Gemma's dream of a new life down under

0:21:500:21:53

but she still has a lot of work to do to get Chris

0:21:530:21:56

over his worries about work prospects.

0:21:560:21:59

Can an Aussie-style day out remind Chris what this move is all about?

0:21:590:22:04

Spending more time together as a family.

0:22:040:22:07

Oliver.

0:22:130:22:15

The Randles are spending the day at Gorge Wildlife Park.

0:22:150:22:18

'We just don't get the time to do anything like this at home.

0:22:220:22:25

'We might have the odd Sunday together.'

0:22:250:22:26

You know, one day, two days every month.

0:22:260:22:29

I don't think you can compare the life here

0:22:290:22:32

that you can back in the UK.

0:22:320:22:34

You know, it's a different world and I just think this is what

0:22:350:22:40

I wanted for my children.

0:22:400:22:43

While today reminds Gemma just how desperate

0:22:430:22:45

she is for more time with her family, Chris still has concerns.

0:22:450:22:49

If we had a better work/life balance, we'd be able to do things

0:22:490:22:52

like this on a more regular basis but it's just whether, again, we can

0:22:520:22:55

afford to provide a good lifestyle over here for the children.

0:22:550:22:58

'A lot is kind of riding still a little bit on convincing me

0:22:580:23:01

'in terms of whether it's actually going to be worthwhile moving

0:23:010:23:04

'over here financially.'

0:23:040:23:05

Chris and Gemma meet the Corbett family, who emigrated two years ago.

0:23:050:23:09

Scott's also a PE teacher

0:23:090:23:11

so Chris takes the opportunity to grill him for information.

0:23:110:23:15

I'm not finishing work until about 10 o'clock at night, really,

0:23:150:23:18

if I'm honest. Have you found that it is better over here

0:23:180:23:20

or the same or...?

0:23:200:23:22

I remember going in first day and they said to me,

0:23:220:23:24

"Well, school finishes at three o'clock.

0:23:240:23:26

"We don't train the students after three o'clock."

0:23:260:23:30

So, obviously, I'm stood there, smiling, thinking,

0:23:300:23:32

"Three o'clock, I'm finished?"

0:23:320:23:33

And they said, "Yeah, three o'clock, you're done."

0:23:330:23:36

That's a huge chunk of extra time

0:23:360:23:38

they could spend together as a family.

0:23:380:23:40

In the UK, me and Chris at the minute are just exhausted.

0:23:400:23:45

We're emotionally exhausted, we're physically exhausted,

0:23:450:23:48

we work constantly.

0:23:480:23:50

'I miss out a lot as well

0:23:500:23:51

'because Chris has to take Maddie swimming and to gymnastics'

0:23:510:23:56

and, you know, that's not why we had children, really.

0:23:560:24:02

You know, we wanted to...

0:24:020:24:04

We wanted be together

0:24:040:24:06

and we wanted to enjoy them together and at the minute

0:24:060:24:09

we just feel like two single parents just living under the same roof.

0:24:090:24:14

We talk about living back in Britain as basically like a half life.

0:24:140:24:18

You get such an extra amount of living time because the weather

0:24:180:24:22

is so much better, because you can get out and you can do things.

0:24:220:24:25

He'll come from school, I'll have the picnic tea or whatever

0:24:250:24:27

and then we'll be on the beach until six, half six or whatever

0:24:270:24:31

and then, you know, go home and you've had that family time.

0:24:310:24:35

It's just a completely different way of life, isn't it?

0:24:350:24:38

-GEMMA: Sorry.

-Oh, sorry.

0:24:380:24:40

It just sounds like everything that we want as well for our family.

0:24:430:24:47

Sorry.

0:24:490:24:50

Gemma's overcome at the thought

0:24:510:24:53

of how much better their lives could be down under.

0:24:530:24:56

Just... I just don't want to go home.

0:24:560:24:59

'Cos I know that, like, in a couple of weeks,

0:25:020:25:04

'it'll just be back to the same again.'

0:25:040:25:07

It does, like...

0:25:090:25:10

In the last three days, me and Chris have seen each other more than

0:25:100:25:13

we have since Christmas, which is ridiculous.

0:25:130:25:17

It is, you know, the four of us. This is what we want from Australia.

0:25:190:25:24

This is why we want to move here so that we can be a family.

0:25:240:25:27

It's been a day of simple pleasures but one which has driven home

0:25:290:25:32

just why Gemma desperately wants to move her young family to Australia.

0:25:320:25:36

When it comes to the vote, though, will Chris agree?

0:25:380:25:42

ALL: Australia!

0:25:420:25:44

-Yes, Oliver chose it, too.

-Maddie, why did you choose Australia?

0:25:480:25:52

-Kangaroos.

-The kangaroos!

-Kangaroos!

0:25:520:25:55

I think that it is definitely what we want out of our life in Australia.

0:25:550:26:01

It's been a great day together as a family,

0:26:010:26:03

which we don't get the chance to do back in the UK.

0:26:030:26:05

Today's given the Randles a glimpse

0:26:130:26:16

of the sort of future they've dreamed of.

0:26:160:26:18

Chris's second vote for Oz

0:26:180:26:20

is another step in the right direction for Gemma.

0:26:200:26:23

But if they're to make the move,

0:26:230:26:24

it's crucial his job concerns are put to rest.

0:26:240:26:28

Chris is the main visa applicant. Back in the UK,

0:26:280:26:31

he's a PE teacher in a large inner-city school in Birmingham.

0:26:310:26:35

He also has pastoral responsibility for 450 pupils,

0:26:350:26:39

looking after any of their social or emotional needs.

0:26:390:26:43

He's worked hard to build his career.

0:26:430:26:45

It's taken me eight years to get into that position that I'm in now.

0:26:450:26:49

I think if we did go and we came back again, I don't think

0:26:490:26:52

I'd walk into a job which is the equivalent of what I've got now.

0:26:520:26:55

Working partly in PE also in terms of pastoral care within

0:26:550:27:00

a school, again, they are my two loves in my job.

0:27:000:27:04

And Gemma knows Chris getting the right job down under will be

0:27:040:27:06

crucial if she is to keep her dream on track.

0:27:060:27:09

I'm hoping that he will find an equally enjoyable job

0:27:090:27:16

and that he will realise that it was the right thing to do.

0:27:160:27:21

If I can't work in both areas, I think

0:27:210:27:23

that would certainly sway me one way or the other and

0:27:230:27:26

have a big impact on whether that move would be the right thing to do.

0:27:260:27:30

Everything hinges on whether

0:27:310:27:33

Chris's concerns about his career can be laid to rest

0:27:330:27:35

so we've arranged for him to visit Westminster Private School

0:27:350:27:38

in Adelaide, where he meets principal Steve Bousfield.

0:27:380:27:42

Would my qualifications from England transfer straight over

0:27:460:27:48

-directly to Australia or would I have to...?

-They may do.

0:27:480:27:51

The chances are they would.

0:27:510:27:52

We have a large number of teachers who have arrived

0:27:520:27:54

here from the UK and we brought in directly.

0:27:540:27:57

So we have a number of people who've moved straight in here.

0:27:570:27:59

Sounds promising.

0:27:590:28:00

But could Chris continue with the pastoral role he loves?

0:28:000:28:04

In the private schools,

0:28:040:28:05

we put a great emphasis upon the pastoral care

0:28:050:28:08

so we do expect heads of house

0:28:080:28:09

to have a really close relationship with our students.

0:28:090:28:12

Would it be a case that I could move straight over here

0:28:120:28:14

-and apply for a head of house job or does it tend to be...?

-Probably not.

0:28:140:28:18

We would tend to appoint our heads of houses from within

0:28:180:28:20

because we get to know them and we know the sort of students

0:28:200:28:23

they're able to work with and be most effective with.

0:28:230:28:25

That's a real blow for Chris.

0:28:250:28:28

While his tour of the school continues,

0:28:280:28:31

Gemma's taken Oliver and Maddie to a local kindergarten.

0:28:310:28:34

It's a chance to address some worries she's had.

0:28:340:28:37

-Have you made many friends from being here?

-Yeah.

0:28:370:28:39

I met a few girls here and even when we went to the birthday party,

0:28:390:28:42

all the mums are sitting around,

0:28:420:28:43

we're talking about kindy and all their experiences.

0:28:430:28:46

That's the one thing I'm a little bit nervous about cos

0:28:460:28:49

I'd like to come here and not work and obviously it can be quite

0:28:490:28:52

isolating a little bit when you're stuck in a house.

0:28:520:28:54

-With no family close by.

-Yeah! Well, no family at all here.

0:28:540:28:58

One of my main concerns coming here was the fact that the kids

0:28:580:29:02

wouldn't have their grandparents here

0:29:020:29:04

but after speaking to some of the mums and knowing that we could

0:29:040:29:09

make friends quite easily here

0:29:090:29:11

and the way that the children have been with our children today,

0:29:110:29:16

I don't think that it's going to be a huge transition for them.

0:29:160:29:22

Gemma's keeping her fingers crossed that Chris has had good news, too.

0:29:220:29:27

I hope Chris has found that he could like a job over here

0:29:270:29:32

and I'm hoping that the salary

0:29:320:29:35

kind of matches - hopefully exceeds, but matches - his expectations.

0:29:350:29:41

That's just what Chris is about to find out.

0:29:410:29:45

'How realistic do you think it is'

0:29:450:29:46

for me to be able to get a job over here?

0:29:460:29:48

Well, there are a lot of PE teachers here but you've got

0:29:480:29:50

eight years' experience and that will stand you in good stead.

0:29:500:29:53

You know, I think you would have a reasonable chance of getting a job

0:29:530:29:56

but I wouldn't advise you to leave the UK

0:29:560:29:58

until you had some sniff of a job over here somewhere.

0:29:580:30:01

What kind of salary would I be looking at earning over here?

0:30:010:30:04

OK, normally a teacher without any responsibility at all,

0:30:040:30:07

at the top of their scale -

0:30:070:30:08

with your experience, you're probably about that -

0:30:080:30:10

would be in the region of around 62,000 British pounds per year.

0:30:100:30:14

That's a bit more than what I thought.

0:30:140:30:16

That's almost £20,000 more than Chris currently earns in the UK.

0:30:160:30:20

A job in Australia might mean putting his pastoral role

0:30:220:30:24

on hold but he would get more time at home with the family.

0:30:240:30:28

Has he heard enough to give up the position he's worked

0:30:280:30:31

so hard for in the UK?

0:30:310:30:33

Based on my work experience today, I've decided to vote for...

0:30:350:30:39

..Australia.

0:30:440:30:45

The job itself just seems really appealing.

0:30:460:30:48

To be working in this sort of environment with these

0:30:480:30:51

kind of facilities, as a potential, would be brilliant.

0:30:510:30:54

Time to share the good news with Gemma.

0:30:550:30:58

-It was really good. Really different.

-Good different?

-Yeah.

0:30:580:31:01

What did they say about your pastoral stuff?

0:31:010:31:03

-I wouldn't be able to go straight into a job with that.

-Mm.

0:31:030:31:06

But the positive was that

0:31:060:31:08

I'd probably earn more money as well over here.

0:31:080:31:10

SHE SQUEALS

0:31:100:31:11

-Oh, I'm really pleased.

-It was... It was really good.

0:31:130:31:18

I mean, if there was a job there, I'd apply for that straightaway.

0:31:180:31:20

-Really?

-Yeah.

0:31:200:31:22

Chris's earning prospects mean a new life in Australia

0:31:250:31:29

for the family could be a step closer

0:31:290:31:31

but the finances will have to work and getting the right

0:31:310:31:34

price for their home in the UK will be crucial.

0:31:340:31:37

Chris believes their house is worth £210,000

0:31:370:31:41

but will two local estate agents agree?

0:31:410:31:44

It's a nice, bright room.

0:31:440:31:45

Contemporary colours and a nice, modern fireplace.

0:31:450:31:49

That's a nice feature, isn't it, with the built-in oven and hob?

0:31:510:31:54

It looks like there is a dishwasher. That'll please everybody.

0:31:540:31:58

He's going in my room first.

0:31:580:32:01

-GEMMA: He HAS gone in your room!

-He is!

0:32:010:32:04

It's a nice, bright, modern room. Good for a child.

0:32:040:32:06

Also, get a double bed in here as a second bedroom.

0:32:060:32:11

Family bathroom, fully tiled with a white suite.

0:32:110:32:15

That's a nice, light, bright master bedroom. It's a good size.

0:32:150:32:20

Some built-in wardrobes by the look of it.

0:32:200:32:22

And a nice view of the back garden. Excellent.

0:32:220:32:25

Bedroom three at the back.

0:32:270:32:28

A good size to the bedroom for this sort of style of house.

0:32:280:32:31

GEMMA: Our house looks really nice, doesn't it?

0:32:310:32:34

It's a nice house.

0:32:340:32:35

This is a really nicely presented three-bedroomed semidetached

0:32:350:32:38

family home. All in all, very saleable property.

0:32:380:32:41

My valuation - open market, 190,000.

0:32:410:32:44

For a quick sale, 180,000.

0:32:440:32:47

I would value the property at around about £200,000.

0:32:480:32:52

If we were looking for a quick sale,

0:32:520:32:54

probably 185-190 is probably nearer the mark.

0:32:540:32:58

Hm. That's quite a lot less, then, isn't it, really,

0:33:010:33:04

-than what I was hoping for?

-That is massively less. We bought it for 196.

0:33:040:33:10

-Mm-hm.

-If we got that back, then I'd be happy but I'm not...

0:33:100:33:17

We can't sell the house for less than we paid for it.

0:33:170:33:20

Well, you can. Some people do. It's just whether you want to or not.

0:33:220:33:25

That's the difference, isn't it?

0:33:250:33:27

A valuation of £20,000 less than they'd hoped for

0:33:270:33:30

is a massive blow and puts their dream in real jeopardy.

0:33:300:33:34

So Gemma and Chris sit down to see if the finances could still work.

0:33:350:33:39

To help them do the sums,

0:33:390:33:41

we provided a breakdown of their outgoings in the UK

0:33:410:33:44

in comparison to those down under, starting with the weekly shop.

0:33:440:33:48

I cannot believe the shampoo and conditioner.

0:33:480:33:52

-That's a massive difference, isn't it?

-It's more than double.

0:33:520:33:56

-£7.65 difference. On both of them.

-On both.

-That's a massive difference.

0:33:560:34:01

-Sweetcorn is less.

-Cheaper.

-Yay! We've found something that's less.

0:34:010:34:05

That's £6 difference in the yoghurts. For a six-pack.

0:34:070:34:12

So it's a pound extra per yoghurt here.

0:34:120:34:14

So, how does the weekly shop compare?

0:34:150:34:18

£73 or £74 extra a week here than...

0:34:180:34:23

..back in the UK, which is quite a big difference.

0:34:250:34:28

In fact, it's a difference of almost £4,000 a year

0:34:280:34:31

on food shopping alone.

0:34:310:34:33

And that's not the only shock.

0:34:330:34:35

Basing their figures on the cheapest property they saw,

0:34:350:34:37

their monthly mortgage in Australia would be £1,700.

0:34:370:34:42

That is a lot more than we pay at the minute on our mortgage, isn't it?

0:34:420:34:46

It's about three times more. It's a big difference in price.

0:34:460:34:49

But Chris stands to earn more in Australia than in the UK.

0:34:490:34:53

-OK, so £62,000 would be over here, wouldn't it?

-Yes.

0:34:530:34:56

And it's 51,205 over there.

0:34:560:35:00

So it's a difference of £10,795.

0:35:000:35:04

But is it enough of a difference to make the dream life affordable?

0:35:040:35:08

As the figures mount, tempers rise.

0:35:080:35:11

-No, the total per month is like this now.

-OK. All right. Chill.

0:35:110:35:17

You're annoying me. Right. No, what the difference is.

0:35:170:35:20

Yeah, and I was going to say,

0:35:200:35:22

"That's that and then that's that and the difference is that."

0:35:220:35:24

-Go on, then.

-After you.

0:35:240:35:25

Will their calculations spell the end of Gemma's dream?

0:35:250:35:28

-What's the difference?

-So, the difference would be...

0:35:280:35:32

..£1,704.

0:35:340:35:37

So we're £1,704 worse-off a year in Australia.

0:35:370:35:43

Yeah.

0:35:430:35:44

Gemma's devastated by the figures but there is still

0:35:440:35:47

a glimmer of hope as Chris spots some potential savings.

0:35:470:35:51

Just from the few days we spent over here so far, you know,

0:35:510:35:54

I think we could cut back so much easier.

0:35:540:35:56

I know we've put the car loans and things and bits and pieces but...

0:35:560:36:00

We're hoping to have paid those off.

0:36:000:36:01

-We'd have had them paid off before we come, wouldn't we?

-Yeah.

-I mean,

0:36:010:36:04

that makes a big difference straightaway. It's 500 quid.

0:36:040:36:07

I was a bit nervous when we first started with the calculations

0:36:070:36:09

and stuff and working things out. It's a bit positive now, isn't it?

0:36:090:36:13

Despite not looking good on paper, some tightening of the belts

0:36:130:36:17

could mean the figures aren't as bad as they feared.

0:36:170:36:19

So when it comes to finances,

0:36:190:36:21

will the couple choose the UK or Australia?

0:36:210:36:24

Based on the reality check, our vote goes to...

0:36:240:36:27

-50/50.

-I'm going to say Australia.

0:36:330:36:35

I'm really surprised that we went that way round.

0:36:380:36:41

I thought that I'd vote for Australia and you'd be the 50/50.

0:36:410:36:44

I was really close. I was really close to being 50/50, I was.

0:36:440:36:47

I'm convinced we can make massive cutbacks

0:36:470:36:49

and make it feasible to move over here. I do, I really do.

0:36:490:36:53

I'm very pleased.

0:36:560:36:57

A third vote for Australia means Chris seems to have been won over

0:37:030:37:07

but Gemma's biggest fear has always been separating her

0:37:070:37:10

children from their grandparents.

0:37:100:37:12

Her dream may be close

0:37:120:37:13

but will hearing from home prove too heartbreaking to bear?

0:37:130:37:17

We've put together a DVD of messages to let them know how family

0:37:180:37:21

and friends are feeling back in the UK.

0:37:210:37:24

With Maddie and Oliver looked after by a childminder,

0:37:240:37:27

Chris and Gemma settle down to watch.

0:37:270:37:30

Hi, Gem, Chris, Maddie and Oliver.

0:37:300:37:32

-Hi, guys.

-Hi.

0:37:320:37:33

Hi, Gem and Chris, Maddie and Oliver.

0:37:330:37:35

Hello. Hope you've had a good week.

0:37:350:37:37

Hi, Maddie. Hi, Oliver. Hi, Gem. Hi, Chris.

0:37:370:37:41

They're a really cute family. Gem and Chris are brilliant together.

0:37:410:37:46

They really work.

0:37:460:37:47

And the kids are just adorable.

0:37:470:37:49

They're a lovely family.

0:37:490:37:51

As soon as Chris and Gemma got together, we instantly thought...

0:37:510:37:53

-We instantly liked her, didn't we?

-Absolutely.

0:37:530:37:56

We knew that she was a keeper.

0:37:560:37:58

Christopher idolises Maddie

0:37:580:38:00

and Gemma idolises Oliver.

0:38:000:38:02

There are determined, in their own way,

0:38:020:38:05

to spoil the children and we're helping them, really.

0:38:050:38:07

I always said that if I could pick anybody for my Gemma,

0:38:090:38:12

it would be Chris.

0:38:120:38:14

He seems to be the perfect husband for her.

0:38:140:38:17

Gemma's got a very bubbly character.

0:38:170:38:19

-She's got this positive attitude to life.

-Yeah.

0:38:190:38:23

Gem sees the good in everything, really.

0:38:230:38:25

She's just a real diamond. She's there whenever you need her.

0:38:250:38:29

She's a trooper. She's a fantastic mum. She just...

0:38:290:38:33

She does everything for everybody and doesn't moan.

0:38:330:38:37

It'd leave a big hole in our lives if they decide to move to

0:38:370:38:40

Australia and that will be a hard thing to fill.

0:38:400:38:44

Missing the kids growing up is going to be gut-wrenching.

0:38:440:38:48

They're cutting them out of our lives but cutting us out of theirs as well.

0:38:480:38:52

-It's going to be heartbreaking to say goodbye to them.

-Oh, absolutely.

0:38:520:38:55

I'll be coming out to see you when I can. I just think it'll...

0:38:550:39:00

It'll just be mad you won't be there.

0:39:020:39:04

Sorry.

0:39:090:39:10

I'm sure you'll make the right decision.

0:39:110:39:14

All you need to know is whatever you decide to do, we'll support you.

0:39:140:39:18

We're right behind you, 100%.

0:39:180:39:20

I hope you make the right decision and whatever you decide...

0:39:220:39:28

I can't. Sorry, I can't.

0:39:280:39:29

I feel, at the moment, like my heart is being wrenched out.

0:39:360:39:41

But, as a family, they have to do what's right for them.

0:39:410:39:45

-Oh, your poor mum.

-I know.

-She couldn't even speak, could she?

0:40:040:40:08

-She hasn't really spoke about it, has she? So...

-No.

0:40:080:40:11

I think my dad's a bit in denial.

0:40:110:40:14

I don't think he thinks we're serious, in a way.

0:40:140:40:18

Maybe that's because he doesn't want to think about it.

0:40:180:40:22

Mm. It is a long way, isn't it?

0:40:220:40:25

Hearing from friends and family was a heartbreaking experience

0:40:290:40:34

and now Gemma and Chris are faced with the biggest decision

0:40:340:40:37

they'll ever have to make.

0:40:370:40:38

For Gemma, it'll mean choosing between what the family will gain

0:40:380:40:42

in Australia and the heartache their departure will cause.

0:40:420:40:46

For me, personally,

0:40:590:41:00

the hardest people to leave will definitely be my friends.

0:41:000:41:03

I mean, you know...

0:41:030:41:05

If we were to move over here, it would be really, really tough.

0:41:090:41:12

You know, we'd be completely on our own. Very isolated, no family,

0:41:120:41:15

no support, no friends.

0:41:150:41:17

Our future could potentially be amazing for the four of us but

0:41:170:41:23

the fact that we wouldn't

0:41:230:41:24

have anybody to share it with would be hard.

0:41:240:41:28

-It would be hard.

-The week has been really positive

0:41:280:41:30

but there's still massive risks, I think, of moving over here.

0:41:300:41:34

That's why we've got to work out what's right, really.

0:41:340:41:37

Whether it's worth making that big risk to have, you know,

0:41:370:41:40

the environment and the lifestyle that's calling over here or

0:41:400:41:44

whether it's better to be safe, you know, and just stay where you are.

0:41:440:41:48

Has the week in Australia been enough to dispel Chris's concerns

0:41:480:41:51

about a move and will Gemma decide that

0:41:510:41:55

leaving behind everyone she loves in the UK is a sacrifice worth

0:41:550:41:59

making to give her family a better life down under?

0:41:590:42:02

ALL: Australia!

0:42:040:42:05

Australia!

0:42:070:42:09

-Which has surprised me.

-I'm so pleased.

0:42:150:42:19

It shocked me because I didn't think I'd be in this situation now.

0:42:200:42:23

I was thinking, "Yeah, maybe we should go and do this."

0:42:230:42:26

But the more I do think about it, the more I think,

0:42:260:42:29

"Yeah, let's give it a go."

0:42:290:42:31

For us, it is going to be harder, I think.

0:42:310:42:34

I'll just have to keep in mind this week

0:42:340:42:36

and what it's done for Maddie and Oliver.

0:42:360:42:39

You just don't want to look back in ten years and wish we'd have done it.

0:42:390:42:43

-I think we'll regret it if we don't.

-Yeah.

0:42:430:42:45

-I'd be a lot happier in the sun over here...

-Yeah!

0:42:450:42:48

..poor and broke, than back in England, poor and broke

0:42:480:42:50

and not in the sun and in the rain instead so it sounds better to me.

0:42:500:42:54

With such strong family ties in the UK,

0:42:580:43:01

this week was always going to be an emotional whirlwind for the Randles.

0:43:010:43:05

But they've come out the other side convinced Australia is

0:43:050:43:09

the right place to bring up their family

0:43:090:43:12

and achieve the time together they so desperately want.

0:43:120:43:15

Soon, they could be on their way

0:43:150:43:18

to a new life on the other side of the world.

0:43:180:43:21

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