Davidson Family Wanted Down Under

If you passionately believed your future lay on the other side

of the world, but your partner didn't agree,

how would you go about convincing them to make the move?

A move that would mean giving up everything they've worked

so hard to achieve for a country they'd never been to.

For more than 30 years,

Karen Davidson's dreamt of a life down under.

Since I was at school, probably, I've been pulled towards Australia.

But her vision has split the family right down the middle.

My dad's not so, like, keen on it like me.

I don't want to move.

It's a big factor... I'm not for moving.

Karen has just one week to win them round... I'm getting that echo.

I don't see the sea.

I would change that, it's just not for me.

..or her long-held dream could be over before it's begun.

I just hope it doesn't go that way.

Living the Australian lifestyle has been a dream for generations

of British families, and plenty make it a reality.

Today, it's estimated that 1 in 23 people living in Oz were

born in the UK.

But leaving behind loved ones on the other

side of the world can be too much for some

and many families return home with their plans in ruins.

Karen Davidson has just one week to persuade her husband

and daughter that their futures lie in Australia.

The whole family will experience the reality of everyday life

down under before deciding once and for all

whether to follow Karen's dream of a new life there or to stay in the UK.

After more than 11,000 miles in the air,

the Davidson family touch down on Australian soil for

the very first time and when it comes to the flight,

there's already a difference in opinion.

It was an epic of a journey,

but not as bad as we actually thought it would be.

It was horrifying! It's made me realise that it is quite far.

Still excited though, still want to be here. Karen's staying positive...

Just hoping it's going to be all I want it to be, really.

Hoping that this three...

take on board what I'm trying to do for them

and get a positive result at the end of the day.

..but Gary's playing it cool.

Let's see what, you know, the next couple of days presents us with.

Having finally reached Australia,

ahead lies a week that could change the family's future for ever.

Meet the Davidsons - mum Karen, dad Gary,

Blair, who's 12, and Skye, aged 9.

Originally from Scotland, the family moved to Crewe 11 years ago.

They enjoy their life in the North West, but, despite having never

visited Australia, Karen's convinced a better future lies down under.

'Well, it has always been there for as long as I can remember.

'My aunt lived in Australia'

when I was in my teens and she used to, obviously,

tell me stories about what Australia was like

and the lifestyle that she had and, as a child, obviously,

listening to that, you're thinking, "Oh, that sounds amazing."

The Davidsons are a sporty family and love spending time together

outdoors, but it's not often that possible.

I don't think we get a chance to do it enough here.

In the wintertime, you're so limited to what you can do as a family

and the time constraints, obviously, with Gary's job.

Karen's convinced Australia's climate

and culture would offer the whole family a better work-life balance.

'Being able to spend time together,

'whether it be sitting on the beach or walking'

and just being outside hitting a few golf balls together would be

really important...

to all four of us.

But husband Gary doesn't share

Karen's dream.

Everyone talks about the lifestyle in Australia.

That's all I've ever heard.

And I am not convinced that it is any better...

than what you can make for yourself in the UK.

And he's struggling to see why Karen's

so drawn to a country none of the family have ever visited.

I honestly don't know where Karen's dream has come from.

I don't see what the pull is.

I don't see why we should risk moving away from what

we have to uncharted waters.

To me it's a big risk.

Gary knows Karen only wants the best for her family,

but if he is ever to be persuaded to make the move,

Australia would have to offer a lot more than just sun, sea and sand.

His job in the rail industry in the UK

is something Gary's passionate about.

Walking away from my current employer would be really hard.

There's a long-term plan...

and I'm part of that plan.

Unless Australia can offer similar or better work prospects,

Karen's hopes could be dashed.

I wouldn't say I'm scared.

I would say I'm petrified.

I don't want to walk away from something that, to me, is ideal.

Oh, I thought that was in.

And when it comes to Blair and Skye's view on Australia,

they're as divided as Mum and Dad.

There's definitely two sides within the family.

There's a For camp and there's an Against camp.

I do want to move to Australia.

I want to stay here.

Now, Karen's got just one week to persuade Gary

and Skye that her lifelong idea of the perfect life down under

is one the whole family should be enjoying.

It's a big risk moving to the other side of the world,

there's no doubt about it.

Erm, but it's a risk that I'm willing to take.

Um...

I think it's just maybe starting to hit home,

how big a move it actually is.

The family are split down the middle over the move.

Karen and son Blair believe Australia could offer

a better quality of life and an outdoors lifestyle,

but Gary and Skye are completely content with their lives in the UK.

The next week will see the family decide, once and for all,

where their future home lies.

The Davidsons will be spending their week in Adelaide,

capital of South Australia, nicknamed the 20 Minute City because

its airport, city centre

and beaches can all be reached within 20 minutes.

It's a favourite destination for Brits seeking a new life down under.

The final leg of their long journey brings the family to the

green, leafy suburb of Lynton in the southern foothills of the city.

Home for the week is Treetops and first impressions are promising.

You can see the sea.

Waking up to that every morning would be lovely, wouldn't it?

Oh, my word. Wow.

Oh, wow. This is nice, isn't it?

But look at that view, that's what captures me. I know.

The view's amazing, isn't it? It's a good start. Oh, wow.

This is a right girlie room this, isn't it?

Wow. Oh, this is lovely.

I love it! Is that the naughty chair?

Yes. It looks like it cos it's in the middle.

Yeah. No, you'll not be in that.

None of you will be in the naughty chair.

We might put Dad in the naughty chair if he doesn't...! Oh, very good.

Oh, wow. THEY GASP

Do you want to swap rooms with me? Yeah! No!

Look at that, Karen. You're waking up in the morning and you just...

You sit up and see that. You see the water.

Wow, look at that. Look at the big trampoline. Look!

You will do your somersaults on those, eh?

I could definitely see myself being here.

What about you?

Still need convincing? No, no, it's a nice setting.

Well, it's only day one. We'll get you warmed up.

I think you'll have your work cut out for you, Karen.

Plonking my house right here on this very spot

and having this view would be ideal.

Karen's hoping Gary's positive reaction is just

a taste of what's to come.

I think the fact that he's here now

and he's sort of seeing a touch of what the lifestyle is like,

I think he's maybe going to open his mind a bit more.

But she knows everything rests on his work opportunities.

I mean, as much as I would love this to happen,

if he couldn't get a job that he felt happy in...

I genuinely don't think it would happen.

I would be devastated.

I just hope it doesn't go that way.

And despite his reluctance,

Gary knows just how much Karen's dream means to her.

She's got a lot pinning on this and I think...

..her future will be shaped by my decision.

If there's going to be a negative outcome,

then Karen will feel it the most.

Back in the UK, the Davidsons live in Crewe in Cheshire.

They've worked hard to turn their four-bedroom house

into a place they can call home and think it's worth ?220,000.

This is the house that...

we're quite proud of. We've done quite a lot to it.

We've basically adapted the house to suit our needs

and to suit the way we live our lives.

But when it comes to properties down under,

Karen's going to face an uphill struggle.

Gary doesn't like Australian houses at all

and he's not shy in telling you that.

I am not very keen on Australian houses because of the open-plan.

To me, it's just like a holiday home and, after a short while,

it would drive me crazy.

Rip the roots of this house up and take it out there.

And if he's ever going to be won over, Gary has a clear wish list.

Upstairs, downstairs, separated living,

um...good garden.

We would need to find a house that we were both comfortable with.

Gary, I think, more so than me.

The budget for a property would be maximum ?300,000.

I would be very, very surprised if we got what

we wanted for that budget

and that is a massive concern.

Today, we'll give the Davidsons a taste of Adelaide's property market.

We'll show them three options ranging from what

they can afford to their dream home and one that's somewhere in-between.

After seeing what's on offer,

they'll find out just how much each house costs.

House hunting begins in the residential suburb of Happy Valley.

It's about 40 minutes from the centre of Adelaide

and with plenty of schools, shopping centres and sports facilities,

it's a popular area with active families.

Oh! This looks nice.

This four-bedroom, two-bathroom detached property has

plenty of outdoor space, which should suit the Davidsons,

but will it deliver what they want at a price that's right?

Whoa!

Wow.

THEY GASP

Well, this is nice. We've got a hall. We're walking into a hall.

It's huge!

Wow.

It's quite nice. Nice furniture. Yeah, it's lovely.

It's nice and bright, isn't it? I like the big windows.

I like the natural daylight that comes in.

I don't like the big windows. I don't like the big windows. Why?

I just...I don't know.

Oh, dear. It was going well, for a second.

Whoa!

Oh, this is lovely. Big kitchen! Oh, wow. It's huge.

See! Are you getting warmer? I wasn't expecting this.

You wouldn't do anything to this. You would just walk in and live.

But Gary's spotted another problem.

I'm getting that echo that I've always said that

I don't like about open-plan.

And I can feel it bouncing off in there, so...

And he's not the only one picking holes.

What do you think of this room?

I like it, but I'm used to big ones, not small. It's not as big as you

thought, is it? It is a bit smaller than yours, isn't it? It's nice.

It's the right colour, though.

Oh, yes. I would say this is a boy's room, eh?

This is your colours, isn't it? This has got to be the boy's room.

I could see us living here, actually.

It's...it's just not for me. I couldn't see myself living in here.

Can you not? No.

Surely an outdoor hot tub will win Gary over?

It's not something I would look for.

I wouldn't even look for a swimming pool.

No, I mean, it's not high up on the list, it's just a nice bonus to have.

I quite like the Jacuzzi, but... Yeah. I'm never going to go in it.

That's right, sweetheart, you just agree with your dad, eh?

I think it's awesome. Yay! Team Mum and Team Dad!

I think Team Dad's over there. Team Mum's over here.

It's only the first property,

but already the family's firmly in two different camps.

It may not have impressed everyone,

but could the family afford it on their ?300,000 budget?

What do you think it's going to be? Any ideas? Really expensive.

I think this house is nice, but its surrounding areas, I think,

let it down.

Based on that, I think the price would be...

I would say it would be around the 280 mark...

sterling. I would agree with you, but maybe go a wee bit lower.

Maybe 260. Go for it.

Wow.

So, you were on the money pretty much, weren't you? Yeah. 274.

It doesn't surprise me.

I wouldn't even consider the house at that price. In this area.

In this area. I would just walk away

and I can only compare that to what we've got back home. Yeah.

And what we could get back home for that kind of money. Mm-hm.

It's not the best of starts.

The property's within budget, but Gary has really high expectations,

and so far, he's proving difficult to please.

Will the next house be some place he could call home?

Property number two is in the sought-after

coastal suburb of Hallett Cove.

With two golf courses within driving distance

and only a five-minute walk to the nearest beach,

it could be the perfect spot for the Davidsons.

THEY GASP

Now, this has got the wow factor. Aye! This is nice.

Yeah, this is perfect.

I can feel a smile coming! Yay!

Dad's smiling!

Things are looking up, Karen.

Oh, yes. Oh, this is nice. Wow. This is huge.

This is a good-sized room. It is a good size. Isn't it?

And it's a separate living room. It is. No, it's all separate.

That's what I like.

Upstairs, the house has another feature Gary might like.

Where? Look how blue it is.

That's lovely. No, that is...special. You'd never tire of that.

This is nice as well. You know what I'm like.

I like a nice clear and clean work surface.

Is Gary coming round to the idea of Aussie style living?

Yeah, I could see myself living in this type of house,

this whole layout.

It suits us, it suits the way we live. And there's no echo.

Mm-hm. Is there? And it's upstairs, downstairs.

Job done. Yeah, it's looking good. Yeah, job done.

Job done(!)

That might be wishful thinking, Karen.

Outside doesn't disappoint either.

It's quite a nice size garden too.

This property certainly seems to have everything Karen

and even Gary could want,

but will their dream home be out of reach given their ?300,000 budget?

I don't want to turn this over.

I think we're going to be really disappointed.

450. I would say the 400 mark.

Wow.

That's ?144,000 over budget.

I'm disappointed in it, to be fair.

At least you can see what's there, but it would need to be a lot less.

At that price, it's just not happening, is it?

No, and that's a pity.

It may be well over budget, but if Gary was to earn

a higher salary down under, it could potentially be affordable.

Back to the drawing board.

The reality of Australian property has hit home hard.

With only one more property to go, can the family find a house

everyone's happy with, at a price that won't break the bank?

Their final viewing is in the neighbouring

suburb of Aberfoyle Park.

Limited road access to the city can make for a longer commute, so this

four-bedroom, three-bathroom house could offer better value for money.

This is nice. Wow. This is really different, isn't it? It is.

Who said Aussie houses were all bungalows?

Oh, let me think!

It's a positive start, but that doesn't last long.

I don't see the sea.

Is there no way of pleasing this man?

I don't see the point in having a balcony,

because you're not exactly looking onto anything...

apart from... It'd still be nice to sit out and have a cup of tea. No.

I probably wouldn't use it.

KIDS LAUGH What?!

I'm just being honest.

The lack of a view could be a deal breaker for Gary.

Oh, this is nice.

Wow.

And then the garden's out there.

From this point on... Mm-hm.

..I think it's fantastic.

The kitchen area...

personally, I would need to...

I would change that.

That could be sorted.

Oh, this must be the master bedroom. Well, this is a good size.

Isn't it? Yeah.

Walk-in wardrobe, nice en suite, nice and bright and roomy.

I think it's a bit on the small side for a master bedroom. Do you? Yeah.

I don't think so. Small... I think it feels it because of the shape of it.

Karen's selling hard, but Gary's not completely sold on this house...yet.

Oh, wow. Oh, wow. This is nice.

The garden's a nice size, isn't it? Yeah.

Low-maintenance. That's what we like. That looks good.

This spacious property has a double garage down below

and another feature that could come in handy.

This must be the garage. Wow.

Oh, my word. Oh, I was not expecting this at all.

Oh, this is like a self-contained... Yeah, it's like a granny flat!

What we'd call a granny flat.

This house has the space the family have been looking for.

But is it within reach of their ?300,000 budget?

This house is just full of surprises, isn't it? Mm-hm.

It doesn't have the view like the second house,

but it's got all the additional space.

I think I'm going to go for 325. 285 to 300.

That's around ?50,000 over the family's budget.

I wouldn't pay that for it.

I wouldn't pay it, because I wouldn't make full use of the space.

It's not been the best start to Karen's hopes

of a new life in Australia.

The first property was within budget,

but its open-plan style didn't go down well with Gary.

Property number two had the wow factor,

but had a price tag to match.

And while the final property offered the space the family wanted,

it wasn't enough for them to stretch their budget.

So, based on property, will the family chose Australia or the UK?

Based on the houses we've seen today, we're going to vote for...

Australia! UK!

Why did you go for the UK?

Because I just, like...I don't think I can see myself

living in Australian houses.

To be fair...

I was pleasantly surprised, but,

compared to what we've seen and what I know...

UK.

Albeit, the upstairs living was slightly different to what

we're used to, but, I think, given time, we could adjust.

Team Dad! Team Mum!

THEY LAUGH

One day in, and the family divide is as clear-cut as it was back home.

Gary's happy with life in the UK,

so if he's ever to make the move to Australia, Karen knows

finding him the right job with the right salary is crucial.

If the opportunities don't exist, her dream could be over for good.

Back in the UK, Gary works in the rail industry.

It's a secure job with a successful company and he can't imagine

giving up the career he's worked so hard for

to start again in Australia.

I am responsible for an office of multi-disciplined engineers

that do railway design. I work with a great bunch of people.

I've got great bosses. For me to leave what I have currently...

..would be a massive wrench, seriously.

Karen currently works part-time, but if the family were to make

the move, she would concentrate on getting the children settled.

Gary, initially at least, would be the sole breadwinner

and he's clear about what he'd need to give up his job at home.

He currently earns around ?70,000 a year in the UK.

Salary-wise, for it to work it would need to be in the region of 130.

At a minimum of $130,000 Australian dollars.

If I couldn't achieve that,

then there is absolutely no point in even...

..considering the move.

Welcome to my world!

Karen's dream life hangs on Gary's job prospects,

a fact not entirely lost on him.

I think Karen's pretty nervous about today and how it goes for me.

She's just a bit concerned that I won't embrace this.

Being out here, I've got to be open-minded

and it's not just about me, it's about the family as well.

With Adelaide's railways currently undergoing a major overhaul,

the timing could be perfect for job opportunities.

Gary's met by Luigi Rossi,

executive director of the local rail rejuvenation project.

We're here at the Adelaide station

where all the suburban trains come in to. Yeah.

All right, and this is an area where we've been working for

some months now, so if you'd like to come through here.

While Gary explores his work options, Karen takes Blair

and the other half of Team Dad off to explore

Adelaide's sports facilities.

Hello, I'm Jodie. Hi. You must be Skye. Yeah.

Could this be just what's needed to bring Skye around?

I've done gymnastics for four or five years.

It would be important for me to find

a gymnastics place in Australia because I really like gymnastics.

I would only be happy if I knew that Blair and Skye were happy

and, for them to be happy, they need to be active,

they need to be doing the sports that they enjoy.

Before we came to the gymnastics today, Skye was really nervous

because it's such a big part of her life back home,

but now that she's here, I can see her. She seems quite happy.

But Skye's still undecided.

It has made me feel better, but I think I'm sure,

but I'm not quite "sure" sure.

Not quite there yet, Karen.

Meanwhile, Gary's getting down to business.

So, for my skill sets, Luigi,

what would the opportunities be for myself?

Right now, the opportunity here is probably limited,

right at this very moment. The majority of the major projects are under way.

Um, some large projects are starting to evolve, but we're really

waiting on the next round of federal investment,

which should be announced in May.

No rail industry vacancies could mean it's all over

for Karen's plans to move down under.

Blissfully unaware of the set back, Karen and the children

have moved on to a game of cricket.

Welcome to the Goodwood Cricket Club. Thank you.

And it's a chance for Karen to ask other mums advice on how to

get the family settled in.

A key thing for me is to get the kids settled

and doing something that they want to do.

Get them to make friends, then you'll make friends through them.

It's a good way... It's huge, yeah.

You'll get them settling in really quickly

by doing things like that, yeah. From what I've seen so far,

there seems to be an awful lot of sport over here.

Cricket or footie! We've not so much in England!

Blair's been bowled over by the day.

It's a warm country, so you can play cricket more outside,

instead of being stuck inside.

With the lack of opportunities in the rail industry,

Gary meets up with recruitment consultant Shannon Bottrell

to find out if his experience could land him a job in another field.

Hi there, I'm Gary. I'm Shannon, how you going? How are you?

Good, thank you. I've been looking at your CV.

Obviously, you've very strong rail experience.

What areas would you focus your, um, I guess,

opportunities in from a role perspective?

Mainly client relationships and project delivery.

That would be transferable even outside of that rail discipline

into similar infrastructure projects.

And what about that all-important question of money?

What sort of salary range would I be looking at for someone

with my skill sets? Depending on the role you were able to secure,

an absolute minimum of sort of the $120,000 to $130,000 mark,

but, with your skill set, the scope is really quite broad

and you could expect opportunities up to 160 to 180.

Gary's reluctance to consider a move to Oz has always been

based on the fear of giving up his career at home.

So, has what he's heard today been enough to change his mind?

Based on today's experience

and discussions about potential opportunities in Australia,

I would give my vote to...

..undecided.

It doesn't sway me one way or the other, but it does let me know

that there is potential employment if, as a family, we decided that...

life in Australia would be better for us.

Although not entirely won over by work prospects down under,

an undecided vote from Gary could potentially be

a step in the right direction for Karen.

A major part of her dream has always been about spending more time

together as a family, so could a day out on the local golf course

help Gary and Skye see the possibilities of life in Australia?

The sun's out and there's a new name for Team Dad and Team Mum.

Team Skye versus Team Blair. We'll win!

The main drive for Australia has been the overall lifestyle,

being outdoors more.

It's extremely sport-based and just opportunities, I think,

for the kids, you know, as they grow a bit older.

Woo!

I think Blair and Skye have really enjoyed it,

being out in the open air and the sunshine,

it's shown us the lifestyle that we could have.

The weather, I mean, it's a lot better,

and the sports, I like my sports, so you be outside a lot more.

Personally, I would defy anyone not to vote Australia

on the lifestyle side of things.

And Gary thinks his golfing partner could agree.

With Team Dad and Team Mum, Skye, I think, to be honest, is...

could be turning.

Nice shot! That was good!

See? Your dad's a good teacher!

I feel, like, a bit better that I want to move,

but I'm still not used to it cos I've always been in England

and never lived somewhere else.

And Karen thinks the Aussie sunshine could be working in her favour.

I think they're getting there, I think they've seen

what life could be like and I think they're starting to appreciate why

it was a dream for me and why I could see us in Australia.

She's confident the day's been a breakthrough with Gary.

Whoa!

Did you see it? Did you see it?

I think the nut's been cracked.

It's maybe not quite open yet, but I think it's been cracked.

I'm optimistic and I'm extremely hopeful.

I would say I'm starting to come around.

This has always been Karen's dream, but I'm certainly over

the last couple of days starting to see what she's been chasing.

The day has given the Davidsons a taste of what

they could experience together on a regular basis.

So, based on lifestyle, will a vote see a clean sweep for Australia?

Based on what we've experienced today with the Australian lifestyle

and this lovely weather,

our vote will go to...

Australia! Undecided!

Oh, my goodness!

Why have you gone for undecided, Skye?

Skye, seriously though, darling, in this weather?

I like the sun, but, the other half is, I'm going to miss,

I know this is stupid, but I'm going to miss the other weather.

A taste of the Aussie lifestyle has won almost everyone over.

Karen's dream could, at last, be within touching distance.

For the move to be a viable one though,

getting the family finances to add up will be key and a large

part of that will be decided by the value of their UK property.

The Davidsons believe it could fetch around ?220,000,

but would two local estate agents agree?

This is a nice room. It's got plenty of space.

I like the patriotic rug. Yay! They got the rug in.

Yes, a nice kitchen.

Plenty of open space. The utility room's separate, which is good.

He's not very enthusiastic, is he? A bit like myself, sometimes! Yeah.

You and him would get on well!

Well, a very nice conservatory.

A very nice room indeed.

This is a nice room as well.

Storage space is good.

The bedroom looks a lot smaller.

Oh, there's your room, Skye.

Well, it's a good size,

and it's got a good built-in double wardrobe as well.

Nice room. Nicely decorated.

Yes, it's a good-sized fourth bedroom.

Somebody likes their red, white and blue. That's very nice. Yeah!

Well, it's a very nice four-bedroom, detached house.

I think if it went to the market,

I'd be recommending a guide price of around ?199,000.

GARY SIGHS No chance!

And I think if it needed an early sale,

I'd expect a sale around ?190,000.

If I was to put this house on the market now,

I'd probably put it on at ?215,000. That's more like it.

I'd expect them to get offers in the region of 200. For a quick sale,

we'd probably recommend 195 to 200,000.

The figures are disappointing.

But we kind of thought that, cos of just the way the market is,

and obviously, we've done a lot to it,

but you don't always get your money back, do you?

Hmm.

The second evaluation, regardless,

is there or thereabouts to what we thought. Mm-hm.

Um. Yeah. But the first one was just way too low.

It puts a big question mark... Hmm.

Absolutely.

To help the couple get to grips with the financial side

of life down under, we've prepared

a comparison of the family's cost of living in the UK and Australia.

First up is the weekly food shop.

OK.

Oh, my goodness. Whoa.

Chicken...

Chicken's extortionate - look!

Grapes are a lot cheaper. That's good. We like grapes.

Just live on grapes.

Yeah, but fish is almost...double the price,

and so there's one or two big numbers.

So, how does it add up?

So, we would be ?89.97 worse off. Yes, ?90 a week.

We'll move on from there. That's not good! We'll see what else...

Not a great start.

What about the bigger outgoings, such as an Aussie mortgage?

That was the last property that we saw,

which was the middle one value-wise, wasn't it?

So, it would be more than what we're paying back home.

The couple's mortgage would be ?560 per month more down under,

but could Gary's potential earnings of $180,000,

that's around ?110,000, help turn things around.

Well, the monthly figure...

..is indicating we would be better off by

2,416...

and 8 pence.

So, yes, it's looking like we're going to be

nearly ?29,000 per annum better off...

which is a lot of money.

Being able to have that sort of spare cash every month would be great,

I mean, it would allow us to sort of set savings plans up

for the kids for maybe university fees and things.

It would also maybe allow us

to have a bit more frequent flights back to the UK to see family.

I'm pleased and optimistic that a move could happen.

Smiley face!

Could Karen's dream life be another step closer?

Based on the results of today's reality check, our vote goes to...

Australia.

Australia.

YES!

It's looking certainly more promising

and positive than what I first imagined.

The figures are too good, really, to ignore.

But, yeah, you just never know with Gary.

He likes to keep me in suspense. Don't you?

Gary's two votes for Australia could mean Karen is in with a real

chance of persuading him to take the family down under for good.

Australia's been everything she'd imagined, but will a reminder

of what she stands to leave in the UK see her resolve waver?

Right, guys, this is the last part of the puzzle.

We need to watch the friends and family messages

and see what your grans and papas and your aunts have to say.

Do you want to watch it with us? Yeah? (Yeah.)

You sure?

Hi, folks, how you doing?

I hope you've had a good week out there

and the sun's been shining for you.

ALL: Hi!

Hi, Gary, Karen, Blair and Skye.

Hello! Hello, Skye and Blair!

They're a lovely family.

They're close, aren't they? Yeah, they do a lot together.

Gary is a fantastic big brother.

Karen is a wonderful mum and...

the most important thing for me is she makes my son very happy.

Blair's a very endearing wee lad. He's just terrific with everybody.

We went round for coffee one afternoon

and Karen decided to tell us then

what they were thinking of doing, which was a bit of a shock, really.

Erm, cos she seems...it was as though she's always going to be here

with us. You know. We're the fab five, you know?

I think Skye's going to be the more homesick out of the two.

She always gets a bit weepy when we've been to visit

and we then say goodbye.

I think she'll miss the cousins and the family the most.

It's the other side of the world we're talking about.

We're not talking about just down the road.

I'm going to find it very, very tough if they do...

eh, go over there. It's only ten hours flying.

I'll miss the big get-togethers.

We always have the big get-togethers at Easter, Christmas,

birthdays, you know, it's all the big family dos.

We'd prefer that they didn't go,

but perhaps there's an element of selfishness creeping in there.

Gran...

(She looks upset, doesn't she?)

I will miss you, but...

if it's going to be a better life for you, just go for it.

We're going to miss you. I can't even express...

just how much we'll miss you.

And we just love you so much.

A few watery eyes, my own included.

Family, obviously, have been there all my life. Um...

And, yeah, they're very important.

You know, it kind of reminds you a bit more...

erm...

just how much is involved by moving across to Australia.

They are being left with a void, you know, at the other side,

which is something that I've, personally,

probably not thought about.

For most of her life,

Karen has dreamt of a better future on the other side of the world.

The past week has shown her everything Australia could offer,

but only if she's managed to get her husband

and daughter to buy into her dream.

It's been an eventful week for the Davidsons.

Mixed reaction on the property front may have left the family divided...

Team Dad's over there. Team Mum's over here.

..but encouraging job prospects for Gary

soon saw Karen's dream back on track.

Things are looking certainly more promising

and positive than what I had first imagined.

I'm pleased.

Smiley face!

Blair and Skye were reassured they could

continue their activities down under.

It has made me feel better.

You can play more outside instead of being stuck inside.

And a taste of the Aussie outdoor lifestyle was a winner with

the whole family. Being out in the open air and the sunshine...

Well, almost. I know this is stupid,

but I'm going to miss the other weather.

So, as the family's final decision approaches,

has Karen convinced Team Dad to start a new life down under?

It's a cockle, innit? Oh, wow! A yabby.

'This week has been absolutely fantastic.'

I've seen how happy and relaxed the children are,

and Gary too for that matter.

Aye, pick one out. I'm frightened in case they nip you.

'I knew Australia would be good,'

but I didn't know it would be that good to change my dad's mind.

I know, cos there's a lot of things going on in Dad's mind.

'I may have thought it was a leap into the unknown.'

I wouldn't say I'm terrified now.

What is up? He's just in there.

'It's still a massive move because'

you're settled back home,

it's what you know, it's where your family are.

Skye, look. Look at its mouth. It's horrible. Just drop them back!

'He's sort of seen it through my eyes'

and we're hopefully on the same page.

Karen thinks Gary may be wavering,

but what about the other half of Team Dad?

We might still have sort of a split camp with Blair and Skye.

I've actually quite enjoyed my week in Australia.

I thought I would hate it, but I haven't. I've enjoyed it.

Ugh!

'She can see the positives in Australia, but, at the same time,'

she's really comfortable in the UK.

So, I really don't know how she's going to vote.

As it comes to the final turn of the cards,

Karen is cautiously optimistic.

It was always a dream before.

I can reach out and almost touch it, I think, now.

She's invested everything in pursuing this dream,

but has Karen done enough to win the whole family round?

We've had a fantastic week here in Australia, we've seen housing,

we've looked at lifestyle, we've looked at jobs.

Based on our week in Australia, we're going to vote for...

Australia! Undecided.

SKYE GASPS Oh, seriously?!

You're not getting an ice cream.

I've seen an awful lot this week.

I would say I'm...

a lot further away from where I was originally,

which was totally 100% UK.

I'm a bit...

disappointed, I think, that you voted undecided,

considering everything we've seen.

But there's still an awful lot to consider.

When we go home, we need to sit down and seriously look...

..and explore all the options.

And if we decide to go for it, then we need to go for it.

An undecided is definitely better than UK,

so it's a step in the right direction.

I have been surprised that I've changed my mind

and I thought I wouldn't have, but I have!

I really enjoyed this week, like I thought I would,

so I picked Australia.

Now that I've sort of been able to experience it myself

and seen exactly what it has to offer,

it's a no-brainer for me.

It may not have been the complete breakthrough Karen was hoping for,

but one more vote for Australia and an undecided for Gary

means her dream is still alive.

Wherever they end up, in the UK or on the other side of the world,

we wish the Davidsons a very happy future together.