Cornish Family Wanted Down Under


Cornish Family

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If starting a new life halfway around the world

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could give your family the time together they so desperately needed,

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might you be sorely tempted?

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But could you go ahead and make the move

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if it meant having to leave one member of your family behind?

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Pulling pints and being a travelling teacher

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means James and Lisa Cornish hardly ever see their two little boys.

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I would absolutely love for us to feel like a family again.

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And for me to feel like I'm a mum and a wife again.

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So they're considering moving lock, stock and barrel

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to the other side of the world.

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I'll get more time to spend with the boys in the evenings.

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Be less tired because I won't be working 100 hours a week.

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But while Australia could give them the lifestyle they want...

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Can honestly say I've never seen them that happy

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as they have been this week.

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..it would means James saying goodbye

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to his daughter for months at a time.

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This week in Australia's going to be really important

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because it's going to...change our lives, really.

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Whichever way we choose.

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With more than a quarter of its population born abroad,

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Australia's long been a dream destination for people

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in search of a better life.

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Around 40,000 UK residents flock to the country every year,

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hoping the healthy outdoor lifestyle

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and prosperous economy will improve their standard of living.

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But not all of them achieve their dream.

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Of those brave enough to make the move,

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one in four ultimately return to the UK.

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James and Lisa Cornish are desperate for more time together

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with sons Sammy and Louis,

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and believe Australia could be the answer.

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Moving, however, would come at a price.

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James' daughter would be left behind in the UK.

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Now, even if the family can persuade Lauren to come out for visits,

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James faces the prospect of being separated from his daughter

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for most of the year.

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The Cornishes' journey begins with a 10,000 mile flight

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from London to Melbourne via Dubai.

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It's the family's first time in Australia,

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and the reality of just how far they've come has hit home.

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When you've had a seven-hour flight, you get off

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and then you realise you've got another 13-hour flight after that.

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Really puts it into perspective how far away Australia is from England.

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The flight has taken its toll on Sammy and Louis,

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but Lisa and James are raring to go.

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We're really excited about the week.

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Really looking forward to seeing what houses are like,

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what the areas are like to live in.

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We can actually now see everything in the flesh, so it'll be...

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Looking forward to it.

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If the week goes according to plan,

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the 20-hour flight's one Lauren could be making on a regular basis.

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If it would be good for them, then I'd definitely make the journey.

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Because it means I get to see what they're doing

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and be a part of their lives.

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When their time in Melbourne's up,

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the family will face a life-changing decision.

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In the UK, the Cornish family live above a pub near Sheffield.

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They're James, Lisa, five-year-old Sammy, two-year-old Louis

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and James' daughter Lauren, who's 13.

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The family started running the pub in 2013,

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after James took voluntary redundancy as an accountant.

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While everyone hoped it would mean more time together,

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the reality's been the exact opposite.

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I've been working much more than we expected,

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up to sort of 100 hours a week.

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For James, the pub has completely took over his life.

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If he's not running the business, nobody is.

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James works seven days a week

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and Lisa's job as an accountancy lecturer

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at colleges across the country

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means she's also missing out on quality time with the children.

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The commuting in general is a real strain on family life.

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There have been weeks when I've left the house on a Sunday evening

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and I haven't seen the kids till the Thursday evening.

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And there's no let-up when it comes to the weekend.

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As Lisa's drafted in to help James behind the bar,

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Sammy and Louis have to stay with their grandparents.

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It's a horrible feeling to feel like somebody else is...

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..enjoying spending time with your kids all the time.

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It's a situation that can't go on any longer.

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It does upset me that I can't spend the time with the boys

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and my relationship with them is suffering because of it.

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It does cause tension.

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I mean, we have had arguments,

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genuinely just because we've both been so tired.

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And so stressed with everything that it's unavoidable.

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With the pub meaning the family have even less quality time,

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the couple are now considering a more drastic lifestyle change.

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One which could take them to the other side of the world.

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It might be slightly naive, but at the moment, Australia to me, erm...

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I feel as though it's going to give us that family life together

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that we just don't have here in the UK.

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The fact that potentially we could be getting paid more for the work

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that we do here over there means that we could afford a better lifestyle

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for us and the kids.

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I'll get more time to spend with the boys in the evenings.

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I'll be less tired because I won't be working 100 hours a week.

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And it will strengthen our relationship

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and bring us all closer together.

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But while Australia could reunite James and Lisa with their boys,

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it would mean James leaving a daughter behind.

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Lauren's my daughter from my first marriage

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and she spends half the time with us and half the time with her mum.

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If we do decide to move out to Australia,

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she will stay here until she's 18.

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13-year-old Lauren's faced with the prospect of spending months

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rather than days at a time without seeing her dad and his family.

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It's just... It's not ten miles down the road any more.

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It's across the world.

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I'd miss them a lot if they went and I'm that close with them

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that they know everything about me.

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They're my brothers.

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But she understands their life can't carry on as it is.

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I think my dad feels like he's abandoning me

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if he does move over there.

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But I want them to have a better life than over here.

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James and Lisa will face an agonising decision.

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Being a father to her and to the boys, it's...

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It makes my decision much more difficult.

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I would miss her. I would miss... spending that time with her.

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And I think the boys would miss her more so.

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I think the boys really dote on her.

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Lauren could spend holidays down under,

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But if she doesn't like Australia, Lisa and James' dream could be over.

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If we visit out there and Lauren turns around and says,

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"Look, this is not somewhere where I think I'll ever want

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"to spend a huge amount of time..."

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That would be...a game changer, really.

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Because I don't think that I could, erm...spend my life without her.

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James knows something has to give

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if he's to have any quality time with his wife and young sons.

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But to make a move work,

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not only will he have to persuade Lauren Australia could be her home

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for part of the year, he'll also have to come to terms

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with being separated from her for months at a time.

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The family will be spending a week in Melbourne,

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Australia's second-most populated city

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and capital of the state of Victoria.

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Their temporary new home is a three-bedroom house

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in Williamstown,

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a popular coastal suburb 15 miles from the city centre.

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Wakey-wakey!

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It's the family's first chance

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to see what living on the other side of the world could be like.

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-Looks lovely. Let's go in and have a look.

-Go on, then.

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Ooh.

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-It's lovely. Open stairs.

-Yeah. It's really modern, actually. I like that.

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-I like how it's open-plan.

-Yeah.

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First impressions are good, but then...

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I'm not so sure that there would be enough space.

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-No, we're used to more space than this.

-Long-term.

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And the space inside isn't the only problem.

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Not much of a view, though.

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In my head, I've got visions of opening the doors wide open

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and the kids running in and out of a garden.

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-Garden, grass.

-Not a patio.

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While upstairs does have one plus.

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-I like the thought of a balcony.

-It seems really quiet.

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I'm not sure I can see myself eating breakfast out here,

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-with people walking past.

-Yeah.

-Or driving past on the way to work.

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It's just not the ideal living Lauren was hoping for.

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It's not unique. There's no...real wildlife or...anything to look at.

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And she's not the only one that's less than impressed.

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If everything I've seen from the airport to here

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is what Australia's about, then...

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I don't think it would be the place for us.

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They may have just arrived, but already James and Lauren's thoughts

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are turning towards possibly being separated.

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It's something that we've kind of put on the back burner,

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to say, "How do we all really feel about...

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"..spending four, five months apart at a time?"

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This week in Australia's going to be really important

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because it's going to change our lives, really.

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Whichever way we choose.

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It's a real case of upstairs-downstairs back in the UK

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for the Cornishes, who live above the pub James manages.

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We've got three bedrooms.

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The boys share a room and Lauren's got her own bedroom as well.

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But we don't have a huge amount of space.

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It doesn't really feel like home to us whenever we sit upstairs

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and get any time off, it feels like people are in your house.

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So it's no surprise that space

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is at the top of James' wish list for property down under.

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Modern, spacious, with four or five bedrooms.

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Plenty room for the kids to play.

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For Lisa, the list goes on a bit further.

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We've ended up with this big, long wish list of walk-in wardrobes,

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en suites, theatre rooms...

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-Yeah.

-SHE LAUGHS

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-Pool. Big long list.

-We do need an extra bedroom

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because we've got a long list of people

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that are going to come see us.

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James and Lisa have budget of 250 to £300,000 for a home in Australia,

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but could possibly stretch further depending on their salaries.

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To give them an idea of Melbourne's property market,

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today we'll show them three houses, two based on their budget

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and a third based on everything they want.

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

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The search begins in Werribee,

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a suburb of 20 miles west of the city.

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With good commuting links, a restaurant district

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and plenty of schools and green spaces,

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it's a family-friendly area which could be perfect for the Cornishes.

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I really liked the area kind of driving through.

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Typical impression you get of Australia, living in the UK.

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-The outside might not impress much...

-It looks quite...dated.

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It hasn't got a huge amount of kerb appeal, for my tastes.

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I like things that are much more modern.

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..but appearances can be deceptive.

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Oh.

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Well, this isn't what I was expecting.

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Wow.

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From the front, it doesn't even look like it's got an upstairs.

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-I didn't even see that.

-No, I didn't.

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-Are we definitely in the same house?

-Mummy!

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-I want to see the rest of it now.

-Yeah, I do too.

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The property's got the open-plan interiors Lisa's after,

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but will it have the space the family crave?

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Yeah, I'm trying to imagine it without any of the furniture in.

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And what we would do with it.

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I think once we get the kids' toys in here and everything,

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I think we'd struggle for space and we'd feel cramped again.

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And the kitchen's not perfect either.

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Certain parts of it feel modern and updated, and other parts don't.

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To be honest, it needs ripping out and started again.

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That's always possible, though,

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and the house does have five bedrooms,

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meaning not only could Sammy and Louis have their own rooms,

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but Lauren too, if she visits.

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-I could see the boys in here.

-It's a good size for them. Ooh!

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Oh, that's a nice little den.

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Just put some cushions in and reading books on the walls

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and everything and they'd love that.

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That's the boys potentially sorted

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and another feature manages to catch Lisa's eye.

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Wow!

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This is a walk-in wardrobe and a half.

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It's just everything at home's so cramped.

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And this wardrobe's the size of their bedroom at home.

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So does this home have all the space needed?

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Oh, gosh. Wow.

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Not in every sense!

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-I don't know who's going to fit in that bath.

-Louis.

-Louis.

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THEY LAUGH

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Can't imagine what you would do with a bath this small.

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No worries about you falling asleep and drowning.

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Well, that's something, I guess. And so, it turns out, is the garden.

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This is far more what we were looking for.

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-Outdoors-wise?

-Outdoors-wise.

-Yeah.

-For the boys.

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-It's nice.

-You like this one, then?

-Yeah.

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And from the windows upstairs,

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you'll have a view of the garden and the trees and things.

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This house could be somewhere Lauren could call a second home.

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But could the family afford it on their 250 to £300,000 budget?

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OK, how much do you think this one's worth?

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-210,000.

-It's going to go under the 200 mark.

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-Maybe something around 185, 190.

-I say 230.

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230?

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-OK.

-Shall we have a look?

-Yes, go on, then.

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-Ooh!

-Oof.

-Oh, dear.

-Wow. 262.

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That's a lot more than I was expecting and a lot more than...

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Anybody was expecting.

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I don't know whether this area in general's more expensive, then?

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That's not justifiable to me.

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-No.

-At all.

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It's within budget, but it looks like James and Lisa

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want a house that delivers much more for their money.

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Will property number two fit the bill?

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It's situated in Tarneit,

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just 15 miles from Melbourne's central business district.

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A new railway link will whisk local families to the city centre

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in just 30 minutes,

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while the area offers families parks, schools, shopping centres

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and the modern style of housing Lisa's after.

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That's way bigger!

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-This looks nice. Big.

-It's lovely.

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Straightaway, this property's looking more promising.

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Oh, gosh, James. It goes back quite a way as well.

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There's a lot of colour.

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Yeah. A lot of colour!

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I don't mind that. I prefer colour to just plain.

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-What do you think, Lauren?

-Different.

-It's different.

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Diplomatic on the decor, Lauren?

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After living over a pub, all this room should definitely be a bonus.

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-There's loads of space. I love how open-plan it is again.

-Yeah.

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-I really like that.

-It's got three living rooms.

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It's much bigger than the last house,

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but is there now too much room to roam?

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It's finding the balance between what space we need and would like to have

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and then having this massive house that - A, doesn't get used often,

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and - B, needs a massive amount of cleaning.

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Can we afford a cleaner?

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-There's one space James seems more than happy with.

-Oh, wow.

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This is my room.

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Yeah, you can live here. THEY LAUGH

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Yeah, so I can see sort of a little bar area in the corner.

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But the garden isn't ideal for everyone.

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It's possibly the one area that...

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I don't like about the house.

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Yeah, there's loads of space, it's just not two-year-old friendly.

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The house inside, overall, is fantastic.

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I'm a little bit disappointed with outside.

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Downstairs has provoked mixed reactions,

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but upstairs has its own appeal.

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-You've got your walk-in wardrobe.

-I know. I know!

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It was definitely on my wish list.

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The master bedroom also has a balcony with views to the front.

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It's not like it's got an amazing view or anything like that,

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but it's green and it's pleasant.

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That's a lovely en-suite.

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It's a really nice size, isn't it?

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-His and hers sinks.

-His and hers sinks!

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I miss having an en-suite.

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Having one bathroom and one toilet to share between five of us is...

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-Yeah.

-..hell. And it's only going to get worse the older they get.

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That's a fair point.

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This house would also give Lauren her own bedroom

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and that could seal the deal when it comes to persuading her to visit.

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With a budget of between 250 and £300,000, is it affordable?

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So what do you think it's worth, then?

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Hmm... I'd say probably about 270,000.

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I was going to say a little bit more than that.

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I think roundabout 290, 300.

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-Shall we have a look?

-Yeah.

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Let's have a look.

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Ooh!

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Spot-on. 295.

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You get a lot for your money.

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I think, if we had the dream, it would be a new-build.

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With this space and a bigger garden.

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I'm really excited to see the dream house now.

0:18:060:18:08

That's two properties viewed based on the family's budget.

0:18:120:18:15

Next up, the dream home.

0:18:150:18:17

We found a property which could offer everything the Cornishes want.

0:18:170:18:21

But luxury living can come at a cost.

0:18:210:18:24

This four-bedroom bungalow is in Sanctuary Lakes,

0:18:240:18:27

one of 20 modern estates which make up the semi-rural

0:18:270:18:30

but family-friendly suburb of Point Cook.

0:18:300:18:33

And first impressions are good.

0:18:330:18:35

It's beautiful, isn't it?

0:18:350:18:38

Every single house in this street, I'd quite happily live in, I think!

0:18:380:18:41

You haven't been inside yet, Lisa.

0:18:410:18:44

Oh, wow.

0:18:440:18:45

-This is stunning.

-Oh, James.

0:18:510:18:53

I'm so excited about this place. THEY LAUGH

0:18:530:18:56

Wow.

0:18:560:18:58

-Oh, my God.

-Crikey.

0:18:590:19:00

-And this is just the

-en-suite. Yeah.

0:19:020:19:05

Further down the corridor, something everyone can enjoy.

0:19:060:19:10

Oh, wow.

0:19:100:19:11

Oh, it's a proper cinema room.

0:19:110:19:14

Just imagine when that's got projected. What that's like.

0:19:140:19:18

Looks like everyone could settle in nicely here.

0:19:180:19:21

I'd definitely come out and visit.

0:19:210:19:23

Well, I'd come out and visit anyway, wherever you were living,

0:19:230:19:26

but...more frequently if you were living here.

0:19:260:19:30

Lauren may be sold,

0:19:300:19:31

but James is already thinking about how he could afford it.

0:19:310:19:34

I think I'd get two jobs to get this house.

0:19:340:19:36

The kitchen is fantastic. It's absolutely stunning.

0:19:380:19:41

Everything that we've looked at is to such a high specification.

0:19:410:19:46

-It is a dream house.

-It's perfect.

0:19:460:19:48

And outside, something else to keep them happy.

0:19:510:19:54

A pool wasn't top of the list or anything,

0:19:540:19:56

that's just...a kind of a bonus add-on.

0:19:560:19:59

The icing on the cake.

0:19:590:20:00

At last, a chance for the boys to dip their toes

0:20:000:20:03

into what life in Australia could be like.

0:20:030:20:06

-Tickles.

-How would you like to live here?

0:20:060:20:09

-And have this in your garden?

-Yeah!

-All the time.

0:20:090:20:12

You can just imagine yourself living here.

0:20:120:20:15

This house offers everything James and Lisa want,

0:20:150:20:18

but would Lauren be happy with it as a second home?

0:20:180:20:21

It would be worth not living with you. Well, it wouldn't, but...

0:20:210:20:25

It would at the same time, knowing that I'd get to come out to this.

0:20:260:20:29

-Yeah.

-For two, three months a year. Maybe more.

0:20:290:20:33

-I think we need to find out how much it is.

-Yeah, I think we do too.

0:20:330:20:35

See if we can afford it.

0:20:350:20:37

The house has won everyone over, but there's just one problem.

0:20:370:20:41

It may be out of financial reach.

0:20:410:20:43

The family's budget is between 250 and £300,000.

0:20:430:20:47

It's going to be a lot.

0:20:480:20:50

-440,000.

-I think it's going to be nearer...

0:20:500:20:53

-..550.

-550?

-Yeah.

0:20:540:20:57

Time to find out who's right.

0:20:570:20:59

404.

0:21:040:21:06

Oh, that's unbelievable.

0:21:060:21:08

-That's £100,000 over budget. But...

-Oh, we could still have that.

0:21:080:21:13

That almost makes me cry.

0:21:130:21:15

I'm completely and utterly speechless that we could get this house

0:21:150:21:19

and this location for that amount of money.

0:21:190:21:23

And it could be within reach, if the couple can get the right salaries.

0:21:230:21:27

I'm even more speechless now than I was when I walked through the door.

0:21:270:21:30

It's just...

0:21:300:21:32

completely within reach.

0:21:320:21:34

It's been a day of real ups and downs for the Cornishes.

0:21:360:21:40

Property one was bang on budget but short on space.

0:21:400:21:44

Property two had plenty of room,

0:21:440:21:46

but it just wasn't the house James and Lisa had based their dreams on.

0:21:460:21:50

And property three had everything the family wanted

0:21:500:21:53

and was somewhere Lauren could call a second home.

0:21:530:21:56

So based on the houses that we've seen in Australia,

0:21:560:21:59

we're voting for...

0:21:590:22:01

-Australia!

-Australia.

-Undecided.

0:22:120:22:14

-No surprise that we've voted for the same, then.

-Not at all.

0:22:140:22:17

Given how pleased we were with the last house.

0:22:170:22:20

We could never afford that at home.

0:22:200:22:22

Lauren, why did you vote undecided?

0:22:220:22:25

Because I don't know whether I want to move out here yet,

0:22:250:22:28

but I want you to move out here.

0:22:280:22:30

What did you vote for, Sammy?

0:22:300:22:32

-Australia.

-Australia? Why did you vote for Australia?

0:22:320:22:35

-Because it has a nice house.

-Because it has a nice house.

0:22:350:22:38

Seeing their dream house got Lisa and James excited

0:22:460:22:49

about a potential future in Australia,

0:22:490:22:52

even if they still have to persuade Lauren it could be her second home.

0:22:520:22:56

But to afford that property,

0:22:560:22:58

the couple would have to pull in a good income.

0:22:580:23:00

At home, Lisa spent 11 years as an accountant

0:23:020:23:05

before becoming an accountancy lecturer.

0:23:050:23:08

It's a job she enjoys and is hoping to continue down under.

0:23:080:23:11

I'm fortunate enough to be able to teach them

0:23:110:23:13

O levels, through their accountancy qualification,

0:23:130:23:16

and eventually see them leaving as a fully qualified accountant.

0:23:160:23:20

And that's really, really rewarding.

0:23:200:23:22

If they do move, James plans to call time on being a landlord

0:23:220:23:26

and return to accounting.

0:23:260:23:28

Research has given him confidence work will be available down under.

0:23:280:23:32

Mainly we've looked at the central government roles,

0:23:320:23:35

which is what we're used to here in the UK.

0:23:350:23:37

Melbourne's a leading financial centre in Australia,

0:23:430:23:46

which should be good news for James and Lisa.

0:23:460:23:49

I'm feeling quite excited about finding out what, erm...

0:23:490:23:52

Australia can offer for me, work-wise,

0:23:520:23:55

and see whether the sort of expectations that we've got

0:23:550:23:58

meet up to the reality.

0:23:580:23:59

And Lisa knows just how much is at stake.

0:23:590:24:02

Unless we can find a job at the right salary level,

0:24:020:24:05

there's no way on Earth we'd be able to financially make the move.

0:24:050:24:08

We've arranged for visa-applicant Lisa to visit Box Hill Institute,

0:24:080:24:12

a college east of Melbourne.

0:24:120:24:14

She meets the head of the business department

0:24:140:24:16

and a senior lecturer, and it's straight down to business.

0:24:160:24:20

What teaching qualifications do you have?

0:24:200:24:22

Right, so, in the UK there aren't any teaching qualification requirements

0:24:220:24:27

for me to teach the chartered qualification.

0:24:270:24:30

To get a teaching job here, the minimum qualification

0:24:300:24:33

is a certificate for training and assessment.

0:24:330:24:36

That will take you about a month.

0:24:360:24:37

You have got certainly more than the minimum to get employed

0:24:370:24:41

as a teacher. However, in the current environment,

0:24:410:24:44

I would highly recommend more qualifications,

0:24:440:24:47

higher level qualifications.

0:24:470:24:48

Breadth and depth, and that will maximise your chances

0:24:480:24:51

-of employment and also maximise your salary.

-OK.

0:24:510:24:54

So what sort of demand would there be in Australia

0:24:540:24:57

for someone with my experience?

0:24:570:25:00

We advertise for any lecturer role. You get...

0:25:000:25:03

Maybe 80% of applications that come through are people from overseas.

0:25:030:25:08

It sounds like Lisa might be back at school herself

0:25:080:25:11

if she's to stand out from candidates chasing lecturer jobs.

0:25:110:25:15

And that would mean more pressure on James to find the perfect job.

0:25:150:25:18

To get to the bottom of accounting opportunities,

0:25:200:25:23

he's meeting Susan Drewes

0:25:230:25:24

from one of the city's prominent recruitment companies.

0:25:240:25:27

So, James, having a look at your resume, you were a certified,

0:25:270:25:30

practising accountant and more recently, you've been running a pub.

0:25:300:25:34

-Yes.

-Bit of a difference, accountant to a pub holder.

-Yes.

0:25:340:25:37

I was still accounting for myself

0:25:370:25:39

so I was still practising accountancy,

0:25:390:25:42

but it's more wide-ranging, so I'm running the end-to-end business,

0:25:420:25:46

rather than just the finance.

0:25:460:25:48

Hoping to escape the pub,

0:25:480:25:50

James needs to explore his other prospects in Australia.

0:25:500:25:53

So really, looking at your experience,

0:25:530:25:56

your skills in government, I believe, would be very transferable

0:25:560:25:59

into the state government here, or a public sector environment.

0:25:590:26:02

We've got a number of specialist consultants who work

0:26:020:26:04

specifically with the government,

0:26:040:26:06

and we recruit these roles on a daily basis within the business.

0:26:060:26:10

James could be in demand.

0:26:100:26:12

Back at Box Hill, Lisa's keen to hear her potential salary

0:26:120:26:15

if she found a job.

0:26:150:26:17

Some of the jobs that I've been looking at

0:26:170:26:19

were in the region of 80 to £100,000.

0:26:190:26:22

That sort of money, as a lecturer, not as a manager, erm,

0:26:220:26:28

is maybe at the top end of the university's scale.

0:26:280:26:30

I estimate, Lisa, you'd come in

0:26:300:26:32

around the middle of the lecturer range,

0:26:320:26:35

which would be a salary of about 60 to 70,000 a year.

0:26:350:26:38

That's a massive £50,000 less than Lisa was hoping for

0:26:380:26:42

and that could mean the end of her and James' dream.

0:26:420:26:45

We'd want the standard of living that would offer the boys

0:26:450:26:50

and ourselves a much better lifestyle.

0:26:500:26:53

If we can't get the salary to enable us to do that,

0:26:530:26:57

then I'm not so sure we'd move to Australia.

0:26:570:27:00

The family are desperate for change,

0:27:010:27:03

but if James' potential earnings aren't high enough,

0:27:030:27:06

it might mean leaving Lauren won't be an issue after all.

0:27:060:27:10

So what kind of salary do you think I'd be able to command in Australia?

0:27:100:27:13

Look, I think realistically,

0:27:130:27:15

you'd be looking at anything at about that sort of 80 to 100k mark.

0:27:150:27:19

And I appreciate that's quite a wide range.

0:27:190:27:22

It's very much depending on the nature of the role.

0:27:220:27:25

We were looking at 90 to 100,000,

0:27:250:27:27

-which converts to round about 50 to £60,000.

-Yeah.

0:27:270:27:31

Which, to be honest with you, is more than I was on in the UK.

0:27:310:27:34

Erm, but from what we've seen,

0:27:340:27:36

we would need that extra to be able to afford the lifestyle

0:27:360:27:39

that we're hoping to achieve, so... That's perfect.

0:27:390:27:43

The day's definitely been more positive for James.

0:27:430:27:46

I think from speaking to Susan, I could see myself

0:27:460:27:48

working in Melbourne.

0:27:480:27:50

Although it's a big city, it seems very relaxed

0:27:500:27:52

and very laid-back and it's just what we're looking for.

0:27:520:27:55

Lisa and James have had completely different experiences today,

0:27:550:27:59

so how will that affect their vote?

0:27:590:28:01

Will they choose work in Australia, or the UK?

0:28:010:28:04

Based on our work experience today, we are voting for...

0:28:040:28:07

-Australia.

-Australia.

0:28:190:28:20

Although the salary expectations in lecturing are immediately

0:28:210:28:24

a lot less than what I was expecting, I'm not bothered by that.

0:28:240:28:29

It just means that we'll have to have a rethink and maybe

0:28:290:28:32

look at some different opportunities for me in the short term.

0:28:320:28:36

In terms of what it will give us as a family,

0:28:360:28:38

moving away from the pub and everything that goes with that,

0:28:380:28:42

I still think we'll be better off out here.

0:28:420:28:44

A return to practising accounting for Lisa

0:28:530:28:55

means the couple's dream isn't over yet.

0:28:550:28:58

But James still needs to establish

0:28:580:29:00

if the benefits Australia can offer his family

0:29:000:29:03

will outweigh the time he'll spend apart from daughter Lauren

0:29:030:29:07

and convince her to split her time between the two countries.

0:29:070:29:11

A day sampling Australia's lifestyle could make all the difference.

0:29:110:29:15

The Cornishes are spending the day at Latrobe Golf Park in Bundoora.

0:29:160:29:20

Before becoming consumed with running the pub,

0:29:200:29:23

James was a keen golfer

0:29:230:29:24

and is hoping that if he and Lisa could get more time

0:29:240:29:27

with Sammy and Louis, it's a sport they could practise together.

0:29:270:29:30

Yay!

0:29:330:29:34

It's a reminder of what a move is all about.

0:29:360:29:38

Lifestyle's a huge part of the decision to move to Australia.

0:29:380:29:42

It's the whole reason why we're even considering it.

0:29:420:29:45

We don't spend a huge amount of time together as a family, and moving

0:29:450:29:49

to Australia would offer us the opportunity to have that time back.

0:29:490:29:53

And for us to feel like a family again.

0:29:530:29:56

And for me to feel like I'm a mum and a wife again.

0:29:560:29:59

THEY LAUGH

0:30:020:30:04

This is fun!

0:30:070:30:08

Everyone's worked up an appetite, and luckily Lisa has come prepared.

0:30:100:30:14

It's a real taste of what life could be like,

0:30:140:30:17

and James is delighted to get quality time with his boys.

0:30:170:30:20

I can honestly say I've never really seen them that happy

0:30:200:30:23

as they have been this week.

0:30:230:30:25

They can go and play together

0:30:250:30:27

and even myself and Lisa get involved in that

0:30:270:30:30

and it's not something that we can do at home.

0:30:300:30:32

The day's rounded off at the driving range.

0:30:330:30:36

The Australian lifestyle could give the family

0:30:360:30:38

everything they're looking for.

0:30:380:30:40

And Lauren knows just how much that means to James and Lisa.

0:30:430:30:47

It upsets me that they might move to Australia,

0:30:470:30:50

but on the other hand it doesn't,

0:30:500:30:53

because I want them to move to have a better life

0:30:530:30:56

than they could ever have in England.

0:30:560:30:59

I want them to be happy.

0:30:590:31:00

The afternoon also gives James and Lauren

0:31:010:31:03

some important father-daughter time

0:31:030:31:06

and the chance to discuss

0:31:060:31:07

what moving would mean for their relationship.

0:31:070:31:10

So how would you feel, then, if we came out here?

0:31:100:31:13

I'd be upset, but...

0:31:130:31:14

..I'd be happy for you as well.

0:31:160:31:18

Be happy to see us for two or three months a year

0:31:180:31:21

rather than every week?

0:31:210:31:23

Well...I'd get used to it.

0:31:240:31:27

Just like I got used to not seeing you and mum together.

0:31:270:31:30

I want you to move out here. I've told you that.

0:31:300:31:32

-And you're not... You're not abandoning me.

-I know.

0:31:340:31:38

But I don't want you to feel like you've got to say that

0:31:380:31:40

-because...

-No, I don't feel like I've got to say that.

0:31:400:31:43

-No? Are you sure?

-I'm saying that because that's how I feel.

0:31:440:31:47

OK.

0:31:490:31:50

Today's not only provided much-needed time together,

0:31:500:31:53

it's seen Lauren reassure James having half her family

0:31:530:31:56

on the other side of the world is an idea she could get used to.

0:31:560:32:00

But come the end of the week, James will still face a difficult choice.

0:32:000:32:05

It's a massive decision because...

0:32:050:32:07

..I've got to try and balance doing what's right for me

0:32:080:32:11

and Lisa and the boys with doing right by Lauren.

0:32:110:32:15

It's been a fun

0:32:150:32:16

and thought-provoking day for the family, so when it comes to choosing

0:32:160:32:20

between lifestyle in Australia or the UK, what will they opt for?

0:32:200:32:24

ALL: Australia.

0:32:290:32:31

It's been really nice being able to spend time together

0:32:310:32:34

-as a family again.

-I'm the same.

0:32:340:32:37

It's just nice to be able to spend time together as a family.

0:32:370:32:39

A unanimous vote for Australia's all well and good,

0:32:490:32:52

but with Lisa's projected salary much lower than expected,

0:32:520:32:56

the family now need to find out

0:32:560:32:58

whether they can actually afford to make the move.

0:32:580:33:01

We've provided a breakdown of their living expenses,

0:33:010:33:04

starting with their fortnightly grocery shop.

0:33:040:33:07

-Quite a lot of the vegetables and things double.

-Beef's a lot cheaper.

0:33:070:33:12

Chicken's a lot cheaper.

0:33:120:33:14

The yoghurts are loads more expensive.

0:33:140:33:17

Crikey!

0:33:170:33:19

Looks like Sammy and Louis may have to forgo their fromage frais.

0:33:190:33:23

Most things are more expensive, though, aren't they?

0:33:230:33:25

Let's face it, as we go down the list, most of the things on there.

0:33:250:33:29

-Shopping is £67.18.

-More than the UK.

0:33:290:33:33

73% more expensive.

0:33:330:33:35

There's no hiding these two are accountants.

0:33:350:33:38

£135 more on food isn't a dealbreaker,

0:33:380:33:42

but how will the bigger figures stack up?

0:33:420:33:44

James and Lisa base their calculations

0:33:440:33:46

on the second property they viewed.

0:33:460:33:49

Gas is half the price.

0:33:490:33:51

But the childcare would be more expensive

0:33:510:33:53

because we won't have grandparents looking after the kids.

0:33:530:33:56

So that's £470.

0:33:560:33:59

To £15.

0:33:590:34:01

Added to the extra grocery bill,

0:34:010:34:03

Lisa and James would spend £600 more per month in Australia.

0:34:030:34:07

The dream could live or die on their potential salaries.

0:34:070:34:10

My salary would be £543 more. Your salary would be £2 less.

0:34:100:34:17

£2 less.

0:34:170:34:19

-And this is based on...?

-Teaching.

0:34:190:34:21

So overall...we would be £70.85 better off.

0:34:210:34:28

-Per month.

-In Australia.

0:34:280:34:30

If Lisa lectured down under,

0:34:300:34:32

the family would be around £70 better off each month.

0:34:320:34:35

Not bad, but not enough to pay for regular flights for Lauren.

0:34:350:34:39

If I went back into accounting,

0:34:400:34:42

we'd be £10,606.20 a year better off.

0:34:420:34:49

And even if we had the dream house...

0:34:510:34:54

If I was in accounting, and you were too...

0:34:550:34:59

then we'd still be £5,326 better off.

0:34:590:35:04

A year. I can't believe that.

0:35:040:35:06

-It's a huge difference.

-It's a massive difference.

0:35:060:35:09

A return to accountancy for Lisa changes everything.

0:35:090:35:12

I can't put into words how that makes me feel.

0:35:160:35:20

Lisa and James could afford the life they're desperate for

0:35:200:35:23

with their sons and flights for Lauren.

0:35:230:35:25

So how will they vote?

0:35:250:35:27

-Australia.

-Australia.

0:35:320:35:34

All week, I've had this...horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach

0:35:340:35:40

that...

0:35:400:35:41

Yeah, that feeling's completely gone now.

0:35:410:35:44

-So you're happy again?

-Yeah, I'm happy again!

0:35:440:35:47

It's so good.

0:35:470:35:48

The financial cost of Lisa and James' dream seems achievable.

0:35:540:35:58

But what about the emotional cost?

0:35:580:36:00

Whilst Sammy and Louis are looked after by a childminder,

0:36:000:36:03

the rest of the family sit down

0:36:030:36:05

to watch messages from their loved ones in the UK.

0:36:050:36:08

-Hiya.

-Hi, Lisa, James.

0:36:090:36:13

-ALL:

-Hi!

0:36:130:36:14

Hope you're having fun and enjoying yourselves in Australia.

0:36:140:36:17

Hope you're having a fantastic time,

0:36:170:36:19

and we don't want you to come back with a tan

0:36:190:36:21

because we don't want to look pasty next to you.

0:36:210:36:23

As a family, Lisa and James are really...

0:36:230:36:26

you know, hardworking.

0:36:260:36:28

Dedicated to their family, to the kids.

0:36:280:36:30

James is a top bloke, and yeah, if he were to go, I'd miss him very much.

0:36:300:36:34

Lisa doesn't just do something,

0:36:340:36:38

she overdoes it, if you know what I mean.

0:36:380:36:40

She really looks into things.

0:36:400:36:41

She's very, sort of, like, confident in herself and the things she does.

0:36:410:36:47

Because I lack in that area, it's nice, because that bit rubs off

0:36:470:36:50

and then I feel confident enough to go and do things, so...

0:36:500:36:53

It's nice. I don't think she realises that she does that.

0:36:530:36:56

Lauren's a lovely young girl.

0:36:560:36:58

She's sprung from being a little girl at the beginning of last summer

0:36:580:37:03

to being quite a young lady, really, hasn't she?

0:37:030:37:05

And, yeah, she's a really good big sister to the boys, isn't she?

0:37:050:37:10

Oh, Sammy. You know what?

0:37:100:37:11

I've said to James and Lisa, you lot go,

0:37:110:37:14

but leave Sammy here with me because I don't want him to go.

0:37:140:37:17

I really don't!

0:37:170:37:18

Louis is lovely. Louis is coming on smashing.

0:37:180:37:22

Erm, I mean, we bought him a jigsaw book at Christmas, didn't we?

0:37:220:37:26

-Oh, he's good at jigsaws.

-Oh, he loves his jigsaws.

0:37:260:37:29

If they do move to Australia, I think

0:37:290:37:30

it's going to absolutely crush them all.

0:37:300:37:33

In the sense of leaving Lauren behind.

0:37:330:37:35

Only because they're going to miss her terribly.

0:37:350:37:38

I can honestly say that...since I knew...

0:37:380:37:42

..I've been the saddest that I've ever been in my life.

0:37:440:37:47

I'd miss the physical contact.

0:37:510:37:55

Erm, and though I will be able to see them on Skype and talk to her

0:37:550:38:00

and everything like that, erm...

0:38:000:38:02

I would look forward to the cuddles when I do see them.

0:38:030:38:07

So they'd have to save them all up.

0:38:070:38:09

And I know it's going to be hard when they go, if they do go.

0:38:110:38:13

Oh, God.

0:38:170:38:18

It's a fantastic opportunity,

0:38:180:38:20

-and if you think you can make it work, then do it.

-Yeah, definitely.

0:38:200:38:23

Because it might be one of the best decisions you've ever made.

0:38:230:38:26

You know we love you to bits.

0:38:260:38:29

We know we've told you we'll miss you, but we've also said that

0:38:290:38:33

we wouldn't stand in your way if you went, if you made the decision to go.

0:38:330:38:38

I will really, really miss you.

0:38:380:38:39

Obviously, I know it's going to be hard.

0:38:390:38:42

Especially with Lauren.

0:38:420:38:43

But I want you to do what's best for you and be happy.

0:38:430:38:46

Just make sure, James and Lisa,

0:38:470:38:51

that you look at everything before you make any decisions whatsoever.

0:38:510:38:56

And come back safe.

0:38:570:38:58

What do you think?

0:39:070:39:09

Got to love Angel and Caroline, haven't you? Bless them.

0:39:090:39:12

-And Michelle.

-And Michelle.

-They do seem to...

0:39:120:39:16

-Be accepting?

-Be accepting and have our best interests at heart.

0:39:180:39:22

I can see now how much it is going to affect...

0:39:220:39:25

..me and everyone else, but I could see that before.

0:39:260:39:30

It's just how well we'll cope with it.

0:39:320:39:35

Lauren may have given her blessing for the family's move to Australia,

0:39:410:39:45

but it's now time for James to decide

0:39:450:39:48

if the lifestyle he and Lisa are yearning for with their sons

0:39:480:39:52

is worth the time he'll lose with his daughter.

0:39:520:39:55

Has Australia lived up to the dream?

0:39:550:39:57

It's been fascinating to see the Australian culture

0:40:000:40:05

and look round some fantastic houses.

0:40:050:40:08

Experience what Australia's got to offer for us.

0:40:090:40:11

There's parts of the week that have been really good.

0:40:110:40:13

Parts of the week that have put my mind into doubt

0:40:130:40:17

as to whether a move to Australia is right for us.

0:40:170:40:20

If James and Lisa move to the other side of the world with their sons,

0:40:200:40:24

Lauren will be staying in the UK with her mum

0:40:240:40:26

and only making the occasional trip down under.

0:40:260:40:29

Has she been convinced the country could become a second home?

0:40:290:40:33

We've seen a lot that Australia has to offer.

0:40:330:40:37

And most of the time, Australia's been more favourable than the UK.

0:40:370:40:42

However, James is still wrestling

0:40:420:40:44

with the positive and negative implications of a move.

0:40:440:40:48

The thing for me with the decision is Lauren.

0:40:480:40:51

She's my daughter, she's my first-born.

0:40:520:40:56

And she means everything to me and...

0:40:560:40:58

It would be a huge change in the dynamic of our family

0:40:590:41:03

to not have her around every week.

0:41:030:41:05

And that's the single hardest thing for me.

0:41:080:41:12

Obviously, I'd be sad if they did choose Australia,

0:41:120:41:15

but I know what it would be doing for their lives.

0:41:150:41:18

Both Lisa and Lauren know how torn James is.

0:41:180:41:21

I think James has probably been more positive

0:41:210:41:23

than I've been across the week.

0:41:230:41:26

I think his main concern always has been

0:41:260:41:28

and always will be how it affects Lauren.

0:41:280:41:31

I know a lot of it does revolve around my opinion

0:41:310:41:34

and my feelings about it.

0:41:340:41:37

But I'd much rather them be happy than to have to stop and...

0:41:390:41:44

..crush their dreams.

0:41:460:41:47

It's now time for the whole family to decide where their future lies.

0:41:510:41:56

So after spending the week in Australia,

0:41:560:41:58

we've had some ups and some downs.

0:41:580:42:01

But our final vote is for...

0:42:010:42:03

ALL: Australia.

0:42:190:42:20

-Did everyone put Australia?

-Yeah.

0:42:220:42:26

Wow.

0:42:260:42:27

It's been a fantastic week and I think it's, erm...

0:42:270:42:30

The writing's on the wall for us to come out here.

0:42:330:42:35

It'd be silly for us to not try.

0:42:350:42:37

I voted Australia for you and for coming out here twice a year.

0:42:370:42:43

Maybe when I turn 18, I could come out and have a year out.

0:42:430:42:46

Did you vote UK or did you vote Australia?

0:42:460:42:49

-Australia.

-Australia? Shout it out.

0:42:490:42:51

Australia!

0:42:510:42:52

With Lauren happy to spend months at a time in Australia,

0:43:000:43:04

James has decided a move down under

0:43:040:43:06

will give the rest of his family the time together

0:43:060:43:10

they've been missing in the UK.

0:43:100:43:12

We wish everyone well, and who knows?

0:43:120:43:15

On turning 18, Lauren might join them full-time.

0:43:150:43:19

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