JenJen

As long as you don't allow your kids to make the decision and at the friends and family bit go wow now i've seen that I can't do this I think you'll be fine !!

sportsendurance

I found the hardest thing about dealing with the F&F video was how much it may be hurting my wife and whether I was doing the right thing. I hold huge admiration for for my wife once again in how she copes with difficult situations. I think the F&F video is good for the family to watch and I do hear others closer to home say it's one of the best parts of the programme! Personal preference I suppose

Leedelta

It would be interesting if they showed the F&F video at the start or second day as opposed to near the final day.

The way the programme is structured seems to be along the lines of:

Shock the family about house/living prices and job prospects

Show them a great outdoor life and expat community

And then tug the heartstrings with the F&F video.

Whereas if the F&F was put the front of the queue then the family may be able to process the whole situation better.

As for the kids deciding...expect blowback when they become teenagers

bcworld

Hee hee...I saw the Darwin one too. They did mention cyclones, as in if you're very unlucky you might have to take cover once very couple of years....the wet season didn't get much of a mention...although I think one of the families they met in the park did state that they spend most of it indoors (shock horror! ).

My understanding is that a lot of construction work stops during the wet...that certainly wasn't mentioned.

Also noticed the $10 internet....hmmmmmm.....dial-up maybe???

From the 2 episodes I have seen WDU certainly has portrayed an Aus is expensive message though...more so than previous episodes I have seen. And having just spent 2 weeks in the UK I'd say it's an accurate comparison....comparing like for like the UK is undoubtedly cheaper in I would say most areas - even using a far higher exchange rate - no point comparing a special offer price on bread in Aus with the standard price in the UK! Compare the special with a BOGOF maybe.

The Australian house prices certainly shocked the people I was watching the show with too....and beside the tarted up showhome variety most of the houses are pretty naff....a lot of the people seem to have nicer, albeit smaller houses in the UK.

Personally from what I saw I thought WDU was getting a bit more realistic.

paulry

I wonder how many viewers have given up on their "dream" based on what they have seen on WDU?

jad n rich

Yes its good they now give some indication of how expensive australia is.

We were over for 6 weeks and even at the end still gawping at how much cheaper UK is. Not just food and shopping, Partner seemed to think cars were cheap too, kids though any tech stuff was way cheaper and more advanced to boot. Bro was having dental work done, private care, he had a crown done, even that was half the flipping price we pay.

cgreen

Watched WDU today and I would like to know where they get their finances on everyday living? I am from Brisbane and my family still live there. They have a large house and it does NOT cost almost the equivalent of £500 a month for AIRCON running costs. You would have to be running it in every room 24/7. I definitely agree that costs in Australia for basics have soared and am not disputing that. Maybe I am wrong and my parents are are just stingy with the AIRCON. I assume they are basing those figures on ducted systems.

bcworld

http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au...appliances.pdf

...estimates upto $100 a month for 4 hours per day reverse cycle a/c for a whole 150 m2 home. WDU house is probably more like 250m2 so say $165 a month. You really would have to run it 24 hours a day to approach £500.

Even in Brisbane whole house cooling is unneccesary...personally I think you only need a/c in the bedroom and even then only maybe 4 months a year tops.

JenJen

Bizarre family today....

sportsendurance

I think Leedelta has a good point about the F&F part of the show. However, if it was placed at the beginning of the week, it could encourage those who are reluctant to make the move, to remain even further closed minded for the rest of the week!

JenJen

I think the BBC should re-name it 'We DON'T want you to go down under'
LOL

Leedelta

Or "Go down under and become estranged from folks back home."

How did todays episode end, I had to defrost a car and missed the finale

A friend asked me "Are you going to Oz for a holiday or for penal servitude?" then followed it up with "Marry an Australian girl because we need an excuse for a holiday"

JenJen

Errr oddly enough they decided Australia, I have to say I couldn't have been more shocked by that result.
I did find the camping bit strange to say the least, they were camping in an Aussie winter but openly admit when the weather is bad in the UK they don't go on holiday ??? Surely you just take from that trip that those were the sorts of facilities available and in good weather it would be a great trip !!!
I do get fed up when ppl don't seem to think Australia gets cold, we stayed in the hills when we first arrived in 2008 and I swear to god I was frozen for the first few weeks until we moved out of the hills where it got a bit warmer.
Lets put it this way Australia has better weather than the uk on the whole barring cyclones and dust storms yadayada yada.
But it does get cold. You will prob need jumpers and blankets.

I don't get the whole family friends thing - perhaps cause we don't have that with anyone but dear god peple please speak to your nearest and dearest if you have them before you decide to consider going half way round the world.
We are lucky in that we don't have those emotional chains on us at all so I do feel for them in a way but its just a GRRRR fast forward moment for us sorry.

Amazulu

There's a surprise then.

jad n rich

I would like them to film the episodes in the aussie summer, what benefit is it to experience Darwin in the few weeks of the year when the humidity doesnt melt your soul. How about Brisbane when its so sticky the cameras would fog up, melbourne with a blazing bush fire in the background, perth in prime fly season the camera lense clogged with flies.

I guess none of that would sell