Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

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.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

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.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

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.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Bizarre family today....

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

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!

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

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

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

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 :frown:

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" :blink:

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

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.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

There's a surprise then.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

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:D

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

I don't see why any of the above should deter people from emigrating. So it's humid in Darwin & Brisbane, there are flies in Perth and it gets cold in Sydney/Adelaide/Melbourne. What is the big deal?
There are advantages and disadvantages of living in all Australian cities/towns. The immigrants who do well here adapt and get on with living .

You should consider spending sometime living in Kabul or Baghdad and then you will realise how insignificant some of the things you mentioned above are.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

The amount of times I've seen "you should try living in (insert war torn shithole here) before complaining about Australia" is really getting old.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

TO all prospective britishexpats moving to Oz there is only one way you can move to Oz jsut watch wanted down under, you cannot rent, you have to live in one area !
You must buy icecream and prawns lol

If you want to buy chances are unless you have a quite a bit in the bank or you're house is a mansion in the UK you need to factor in shipping/ flying your things over wether that be a couple boxes or a HUGE container worth, if you're taking pets thats more expense, unfortunately you can't pack your nanna:unsure:.
You want to buy a good car outwright thats all expense before you even get as far as buying a house (in most cases).

I'd much prefer if they changed the format - hear me BBC - and gave ideas for what they could rent and ideas of what they could buy in 3 totally different areas within a reasonable commute to work (preferably all realistic in what the family could afford - cause thats boring too).

Oh my Mr JenJen really loves this program :confused: he he he he:frown:
He doesn't do allowances for editing and I shan't tell you whathe's said about todays program lol

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

I know I know it's a program light hearted entertainment but I bet hundreds of ppl are put off they're dream cause of how limited it all comes across

Steps down and offers someone else soap box :D

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Hi i,m new to this thread but have been watching WDU for a few years and have been increasingly ticked-off by all the 'I must have a big house thats already decorated to my taste with large kitchen/dining areas 'that aussies don't use because they cook and eat outside if possible' and it must have a large pool as well because everyone knows that to buy an aussie house its dirt cheap. They live in a small house over here that they can't sell because they are asking too high an asking price then think they deserve a mansion. People want a british style home it seems even though its a different life they say they long for. Most Australians believe you have to work hard for the right to live as some of them do. Why can people not see that a smaller run down place may have potential because basically they are starting out all over again or rent for a few years.
I'd be happy just for the chance to get there and work it out for myself

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Hear hear (or is it "here here" - I never know lol :D)

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

It's 'Hear hear'. :)

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Thanks Alfresco!

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Anyone notice that none of the families ask "where can I buy fish n chips or a decent curry?"

Is it edited out or do these become pressing questions when one becomes an expat? :lol:

I did my homework, I know where I can get Tayto crisps in Melbourne ($2.50 a bag!!)

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

lol :lol: are they proper ones, all the way from Tayto Castle in Sunny Tandragee?! :eek:

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

No,County Meath sometimes they have the Irish price on them - 49c. I offered a dollar after converting to local currency and was promptly told to bugger off :lol:

Mr Tayto has a book out :eek: They even brought spring onion flavor back, that proves we are in a recession.

Hmm....Snax :thumbsup:

http://www.taytocrisps.ie/

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Maybe instead of inviting friends round for a barbie, expats invite everyone round for a curry night instead:)

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

YIPEEEE.... It's Perth today. Seems thats Perths on most Wednesdays..:):)

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Sooperb! Look forward to watching that tonight ;-)

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Just wondering how they choose the "lifestyle" Aussie families (who all seem lovely)? Do they just ask around to see if anyone wants to go on the programme, or is there a "bank" of people? I felt desperately sorry for the Brisbane couple yesterday and have noticed just how many people are not going for financial reasons - good old credit crunch.:frown: I remember the early days of me joining this forum, the questions used to be shall we go or not whereas now it's a case of can we afford to go as well.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

I've been watching WDU for a few years now and also getting hacked off with the Beeb, why don't they save some money and sack off the useless presenter, Nicki whats her name is rubbish. Paid to go over there to get a tan, half the things she says are repeated and she has no emotion what so ever. I know she isn't filmed with the families like the last presenter was but please, why is she needed!? A simple VO would do it! My sky+ is a god send, fast forward her jibba jabba! lol :rofl:

It's not an educational programme for the likes of us guys, what ever they tell you take with a pinch of salt. When I first started watching WDU I wasn't in the visa process and was clueless so I watched this with amazment thinking 'wow, I can afford a big house by the beach, have a boat and still have money to burn' now i've researched it and and actaully in the visa process, I watch the programme and laugh at how wrong it is. Show people expensive houses to buy when most people rent when they first get out there, shower the familes with amazing days out and then a possible job offer 'look me up when you get to oz' and then come out with...oh im sorry aircon costs way too much to run, bread is $5!, blah blah blah.......if people are serious about applying to this show surley they shouldnt be shocked at the $$$.....what annoys me the most is they never mention about visa costs, and the amount of paper work you have to do and not to mention the tedious exams they make you do...and then more exams when you get to Oz....However it is just an entertainment programe so I'm only watching it for the scenery....wishing I was there instead of snowy UK....I'm just glad i've researched it properly....

It would be nice tho if the Beeb took abit more care in providing us with a factual programme that would give the likes of you and me a better understanding of what life is really like down under. :p

Oh well, can't have it all...we only pay for these shows afterall :thumbsup:

Rant over :D

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Yesteday's episode was hilarious! She wanted a fantastic 4 bedroomed house with a pool all on one level with a small budget. Was never going to happen. She didn't see the point in moving across the world unless she could improve the home she lived in, the money they earn etc.etc. The houses they were shown did not match her "idea" of what an Australian house should look like. She even complained that one of them was too posh for her!

As someone else has said, don't most of these people realise that they are moving 10,000 miles across the world to effectively start again. It's not as easy as "1,2,3". Start small, have dreams and aspirations and work towards them.

The F&F gets me everytime! Have they not considered leaving their F&F before? It always seems to be a big surprise to them.

I watch these more for the scenery. And to get an idea of the area. I ignore all the other rubbish which does just annoy me to be fair!

:)

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

When you are being filmed for the F&F it's a very strange experience. We are quite a close family but honestly none of us spoke about what they were asked during the filming time in the UK. For example we were actually in the other room when our parents and friends were being interviewed. A few weeks later we were in Ozz and still we never knew what each other had said.
We were shown the F&F film three times so that the camera can show three angles. It was very professional and there was very little discussion between each round. Strangely enough the programme is just as much emotional the third time as it is the first and quite often you react in such a way that you perhaps hide your true feelings. The film lats, I'm sure quite a bit longer than what is finally shown.
This was my experience anyway, I'm sure others may have been different

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Would you move across the world for a shitty house, worse money, etc etc?

Might seem like shallow reasons for the move... but its the reasons 90% of the people coming would site, once you get past the standard "we are doing it for the kids" nonsense.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Seems to me that at one time WDU was viewed by people who had already moved to Australia as totally unrealistic....and it was basically porn for prospective migrants. The pendulum seems to have swung a bit and the programme seems to be setting slightly more realistic expectations of what things cost in Aus, what standard of house someone could actually AFFORD to buy...and many of the participants are seen to be surprised by the cost of living etc. The porn addicts are not happy and want their porn back!! Come on BBC!

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

I know that I cannot step into a new life and have everything as I want it. You have to be realistic and this family were far from that. She was the only one who worked, expected her husband to be a house husband forever and still wanted the fab house with a pool and so on.

I want to live in Australia and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to make that a reality. If it means downsizing on both the job and home front, we will. It took me 5 years of moving from South Africa to the UK to be properly established and own my own home. 2 years later we upgraded to a 3 bed end of terraced which more than doubled our living space and I am willing to sell up and move because I think that is what my family needs.

Most of the people on WDU seem to have no clue about Australia in reality and have done no research. I don't profess to know everything there is to know, but I am certainly not expecting to be able to afford the posh, huge houses from the get go. It's something I aspire to and will work towards. In the meantime, I'll take what I can get! :D

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

So what they want is... BBQ's everyday, petrol at 20c a litre, five bed house with pool for $200k, with a view of Sydney Harbour bridge. The BeeB are going to need a time machine.... send for the Doctor. :)

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Yeah bring back the days of showing 2 million buck houses, which is exactly what a qld episode of one of those type shows did, then plonk some carpet layers in it who earn $1000 a day;) and show some newly arrived poms seeing how quickly they can frazzle the skin to melanoma standard, plus some normal daytime activities like a $800 bridge climb or a helicopter flight over sydney harbour.

Those were the days:lol:

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Good for you. :thumbup::thumbsup:
Must be nice to have the big dream to work towards.

The 'research' question is an interesting one. People will tell you that you have to research everything...others will tell you that the research is almost pointless as no amount of it will prepare you for actually living here. I tend to support the latter view.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Most people (present company excluded of course Sportsendurance) want their old lives but in Australia. They want a house like the one they've got, a job like the one they've got, pay like the pay they've got and so on.

It's like they're chancing it. We'll go over, have a look and if everything is perfect we'll go for it.

Then it turns out everything is not perfect. Oh no, now I have to think about it and agonise and cry and so on and so on that we, the viewer (or ME the viewer) thinks bored now, moving on.

It doesn't bother me if it is more factually correct about living expenses comparisons or houses they can afford (it's better that way) it's the families expectations of perfect life, the minute they land. One family was really put off because salmon was so expensive compared to the UK. The mum was really put off by that and said something along the lines of "can't possible live without my salmon" and she wasn't joking either. Even the affordability is a joke to some extent because until you find the house you want to buy or get the job that's going to pay for it all, it's a little immaterial really. They get shown 3 houses in areas they have not chosen and then decide on the UK or Aus based on that. Silly IMHO.

I just wish they had people on the show who had done their research. But as has been said the show is for entertainment purposes and therefore the theatrics of it all is to be expected.:)

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

I agree about research to some degree. We've researched areas and houses and cars and schools, but all from a general information perspective so we now how the system works. But if I find something I don't like in the statistics or figures etc. I don't then decide not to move because of it. Until I actually move I won't know for sure and who knows I may have a fantastic job which means I can buy the fantastic house but won't know until I actually try for real. :)

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Exactly. It can all go spectacularly well or it can all crash and burn. Nobody knows until they have actually done the move.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Well todays WDU was a different.....what a lovely family. No expectations of anything too grand just a wish for a better life for themselves and their boys. Good luck to them although they will find it hard on his wages alone.

I wonder if Relocation Relocation...Phil Down Under will be more informative for people looking to make the move Down Under....lets hope so !

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

I also thought that they were a great family.

The house prices in Perth were noticeably cheaper too.

Re: Wanted Down Under 2010
 

Yesterdays were nice family. I thought the woman the day before was in cloud cukoo land, 4 bed 2 bath house with swimming pool on a budget of £200k or something and an income of £25! Also very odd that she aspired to her husband not needing to work and live on her salary. I have the opposite hope :-)

I am finding it a bit samey now. It is like watching the same program every day. And why are they all low income families, I don't think I have seen any expect an income over £30k yet! It would be nice if they had used a more diverse group of families or even couples.