Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think those on wanted down under

146 replies

Thefishewife · 04/08/2014 20:06

AIBU to think many on wanted down under have no intention of moving to Australia and just want a free jolly

Just occurred to me watching it today after a couple who would be 700 in oz would be worse off were still struggling weather it would be a good move

OP posts:
Morethanalittlebitconfused · 04/08/2014 20:07

Ha ha yes I think that very same thing to the point I keep nudging DH for us to apply

jellybeans · 04/08/2014 20:10

They often seem very naive and seem to think it will be like Home and Away or being on constant holiday. They seem to think they can get a huge house and a pool is often a deal breaker!

Happyringo · 04/08/2014 20:51

I'm always amazed by couples where only one of them wants to go and the other one is emotionally blackmailing them to go. The poor guy on it today was in tears as the (awful) wife casually announced she and the kids were going regardless...

angelopal · 04/08/2014 21:01

Yes I saw that one today. Poor guy felt really sorry for him. Did not really understand the wifes obsession for Australia especially when she was told she would struggle to get a job.

calonwyn · 04/08/2014 21:22

Do you reckon there's an Aussie version, where families are given a week's free holiday in Chelsea/Barrow-in-Furness, and then asked to deliberate about their future in front of the Nicki Chapman/Alastair Appleton equivalent?

FiveGoMadInDorset · 04/08/2014 21:23

Poor Brendan

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 04/08/2014 21:26

Ooh Wanted On Top. Sheila and Doug are looking to spend less time together and more time indoors.

minibmw2010 · 04/08/2014 21:39

Oh no, I didn't see the end of that today. I saw where she kept choosing Australia and seeming surprised each time when he kept saying 'UK' or 'undecided'. Did she really say she'd take them anyway? How does she think she'll support them or buy a house ?????

TrendStopper · 04/08/2014 22:30

Haha itiswhat I would watch that Grin

Are these episodes repeats?

VonHerrBurton · 04/08/2014 23:56

Poor Brendan on today's episode. I really felt for him. Friends of ours 'did Australia' on holiday, loved it and decided to look into emigrating.

A couple of years and thousands of pounds later they'd been, and come back after a short time. They were beyond skint, kids were struggling to settle and she really, really hadn't been sure all along. He had promised it would be nirvana and she was swept along / emotionally blackmailed into it.

I think above anything else you'd both have to be fully committed for it to have any hope of working out.

Poor man, I hope they didn't end up going.

lbsjob87 · 05/08/2014 00:00

I always think that. They never actually buy a house on Place In The Sun either.
Wanted Down Under winds me up - they seem to pick the most shallow of people. Maybe it's just me -or the fact I have a friend who moved to Oz then missed his mum's death in the UK because he couldn't afford the air fare to get home in time - but I genuinely could never put more sunshine and the ability to spend more time outside above being 10,000 miles away from my family.
The family videos get me every time - I watch in the hope an elderly relative says "I don't see them from one month to the next anyway, good riddance, you selfish bastards."
Never happens though;)

Caterina99 · 05/08/2014 02:45

Actually living abroad (in US for DHs job), that show just enrages me! They must do it for the free trip to Australia, cos otherwise who in their right mind would tear their kids away from grandparents and potentially have a lower paid or worse job, just to live somewhere sunny! Madness!

Glastokitty · 05/08/2014 04:14

I'm in Oz and one of my friends has been on Wanted Down Under. It was a great opportunity for them to get a free recce trip, but they do edit in all the worst bits (my friend seemed to spend the whole episode crying). So, yeah, take it with a pinch of salt, my friend did move here and is very happy in her massive house with pool! Grin

Longdistance · 05/08/2014 04:27

VonHerr that sounds like my story :)

I'm still surprised I'm married to h after what he put me through in Oz Hmm

badfurday · 05/08/2014 05:19

Yeah I saw today's episode. That guy really didn't look up for going. Can't believe his wife!

The other one that annoys me escape to the country. They all have amazing budgets but the end of the show always end with " on this occasion Ted and Barbara decided moving to a fantastic barn conversion in Somerset wasn't for them. They are now looking for something closer to home" whhhaaatttt!! Another 45 minutes of my life wasted

stolemyusername · 05/08/2014 05:55

We're in Oz and I watched that show avidly on the run up to the move. We did actually get sent an application pack to go on it, but I remember that the t&c stated that you must have already applied for a visa to be considered.

Maybe they changed the rules? And no, life out here is NOTHING like the shows, I love it but it's still same shit different location (and without family support)

differentnameforthis · 05/08/2014 05:56

Not everyone moves here does so for the sun! Dh & I came here as raising our children with HIS parents around was a better bet than raising them with mine around!

And we were right,. I don't speak to my mum & my dad is wonderful, but busy with my younger (half) sibling's children. On our first & so far only trip back, one sibling was to 'ill' to meet up with us (in 5 weeks) & the other refused to see us at all.

So yeah, I took my chances & in doing so my children have wonderful grandparents & wonderful aunts & uncles. I would do anything to be back on the UK, but my girls need an extended family more.

So please don't tar all those who emigrate with the same shallow brush.

PittTheYounger · 05/08/2014 06:00

I lol at the nature reserve thing. There's no days out in England obv

echt · 05/08/2014 06:19

I've just watched the Brendan ep on iPlayer. Poor, poor man.

I can see why Mrs B liked Oz, swopping one soulless new build for another. I'd rather poke my eyes out than live in such a house. As for the shite about spending more family time together, you have to earn a living, and holiday entitlement is less in Australia. Also, how many times can you go the same nature reserve?? And as has been noted upthread, Cornwall is not short of places to go for a day out, and if you don't go to them there, you won't go to them here.

They so don't get it. Weather and houses is a shit reason to move here.

Hated the the way the prog allowed the wife to speak to camera on her own, and not him. Whenever the flags went on spin, her reactions were so manipulative, commenting on him in sly way.

I really like living here, but the prog misrepresents Au life.

Also, never quite get the Brits who live in a very ordinary house and area in the UK, and think they can get beach and pool and massive shit house.

echt · 05/08/2014 06:21

Sorry, that was a lot of shit(e) interjections.

PittTheYounger · 05/08/2014 06:32

A bit harsh on modern houses !

echt · 05/08/2014 06:37

That's what I think of them, which is why time after time we wouldn't even inspect such properties: the Day family ep which will soon be up on iPlayer shows one that's a bit better.

What is so much the case is many expect to move into perfect homes instead of gauging the temporary measure of renting, or fixer-up if buying.

Happyringo · 05/08/2014 06:37

mini right at the end Nicky went back to their house in Cornwall to see if they'd decided...the wife said she was going to go regardless if what Brendan decided, then he came in and started crying, it was awful :(

minibmw2010 · 05/08/2014 07:08

How selfish of her. I hope he stood up to her and said not with my kids you aren't! That kind of move should be joint or not at all. Silly cow.

Happyringo · 05/08/2014 07:20

No he didn't, he kind of just crumpled into tears and mumbled something about giving it a try.

It makes me laugh when they say oh well we work too much in the uk so we want to go down under for more family time, then when they do the calculations they often are surprised to find they would end up needing to work longer/go full time etc... to get the higher salary!

Swipe left for the next trending thread