New series of Wanted Down Under

[sailorsgal]

I think it starts next week.

My general view (huge assumption) is that the families on WDU have quite high standards in their houses - most often they have the 'on trend' feature wall with bold design wallpaper, modern kitchen, modern bathroom, etc. They have spent a lot on the interior of their house.
I get the feeling Aussies (and Kiwis) are not as fussed on the 'brand new kitchen and bathroom' look and must spend their money on other stuff. (Perhaps the Aussies spend their money on petrol as they have to drive everywhere! I wonder if that is taken into account in the 'reality check' (or is just the price of yoghurt more important!))

Legs, petrol here is cheap. I don't drive everywhere, or indeed anywhere, I get a bus to work. And Aussies spend loads on their houses which they , as they like to be big, new and highly specced. The standard of living is high, ordinary Middle class people have a pool, a boat, several cars, an outdoor kitchen is common, it's a different world. Maybe that's just Perth, but I doubt it. Of course there is poverty too, but Aussies in quite normal jobs can quite literally live the proverbial dream. My friend who was on Wish you were here has just built a five bedroomed house by the beach, it's spectacular!

Glasto -I'm sure there are people who spend just as much on their houses as WDU folk appear to. Your friend's house sounds brilliant!
I'm basing my huge assumption on the folk I know in Oz and NZ - big houses, swimming pools, holiday homes - and still the original kitchens in their houses. Maybe it's just the folk I know then! The lack of decent heating/insulation in NZ homes is another thing kiwis seem to take for granted too (though maybe that's changing).

One of the couples on WDU said "oh, no council tax here in Oz".
Is that normal? Or different in the different States? I know NZ has 'rates' which is the same as council tax.

*when I say original kitchens I talking 1980s 1990s not 1930s or so.

We moved a few years ago, to a detached house, near a wood. Before we had a two drive to the beach, now a forty minute drive. The countryside around is beautiful. The kids are at good schools and I have a 10 minute walk to work. At weekends, the kids do lots of sports including tennis, basketball and sailing.

Forgot to say, we still live in the UK!

The families make me laugh every episode they iver egg the job opportunities and think they can get an amazing home for 200 grand or so. Even when they are told that every single thing is worse than uk they always vote Australia. Silly peeps

I guess if you have applied for the programme, your decision has already been made. Otherwise, you would've apply.

I find it odd how when the programme started it seemed nurses, teachers, electricians, programmers (or whatever) were in demand in Oz. Loads of job opportunities and skilled worker visas for these skilled people.
Now they seem to go to the job 'interview' and get told there are loads of job applicants or not many jobs available for the person's trade. So how are they able to get visas? Has Oz changed entry requirements?

that's very true Legs. Before, Nadia Sawalha would go to the Embassy with them IIRC and they were all very skilled people Oz was after.

*You couldn't be more wrong. On the land I have with my house, you could another house the same size as mine & still have good gardens. Maybe even two. We have a large garden front & a massive one at the back, with 2 huge sheds, a wooden cubby & wooden sandpit.

Still with enough room for a 12ft wide pool!*

Sounds lovely, but I've never seen a house like that on the show. So often the houses are inferior to the ones the families own in the UK.

I'd love to see more like yours, with big gardens...property porn Aussie style!

I was sad that guy wanted to leave his daughter behind in uk. Twice yearly visits? Dream on. My dad lives 3 hrs away and I see him about twice a yr! I think even annual visits to Australia are ambitious.

What was the program called when they would show the family three scenarios city, beach and countryside, to see which one suited them best.??

Also I'm worried about Brendan.

Also ages ago there was a woman with a daughter from husband 1 and 2 sons with husband 2. Daughter was 14 and she was leaving her behind to stay with grandma and friends. Made me so angry and sad. wonder what happened there...

It's not always place over people -choices aren't that simple. DH is American and wants us to go back someday

Steben- no one has said anything against the couples on WDU who are 1 half Australian. Obviously your situation is a tough one. Most couples being discussed on here have no family in oz, seem
To have a great uk family and are seeking various oz based solutions to life's problems and choosing a place over ppl.

True it's more the "I couldn't leave my family" - I don't want to but neither does DH

By the way I love this theAd - was in tears over the crappy choice cards

*What was the program called when they would show the family three scenarios city, beach and countryside, to see which one suited them best?

It was still Wanted Down Under. They showed us the three options but they selected just one for the family to experience. The very first episode of this current series on iplayer is an old programme that's in this format, then it changes to the more recent programmes. No idea why though.

Ah thank you. I'm guessing the old format waS a lot more time and money to sort out maybe? as they sorted out an employer as well didn't they and the husband had a job for a week.

Can't remember the job being a week -but do remember the dad (usually) going to the, say, garage and working on a car for a day while mum went to playgroup.
I think the days out used to be more exciting -boat trips and whale watching type stuff. These last few have taken a picnic and wandered around a park.
Think you are correct Susie, maybe the producers had more money back then.

Legs you're right, it was a day not a week

I remember it in that format. One family the day was some sort of heating engineer and spent a day in the crawl spaces of a house, after that he didn't want to work in Oz as it was so hot doing the job, and it was spring I think rather than summer so he knew it would get hotter. Much better than the quick chat they now do.

Could it be time constraints rather than cash (so cash either way!)? How many families to they film over 1 week? Maybe they fly out 4 families at once and 1 crew and then can only film a short chat and no whale watching- just send them out for a quick picnic! Whale watching isn't expensive but crew time is.

it looks like a good one today.

Started of promising with Carl already having done a lot of research. Why don't they take mum with them?

Also, WDU bingo - want a bigger house...