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Wanted Down Under

166 replies

wotabastard · 14/08/2017 09:18

I used to love the threads on this when I was pregnant in 2015! I've just sat down and it's back on. Lots of tears this time I think. Mum not happy. Sad

OP posts:
MadisonAvenue · 17/08/2017 19:09

troodie quite a few seem to make the move.

troodiedoo · 17/08/2017 19:20

Oh good. Would love to know how they are getting on.

TheChippendenSpook · 18/08/2017 09:17

I wonder if Australians have a show about moving to the UK called Wanted up Yonder and if it would catch on!

Androidsdreamofelectricsheep · 18/08/2017 09:38

I have often wondered that Chippenden, but my version is 'Wanted up over'...

BringMeTea · 18/08/2017 09:39

Wonder what the fb selling shite opportunities are like in Oz?

TheChippendenSpook · 18/08/2017 09:41

Haha! Android your title is better Grin

megletthesecond · 18/08/2017 09:52

My dc's won't get ready because WDU is on Hmm

Cocklodger · 18/08/2017 10:26

Honestly as a British expat in Australia I really really hate this show!
Lots of reasons, but I can't elaborate on them all as I don't have time but a few things...
"Oh I couldn't leave my family Sad Sad"
"We'll be 7k GBP a year better off! Omg lets go!" Hmm

Or "oh my god everything's so expensive" etc etc. on average, yes. And I believe that's due to higher "average" prices.
So if you have say, 1 value chicken, 4-5 midrange and 20 organic premium dipped in gold would feed 17 for a week chickens, on average sure they'll be more expensive and I think that's what makes it more expensive, as here there tends to be more premium/better quality options vs supermarket own brands.
The best way is to (if in Aus) get out there and look, do a shop or even just a meal plan/list!
If not, use a dummy address to create a Woolworths grocery account, get on there and do a fake weekly or monthly shop.

Another thing that makes me Hmm is when the family are renters and proposing a move to qld, council tax/council rates are often still compared. In Queensland a renter cannot be made liable for council tax and it's very very expensive/difficult (due to the fact that renovations and water efficiency measures much take place first) for renters to be made liable for water rates too.

A lot of properties don't have any gas whatsoever either.

Also it's clear that the couples/families are on holiday rather than actually getting a feel for what it's like to be there, which you can only really do by coming over for a couple of months, living in a short term rental, not eating out or spending every second at the beach and talking to prospective employers, talking with migration agents about a visa you can live there on etc etc rather than oooh Australia is sunny put a shrimp on the barbie!!!

Androidsdreamofelectricsheep · 18/08/2017 11:03

Totally agree with your last paragraph Cocklodger.
It annoys me that it paints Australia as a crime-free paradise. A quick scan of Australian media shows that there are the same problems there as here, with more sunshine. They also don't mention just how cold it can be in some areas in winter.

Heatherbell1978 · 18/08/2017 11:33

Big fan of the show but my 😩 observations are:

  1. when they show them a house which is within their budget and they're like 'wow' but it's about an hour from the city! If I drove an hour from where I live now I'm fairly sure I could afford more too.
  2. when they live in a 2 bed semi in Sheffield but want a detached 4 bed with a pool then act surprised that their monthly mortgage bill is now 5 times as big.
  3. yes the main bedroom is at the front
  4. yes there's a walk in wardrobe
  5. no some gardens don't have much grass because, guess what, its hot in Australia so it doesn't grow as well.

Oh I could go on and on....😂

Cocklodger · 18/08/2017 16:23

There are definitely some places in Australia that you can have a 50" tv delivered and left in your garden in a very much not discreet box for 3 hours, get home and find it still there in one piece. But I've been to some places in Sydney (I don't live in NSW though) where I'd be terrified of having my windows put through nevermind leaving the door unlocked! Same as anywhere really.
I'm not sure on the specifics of gun laws here yet but a 7-11 (petrol station basically) near me was held up with a gun not 2 months back....

Cocklodger · 18/08/2017 16:23

That was to Android

Cocklodger · 18/08/2017 16:25

I'll shut up soon I promise but heatherbell has reminded me of another problem I have.
Couples from cheap ex mining towns in the UK with a 2 up 2 down worth around $300k aud then act surprised when all they can afford is a studio in the city/the same they had in the uk in a suburb or a 3 bed if they move out to the sticks...

troodiedoo · 18/08/2017 16:27

Great insights thanks Cocklodger

What about the spiders though?

whitepaint · 18/08/2017 16:28

And they often want to emigrate for more family time, but then plan to work more hours/both go full-time to be able to afford to live there.

I don't have enough clothes to fill a walk in wardrobe but I must be in the minority, judging by the hysterical reaction to them.

Oh, and I hate the ones who have a child by a previous relationship whom they'll be leaving behind. I don't know how they can contemplate it.

Cocklodger · 18/08/2017 16:31

I have several friends some have lived here all their lives, some are expats who've been here for 10+ years. None have ever seen any spiders bigger than about a £2 coin, which isn't too bad.
Only one person has seen a snake (outside of a zoo anyway). I've been here under a year but haven't seen anything nasty. I imagine it'd be a weekly occurrence if you lived in the outback though vs a city/suburb/large town as I/most of my friends live in

Cocklodger · 18/08/2017 16:34

whitepaint I do love that!
"This is what your tiny budget will get you"

whitepaint · 18/08/2017 16:39

I suppose they get a holiday out of it!

I was impressed years ago when a family decided that they could improve their lives without emigrating. I think they downsized to free up some money, reduced their working hours, made an effort to do stuff together at the weekend, that kind of thing.

Androidsdreamofelectricsheep · 18/08/2017 16:54

Cocklodger Sydney is the only place I have seen used syringes lying on the pavement.

Mrscaindingle · 19/08/2017 19:03

Cocklodger my sis lives in Sydney and when living in Coogee had more than one huntsman spider in her porch. Shock

Petalflowers · 19/08/2017 19:17

It always amuses me on this programme when they want 'more family time' and then talk,labour working longer hours. Or they will ave 'a more,outdoor life' in Australia. Why can't they go outside here? There's plenty of lovely,countryside in the UK.

Chunkymonkey123 · 21/08/2017 09:24

Kerrie is so mean! He obviously never had any intention of moving to Australia

megletthesecond · 21/08/2017 09:52

She wants to go way more than he does.

megletthesecond · 21/08/2017 09:58

I don't think they'll last whatever happens.

SingingTunelessly · 21/08/2017 18:22

Looking at the update she's gone to Melbourne on a six month contract and he's still in the U.K. working on his visa application. Must be so tough being in a relationship when both of you consider the other side of the world "home".