
Let Us Explain... This Isn't What it Looks Like
A lot of people have been asking what we’re doing… and honestly, we get it.
Moving abroad, building a life, exploring new opportunities — it can look confusing from the outside.
In this video, we explain why we left the UK, why we chose Bulgaria, and what we’ve realised after exploring new opportunities in Turkey.
This isn’t about changing direction — it’s about understanding what a real “fresh start” actually means.
If you’re thinking about moving abroad or starting a new life, this is part of our journey figuring it out in real time.
☉ WELCOME TO FRESH START STICKS ☀︎
We’re a family of five who left the UK to start a new life in rural Bulgaria.
After the events of 2020, life in the UK changed dramatically. Attitudes shifted, businesses struggled under constant regulation changes, and with three young children, we began questioning whether the traditional path still offered the future we wanted for them.
We didn’t feel that the school system could provide the structure, freedom, and real-life skills our children need as they grow into young adults — so we chose to homeschool.
After researching several European countries, we chose Bulgaria. It’s still organic, the people are welcoming, and the nature is truly beautiful. After months of searching — and almost giving up — we finally found an old farmhouse in the countryside that had been empty for over a year. We decided to buy it and renovate it, learning as we go.
OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE:
Renovate our Bulgarian farmhouse
More freedom.
More family time.
Growing our own food.
And travelling together as a family in the Balkan countries
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🎥 WHAT WE SHARE HERE
This channel documents real family life after moving abroad — the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Real-time relocation & rural living
Honest DIY & renovation (no experts — just learning as we go)
No crew. No big budgets. Just us.
New videos every Sunday.
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🔔 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW THE JOURNEY
👉 Subscribe here:
www.youtube.com/@freshstartsticks
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🌍 Official Website & Project Links:
Homepage → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/
Watch the Journey →
Support the build → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/donate
Property services →
Press & Media →
Blog →
Contact →
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Explore renovation blogs, cost of living guides and sustainable living insights
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📝 FEATURED BLOG GUIDES
Cost of Living in Bulgaria → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/post/cost-of-living-in-bulgaria
Rural Living in Bulgaria → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/post/rural-living-in-bulgaria-our-honest-experience
Buying Property in Bulgaria
Home Renovation in Bulgaria: What You Should Know
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🤍 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
Your support helps us continue renovating and documenting this journey.
https://www.freshstartsticks.com/donate
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📲 FOLLOW US
Instagram: instagram.com/FreshStartSticks
Facebook: facebook.com/FreshStartSticks
TikTok: tiktok.com/FreshStartSticks
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🎵 MUSIC
Song list: Morning Mist
If you enjoyed our music selection and would like access to it, you can find it here:
https://share.epidemicsound.com/rrpbsk
(Affiliate link)
DISCLAIMER ⚖️
Some links maybe affiliate links. We may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you), which helps support FRESH START STICKS and future videos. Thanks for your support.
© Fresh Start Sticks 2026. All rights reserved.
Unauthorised use or reproduction is strictly prohibited.
🔍 HASHTAGS
#LifeAbroad #FreshStart #Bulgaria #Documentary #RenovationLife #FamilyLifeAbroad #BlackFamily #RuralLiving #VelikoTarnovo #HomeRenovation
Video Summary
AI GeneratedA family shares their transition from the UK to a self-sufficient homestead in Bulgaria to escape societal divides and the 9-to-5 grind. They now balance homesteading with a nomadic lifestyle to provide their children with a global education. Additionally, a group discusses the logistics of transporting and potentially adopting a dog named Monica.

