Making progress in freezing temperatures | Life in Bulgaria

#houserenovation #lifeinbulgaria #bulgaria #expatlife

We're making progress in freezing temperatures on our Bulgarian homestead, but life in Bulgaria can be demanding in the winter months.

It’s minus five degrees here in Bulgaria, and our homestead is frozen solid ❄️

Frost on the ground, cold air in our lungs — but life doesn’t stop just because winter hits.

In this video, we’re pushing forward on our Bulgaria homestead despite freezing temperatures. With the holidays coming up, we’re focused on making real progress now so we can slow down later, rest, and actually enjoy the home we’re building.

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction - this is the first morning waking up in a very frosty homestead in Bulgaria
00:06 Explaining what today vlog is about. We are working through freezing temperatures to be able to slow down at Christmas
01:26 Outside in the frosted garden showing the ice and explaining the sudden change of temperature. Listening to the village sounds of chainsaws cutting
12:30 Chris starts house renovation, rubbing down the wooden windows
14:06 Outside the homestead looks magical in the freezing frost
27:10 Go out to the local Bulgarian village. Talk to locals and see the local shop
30:26 Back to the homestead to finish of work
30:48 End

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☉ 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 ⚖️
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© 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 #winter #villagelife