Our Hardest Winter Days in Bulgaria

Описание: #LifeInBulgaria #ExpatLife #WinterInBulgaria #StartingOver #RuralLiving

When the light returns after the darkest winter days, life in Bulgaria tests you in ways you never expect.

This has been our hardest winter so far — bitter cold, quiet moments, and a loss that changed everything.

Living in rural Bulgaria is beautiful, but winter reveals the truth of starting over abroad.
In this episode, we share the reality behind the silence, the strength it takes to keep going, and why even in the coldest moments, light still finds its way back.

🇧🇬 Резюме на български:
Тази седмица беше една от най-трудните ни, откакто живеем в България.
Видеото показва реалността на зимата, загубата на Зоро и защо въпреки всичко избираме да продължим напред.
История за ново начало, семейство и живота извън зоната на комфорт.

Chapters:
00:00 The Hardest Winter Days in Bulgaria
00:52 We received bad news
01:05 Winter in Bulgaria
01:10 Bulgarian neighbour comes to ask for help
02:12 Together with our neigbour we do the unthinkable
03:36 Losing a Dog Who Became Family
05:41 How the Children Are Coping
06:16 Saying Goodbye in a Small Bulgarian Village
07:13 Fresh Start Sticks: Choosing to Keep Going
08:00 Life Is Short: Why We Still Travel
10:43 Life Is Short: Why We Still Travel
11:34 Snow, Silence, and Winter Reflections
12:15 Final Thoughts: A Fresh Start Forward

☉ 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.

Looking for another video to watch? Why not one of these 👇🏾

Starting over in Bulgaria -    • STARTING OVER in Bulgaria wasn't what we e...  
Buying a house in Bulgaria -    • We Bought an ABANDONED House in Bulgaria |...  
We transformed this room -    • TRANSFORM a room in our Abandoned Bulgaria...  
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🔔 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW THE JOURNEY

👉 Subscribe here:
   / @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...
Rural Living in Bulgaria → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/post...
In memory of Zoro - https://www.freshstartsticks.com/post...
Why we chose Bulgaria - https://www.freshstartsticks.com/post...
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
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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 #bulgarian #Bulgaria #Documentary #RenovationLife #FamilyLifeAbroad #BlackFamily #RuralLiving #VelikoTarnovo #HomeRenovation #easterneurope