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I left the UK 16 years go and moved to Austria. It was the best thing I ever did. I loved the country so much I sold my house in the UK and bought a house.

The only issue we have is the rise of the far party FPÖ (Nazi party) but then again the UK has it's problems with the rise of the Reform party.

I was in the UK military and served overseas in many countries; I only went to Sicily once, but it was a diversion that turned into a night-stop, I don't remember much.

To cut a long story short, our kids have left home and settled into their new lives, there's only my wife and I (+ Boris our Patterdale terrier).  If we were to leave the UK it would be to move back to the Netherlands, we lived there before we moved back to the UK 30 years ago, my wife is Dutch, I speak the language, we have family and friends there, it would be very simple for us to do, we could do it tomorrow.

@Cynic

That’s really interesting—moving back to the Netherlands would make total sense for you with all those connections. Sounds like it would be a seamless transition!

For me, Sicily was a bit of a wild card at first, but it’s been an amazing journey so far. Completely off-grid when I started, and now bit by bit, I’m restoring a long-abandoned villa. It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you enjoy a challenge, it’s rewarding. I’ve been sharing my progress on YouTube—Here’s a look at what I’ve been up to: Would be great to hear what you think!

@SimCityAT

That’s amazing! Sixteen years is a long time—must feel like home now. Austria looks stunning, especially for outdoor living. Do you think Brexit made it harder for Brits to follow in your footsteps?

For me, moving to Sicily has been a game-changer. The lifestyle, the weather, and the community here are incredible, but like you said, every country has its challenges. I’ve been documenting my renovation journey along the way, and it’s been eye-opening.

@Operation Sicily

I just found (and subscribed) your , 12.9k subscribers - good work.  That looks like a lot of work, luckily we moved into a new build when we first moved to Holland.

Best of luck with your project.

@Operation Sicily

Watching your channel now, you sure it's a villa and not a castle?

@Cynic

Many thanks, I really appreciate the support. It’s been quite the journey and experience so far. It’s a hell of a lot of work, but I’m loving it and learning as I go.

@SimCityAT

Haha, yeah, the property does have that castle-like feel with the tower! It was abandoned for over 20 years—no mains power, no running water, no gas—just pure DIY madness. In the coming weeks, I’m knocking through the wall between the lounge and the tower, then building a large wooden spiral staircase leading up to the flat roof terrace. Going to be a big project!