Hey everyone! Thank you so much for watching my off-grid Sicilian villa restoration journey! This year has been an incredible adventure, and I couldn’t have done it without your amazing support. From clearing rat nests to starting the transformation of this homestead into a dream property, it’s been a rollercoaster! 💬 What Did You Think? What was your favorite part of this video? Was it the early renovation milestones, the challenges of going completely off-grid, or the vision for what’s coming next? I’d love to hear your thoughts, opinions, and suggestions in the comments. Which part of the villa’s transformation has inspired you the most? 📸 Follow My Sicilian Adventure on Instagram: Get exclusive sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes stories, and daily updates as I turn this abandoned property in Sicily into a stunning home. 👉 Instagram: @operation.sicily 🎥 Join the Fun on TikTok: Catch quick tips, fun moments, and the highlights of this DIY renovation journey. 👉 TikTok: @operationsicily ☕ Fuel the Restoration! Want to support this incredible journey? Buy me a coffee and be a part of making this dream a reality! Every contribution helps bring this villa restoration to life-from tools to materials and more. 👉 Buy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/operationsicily 🌟 Let’s Connect: Are you planning your own real estate investment or dreaming of buying a home abroad? What tips do you have for tackling big projects like this? Let’s inspire each other-drop your ideas and questions below! 🔥 Don’t Forget to Subscribe! New episodes every Sunday-packed with DIY tips, progress updates, and the realities of living off-grid in Sicily. Your likes, comments, and shares mean the world to me and keep this channel growing! ✨ Thank You for Watching and Supporting Operation Sicily! Together, we’re turning this abandoned Italian property into a dream homestead-and we’re just getting started! Let’s make 2025 an even bigger year for this project and our community. 🌿 #Sicily #VillaRenovation #OffGridLiving
I've only recently discovered the benefits of watching TH-cam over television. The more I watch these videos, the more I realize this form of media is much better than TV, it's a real community with real people interacting virtually. Such interactions make the experience more personal for the viewer and the content creator through friendly advice and suggestions. It also gives viewers who may not have the same abilities as one taking on such a renovation, a chance to participate themselves. Thanks for taking us all on your journey!
I couldn’t agree more! It’s been years since I watched traditional TV - TH-cam is my go-to for content that really interests me. The community interactions, feedback, advice, and tips I’ve received through this platform have been absolutely incredible. It’s amazing how it brings people together, creating a space where everyone can share ideas and experiences. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video! So much has been done in the past 6 months, and there’s so much more planned for next year. Thank you for being part of this journey! 😊🎉
@OperationSicily Thank you, I hope you and your family had a Merry Christmas and have a happy and productive new year in Sicily! We'll all be along for the ride.☺
Exactly!! Well said. I, like you, watch uTube, not TV. I'm glad I'm retired because I put many hours in following my favorite famlies/channels. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Such hard work to get the house so clean and tidy over a relatively short time, and with no water supply to hand. Can't wait to see more progress. Look forward to more. Thank you for sharing your journey with us all.
Thank you so much! It’s been such a rewarding challenge to get everything clean and organized, especially without water or electricity at the start. I can’t wait to share even more progress in 2025-it’s going to be an exciting year! Thanks for following the journey. 😊
Although I've watched each and every video so far, it was amazing to see the time-lapse from the beginning. Thank you for taking us along on your journey!
Thank you so much, Margot! I’m really glad you enjoyed seeing the time-lapse - it’s amazing to reflect on how far things have come in just a few months. Your continued support means a lot, and it’s been great having you along for the journey. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to more progress in the new year - there’s so much more to come! 🎄😊
Well done chief a hope you knock this out the park. Al be there slagging you off as much as possible. In a good way. Just to keep you on your toes. Al the best to you and yours. 🤷♂️👍👏🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴
Cheers, Cameron! 😂 I wouldn’t have it any other way-nothing like a bit of good-natured slagging to keep me sharp and motivated! Hope you had a brilliant Christmas and are ready for an epic 2025. Glad you’re sticking around for the ride; I’ll be keeping my guard up just for you! Enjoyed the recap? There's been loads done, but trust me, the best is yet to come! 😉🎉
Love your determination, persistence, and planning. I look forward to each Sunday AM as an opportunity to view your progress as wells setbacks. Best wishes for a great 2025!
Thank you so much for your support and kind words! I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the journey each Sunday-setbacks and all! I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video. It’s certainly been a memorable six months, and I can’t wait to keep pushing forward in 2025. Best wishes for a great year ahead! 🎉🎄
What an inspiration, we've had to put our plans of developing an off grid property abroad on hold but you have given us renewed hope that we can do it, albeit a year or so later than we had planned. We wish you well for 2025 and beyond
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m really glad the video has given you some renewed hope-it’s definitely a journey, but one that’s so rewarding in the end. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap. 2025 will be a great year for all of us, and I look forward to seeing you tackle your off-grid plans when the time is right. Wishing you all the best for the new year and beyond!
Congratulations on all you achieved in 2024, and thank you for sharing your restoration journey to an ever-widening TH-cam community. Best wishes for continued progress toward your dream in 2025.
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement, Deborah! Your support means so much, and I’m so glad to share this journey with such an amazing TH-cam community. 😊
My highlight of the week on a Sunday is watching your progress unfold at the villa. During my lifetime I have renovated 4 properties, a Victorian end of terrace, an old mill house and barn, the old hospital part of a workhouse and the biggest project a large Georgian grade II listed building into a restaurant and 4 flats and then after 5 years into a commercial,outlet and 5 self contained flats. I’m now 76 so don’t do any heavy work now. My son is busy renovating his property in Malta, every room a project and 3 caves at the rear of his property in to, a chill out room, an in ground hot tub room and the smallest cave into a sauna. I look forward to watching your progress next year and wish you and your family a happy, peaceful,and prosperous 2025. All the very best from Kay in Gozo.
Wow, Kay, what an incredible life of renovation projects you’ve had! It’s so inspiring to hear about the variety of properties you’ve transformed, from Victorian terraces to a Georgian listed building. I can only imagine the stories and challenges behind each one-what an amazing legacy! Your son’s project in Malta sounds absolutely fascinating too, especially the caves-those will make such unique and relaxing spaces. 😊 Thank you so much for following my journey and for your lovely wishes for 2025. I hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year brings you and your family lots of joy and success. Cheers from Sicily to Gozo! 🍷🌟
Thank you so much! It really has been a journey, and the best part is knowing my sons have such a fantastic space to explore and grow. Hope you had a lovely Christmas, and I’m glad you enjoyed this week’s recap video. Plenty more to come in the new year-see you next week! 😊🎉
Your amazing journey to bringing life back into this property is inspiring. You are doing a magnificent job. I see the potential and love seeing the changes on your property coming to life!
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 It’s been such a rewarding journey bringing this property back to life and seeing its potential start to shine. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the progress-it really means a lot. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been a busy 6 months, and I can’t wait to share even more with you next year! 🌟
Wow what an amazing job you have done so far. It’s not just about building your dream but also building friendships (especially your neighbour) and creating a wonderful life for your family. Looking forward to sharing your journey in 2025. Happy New Year to you and your family xx
Thank you so much for the kind words, Judy! 😊 You're absolutely right-this journey is as much about creating a home as it is about building connections, especially with my neighbors, who have been so kind and welcoming. It’s been incredible to see it all coming together bit by bit, and I can’t wait to share even more progress with you in 2025.
🎉25🎉 the tiles in bathroom has grown on me 👍🏻👍🏻 I wouldn't change their local cheeriness. Nothing like prep work to eventually get to see what you're achieving as the next stage is quicker and exciting
The bathroom tiles really are like Marmite - some people love them, others not so much! While working on the electrics in there, a few tiles came off unbroken and in perfect condition, so I’m planning to put them aside. I might reuse them in another area to bring a pop of colour and keep that cheerful, local vibe alive. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video! A lot has been accomplished in the past 6 months, and the next stages are definitely going to be quicker and even more exciting. Thanks for following along! 😊🎉
The way you have meticulously emptied and cleaned the house and tidied up the garden is a real credit to you. If you are that meticulous with that part of the job I can only imagine how the finished home will look given you have such attention to detail. Happy New Year. I look forward to watching the work progress next year. I'm sure you will get to 50k subscribers in no time.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! 😊 I’ve definitely put a lot of effort into cleaning and tidying up-it’s been a labor of love! Hearing that you appreciate the attention to detail really motivates me even more for the next steps. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-so much has been accomplished in the past 6 months, and there’s much more planned for next year. Let’s see if we can hit that 50k subscriber goal together! 🎉👏
All the best in 2025 Jonathan. You’ve come a long way in your adventure and restoration. Look forward to more next year!! Have a nice break with your family!! 🤗
Thank you so much! 😊 I really appreciate your kind words. Wishing you all the best for 2025 as well! Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-there’s been so much progress, and I can’t wait to share what’s next. A family break is definitely in order, and I’ll be recharged and ready for more adventures next year! 🎉
Hi Vanessa, thank you so much for your kind wishes! 😊 Wishing you all the very best for 2025 as well-may it be a year full of happiness and success for you! I'm so glad you're enjoying following the journey, and there's so much more to come with the renovation. Here's to an exciting year ahead! 🎉🏡✨
Thank you, Fiona! 😊 The boys are definitely excited-it’s been an adventure for them, and they keep me motivated! I don’t know about doing everything, but I’m giving it my best shot. 😉 Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been a busy six months, and I’m looking forward to even more progress next year. Happy New Year! 🎉
Well done mate! Imagine what the place will look like this time next year. I'd love to know more about how you found professionals to help you with building and landscaping. I've heard horror stories of people being ripped off but this happens in the UK too and is probably over blown. Congrats again.
Thanks so much, mate! Really appreciate your kind words. It’s crazy to imagine what the place could look like this time next year-fingers crossed it all goes to plan! Great question, and like you, I was definitely cautious after hearing some of those horror stories. For the tree surgeon and digger work, I found them online-actually, my Mrs spotted them on Facebook. Ideally, I would have hired a digger and done the work myself, but the hire costs here are very high (over €400 just for delivery, compared to around £85 in the UK) and options were limited. So, I took a chance with these guys as their rates were really reasonable (€350 digger and operator and €400 for the two large pines trees to be removed), and I agreed to pay in cash upon completion of the work. For finding an electrician, I took a more local approach. Since I’m always out exploring and enjoying the food scene, I started asking for recommendations at local restaurants, cafés, and delis. Some of the younger staff there spoke enough English to help, and they pointed me toward a few electricians. I then cross-referenced their recommendations with those from the geometra I hired, who is familiar with the area and trusted locally. Interestingly, a couple of names came up multiple times, so I felt confident getting quotes from them. In terms of payment, especially since this was a bigger expense, I agreed on a structure: 40% upfront, 40% on completion, and the remaining 20% after 30 days to ensure all the work was done properly with no issues. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap-it’s been an incredible six months, and I can’t wait to keep pushing forward in 2025! 😊🎄
Thank you so much! 😊 It’s been a lot of hard work, but seeing the progress makes it all worth it. Plenty more to come as the plans start to take shape-fingers crossed it all goes smoothly! Happy New Year! 🎉
What a great recap! I always think of your little (and big) fires and the lovely pastries that you sometimes got for your lunch. All the best for 2025, you've done lots so far. Cathy
Thank you so much, Cathy! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recap - it’s always fun to look back on those little moments, like the fires and, of course, the amazing pastries that kept me going. 😄 I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and are enjoying the video. A lot has been accomplished over the past six months, and there’s so much more planned for next year. Wishing you all the best for 2025! 🎄✨🎉
Thank you so much! You're absolutely right-every step of the way is something to be grateful for, even the tough ones. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. A lot has been accomplished over the past six months, and I’m excited to share even more in 2025. Wishing you a very Happy New Year! 🎉✨
Thank you so much, Annie! ❤️ I really appreciate your support. I’ll do my best to keep going while looking after myself too! 😊 Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been quite the journey, and there’s still so much more to come in 2025. Happy New Year! 🎉
Thank you so much for your kind words and support! 🥂🍾 Wishing you joy, prosperity, and all the best for 2025 as well. Excited to share even more of the journey and the renovations with you in the coming year. Your encouragement means the world-let’s make it an amazing year ahead! 😊✨
Thank you so much! I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been a journey to remember over the past six months, and I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings. Wishing you all the best for the New Year! 🎉🎄
Thank you so much for your generous super thanks, Eric! That’s truly appreciated, and I’m so glad to hear you enjoy the episodes. 😊 I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and found this week’s recap video inspiring-it’s been a huge journey over the past six months, and I can’t wait to share all the exciting plans for the coming year. Your support makes a world of difference and keeps me motivated to keep going. Wishing you a very Happy New Year and looking forward to sharing more updates soon! 🎉🎄✨
Thank you so much for your kind words! It’s been a challenging but rewarding journey, and there’s still so much more to come. Hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday season, and here’s to an exciting 2025! 🎉🎄
Happy Holidays!! It was nice to see the beginning again and how far you’ve come! I can’t wait to see it all painted and shiny and new. You will have a sweet little home for your family where you can grow your own food. Can’t wait to see what happens next. Thank you for bringing us along with you❤️🐝🤗
Happy Holidays to you too! 😊 It’s amazing to look back at where it all started and how far we’ve come in just a few months. I can’t wait to get to the painting and those shiny finishing touches-it’ll really bring everything to life! Growing my own food is definitely one of the things I’m most excited about. Thank you so much for following along and for your lovely comment. Here’s to an exciting 2025! 🎉
Thank you for the suggestion! It’s a great idea to get creative with the tiles rather than ripping them out. I’ve thought about painting or using adhesive options, especially in areas where a full renovation might not be possible straight away. It’s definitely something to keep in mind as I move forward. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video - it’s been quite the journey so far, and there’s a lot more to come in the new year! 😊✨
I hope you had a peaceful Christmas. I wish you and your family all the best that 2025 can give you... and continue with the splendid progress you are making in your Sicilian Villa... An Italian virtual friend.
Thank you so much, Riccardo! 😊 I had a lovely and peaceful Christmas, and I hope you did too. Your kind words mean a lot, and I truly appreciate your support throughout this journey. Wishing you and your loved ones a fantastic 2025 filled with joy, health, and success. I’m excited to continue sharing the progress on the villa, and it’s always great to know I have an Italian virtual friend cheering me on! 🇮🇹🎉
Wishing you all the best for you and your family, this project will be hard ,but with it to make it a family home ,looking forward to watching your hard work and progress👍😀
Thank you so much for your kind wishes! 😊 It’s definitely a challenging project, but turning this villa into a family home makes every effort worth it. I’m so glad you’re enjoying following the journey. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-so much has been accomplished over the past six months, and there’s so much more to come in 2025. Happy New Year! 🎉
Thank you, Cheryl! It really has been quite the year, and I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed following the transformation. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and liked this week’s recap video-there’s plenty more to come in 2025. Wishing you a very Happy New Year! 🎉🎄
For a one-man construction team, you have come so very far since you started. I look forward to watching your further progress in 2025. I'd like to see a gravel driveway eventually. Happy New Year!
Thank you so much for your kind words! It’s been a lot of hard work, but seeing how far the villa has come makes it all worthwhile. A gravel driveway is definitely on the list-it would make such a difference. 😊 I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video. Here’s to an exciting 2025 full of progress and transformation. Happy New Year! 🎉🎄
Thanks so much! I really appreciate the support. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been a memorable six months, and there’s so much more to come. Wishing you an awesome week ahead! 💪✨
Thank you, Axel! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too! 2025 is going to be an incredible year-I can’t wait to keep pushing forward. Hope you’ve enjoyed the recap video! 🎄🎉
Wow, thank you so much for the super thanks! That’s incredibly kind and means the world to me. 😊 I really hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and that you enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been such an unforgettable six months with so much progress, but there’s still plenty more to come. Your support truly helps keep me motivated, and I’m so grateful to have you following along on this journey. Wishing you an amazing New Year filled with happiness, success, and lots of exciting moments ahead! 🎄✨🎉
Thanks for the overview ..More exciting stuff to come ..I am very proud of you, even miles away . Keep going Mexxy xmas and happy 2025 . Glad your sons are with you ..
Thank you so much for your kind words, Peter - it truly means a lot to have support from miles away! I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and are enjoying the recap video. So much progress has been made over the past six months, and there’s still so much more exciting stuff planned for next year. Having my sons with me through parts of this journey has been a huge motivator, and knowing people like you are rooting for us keeps me going! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and an amazing 2025! 🎄✨🎉
Thank you so much! It’s amazing to see everything slowly but surely coming together. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video - there’s been a lot of progress in the past 6 months, and I can’t wait to share even more in the year ahead. Happy New Year! 🎉
Thank you so much for your generous Super Thanks, it really means a lot to me! 🙏 Your support helps keep this journey going, and I’m so grateful to have you along for the ride.
Thank you so much, Paul! Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful 2025 as well. Your encouragement and kind words mean the world. I’m looking forward to tackling all the new projects ahead, and I hope you’ll continue to join me on the journey. Cheers to a great year ahead! 🎄🎉
Thank you, Sharon! Happy New Year to you too! 🎉 I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been quite the journey over the past six months, and I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings. 💫
Hello Jonathan, Good Afternoon and Greetings from Rural France where we have another grey foggy day, Great recap on your achievements, well done. Best wishes for the New Year for you and yours and I look forward to the updates and progress for 2025. My project for 2025 is turning a piece of rural farmland into a beautiful garden so there will be lots of design work and planting. Take care and Happy New Year😊
Hello from Sicily, Kim! 🌞 I definitely don’t miss those daily grey, foggy skies, but I’m sure Rural France has its own charm! 😊 Your project for 2025 sounds absolutely amazing-turning farmland into a beautiful garden will be such a rewarding experience. Is this transformation happening in France, or do you have plans elsewhere? If there’s any way I can help or provide ideas, feel free to reach out-happy to assist however I can! Hope you had a lovely Christmas, and I’m so glad you enjoyed this week’s recap video. A lot has been achieved in the past six months, and there’s so much more to come in 2025. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year filled with joy and success! 🎉🌿
You have done a lot of work! I imagine the tiles in the bathroom will go at some point but I am hoping you can save a few to use as coasters or maybe to embellish somewhere around your pool. Looking forward to following your projects and accomplishments. Hope you had a Merry Christmas. Wishing you and yours all the best in the New Year 🎉
Thank you, Jill! Yes, the bathroom tiles will definitely be going at some point, but I love your creative idea of repurposing them as coasters or even adding them as a feature around the pool area - that’s such a unique way to keep a piece of the villa’s history alive. Hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas, and wishing you and your family all the best for the New Year! There’s so much more to come in 2025 - stay tuned! 🎉🎄😊
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! Watching the progress all together really does show how far it’s come, and there’s still so much more to come in 2025. I hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. Wishing you all the best for the new year! 🎄✨
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been a truly memorable six months. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year filled with joy and blessings. God bless! 🎄✨
Thank you, Anna! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recap video-it really has been a journey to remember. 😊 I hope you had a lovely Christmas and wishing you a happy, productive, and prosperous 2025 too! 🎉 Let’s see what the year brings!
Thank you so much, Michelle! It’s so exciting to have you along for the journey. 😊 I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been quite the adventure over the past six months, and there’s so much more to come in 2025. Wishing you a fantastic New Year filled with happiness and new opportunities! 🎄✨🎉
Kay, thank you so much for your generous Super Thanks! It truly means the world to me and helps keep this project moving forward. 😊 I hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-so much has been accomplished in the past 6 months, and there’s plenty more to come in 2025. Your support and kindness are deeply appreciated. Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year! 🎉🎄💪
I think those walls both inside and outside would look so good if they were power washed. You probably wouldn’t even need to repaint them after a good power washing. You would be amazed at how good they would look. Then just give your gate a coat of paint and the whole property would look so much nicer. Just my thoughts.
Great thoughts, and I completely agree that a good power washing could make a huge difference! I’d love to see how much of the original character comes through with just a clean slate. The gate is definitely on the list too-small changes can make such a big impact. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video!
Happy New Year to you too! 🎉 I’m so excited to get stuck into 2025 and see these plans come to life. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed the recap of everything we’ve achieved in the last 6 months. There’s so much more to look forward to this year, and I’m glad you’re following along! 😊
Ive followed your journey from the very start of your journey in Sicily & you have done a great job so far but in the summer you need to start a swimming pool build to hit 50000 subs . People love pool builds 👍
Thank you so much for following my journey from the very start-it means the world to me! A swimming pool build sounds amazing, and I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I agree it’s something people love to watch, and it would certainly be a big milestone project. Let’s see what we can get started this summer! Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been a journey to remember, and there’s much more to come next year!
Dear Jonathan.😊 Nice video so we got an insight into how much you have actually done over time. So fantastic to see the progress and I think it will be the most wonderful place to be.😍 I think those gottage houses you showed in the last video next to your home are the best idea ever. I would love to be able to rent a home like that for a while, it would be nice to be able to greet each other. Hope all is well and again I wish you and the family a fantastically healthy and rewarding New Year. I am still waiting for an answer but first I have to go through a long PET scan again so they can see if it is cancer in those places 100% are so afraid of those answers. Because my son and I want to go away in the new year and we will make sure to get help there with the best treatments and hospital. It is most important in the first place whether we first have to rent a house for a year or 2 means nothing. I hope I get my strength back and good mood for that would be great. It is very hard for my dear son, as my oldest children 2 daughters live in Canada and have not been there at all. It is a shame and very burdensome for Emil and I am angry with them. Since we have always been close and he is afraid of the future now. We pray for the best and maintain positive hope and look forward to leaving here Denmark and seeing a new country people and culture. Be well Johanthan, and take care of yourself dear friend. Hope to see you in the new year and can greet you. many loving greetings Maria and Emil as well as Anton my old-fashioned breed. Labrador male🐕 who will be 8 on January 23. Big hug. Maria😊❤🙏.
Dear Maria, thank you so much for your heartfelt message. It’s truly incredible to hear your thoughts and support-it really means the world to me. I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the recap and can see how far this journey has come. There’s so much more to come in 2025, and I hope you’ll continue to be part of it with me. I’m so sorry to hear about the challenges you’re facing with your health. You’re incredibly strong, and I truly hope the upcoming scan brings you clarity and, more importantly, positive news. Your resilience and optimism shine through, and I admire the hope you and Emil share for the future. I’m certain you’ll find a beautiful place to settle that brings you peace, joy, and the best care available. It’s clear how much love and support you give to Emil, Anton, and your entire family, even when things are difficult. I hope 2025 brings strength, health, and happiness for you all. Give Anton a big hug for me, and happy early birthday to him-what a special boy! Sending you, Emil, and Anton all my warmest wishes and positivity as you take on the New Year. Take care, dear Maria, and I hope we can meet in the future to say hello. Big hugs to you all! 😊🎉
@OperationSicily hi again Jonathan. Thank you very much for your sweet message. It warms us all and we are grateful that there are still loving and caring people. Right now I am looking at summer houses up north close to the hospital because I can't handle a 6 hour drive in a day. I can't sit with my back or lower abdomen that long. I just found a great thatched idyll of 122 sqm with a wood-burning stove from 2001 close to the water and actually quite cheap compared to all the others. There are good deals here now after Christmas and New Year. Also nice to get away from home when you know our neighbor was evicted by force and a carpenter has bought it. They are noisy like crazy from 7 am to about 6 pm and they are not allowed to do that when they are not going to live there themselves but are renting it out. They are tearing everything apart, extensions and all floors are being concreted up when district heating was to be installed. Don't you think they came yesterday instead of just taking a little time off like others and they know my situation because Emil has told them so. I can never really rest because of the noise and have difficulty sleeping at night, strange with the pain but they also say it's always worst at night. Hope we get it because we're going to Aalborg, a large university hospital, on Friday and then I'm going to have the PET scan that I'm dreading, when they said it was urgent and I just know they're hiding the answers from the gynecology department because they said they would call. But now it's been almost 3 weeks since they cut into the tumors and should have had the answer. But they were so nice and I think they've agreed with the diagnostic center who are the ones who are managing my cancer process that they should wait until after New Year. Also because of Emil and yes myself because we haven't ordered anything else all December to go to different hospitals. We're going to have a lot of anxiety about it all. So it would be good to have some peace because it's on a natural plot without neighbors. Also so we are there after Friday because they say the answer will come quickly as the doctors will look through the pictures right away. And her chief physician just called me and said that I should relax more and she sounded worried. Phew yes it is not that easy. Again I wish you and the family a wonderful New Year and thank you for the old year. I look forward to seeing your next video, it is very exciting and I love seeing progress. You are someone who works hard. Have a good time dear johanthan. Loving thoughts and hugs Maria. I will send greetings from Emil too and he was happy you mentioned him thanks for that.🙂
Hello Jonathan, just seen this video come up and had to jump on it too see what is going on. You have come such a long way, and on your own too. Doing alot outside enables you to sit and relax while the inside is being done. You're wife and son's must be so proud of you and what you have accomplished so far. Can't wait to see you install a new bathroom and Kitchen. I have put money over to buy you coffee, hope it helps a bit. Sending Christmas and New Year's wishes to you and your family. Cheryl from Wales x🏴🎄🧑🎄x
Hi Cheryl, thank you so much for your lovely comment and for your generous contribution to “buy me a coffee” - it truly means the world and will absolutely help with the next steps! 😊 It’s been such a journey, and I’m so glad you’ve been following along. It’s incredible to see how much has been achieved already, but there’s still so much to do-especially with the kitchen and bathroom, which I can’t wait to get stuck into. Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks again for your encouragement and support-it really keeps me going! 🎄✨🎉 x
Thank you for the window cleaning tip! That sounds so simple and effective-definitely cheaper than Windex too. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video. It’s been quite the journey so far, and there’s more to come! 😊🎄
Thank you, Joanne! I hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video. It’s been an incredible six months, and I’m excited to keep the progress going in 2025. Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with joy and exciting moments ahead! 🎄✨🎉
Thank you so much for your kind words and wishes for 2025! I truly appreciate your support and encouragement-it’s what keeps me going. 😊 I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. So much has been achieved in the past 6 months, and there’s even more to look forward to next year. Wishing you a fantastic New Year filled with happiness and success! 🎉🎄
Thank you! Wishing you a very Happy New Year as well! 🎉 Let’s make 2025 an amazing one. Hope you’ve enjoyed the recap video and are looking forward to what’s next! 😊
Merry Christmas 🎄 and very Happy New Year 🎉... Keep doing what you're doing , i like the videos. I would love to see more of the village life ... too .
Thank you so much! 🎄🎉 Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you too! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the videos. I’d love to show more of the village life as well-it’s such a unique and charming part of the journey here in Sicily. Stay tuned, as I’ll make sure to include more glimpses of the local culture and community in future videos. Wishing you all the best for 2025! 😊✨
Happy New Year, Joystone! 🎉 The fruit trees are definitely a favorite of mine too-they're coming along nicely! As for the lizards, we’ve got an understanding now; I leave them to do their thing, and they seem pretty happy with that arrangement. 🦎😊 Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been quite the journey over the past 6 months, and there’s so much more planned for next year. Thanks so much for following along! 🌟
Have a wonderful Happy New Year's with your family and I am really looking forward to seeing how next year goes. I know it's going to be epic, seeing it happen is just such a great thing to be able to follow. Good luck for the upcoming jobs.❤️
Thank you so much, Neuton! 😊 Your ongoing support means the world to me, and I’m so glad you’re enjoying the journey so far. Here’s to an epic 2025 for both of us! 🥂 I’m really excited about the upcoming projects and can’t wait to share them with you. Wishing you and your loved ones a fantastic New Year filled with happiness and success. ❤️
Thank you so much, and Happy New Year to you as well! I hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video. The last six months have been such a journey, and I can’t wait to share all the progress coming in 2025. Wishing you a year full of happiness and great moments ahead! 🎉🎄
HI Jonathan, it's amazing to think we've only been watching you journey for 3 months, granted a journey of many years in the making. It has been my pleasure to meet you and watch your dreams come into being and so I wish you and your family all the very best of health and fortune for 2025. Happy New Year from the Sorby clan 🍺🍷🥃
Thank you so much, Scott, and the Sorby clan! 😊 It’s incredible to think it’s only been three months since you joined the journey-it feels like so much has happened already! Your kind words mean a lot, and I’m so glad to have you along for this adventure. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been a busy six months, and there’s so much more to come in 2025. Wishing you and your family health, happiness, and all the best for the New Year! 🎉 😊
Thank you for the kind words! Liguria is such a beautiful region, and I’m sure your project will be amazing. It’s exciting to hear you’re planning something similar, and I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas. Enjoy the recap video - so much has been done in the last 6 months, and there’s so much more to come next year. Looking forward to seeing how your project takes shape in the future! 😊🎉
This video was a good compilation of your progress. I've been watching from the start and appreciate your hard work and progress. You have many skills and I enjoy your minimalist style of production - more relatable than some. Anyway looking forward to your project as you continue on, thanks for sharing it with us. Happy New Year. PS: I'm learning Italian too!
Thank you for the lovely comment! 😊 It means a lot to hear you’ve been following from the start and enjoy the progress. I really appreciate your kind words about the minimalist production-it’s great to know it feels relatable! Learning Italian is definitely an adventure in itself-best of luck with it! Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. It’s been a busy six months, and I’m excited to share even more progress next year. Happy New Year! 🎉 🇮🇹
Thank you, Wayne! I’m glad you’re enjoying the journey. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and liked this week’s recap video-it’s been a memorable six months, and I’m excited for what’s next in 2025. Have a great week! 🎉🎄
You are doing an incredible job restoring this beautiful villa, I envy you. I often visit my family in Palermo, both my parents born there and emigrated to the US in 1950. I am now applying for dual citizenship, along with my husband. I am coming to Parlermo in March to search for a rental apartment so my husband and I can live there for 2 months, September & October 2025. If you are close by to Palermo, I would love to visit, I don't wish to intrude. Enjoy the day, and keep showing the world your progress. BTW, my name is Maria
Thank you so much for your kind wishes for 2025 and beyond! Your support means the world to me, and I’m so grateful to have you following along on this journey. Wishing you all the best for an incredible year ahead! 😊🎉
Happy New Year to you too, Lorraine! 🎉 I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas as well. So much progress has been made, and there’s plenty more to come in 2025-stay tuned! 😊
Hi Elaina, thank you so much! Wishing you all the best for 2025 as well. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video - it’s been such a journey over the past 6 months, and there’s so much more to come next year! 😊🎉
@OperationSicily I'm really looking forward to seeing your progress hun. Hope your family had a good Christmas. The best way to learn scillian is to live there so I'm told and it's a bit different to Italian. I had a day visit there in 2012, and I'd always promised myself i would go, and i was mistaken for a scillian by a lady who was on the same cruise as me. 🤣 I totally fell in love with scicily as I knew i would it's so beautiful.
Hi Elaina, what a lovely story-thank you for sharing! 😊 Sicily truly is a magical place, and I can see why you fell in love with it. Being mistaken for a Sicilian is such a fun memory, and it shows how connected you felt to the culture even on a short visit! I couldn’t agree more about learning the language by living here. Sicilian is indeed quite different from standard Italian, and while I’m still picking things up, the locals have been incredibly patient and kind. 😊 I hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful Christmas! I’m so glad to hear you’re excited about the progress-it’s been a whirlwind 6 months, and there’s so much more to share in the year ahead. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement, it truly means a lot! Wishing you an amazing 2025 filled with happiness and adventure. ❤️🎉
Happy New Year! 🎉 It’s been such a rewarding six months, and I’m so excited for everything coming up next. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and I’m glad you enjoyed the recap video. 2025 is going to be even better-stay tuned! 😊
Absolutely brilliant all that you’ve achieved so far Jonathan. Can’t wait for 2025 to see more of the journey, wishing you and your family all the best health wealth and happiness. I’ll be moving hopefully to a new house at some point and can’t wait to get stuck in and make it my home 🏡 best wishes from Mandy 🇬🇧🥰
Thank you so much, Mandy, for your kind words and encouragement! Wishing you the very best with your move - how exciting to create a new home for yourself. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. So much has been achieved this past year, and I can’t wait to share even more in 2025. Wishing you and your family health, happiness, and success in the year ahead. Best wishes! 😊🎄
I've really enjoyed following your journey. You've shone your incredible vision and tenacity coming together, and I can't wait to see more in 2025. As for my own resolutions, I need to get back to learning Italian (which I've neglected out of frustration with verb tenses!) as I pursue my citizenship. I'm still waiting on a few documents from the US government, at which point I have an attorney secured to take the case to the Abruzzo courts. I do hope I can obtain this dual citizenship before the end of 2025, but some of that is out of my hands. I'm going to give it my all as I prepare for my eventual move to Italy.
Thank you so much, Jen! Your kind words and encouragement truly mean a lot. It sounds like you’re on an incredible journey of your own with Italian citizenship - best of luck with that process! Those verb tenses can be a challenge, but I’m sure you’ll conquer them with time. Your determination to pursue this dream is inspiring, and I can’t wait to hear more about your progress. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas, and here’s to a successful and exciting 2025 for both of us! 😊🎄
Thank you so much! Wishing you all the best for 2025 too! Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video - so much has been done over the past 6 months, and there’s a lot more to look forward to in the new year! 🎄🎉
Thank you so much! Wishing you a fantastic 2025 as well, filled with health, happiness, and success. Hope you enjoyed the recap video-lots more exciting progress to come next year! 🎉
Thank you, Maude! Wishing you a very Happy New Year as well! Hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. The past 6 months have been a whirlwind, and there’s plenty more exciting progress to share in 2025 - stay tuned! 🇨🇦🎉
Hi Jean, thank you so much for your lovely comment and kind words! 😊 Yes, the plan is for my young boys to live here with me once the villa is complete. It’s going to be an amazing family home, and I can’t wait to create wonderful memories here with them. Sicily has been an incredible journey, and there’s still so much more to come. Wishing you all the best for 2025! 🇮🇹❤️✨
Grazie per il commento! Sto lavorando per aggiungere i sottotitoli in italiano per tutti i video. Spero di poterli caricare presto per migliorare l’esperienza per tutti. Grazie per la tua pazienza e supporto! 😊
I’m so sorry about this and really appreciate your patience. I’ve got written subtitles ready for all the talking parts of the video, but I’ve been having issues uploading them to TH-cam over the past few days. I’ll keep trying and do my best to get this sorted for you as soon as possible. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been such a journey over the last six months, and there’s so much more to come! Thank you for being part of this adventure. 😊
Hi Jonathon, I think I've seen all of your episodes, but I don't quite understand why you don't have electricity. Can you offer a more detailed explanation? BTW, my plan is to purchase a farmhouse type property in the Capo d Orlando area w/in the next approx one year. Thanks for your hard work and great lessons.
Hi Doug, thank you for following along and for your kind words! 😊 The reason I don’t have electricity yet is largely due to the property being abandoned for over 20 years. Not only does the house lack a functioning electrical system, but it also doesn’t have a mains electricity connection from the grid. Right now, I’m working with an electrician to fully rewire the house with modern and safe standards. Once that’s done, the electric board will step in to create and install a mains electricity supply. Progress has been slow, as I’ve had to work with a geometra, apply for permits, and then wait months for approvals-so typical in Italy! However, I’ve recently bought a generator, which has been a game-changer, providing a much-needed source of power while I wait for everything to come together. As a side note, I also don’t have a mains water supply, but there’s an old water well in the back garden, which I plan to renovate and use as my main water source. Everything’s moving forward step by step, and it will all fall into place soon. Your plan to purchase a farmhouse near Capo d’Orlando sounds incredible-it’s a beautiful area! If I can offer any advice or tips from my experience, feel free to ask. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this recap video. There’s been so much progress in the past six months, and there’s plenty more to come next year. Best of luck with your future plans! 😊🎄
Great question! The only thing I kept was the large dining table in the lounge area, which I now use for all sorts of tasks. I really wish I could have kept and restored some of the other items, but unfortunately, everything-literally everything-was covered in rat droppings, urine, and chew marks from the rodents. From a hygiene and safety perspective, especially with my young children coming to the property, it just wasn’t worth the risk, so I decided it was best to clear it all out. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been such an incredible journey over the last six months, and there’s still so much more to come! 😊
If you clicked onto this video, then please "like" and Subscribe to this channel, it's free and it helps this gentleman and his family. Please help him get his 50.000 subscribers by new year. Thank you from a subscriber.🎉
Wow, Cheryl, what a thoughtful comment! Thank you so much for your kindness and encouragement. I appreciate every single like, comment, and subscriber-it really helps keep me motivated. Here’s to growing this channel even further in 2025! 🎉😊
Nice work it is coming along nicely will be good to see end result will you let us know how much it cost you all up when you finish? I'm still weighing up options.
Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying the progress so far. I will absolutely share a full breakdown of costs when the project is complete-it’s something I know a lot of people are curious about, especially those considering a similar renovation. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been a whirlwind 6 months, and there’s plenty more in store for next year!
Grazie mille per il tuo commento! 😊 Mi dispiace molto per i sottotitoli mancanti in italiano. Ho cercato di caricarli su TH-cam, ma per qualche motivo non funziona. Cercherò di risolvere il problema presto. Spero che tu abbia passato un Natale meraviglioso e che il video di riepilogo ti sia piaciuto-tanto lavoro è stato fatto negli ultimi 6 mesi e ci sarà ancora di più il prossimo anno! 🎄💪
Brian, it’s clear you’ve completely missed the bigger picture here, so let me break it down for you in simple terms. First, I’ve not just 'cleaned an abandoned villa.' In under a year, I’ve bought a property outright in another country, navigated a foreign real estate market, viewed multiple properties across Sicily, and successfully negotiated a fantastic deal. I’ve also sourced excellent professionals like a notary and geometra, which will save me time and money for future projects, and built valuable connections with local builders and suppliers. Second, the work shown in this video reflects about 4 months of progress, not a full year. If you’d watched my previous videos properly, you’d know I’ve been waiting for permits to start the bigger jobs, like electrics, water, and replacing windows and doors. And let’s not forget I’ve also had to deal with delays caused by working in a foreign country-different systems, different rules, and a different language-while juggling renovation work, filming, editing, and raising two kids on a tight budget. Oh, and for the record, the property’s value has already doubled. So while you might think it 'still looks like an abandoned villa,' the reality is, I’m playing the long game, and this place is on track to become an incredible home. Before you criticize, maybe take a second to understand the full scope of what’s involved in a project like this. It’s easy to throw shade from behind a keyboard, but I’m the one putting in the hard work, and trust me, the results will speak for themselves.
@OperationSicily Thanks for a very long explanation about why you are only so far into your project your ultimate goal is admirable, but your point about kids and tight budget, most probably explains the slow progress, you are relying on you tube bucks for the build as much as possible.
My apologies! Unfortunately, TH-cam didn’t give me the option to add subtitles for this video, even though I spent hours writing them all out. 😔 However, there are subtitles available for this week’s new video (video 17). Hope you get a chance to watch and enjoy it! 😊
This sounds like an amazing idea! Honestly, I wouldn’t even know where to start-I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to technology and don’t even have any personal social media accounts. 😂 But I’ll definitely chat with the Mrs. and see if she can help set it up. The incredible comments, support, encouragement, advice, and sense of community have been the main reasons I’ve kept posting these videos, so if a Facebook page can help build on that, I’m all for it. 😊 Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video! A lot has been accomplished over the past 6 months, and there’s so much more to come next year-can’t wait to share it all with you! 🎉
I didn’t remove the subtitles-I actually spent 3 hours typing them all up! Unfortunately, TH-cam won’t let me upload them for some reason, which has been so frustrating. I’m still trying to sort it out, so hopefully, I can get them added soon. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video! A lot has been done in the past 6 months, and there’s much more to come next year-stay tuned! 😊🎉
It’s amazing how time flies, isn’t it? The whole process has been roughly a year-from coming up with the idea, finding properties online, traveling to Sicily to view them, and finally buying this villa. As for the renovation itself, that’s been ongoing for the past 4-5 months, and it’s been full-on ever since! Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s certainly been a journey to remember over the last 6 months, and there’s so much more to come next year! 🎉
Thank you so much, Jayne! 😊 You’re absolutely right, safety first-I’ll make sure to wear proper gear when sawing. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎉 I’m glad you enjoyed the recap video; it’s been quite a journey so far!
Wow, thank you so much for your incredibly generous super thanks! That truly means so much to me. 😊 I hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been such an unforgettable six months with plenty of progress made, and there’s so much more to come in 2025. Your support really helps keep this journey going, and I’m so grateful to have you here following along. Wishing you a fantastic New Year filled with joy, success, and plenty of memorable moments ahead! 🎄✨🎉
Wow, thank you so much for the incredibly generous Super Thanks! 🙏 It truly helps keep this project moving forward and motivates me to keep sharing every step of the journey. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-there’s so much more to come in the new year! Wishing you a fantastic 2025 full of joy and success. 😊🎄🎆
Hey everyone!
Thank you so much for watching my off-grid Sicilian villa restoration journey! This year has been an incredible adventure, and I couldn’t have done it without your amazing support. From clearing rat nests to starting the transformation of this homestead into a dream property, it’s been a rollercoaster!
💬 What Did You Think?
What was your favorite part of this video? Was it the early renovation milestones, the challenges of going completely off-grid, or the vision for what’s coming next? I’d love to hear your thoughts, opinions, and suggestions in the comments. Which part of the villa’s transformation has inspired you the most?
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Get exclusive sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes stories, and daily updates as I turn this abandoned property in Sicily into a stunning home.
👉 Instagram: @operation.sicily
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Catch quick tips, fun moments, and the highlights of this DIY renovation journey.
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Want to support this incredible journey? Buy me a coffee and be a part of making this dream a reality! Every contribution helps bring this villa restoration to life-from tools to materials and more.
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🌟 Let’s Connect:
Are you planning your own real estate investment or dreaming of buying a home abroad? What tips do you have for tackling big projects like this? Let’s inspire each other-drop your ideas and questions below!
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New episodes every Sunday-packed with DIY tips, progress updates, and the realities of living off-grid in Sicily. Your likes, comments, and shares mean the world to me and keep this channel growing!
✨ Thank You for Watching and Supporting Operation Sicily!
Together, we’re turning this abandoned Italian property into a dream homestead-and we’re just getting started! Let’s make 2025 an even bigger year for this project and our community. 🌿
#Sicily #VillaRenovation #OffGridLiving
🙋♀️💟👌
Many thanks for your support! 😊
I've only recently discovered the benefits of watching TH-cam over television. The more I watch these videos, the more I realize this form of media is much better than TV, it's a real community with real people interacting virtually. Such interactions make the experience more personal for the viewer and the content creator through friendly advice and suggestions. It also gives viewers who may not have the same abilities as one taking on such a renovation, a chance to participate themselves. Thanks for taking us all on your journey!
I couldn’t agree more! It’s been years since I watched traditional TV - TH-cam is my go-to for content that really interests me. The community interactions, feedback, advice, and tips I’ve received through this platform have been absolutely incredible. It’s amazing how it brings people together, creating a space where everyone can share ideas and experiences.
I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video! So much has been done in the past 6 months, and there’s so much more planned for next year. Thank you for being part of this journey! 😊🎉
@OperationSicily Thank you, I hope you and your family had a Merry Christmas and have a happy and productive new year in Sicily! We'll all be along for the ride.☺
Many thanks for your support and kind words! 😊
2025 will be an awesome year can't wait to see the new bathroom and kitchen love and hugs from SA❤
Exactly!! Well said. I, like you, watch uTube, not TV. I'm glad I'm retired because I put many hours in following my favorite famlies/channels. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Such hard work to get the house so clean and tidy over a relatively short time, and with no water supply to hand. Can't wait to see more progress. Look forward to more. Thank you for sharing your journey with us all.
Thank you so much! It’s been such a rewarding challenge to get everything clean and organized, especially without water or electricity at the start. I can’t wait to share even more progress in 2025-it’s going to be an exciting year! Thanks for following the journey. 😊
Although I've watched each and every video so far, it was amazing to see the time-lapse from the beginning. Thank you for taking us along on your journey!
Thank you so much, Margot! I’m really glad you enjoyed seeing the time-lapse - it’s amazing to reflect on how far things have come in just a few months. Your continued support means a lot, and it’s been great having you along for the journey. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to more progress in the new year - there’s so much more to come! 🎄😊
Well done chief a hope you knock this out the park. Al be there slagging you off as much as possible.
In a good way. Just to keep you on your toes. Al the best to you and yours. 🤷♂️👍👏🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴
Cheers, Cameron! 😂 I wouldn’t have it any other way-nothing like a bit of good-natured slagging to keep me sharp and motivated! Hope you had a brilliant Christmas and are ready for an epic 2025. Glad you’re sticking around for the ride; I’ll be keeping my guard up just for you! Enjoyed the recap? There's been loads done, but trust me, the best is yet to come! 😉🎉
Love your determination, persistence, and planning. I look forward to each Sunday AM as an opportunity to view your progress as wells setbacks. Best wishes for a great 2025!
Thank you so much for your support and kind words! I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the journey each Sunday-setbacks and all! I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video. It’s certainly been a memorable six months, and I can’t wait to keep pushing forward in 2025. Best wishes for a great year ahead! 🎉🎄
What an inspiration, we've had to put our plans of developing an off grid property abroad on hold but you have given us renewed hope that we can do it, albeit a year or so later than we had planned. We wish you well for 2025 and beyond
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m really glad the video has given you some renewed hope-it’s definitely a journey, but one that’s so rewarding in the end. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap. 2025 will be a great year for all of us, and I look forward to seeing you tackle your off-grid plans when the time is right. Wishing you all the best for the new year and beyond!
Congratulations on all you achieved in 2024, and thank you for sharing your restoration journey to an ever-widening TH-cam community. Best wishes for continued progress toward your dream in 2025.
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement, Deborah! Your support means so much, and I’m so glad to share this journey with such an amazing TH-cam community. 😊
My highlight of the week on a Sunday is watching your progress unfold at the villa. During my lifetime I have renovated 4 properties, a Victorian end of terrace, an old mill house and barn, the old hospital part of a workhouse and the biggest project a large Georgian grade II listed building into a restaurant and 4 flats and then after 5 years into a commercial,outlet and 5 self contained flats. I’m now 76 so don’t do any heavy work now. My son is busy renovating his property in Malta, every room a project and 3 caves at the rear of his property in to, a chill out room, an in ground hot tub room and the smallest cave into a sauna.
I look forward to watching your progress next year and wish you and your family a happy, peaceful,and prosperous 2025. All the very best from Kay in Gozo.
Wow, Kay, what an incredible life of renovation projects you’ve had! It’s so inspiring to hear about the variety of properties you’ve transformed, from Victorian terraces to a Georgian listed building. I can only imagine the stories and challenges behind each one-what an amazing legacy!
Your son’s project in Malta sounds absolutely fascinating too, especially the caves-those will make such unique and relaxing spaces. 😊 Thank you so much for following my journey and for your lovely wishes for 2025. I hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year brings you and your family lots of joy and success. Cheers from Sicily to Gozo! 🍷🌟
What a progress you made , and I am really looking forward for the rest to come , what a playground for your sons fantastic.see you next week m
Thank you so much! It really has been a journey, and the best part is knowing my sons have such a fantastic space to explore and grow. Hope you had a lovely Christmas, and I’m glad you enjoyed this week’s recap video. Plenty more to come in the new year-see you next week! 😊🎉
Your amazing journey to bringing life back into this property is inspiring. You are doing a magnificent job. I see the potential and love seeing the changes on your property coming to life!
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 It’s been such a rewarding journey bringing this property back to life and seeing its potential start to shine. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the progress-it really means a lot.
Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been a busy 6 months, and I can’t wait to share even more with you next year! 🌟
Wow what an amazing job you have done so far. It’s not just about building your dream but also building friendships (especially your neighbour) and creating a wonderful life for your family. Looking forward to sharing your journey in 2025. Happy New Year to you and your family xx
Thank you so much for the kind words, Judy! 😊 You're absolutely right-this journey is as much about creating a home as it is about building connections, especially with my neighbors, who have been so kind and welcoming. It’s been incredible to see it all coming together bit by bit, and I can’t wait to share even more progress with you in 2025.
🎉25🎉 the tiles in bathroom has grown on me 👍🏻👍🏻 I wouldn't change their local cheeriness.
Nothing like prep work to eventually get to see what you're achieving as the next stage is quicker and exciting
The bathroom tiles really are like Marmite - some people love them, others not so much! While working on the electrics in there, a few tiles came off unbroken and in perfect condition, so I’m planning to put them aside. I might reuse them in another area to bring a pop of colour and keep that cheerful, local vibe alive.
Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video! A lot has been accomplished in the past 6 months, and the next stages are definitely going to be quicker and even more exciting. Thanks for following along! 😊🎉
The way you have meticulously emptied and cleaned the house and tidied up the garden is a real credit to you. If you are that meticulous with that part of the job I can only imagine how the finished home will look given you have such attention to detail. Happy New Year. I look forward to watching the work progress next year. I'm sure you will get to 50k subscribers in no time.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! 😊 I’ve definitely put a lot of effort into cleaning and tidying up-it’s been a labor of love! Hearing that you appreciate the attention to detail really motivates me even more for the next steps.
Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-so much has been accomplished in the past 6 months, and there’s much more planned for next year. Let’s see if we can hit that 50k subscriber goal together! 🎉👏
All the best in 2025 Jonathan. You’ve come a long way in your adventure and restoration. Look forward to more next year!! Have a nice break with your family!! 🤗
Thank you so much! 😊 I really appreciate your kind words. Wishing you all the best for 2025 as well! Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-there’s been so much progress, and I can’t wait to share what’s next. A family break is definitely in order, and I’ll be recharged and ready for more adventures next year! 🎉
Wishing you the very best for 2025 and looking forward to sharing your journey in your renovation.
Hi Vanessa, thank you so much for your kind wishes! 😊 Wishing you all the very best for 2025 as well-may it be a year full of happiness and success for you! I'm so glad you're enjoying following the journey, and there's so much more to come with the renovation. Here's to an exciting year ahead! 🎉🏡✨
How excited and proud your boys must be; a brilliant adventure in another country and a super dad who can apparently, do everything! Happy New Year!
Thank you, Fiona! 😊 The boys are definitely excited-it’s been an adventure for them, and they keep me motivated! I don’t know about doing everything, but I’m giving it my best shot. 😉 Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been a busy six months, and I’m looking forward to even more progress next year. Happy New Year! 🎉
@ in their eyes, I’m certain you walk on water🙂
Many thanks for your support and kind words! 😊
Well done mate! Imagine what the place will look like this time next year. I'd love to know more about how you found professionals to help you with building and landscaping. I've heard horror stories of people being ripped off but this happens in the UK too and is probably over blown. Congrats again.
Thanks so much, mate! Really appreciate your kind words. It’s crazy to imagine what the place could look like this time next year-fingers crossed it all goes to plan!
Great question, and like you, I was definitely cautious after hearing some of those horror stories. For the tree surgeon and digger work, I found them online-actually, my Mrs spotted them on Facebook. Ideally, I would have hired a digger and done the work myself, but the hire costs here are very high (over €400 just for delivery, compared to around £85 in the UK) and options were limited. So, I took a chance with these guys as their rates were really reasonable (€350 digger and operator and €400 for the two large pines trees to be removed), and I agreed to pay in cash upon completion of the work.
For finding an electrician, I took a more local approach. Since I’m always out exploring and enjoying the food scene, I started asking for recommendations at local restaurants, cafés, and delis. Some of the younger staff there spoke enough English to help, and they pointed me toward a few electricians. I then cross-referenced their recommendations with those from the geometra I hired, who is familiar with the area and trusted locally. Interestingly, a couple of names came up multiple times, so I felt confident getting quotes from them.
In terms of payment, especially since this was a bigger expense, I agreed on a structure: 40% upfront, 40% on completion, and the remaining 20% after 30 days to ensure all the work was done properly with no issues.
Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap-it’s been an incredible six months, and I can’t wait to keep pushing forward in 2025! 😊🎄
We can only hope to find honest people along the way .good luck with restorations@OperationSicily
amazing how much you achieved. good luck with your plans
Thank you so much! 😊 It’s been a lot of hard work, but seeing the progress makes it all worth it. Plenty more to come as the plans start to take shape-fingers crossed it all goes smoothly!
Happy New Year! 🎉
What a great recap! I always think of your little (and big) fires and the lovely pastries that you sometimes got for your lunch. All the best for 2025, you've done lots so far. Cathy
Thank you so much, Cathy! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recap - it’s always fun to look back on those little moments, like the fires and, of course, the amazing pastries that kept me going. 😄 I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and are enjoying the video. A lot has been accomplished over the past six months, and there’s so much more planned for next year. Wishing you all the best for 2025! 🎄✨🎉
Achieving a dream doesn’t come easy. That’s why we have to value and be grateful for every step of the way. Great job! Happy New Year 🎆
Thank you so much! You're absolutely right-every step of the way is something to be grateful for, even the tough ones. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. A lot has been accomplished over the past six months, and I’m excited to share even more in 2025. Wishing you a very Happy New Year! 🎉✨
Loved every step,keep going ,but look after yourself as well .xx
Thank you so much, Annie! ❤️ I really appreciate your support. I’ll do my best to keep going while looking after myself too! 😊 Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been quite the journey, and there’s still so much more to come in 2025. Happy New Year! 🎉
Thank you for sharing your journey with us! Here's to joy, prosperity and awesome home renovation in 2025!🍾🥂
Thank you so much for your kind words and support! 🥂🍾 Wishing you joy, prosperity, and all the best for 2025 as well. Excited to share even more of the journey and the renovations with you in the coming year. Your encouragement means the world-let’s make it an amazing year ahead! 😊✨
Wish you and yours all the best for 2025
Thank you so much! I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been a journey to remember over the past six months, and I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings. Wishing you all the best for the New Year! 🎉🎄
Thanks! Also happy to see when you post a new episode.
Thank you so much for your generous super thanks, Eric! That’s truly appreciated, and I’m so glad to hear you enjoy the episodes. 😊
I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and found this week’s recap video inspiring-it’s been a huge journey over the past six months, and I can’t wait to share all the exciting plans for the coming year. Your support makes a world of difference and keeps me motivated to keep going.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year and looking forward to sharing more updates soon! 🎉🎄✨
What an incredible effort; well done
Thank you so much for your kind words! It’s been a challenging but rewarding journey, and there’s still so much more to come. Hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday season, and here’s to an exciting 2025! 🎉🎄
Happy Holidays!! It was nice to see the beginning again and how far you’ve come! I can’t wait to see it all painted and shiny and new. You will have a sweet little home for your family where you can grow your own food. Can’t wait to see what happens next. Thank you for bringing us along with you❤️🐝🤗
Happy Holidays to you too! 😊 It’s amazing to look back at where it all started and how far we’ve come in just a few months. I can’t wait to get to the painting and those shiny finishing touches-it’ll really bring everything to life! Growing my own food is definitely one of the things I’m most excited about. Thank you so much for following along and for your lovely comment. Here’s to an exciting 2025! 🎉
@ You’re most welcome!❤️🤗🐝
Tiles that you don't like don't have to be ripped out. There are ways to make them look better. Painting, mosaic, painting, mirror adhesive tiles
Thank you for the suggestion! It’s a great idea to get creative with the tiles rather than ripping them out. I’ve thought about painting or using adhesive options, especially in areas where a full renovation might not be possible straight away. It’s definitely something to keep in mind as I move forward. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video - it’s been quite the journey so far, and there’s a lot more to come in the new year! 😊✨
I hope you had a peaceful Christmas.
I wish you and your family all the best that 2025 can give you...
and continue with the splendid progress you are making in your Sicilian Villa...
An Italian virtual friend.
Thank you so much, Riccardo! 😊 I had a lovely and peaceful Christmas, and I hope you did too. Your kind words mean a lot, and I truly appreciate your support throughout this journey.
Wishing you and your loved ones a fantastic 2025 filled with joy, health, and success. I’m excited to continue sharing the progress on the villa, and it’s always great to know I have an Italian virtual friend cheering me on! 🇮🇹🎉
Wishing you all the best for you and your family, this project will be hard ,but with it to make it a family home ,looking forward to watching your hard work and progress👍😀
Thank you so much for your kind wishes! 😊 It’s definitely a challenging project, but turning this villa into a family home makes every effort worth it. I’m so glad you’re enjoying following the journey. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-so much has been accomplished over the past six months, and there’s so much more to come in 2025. Happy New Year! 🎉
It’s been quite a year and I enjoyed watching the transformation over this year and I look forward to watching more videos. Happy New Year 🎊🎆 🙂🍾
Thank you, Cheryl! It really has been quite the year, and I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed following the transformation. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and liked this week’s recap video-there’s plenty more to come in 2025. Wishing you a very Happy New Year! 🎉🎄
For a one-man construction team, you have come so very far since you started. I look forward to watching your further progress in 2025. I'd like to see a gravel driveway eventually. Happy New Year!
Thank you so much for your kind words! It’s been a lot of hard work, but seeing how far the villa has come makes it all worthwhile. A gravel driveway is definitely on the list-it would make such a difference. 😊
I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video. Here’s to an exciting 2025 full of progress and transformation. Happy New Year! 🎉🎄
that place is going to be so awesome. have a great week.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate the support. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been a memorable six months, and there’s so much more to come. Wishing you an awesome week ahead! 💪✨
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 2025 go for it.
Thank you, Axel! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too! 2025 is going to be an incredible year-I can’t wait to keep pushing forward. Hope you’ve enjoyed the recap video! 🎄🎉
@OperationSicily Thanks Bro..I eagerly watch and await all your posts.
Thanks so much, means a lot! 🙏
Thanks!
Wow, thank you so much for the super thanks! That’s incredibly kind and means the world to me. 😊
I really hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and that you enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been such an unforgettable six months with so much progress, but there’s still plenty more to come. Your support truly helps keep me motivated, and I’m so grateful to have you following along on this journey.
Wishing you an amazing New Year filled with happiness, success, and lots of exciting moments ahead! 🎄✨🎉
Thanks for the overview ..More exciting stuff to come ..I am very proud of you, even miles away . Keep going Mexxy xmas and happy 2025 . Glad your sons are with you ..
Thank you so much for your kind words, Peter - it truly means a lot to have support from miles away! I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and are enjoying the recap video. So much progress has been made over the past six months, and there’s still so much more exciting stuff planned for next year.
Having my sons with me through parts of this journey has been a huge motivator, and knowing people like you are rooting for us keeps me going! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and an amazing 2025! 🎄✨🎉
Great to see the work come together!
Thank you so much! It’s amazing to see everything slowly but surely coming together. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video - there’s been a lot of progress in the past 6 months, and I can’t wait to share even more in the year ahead. Happy New Year! 🎉
Grazie.
Thank you so much for your generous Super Thanks, it really means a lot to me! 🙏 Your support helps keep this journey going, and I’m so grateful to have you along for the ride.
Seasons greetings to you johnathon and your family 2025 will be a great year for you, I wish you nothing but good luck ❤️👏🏾
Thank you so much, Paul! Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful 2025 as well. Your encouragement and kind words mean the world. I’m looking forward to tackling all the new projects ahead, and I hope you’ll continue to join me on the journey. Cheers to a great year ahead! 🎄🎉
Happy new year to you and your sons. Xxx
Thank you, Sharon! Happy New Year to you too! 🎉 I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been quite the journey over the past six months, and I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings. 💫
Hello Jonathan, Good Afternoon and Greetings from Rural France where we have another grey foggy day, Great recap on your achievements, well done. Best wishes for the New Year for you and yours and I look forward to the updates and progress for 2025. My project for 2025 is turning a piece of rural farmland into a beautiful garden so there will be lots of design work and planting. Take care and Happy New Year😊
Hello from Sicily, Kim! 🌞 I definitely don’t miss those daily grey, foggy skies, but I’m sure Rural France has its own charm! 😊
Your project for 2025 sounds absolutely amazing-turning farmland into a beautiful garden will be such a rewarding experience. Is this transformation happening in France, or do you have plans elsewhere? If there’s any way I can help or provide ideas, feel free to reach out-happy to assist however I can!
Hope you had a lovely Christmas, and I’m so glad you enjoyed this week’s recap video. A lot has been achieved in the past six months, and there’s so much more to come in 2025. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year filled with joy and success! 🎉🌿
You have done a lot of work!
I imagine the tiles in the bathroom will go at some point but I am hoping you can save a few to use as coasters or maybe to embellish somewhere around your pool.
Looking forward to following your projects and accomplishments.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas.
Wishing you and yours all the best in the New Year 🎉
Thank you, Jill! Yes, the bathroom tiles will definitely be going at some point, but I love your creative idea of repurposing them as coasters or even adding them as a feature around the pool area - that’s such a unique way to keep a piece of the villa’s history alive. Hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas, and wishing you and your family all the best for the New Year! There’s so much more to come in 2025 - stay tuned! 🎉🎄😊
I love it. You have achieved so much. Watching it all together you can really see the progress. You are a very talented man xx
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! Watching the progress all together really does show how far it’s come, and there’s still so much more to come in 2025. I hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. Wishing you all the best for the new year! 🎄✨
You are truly an inspiration! Best Wishes Happy Holidays to you and your family. God Bless!
Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been a truly memorable six months. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year filled with joy and blessings. God bless! 🎄✨
Enjoyed the recap. Hope you have a productive and prosperous 2025!! 😊
Thank you, Anna! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recap video-it really has been a journey to remember. 😊 I hope you had a lovely Christmas and wishing you a happy, productive, and prosperous 2025 too! 🎉 Let’s see what the year brings!
So excited to follow your journey! Wishing you a happy new year 🎉!
Thank you so much, Michelle! It’s so exciting to have you along for the journey. 😊
I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been quite the adventure over the past six months, and there’s so much more to come in 2025.
Wishing you a fantastic New Year filled with happiness and new opportunities! 🎄✨🎉
Thanks
Kay, thank you so much for your generous Super Thanks! It truly means the world to me and helps keep this project moving forward. 😊 I hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-so much has been accomplished in the past 6 months, and there’s plenty more to come in 2025. Your support and kindness are deeply appreciated. Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year! 🎉🎄💪
I think those walls both inside and outside would look so good if they were power washed. You probably wouldn’t even need to repaint them after a good power washing. You would be amazed at how good they would look.
Then just give your gate a coat of paint and the whole property would look so much nicer.
Just my thoughts.
Great thoughts, and I completely agree that a good power washing could make a huge difference! I’d love to see how much of the original character comes through with just a clean slate. The gate is definitely on the list too-small changes can make such a big impact. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video!
@OperationSicily thank you and yes it is the small things that usually make the biggest impact
Cheers, appreciate your support! 👍
Wishing you all the best for 2025 xx
Thank you so much! Wishing you all the best for 2025 too. Let’s make it a year of exciting progress and happiness! 🎉😊
Happy New Year! Can’t wait to see all your plans actualized!!
Happy New Year to you too! 🎉 I’m so excited to get stuck into 2025 and see these plans come to life. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed the recap of everything we’ve achieved in the last 6 months. There’s so much more to look forward to this year, and I’m glad you’re following along! 😊
Ive followed your journey from the very start of your journey in Sicily & you have done a great job so far but in the summer you need to start a swimming pool build to hit 50000 subs . People love pool builds 👍
Thank you so much for following my journey from the very start-it means the world to me! A swimming pool build sounds amazing, and I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I agree it’s something people love to watch, and it would certainly be a big milestone project. Let’s see what we can get started this summer!
Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been a journey to remember, and there’s much more to come next year!
Dear Jonathan.😊
Nice video so we got an insight into how much you have actually done over time. So fantastic to see the progress and I think it will be the most wonderful place to be.😍
I think those gottage houses you showed in the last video next to your home are the best idea ever. I would love to be able to rent a home like that for a while, it would be nice to be able to greet each other.
Hope all is well and again I wish you and the family a fantastically healthy and rewarding New Year.
I am still waiting for an answer but first I have to go through a long PET scan again so they can see if it is cancer in those places 100% are so afraid of those answers. Because my son and I want to go away in the new year and we will make sure to get help there with the best treatments and hospital. It is most important in the first place whether we first have to rent a house for a year or 2 means nothing. I hope I get my strength back and good mood for that would be great. It is very hard for my dear son, as my oldest children 2 daughters live in Canada and have not been there at all. It is a shame and very burdensome for Emil and I am angry with them.
Since we have always been close and he is afraid of the future now.
We pray for the best and maintain positive hope and look forward to leaving here Denmark and seeing a new country people and culture.
Be well Johanthan, and take care of yourself dear friend.
Hope to see you in the new year and can greet you. many loving greetings Maria and Emil as well as Anton my old-fashioned breed. Labrador male🐕 who will be 8 on January 23. Big hug. Maria😊❤🙏.
Dear Maria, thank you so much for your heartfelt message. It’s truly incredible to hear your thoughts and support-it really means the world to me. I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the recap and can see how far this journey has come. There’s so much more to come in 2025, and I hope you’ll continue to be part of it with me.
I’m so sorry to hear about the challenges you’re facing with your health. You’re incredibly strong, and I truly hope the upcoming scan brings you clarity and, more importantly, positive news. Your resilience and optimism shine through, and I admire the hope you and Emil share for the future. I’m certain you’ll find a beautiful place to settle that brings you peace, joy, and the best care available.
It’s clear how much love and support you give to Emil, Anton, and your entire family, even when things are difficult. I hope 2025 brings strength, health, and happiness for you all. Give Anton a big hug for me, and happy early birthday to him-what a special boy! Sending you, Emil, and Anton all my warmest wishes and positivity as you take on the New Year.
Take care, dear Maria, and I hope we can meet in the future to say hello. Big hugs to you all! 😊🎉
@OperationSicily hi again Jonathan.
Thank you very much for your sweet message. It warms us all and we are grateful that there are still loving and caring people.
Right now I am looking at summer houses up north close to the hospital because I can't handle a 6 hour drive in a day. I can't sit with my back or lower abdomen that long. I just found a great thatched idyll of 122 sqm with a wood-burning stove from 2001 close to the water and actually quite cheap compared to all the others. There are good deals here now after Christmas and New Year. Also nice to get away from home when you know our neighbor was evicted by force and a carpenter has bought it. They are noisy like crazy from 7 am to about 6 pm and they are not allowed to do that when they are not going to live there themselves but are renting it out. They are tearing everything apart, extensions and all floors are being concreted up when district heating was to be installed. Don't you think they came yesterday instead of just taking a little time off like others and they know my situation because Emil has told them so. I can never really rest because of the noise and have difficulty sleeping at night, strange with the pain but they also say it's always worst at night. Hope we get it because we're going to Aalborg, a large university hospital, on Friday and then I'm going to have the PET scan that I'm dreading, when they said it was urgent and I just know they're hiding the answers from the gynecology department because they said they would call. But now it's been almost 3 weeks since they cut into the tumors and should have had the answer. But they were so nice and I think they've agreed with the diagnostic center who are the ones who are managing my cancer process that they should wait until after New Year. Also because of Emil and yes myself because we haven't ordered anything else all December to go to different hospitals. We're going to have a lot of anxiety about it all. So it would be good to have some peace because it's on a natural plot without neighbors. Also so we are there after Friday because they say the answer will come quickly as the doctors will look through the pictures right away. And her chief physician just called me and said that I should relax more and she sounded worried. Phew yes it is not that easy. Again I wish you and the family a wonderful New Year and thank you for the old year. I look forward to seeing your next video, it is very exciting and I love seeing progress. You are someone who works hard. Have a good time dear johanthan. Loving thoughts and hugs Maria. I will send greetings from Emil too and he was happy you mentioned him thanks for that.🙂
Hello Jonathan, just seen this video come up and had to jump on it too see what is going on.
You have come such a long way, and on your own too. Doing alot outside enables you to sit and relax while the inside is being done. You're wife and son's must be so proud of you and what you have accomplished so far.
Can't wait to see you install a new bathroom and Kitchen.
I have put money over to buy you coffee, hope it helps a bit. Sending Christmas and New Year's wishes to you and your family. Cheryl from Wales x🏴🎄🧑🎄x
Hi Cheryl, thank you so much for your lovely comment and for your generous contribution to “buy me a coffee” - it truly means the world and will absolutely help with the next steps! 😊
It’s been such a journey, and I’m so glad you’ve been following along. It’s incredible to see how much has been achieved already, but there’s still so much to do-especially with the kitchen and bathroom, which I can’t wait to get stuck into.
Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks again for your encouragement and support-it really keeps me going! 🎄✨🎉 x
window cleaning...half vinegar/half water 2 drops dish soap. works well & much cheaper than windex.🙂
Thank you for the window cleaning tip! That sounds so simple and effective-definitely cheaper than Windex too. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video. It’s been quite the journey so far, and there’s more to come! 😊🎄
I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. Happy New Year!🎉
Thank you, Joanne! I hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video. It’s been an incredible six months, and I’m excited to keep the progress going in 2025. Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with joy and exciting moments ahead! 🎄✨🎉
Continued good fortune in 2025 and I hope all your dreams come true!
Thank you so much for your kind words and wishes for 2025! I truly appreciate your support and encouragement-it’s what keeps me going. 😊 I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. So much has been achieved in the past 6 months, and there’s even more to look forward to next year. Wishing you a fantastic New Year filled with happiness and success! 🎉🎄
Happy new year! 🍀🍀🍀
Thank you! Wishing you a very Happy New Year as well! 🎉 Let’s make 2025 an amazing one. Hope you’ve enjoyed the recap video and are looking forward to what’s next! 😊
Merry Christmas 🎄 and very
Happy New Year 🎉...
Keep doing what you're doing , i like the videos. I would love to see more of the village life ... too .
Thank you so much! 🎄🎉 Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you too! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the videos. I’d love to show more of the village life as well-it’s such a unique and charming part of the journey here in Sicily. Stay tuned, as I’ll make sure to include more glimpses of the local culture and community in future videos. Wishing you all the best for 2025! 😊✨
Happy New Year! I love the fruit trees. I would keep all the lizards for pets.😃
Happy New Year, Joystone! 🎉 The fruit trees are definitely a favorite of mine too-they're coming along nicely! As for the lizards, we’ve got an understanding now; I leave them to do their thing, and they seem pretty happy with that arrangement. 🦎😊
Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been quite the journey over the past 6 months, and there’s so much more planned for next year. Thanks so much for following along! 🌟
Have a wonderful Happy New Year's with your family and I am really looking forward to seeing how next year goes. I know it's going to be epic, seeing it happen is just such a great thing to be able to follow. Good luck for the upcoming jobs.❤️
Thank you so much, Neuton! 😊 Your ongoing support means the world to me, and I’m so glad you’re enjoying the journey so far. Here’s to an epic 2025 for both of us! 🥂
I’m really excited about the upcoming projects and can’t wait to share them with you. Wishing you and your loved ones a fantastic New Year filled with happiness and success. ❤️
Happy New Year!! Looking forward to seeing your progress in 2025. 🙂
Thank you so much, and Happy New Year to you as well! I hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video. The last six months have been such a journey, and I can’t wait to share all the progress coming in 2025. Wishing you a year full of happiness and great moments ahead! 🎉🎄
@OperationSicily Yes, xmas was fine. Thanks!
HI Jonathan, it's amazing to think we've only been watching you journey for 3 months, granted a journey of many years in the making.
It has been my pleasure to meet you and watch your dreams come into being and so I wish you and your family all the very best of health and fortune for 2025.
Happy New Year from the Sorby clan 🍺🍷🥃
Thank you so much, Scott, and the Sorby clan! 😊 It’s incredible to think it’s only been three months since you joined the journey-it feels like so much has happened already! Your kind words mean a lot, and I’m so glad to have you along for this adventure. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been a busy six months, and there’s so much more to come in 2025. Wishing you and your family health, happiness, and all the best for the New Year! 🎉 😊
Thanks for your inspiration and learnings, I'm looking forward for your next steps. I'm planning a similar project in the Liguria region.
Thank you for the kind words! Liguria is such a beautiful region, and I’m sure your project will be amazing. It’s exciting to hear you’re planning something similar, and I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas. Enjoy the recap video - so much has been done in the last 6 months, and there’s so much more to come next year. Looking forward to seeing how your project takes shape in the future! 😊🎉
This video was a good compilation of your progress. I've been watching from the start and appreciate your hard work and progress. You have many skills and I enjoy your minimalist style of production - more relatable than some. Anyway looking forward to your project as you continue on, thanks for sharing it with us. Happy New Year. PS: I'm learning Italian too!
Thank you for the lovely comment! 😊 It means a lot to hear you’ve been following from the start and enjoy the progress. I really appreciate your kind words about the minimalist production-it’s great to know it feels relatable! Learning Italian is definitely an adventure in itself-best of luck with it! Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. It’s been a busy six months, and I’m excited to share even more progress next year. Happy New Year! 🎉 🇮🇹
Great job, keep it up!
Thank you, Wayne! I’m glad you’re enjoying the journey. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and liked this week’s recap video-it’s been a memorable six months, and I’m excited for what’s next in 2025. Have a great week! 🎉🎄
Auguri di buon anno
Grazie mille! Auguri di buon anno anche a te e alla tua famiglia! 🎉✨
You are doing an incredible job restoring this beautiful villa, I envy you. I often visit my family in Palermo, both my parents born there and emigrated to the US in 1950. I am now applying for dual citizenship, along with my husband. I am coming to Parlermo in March to search for a rental apartment so my husband and I can live there for 2 months, September & October 2025. If you are close by to Palermo, I would love to visit, I don't wish to intrude. Enjoy the day, and keep showing the world your progress. BTW, my name is Maria
Wishing you all the best in 2025 and beyond 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind wishes for 2025 and beyond! Your support means the world to me, and I’m so grateful to have you following along on this journey. Wishing you all the best for an incredible year ahead! 😊🎉
Happy New Year Jonathan 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉
Happy New Year to you too, Lorraine! 🎉 I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas as well. So much progress has been made, and there’s plenty more to come in 2025-stay tuned! 😊
Hi hun wishing you all the best for 2025. ❤
Hi Elaina, thank you so much! Wishing you all the best for 2025 as well. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video - it’s been such a journey over the past 6 months, and there’s so much more to come next year! 😊🎉
@OperationSicily I'm really looking forward to seeing your progress hun. Hope your family had a good Christmas. The best way to learn scillian is to live there so I'm told and it's a bit different to Italian. I had a day visit there in 2012, and I'd always promised myself i would go, and i was mistaken for a scillian by a lady who was on the same cruise as me. 🤣 I totally fell in love with scicily as I knew i would it's so beautiful.
Hi Elaina, what a lovely story-thank you for sharing! 😊 Sicily truly is a magical place, and I can see why you fell in love with it. Being mistaken for a Sicilian is such a fun memory, and it shows how connected you felt to the culture even on a short visit!
I couldn’t agree more about learning the language by living here. Sicilian is indeed quite different from standard Italian, and while I’m still picking things up, the locals have been incredibly patient and kind. 😊
I hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful Christmas! I’m so glad to hear you’re excited about the progress-it’s been a whirlwind 6 months, and there’s so much more to share in the year ahead. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement, it truly means a lot! Wishing you an amazing 2025 filled with happiness and adventure. ❤️🎉
Happy New Year! I can't wait to see what you do next.
Happy New Year! 🎉 It’s been such a rewarding six months, and I’m so excited for everything coming up next. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and I’m glad you enjoyed the recap video. 2025 is going to be even better-stay tuned! 😊
Absolutely brilliant all that you’ve achieved so far Jonathan. Can’t wait for 2025 to see more of the journey, wishing you and your family all the best health wealth and happiness. I’ll be moving hopefully to a new house at some point and can’t wait to get stuck in and make it my home 🏡 best wishes from Mandy 🇬🇧🥰
Thank you so much, Mandy, for your kind words and encouragement! Wishing you the very best with your move - how exciting to create a new home for yourself. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. So much has been achieved this past year, and I can’t wait to share even more in 2025. Wishing you and your family health, happiness, and success in the year ahead. Best wishes! 😊🎄
I've really enjoyed following your journey. You've shone your incredible vision and tenacity coming together, and I can't wait to see more in 2025. As for my own resolutions, I need to get back to learning Italian (which I've neglected out of frustration with verb tenses!) as I pursue my citizenship. I'm still waiting on a few documents from the US government, at which point I have an attorney secured to take the case to the Abruzzo courts. I do hope I can obtain this dual citizenship before the end of 2025, but some of that is out of my hands. I'm going to give it my all as I prepare for my eventual move to Italy.
Thank you so much, Jen! Your kind words and encouragement truly mean a lot. It sounds like you’re on an incredible journey of your own with Italian citizenship - best of luck with that process! Those verb tenses can be a challenge, but I’m sure you’ll conquer them with time. Your determination to pursue this dream is inspiring, and I can’t wait to hear more about your progress. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas, and here’s to a successful and exciting 2025 for both of us! 😊🎄
All the best fot 2025!! UK
Thank you so much! Wishing you all the best for 2025 too! Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video - so much has been done over the past 6 months, and there’s a lot more to look forward to in the new year! 🎄🎉
Happy 2025 . Health and success 🎉
Thank you so much! Wishing you a fantastic 2025 as well, filled with health, happiness, and success. Hope you enjoyed the recap video-lots more exciting progress to come next year! 🎉
Wishing you a happy New Year. 🇨🇦❤️🇨🇦
Thank you, Maude! Wishing you a very Happy New Year as well! Hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed the recap video. The past 6 months have been a whirlwind, and there’s plenty more exciting progress to share in 2025 - stay tuned! 🇨🇦🎉
Hard work and your patience has brought you here in Sicily‼️ Will your boys live with you here? 🇮🇹❤️🇮🇹
Hi Jean, thank you so much for your lovely comment and kind words! 😊 Yes, the plan is for my young boys to live here with me once the villa is complete. It’s going to be an amazing family home, and I can’t wait to create wonderful memories here with them. Sicily has been an incredible journey, and there’s still so much more to come. Wishing you all the best for 2025! 🇮🇹❤️✨
@OperationSicily Buon Anno 2025‼️🇮🇹❤️🇮🇹
Sottotitoli in Italiano grazie.
Grazie per il commento! Sto lavorando per aggiungere i sottotitoli in italiano per tutti i video. Spero di poterli caricare presto per migliorare l’esperienza per tutti. Grazie per la tua pazienza e supporto! 😊
Could you please check your settings and add closed caption I am deaf and I need to read it I cannot hear you hear you
I’m so sorry about this and really appreciate your patience. I’ve got written subtitles ready for all the talking parts of the video, but I’ve been having issues uploading them to TH-cam over the past few days. I’ll keep trying and do my best to get this sorted for you as soon as possible.
Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been such a journey over the last six months, and there’s so much more to come! Thank you for being part of this adventure. 😊
Hi Jonathon, I think I've seen all of your episodes, but I don't quite understand why you don't have electricity. Can you offer a more detailed explanation? BTW, my plan is to purchase a farmhouse type property in the Capo d Orlando area w/in the next approx one year. Thanks for your hard work and great lessons.
Hi Doug, thank you for following along and for your kind words! 😊 The reason I don’t have electricity yet is largely due to the property being abandoned for over 20 years. Not only does the house lack a functioning electrical system, but it also doesn’t have a mains electricity connection from the grid.
Right now, I’m working with an electrician to fully rewire the house with modern and safe standards. Once that’s done, the electric board will step in to create and install a mains electricity supply. Progress has been slow, as I’ve had to work with a geometra, apply for permits, and then wait months for approvals-so typical in Italy! However, I’ve recently bought a generator, which has been a game-changer, providing a much-needed source of power while I wait for everything to come together.
As a side note, I also don’t have a mains water supply, but there’s an old water well in the back garden, which I plan to renovate and use as my main water source. Everything’s moving forward step by step, and it will all fall into place soon.
Your plan to purchase a farmhouse near Capo d’Orlando sounds incredible-it’s a beautiful area! If I can offer any advice or tips from my experience, feel free to ask.
Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this recap video. There’s been so much progress in the past six months, and there’s plenty more to come next year. Best of luck with your future plans! 😊🎄
Just curious, looking at the pile of rubbish cleared from inside the house, I wondered why you didn’t keep the table to use outside as a workbench?
Great question! The only thing I kept was the large dining table in the lounge area, which I now use for all sorts of tasks. I really wish I could have kept and restored some of the other items, but unfortunately, everything-literally everything-was covered in rat droppings, urine, and chew marks from the rodents. From a hygiene and safety perspective, especially with my young children coming to the property, it just wasn’t worth the risk, so I decided it was best to clear it all out.
Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been such an incredible journey over the last six months, and there’s still so much more to come! 😊
Thank you for your reply! Ugh…..I didn’t realize there was so much infestation. Yes, better to start fresh.
If you clicked onto this video, then please "like" and Subscribe to this channel, it's free and it helps this gentleman and his family.
Please help him get his 50.000 subscribers by new year. Thank you from a subscriber.🎉
Wow, Cheryl, what a thoughtful comment! Thank you so much for your kindness and encouragement. I appreciate every single like, comment, and subscriber-it really helps keep me motivated. Here’s to growing this channel even further in 2025! 🎉😊
Nice work it is coming along nicely will be good to see end result will you let us know how much it cost you all up when you finish? I'm still weighing up options.
Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying the progress so far. I will absolutely share a full breakdown of costs when the project is complete-it’s something I know a lot of people are curious about, especially those considering a similar renovation.
Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-it’s been a whirlwind 6 months, and there’s plenty more in store for next year!
Belli i video che fai peccato non ci sono i sottotitoli in italiano
Grazie mille per il tuo commento! 😊 Mi dispiace molto per i sottotitoli mancanti in italiano. Ho cercato di caricarli su TH-cam, ma per qualche motivo non funziona. Cercherò di risolvere il problema presto. Spero che tu abbia passato un Natale meraviglioso e che il video di riepilogo ti sia piaciuto-tanto lavoro è stato fatto negli ultimi 6 mesi e ci sarà ancora di più il prossimo anno! 🎄💪
So basically from what I can see, a year in and you have managed to clean an abandoned villa, that still looks like an abandoned villa, nice one.
Brian, it’s clear you’ve completely missed the bigger picture here, so let me break it down for you in simple terms. First, I’ve not just 'cleaned an abandoned villa.' In under a year, I’ve bought a property outright in another country, navigated a foreign real estate market, viewed multiple properties across Sicily, and successfully negotiated a fantastic deal. I’ve also sourced excellent professionals like a notary and geometra, which will save me time and money for future projects, and built valuable connections with local builders and suppliers.
Second, the work shown in this video reflects about 4 months of progress, not a full year. If you’d watched my previous videos properly, you’d know I’ve been waiting for permits to start the bigger jobs, like electrics, water, and replacing windows and doors. And let’s not forget I’ve also had to deal with delays caused by working in a foreign country-different systems, different rules, and a different language-while juggling renovation work, filming, editing, and raising two kids on a tight budget.
Oh, and for the record, the property’s value has already doubled. So while you might think it 'still looks like an abandoned villa,' the reality is, I’m playing the long game, and this place is on track to become an incredible home.
Before you criticize, maybe take a second to understand the full scope of what’s involved in a project like this. It’s easy to throw shade from behind a keyboard, but I’m the one putting in the hard work, and trust me, the results will speak for themselves.
@OperationSicily
Thanks for a very long explanation about why you are only so far into your project your ultimate goal is admirable, but your point about kids and tight budget, most probably explains the slow progress, you are relying on you tube bucks for the build as much as possible.
Where is subtitle?
My apologies! Unfortunately, TH-cam didn’t give me the option to add subtitles for this video, even though I spent hours writing them all out. 😔 However, there are subtitles available for this week’s new video (video 17). Hope you get a chance to watch and enjoy it! 😊
What would be fun is a facebook page for your youtube channel. Create a real community of fans.
This sounds like an amazing idea! Honestly, I wouldn’t even know where to start-I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to technology and don’t even have any personal social media accounts. 😂 But I’ll definitely chat with the Mrs. and see if she can help set it up. The incredible comments, support, encouragement, advice, and sense of community have been the main reasons I’ve kept posting these videos, so if a Facebook page can help build on that, I’m all for it. 😊
Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video! A lot has been accomplished over the past 6 months, and there’s so much more to come next year-can’t wait to share it all with you! 🎉
👋👌💥
Thanks so much, means a lot! 🙏
Why did you remove the subtitles, british english is hard to understand, allora ti saluto ciao
I didn’t remove the subtitles-I actually spent 3 hours typing them all up! Unfortunately, TH-cam won’t let me upload them for some reason, which has been so frustrating. I’m still trying to sort it out, so hopefully, I can get them added soon.
Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video! A lot has been done in the past 6 months, and there’s much more to come next year-stay tuned! 😊🎉
🤗💯@OperationSicily
Has it been a yea? It seems you just started just 3 months ago.
It’s amazing how time flies, isn’t it? The whole process has been roughly a year-from coming up with the idea, finding properties online, traveling to Sicily to view them, and finally buying this villa. As for the renovation itself, that’s been ongoing for the past 4-5 months, and it’s been full-on ever since!
Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s certainly been a journey to remember over the last 6 months, and there’s so much more to come next year! 🎉
What you have achieved is truly amazing but please wear these 🥽👓 when sawing.
Thank you so much, Jayne! 😊 You’re absolutely right, safety first-I’ll make sure to wear proper gear when sawing. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎉 I’m glad you enjoyed the recap video; it’s been quite a journey so far!
Thanks!
Wow, thank you so much for your incredibly generous super thanks! That truly means so much to me. 😊
I hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed this week’s recap video-it’s been such an unforgettable six months with plenty of progress made, and there’s so much more to come in 2025. Your support really helps keep this journey going, and I’m so grateful to have you here following along.
Wishing you a fantastic New Year filled with joy, success, and plenty of memorable moments ahead! 🎄✨🎉
Thanks
Wow, thank you so much for the incredibly generous Super Thanks! 🙏 It truly helps keep this project moving forward and motivates me to keep sharing every step of the journey. I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the recap video-there’s so much more to come in the new year! Wishing you a fantastic 2025 full of joy and success. 😊🎄🎆