I do agree that the cost of living crisis is real here and running away to a hot country sounds ideal...but you chose to live in one of the most expensive cities in the UK, bought a house in one of the most expensive parts of Bath, bought (or leased) a Tesla, one of the most expensive cars around, you seem to go out for coffees most day, buy all the nicest expensive food.... see where i'm going here!?
....yes!! and some parents are skipping meals to feed their children ......there's poor and there's 'poor'. People don't seem to be grateful even though they have quite a comfortable life
I agree but after watching the whole video is not all about the cost of living, it’s a lot more than that. But also, it’s a life they could afford a few years ago so it is down to the cost of living that they can no longer afford it.
They took money from trusting people to invest in their new company, only to immediately spend it on going to Australia for a month! Followed by then moving to Bath and never communicating to their investors again. Voted for Brexit and now wants to ‘break up with Britain’ Despicable behaviour.
Stef, have you read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert? I wonder whether separating your creation from you and seeing yourself as a channel will get rid of the feelings after releasing it? ❤
It all starts with a leap of faith. We are here for such a short time and life can be hard and challenging. Well done on recognizing that you need to make a change. Much respect!
I'm so with you, Stef. My house (or shack!) in the Canary Islands is worth nothing compared to my 'starter' home in Surrey. But it is worth so much more to me because its given me freedom. I have two boys, age 2 and 8 months and we are together every day. Our big dramas are the chickens escaping... there's none of that dull, incesant noise that I had back in my old life. I, of course, unfortunately brought myself along in this life so my usual cycles of emotions (like Hannah) have joined me but I'm not anxious or depressed anymore... I think its a great idea to move and give yourself that space to create for those right reasons you mentioned. So much love for you guys, you've got this! ❤
Great to have you and your family back! Been following your chanel since your time in London, when Grayson was little. Sending lots of love and good thoughts!
Gosh you are so talented at content creation. Everytime i watch one of your videos it takes me on such a journey. I can relate to so much you speak about. Your family really do deserve the world. Have been here from the beginning and its lovely to see how you have both grown and blossomed! I really hope one day you will all find your happy place. I know lots of us are searching for it sometimes forgetting its not always a place but a feeling inside ❤
So lovely to see you! So many important conversations had in this video Stef and please continue to have them. I’m raising two boys and the structure of school has been a huge pressure and source of anxiety but we’re getting through it, also think a lot of us are feeling this right now. Love this journey for you and can’t wait to see you all live a life that’s authentically you. Loved Hannah’s biohacks and also loved the soundtrack! Hannah also looks fab in that black sweatshirt and gold earrings! ❤❤❤
Living in New Zealand for 10yrs now and OZ for 6yrs before that.. I left the UK when I was 28yrs old. (Now 45). I grew up in London.. I’m close to nature now in NZ, have 2 kids and it’s been so hard setting up a new life.. away from everything I knew. But I wouldn’t change it.. I have space.. freedom and can see the sky.. walk on a beach whenever I want and virtually have no people if I don’t want to be near them.. You never regret it.. the kids love the outdoors and something I never got to experience when I was small.. I’m giving that to them now.. We go camping too.. we have the best of both worlds. I live in Auckland. But can leave it when I get the chance. ❤
It seems that many of us are going through a mass awakening. We see the failure of our systems. Our governments, healthcare, education, media. It's all burning and crashing. We are thinking of leaving our home country for new environs as well. It has become almost impossible to thrive here. Wishing you all the best in following your heart. So long as you have each other, that's what's most important.🙏🏻🩵🪷
Glad to hear that Hannah is feeling so good after her surgery. Wishing her all the best in her recovery. I resonate with wanting to leave the country too. Thanks Steph for being so honest and raw. You always give me food for thought. I have had minimal outside validation as have experienced pretty debilitating social anxiety and struggled to put myself out in the world at all. So I've had to support myself from within, but now I need to move into more self-expression. We all have such unique journeys.
I’m experiencing very similar things to you. It’s really tough and we are all on very different journeys, that hold so many similar truths at their core. 😊
I'm in the US and this deeply resonates with me. I also really appreciate your honesty. Have you seen The Newbys channel? They bought a farmhouse in northern Portugal a few years ago are vlogging it. I would check out northern Portugal as it's increadibly beautiful and you could grow your own food and be self sufficient. If you had enough space, Hannah could hold yoga retreats as well :) Can't wait to see what you do next! 💛✨
If it possible I wouldn't invest everything into Portugal, the everyday things that bug you about here will inevitably happen there too, in possibly different form but it's worth considering! And the cheaper cost of living there doesn't apply to cities, but if you live rurally the issue of accessibility to work or school especially for the boys growing up could be a problem. If you do sell, I would consider renting a small place in a part of Portugal that you love and really waiting to see if it is for you long term. You could buy a small cottage or piece of land here in a cheaper/rural but lovely part of the UK that is a bit cheaper - Bath/Bristol way is very expensive but you could look elsewhere for something. Or a fun project to get stuck into! A change of pace and life doesn't necessarily mean leaving the country! Just my 2 cents! Good luck with it guys :)
Going on vacation is so different than living somewhere. Touristy areas also cater to English speakers more than small communities where it would be affordable to live. If school is difficult for Grayson I worry about learning Portuguese especially if being homeschooled and surrounded by a family who doesn’t speak Portuguese. Living a simple life in Portugal may be best for adults and young children but tough for teenagers. There are no easy answers I’m afraid. Sadly if they have to sell the house it becomes much more difficult to ever return to the UK.
I have a good permanent job in public service in Ireland still not enough to get a home. I’m living at home with my parents and will never own my own home till they pass. That reality we live in now be sad.
I feel you. Same situation here in Munich. Good job in public service, but i earn way too little to afford my own home (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen). Instead I live at my parent’s house at the age of 34. The system really makes me sick to the bones and it seems that there is no way out.
I loved this video and could relate to your feelings about school, i hated it from the first day walking or should i say getting dragged through those gates kicking and screaming. I always felt anxious and always feeling not good enough at anything. They were always testing us on something or other and of course i was never as good as some of the other kids, i left school with no confidence at all it was awful. On a happier note i wish you Hannah and the boys an amazing wonderful life in Portugal, go for it we only live once, please keep up the amazing videos sending you all love from bonny Scotland x
I think validation goes both ways, it's comforting knowing other people are going through similar things as us. I think many of us would agree that we enjoy your family's videos not just for the visuals and the storytelling but also because we can relate. We find ourselves in the struggles and the happiness, you never show just the positive aspects of living but also the grief and the sadness that sometimes accompany life.
Glad to see a video after so long. You are both so lovely and talented. I hope you can find your new direction and you are right, we do not need all these material things. We all have way too much. ❤
I just found you and this video. It was EXACTLY how I have been feeling for so long. I am not the story I’ve always been told or told myself. I am so much more. I have been on the discovery path for so long. I have read many books. Watched many videos and films. You name a guru or spiritual teacher and I have probably already studied them. While I got something from each of them I have never heard someone say it so succinctly as you did. Your line “I just don’t want to be trapped anymore” cut me to the core. Just 8 little words summed it all up. Thank you so much for making me feel way less alone and for giving me the perfect explanation. You have no idea what a difference you just made. I too may move to Portugal or somewhere else but I am going to find my bliss. At 61 years old I may not have as much time left but I refuse to live miserably one day more than I must. A million thank you’s.
So good to see you all! Loved every bit of this video. Can relate to all of it too. Thank you for articulating what many of us feel and can’t put into words. Speedy recovery to Hannah and Grayson! 💟 Maybe we’re all one at the end of the day like they say?
One of your best videos so far (I’ve been watching since it was you, Hannah and Grayson living in London)… because I’ve been feeling the same way lately, some sort of mid life crisis. I’ve taken my 6 year old out of school because he HATED it. If I could pack up and leave the country for somewhere like Portugal I would, unfortunately I just simply can’t afford to. But I look forward to following your family’s journey.
Loved this video ❤it made me emotional when talking about Grayson, as my son who is 7 is also the same with school and I also struggled back in the day, I would love to pull him out and home school but I'm totally on my own with him so it would be even harder than it already is.. You guys are so relatable and I've always enjoyed your content.. Running off abroad for the simpler life would also be amazing! Thank you for your relatable and lovely content ❤
So many of us are in the same boat. Both my kids don’t suit the school environment. I wish I had the skills and resources to homeschool them. I already experienced it somewhat during the COVID lockdown, so I know it isn’t really a better option.
So happy to know you're coming to Portugal. I live near Ericeira, a place that I know you loved. If you decide to come here and need help, let me know. I wish you all the luck in the world. Many kisses!
Interesting point of view, but bear in mind that school is school, and if your son goes to one in Portugal then the same will apply in terms of having to conform to "the system" and obey school rules. I think that this may be a case of the grass being greener on the other side as far as that goes. Also, life _is_ cheaper in Portugal, but its economy is still in the toilet after the great recession (Portugal is one of the PIGS countries that are in economic difficulty along with Italy, Greece and Spain) and its average incomes are among the lowest in Europe. However, maybe this won't matter if you have an income in GBP from TH-cam and/or can work remotely in UK-based jobs.
There are some very good points here. I live in Portugal and love it, but the school system is just as arbitrary as in the UK. In fact, I feel like kids are expected to do more exams (my son has just done his first national ones at age 7) and the general academic load is more challenging than in the UK (compared to when I went to school in the '90s). Also, homeschooling is not a legal option here unless you have a Master's degree and a native Portuguese speaker to teach your kids from home. Finally, here you are required to retake a year if you fail, and there are instances of classes with 16 year olds and 21 year olds in the same group. Oh one more thing, teachers are constantly on strike (there was another one last week) because they are paid terribly and often forced to work hundreds of miles away from where they live because their job placement is directed by central government. My point is, that everywhere has problems, and the education system isn't necessarily any better here.
Follow your hearts you guys. As a mom of a three year old & getting older myself I'm questioning a lot myself. Thank you for this video. The whole atmosphere & tone might be serious & yes sad. And yet I'm leaving watching it hopeful. All the best to you💙
Went to like this video at least 3 times, forgetting I had already liked it! Thanks for the interesting facts, the biohacks and the deep questions... always feels good (sort of) to wake up and reflect on life properly. Healing thoughts to Hannah and Grayson!
Two days ago I returned with my family at home… from long trip over Europe, by car from Czechia to Portugal - I got so inspired from yours videos, so I needed to do it so, was fun, bring us together, was difficult, was crazy… but we did it, and even Portugal is not our cup of tea, I knew we need to simplify our lives. And now you publish this, it’s basically the same I got in my mind during whole this trip. Thank you guys, you are inspiration, at least for us. ❤
Oh my skin crawls reading or hear our beautiful country using this horrible name Czechia 🤮 they seriously need to bring back Czech Republic everyone calls us still CzechoSlovakia anyway! No we’re just Chennai 🙄
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, your experiences, your family life, your ups and downs and dreames and nightmares. I haven't followed your content for a while, because I couldn't relate so much. I'm a queer woman, single, no kids living in Berlin in her 50th. So my life expierences are different. However with you being so honest, authentic I can relate and sympathize to much. Aren't we all wondering if we should change something in our life? Haven't we had our fair share of suffering in school for not conforming? Also great so see Hannah happy after surgery. All the best for a speedy recovery!. Camera, edit, storytelling also superb as always! ❤
I am fully with you on everything you said in this video!!! Loved it!!! Excited to see where the new chapter takes you and I am sure you will continue to create inspiring content!
Stef was really hope you and Hannah get to where you both feel is best for the family , I do think you totally underestimate how good your videos are , imo only think holding you back is you own outlook on your work , bloody love your videos, glad Hannah has gone through the op all ok ❤
One of your best videos, I related to every word. My family went through the same "crisis", relocated to Spain. Not easy at all (mostly due to language and distance from family), but don't regret it! not for a second. All the best to you and good luck on this journey.
Thank you Stef, I enjoyed this one! I must compliment Roo, his hair is looking great, love the cut he has had. He's definitely a lot better this time with a years progress of growing his hair ❤ love you guys! Hope Portugal is coming soon for you guys xx
You are extremely talented, your videos are like mini movies. The music, footage, timing, angles, narration. Really brilliant, wish your family all the best on your Portugal adventure 🩵
51 still digging, been digging probably from early teens.. Caring for mother and once she 'leaves' I'm out of this country to truly live.. Good for you for acting on your thoughts and emotions.🙂
You are overthinking the whole situation. If you can’t be happy with your family where you live, it’s not going to be that different wherever you go. I think right now it is focusing on the wellbeing of your kids (I’m sure they’ve made plenty of friends at school). From watching your videos, what seems to be missing is the sense of a community. Surrounding yourselves with good friends and family, I believe can make a difference.
I have to disagree, my family too feel the pain of living in the UK. At a time i loved my life, now i have young children i do not want to live in a state of worry as cost of living is going through the roof. The social media aspect, the school crisis, the crime rate and the feeling of being unsafe. We have been going to Portugal over the last 15 years and when we can financially we will too be in Portugal permanently. The life, people, and the environment my children will be raised in will be for the better.
@@budgetanewlife5744 Facebook has quite a lot of groups now where people are leaving Portugal and regretting their move. Why are there 200,000+ Portuguese in the UK?
so glad I decided to click and watch this video. impeccable editing & a video with ACTUAL substance which is just refreshing to see amongst the sea of vast bullshit on social media. keep going! ❤
Hannah is practising Yoga. In Yoga they teach Non-attachment. Attachment is one of the root causes of suffering. You're not having a 'mid-life crisis'. You're seeking freedom and peace.
thank you for continuing sharing your journeys 💖💖 thank you for telling abt exercises too, i've just instantly got up to wtite this and i'm gonna shake my lazy bones a bit
I wouldn’t normally comment, but this video was incredible, your words are so powerful, yet so calming… resonated with everything you said. Thank you so much 🫶🏽
Missed your videos a lot, they are so wonderfully done and it feels like hanging out with my cool older siblings or something 😂used to watch your videos a tonne especially re-watching while wfh and now am in hospital regularly so am enjoying a distraction as well😊
We’re homeschooling in the US and it so amazing! Lots of homeschoolers around us and the kids are turning out to be brilliant little weirdos in the absolute best of ways. ❤️ give it a go!
Best decision we ever made was homeschooling our girls. We also moved our family to Florida for more ☀️. It really helps with mood. We have a huge community now of homeschoolers too. Kids weren’t designed to sit in a building the whole day. None of us were. Your videos have always been THE BEST quality out there. Hopefully you still find it enjoyable for yourself.
Not sure what your options are in Bath but if you stick around for the next school year I recommend checking out outdoor schools or Montessori based education. Way more hands-on, active learning that is especially good for kids with learning differences/disabilities (i.e. ADHD)
I remember watching Grayson as a little baby, floating in a baby spa in London... It was one of the first videos of yours I saw and it was so sweet and so silly. Feels like ages ago now... I'm happy you're all finding your peace. Forever a fan here
Great & authentic content ! Thank you for sharing your thoughts about these important life-topics. I could certainly relate to your feelings regarding the school-system and the AI-problematic. I am originally from Germany and I immigrated with my children to South Africa, and never regretted this decision. I settled down in Somerset East / Eastern Cape recently and I was positively surprised regarding the beautiful properties at very reasonable prices :) I am establishing now a sanctuary for abandoned infants. All the best for you and your lovely family.
This... " School felt like a place where I would go to have tests that would quantifiably prove that I was stupid". I can relate to this so much being adhd and dyslexic. The journey to grow deeply and confidently into positive neurodivergent identity formation is so worth it and is the healing path for so many after academic trauma. “We are acceptable humans as is, not once we stop having ADHD. You do not need to be fixed because you are not a broken version of normal.” ~- Jessica McCabe
We left the Uk in our early twenties with two young kids. Being away from family is tough, especially as kids grow up and miss out on the extended family stuff i had growing up, but on balance it’s worth it. We enjoy life so much better here; better weather, better outdoor opportunities, more space. Good luck on your adventure, and I hope you find what you;re looking for. Worst case scenario, you go back to the UK with new memories and new experiences, that most of your friends and family will never have the luxury of.
I’m enjoying your video! I live in Portugal (also a Brit), and plan to move away from Porto this summer. Locations in and around the coast are costly for rental accommodations, so we’re headed inland. It tends to have more extreme weather (hot and cold), but we think that the savings and cost of living will be worth it in the near future. :)
So many are waking up- it’s great to see but also sad as all the good ones are leaving :( the ones that make Britain great ❤ hard working people are literally being crushed and squeezed. I feel like homeschooling my little girl and she’s only one so god knows how I’ll feel when she is old enough lol! We will miss you but good luck on your new adventure x
Fantastic video, confirming all the feels me and my wife are having. I returned from Italy yesterday getting a feeling for the place, also Greece is a big option. Unfortunately Brexit is making it really hard with visas, we need to be sure it’s the right place as we also have two young children. Good luck 😊
Iv watched you since Grayson was a baby but lost touch with you guys for a long while. But it’s so good to watch you again. Your videos are exactly what I needed today. Your videos are beautiful and you’ve reminded me how much I love them!
"Always take the stairs" Bio hack No.47 Leg Day never felt so good if one always takes the stairs. I adopted this rule working on the building sites to ensure I was fighting fit on the snowboarding slopes. Steph, when you know you know!!
Loved this one a lot! Couldn’t agree more!! It may feel like giving up but I think It’s a real privilege to be at a point in life where you can identify and connect with what truly fulfils you. Your boys are so lucky to have parents who did the work to get there! I wanted to ask Hannah, do you do your Pilates or yoga on the acupuncture mat? Or do you do the 20 mins first or exercise then 10 mins meditation alongside acupuncture? Thanks! 😊
Poor Grayson! I'll never forget the trauma of being called in to school when my daughter dislocated her knee. It's so awful to see them in so much pain :(
Have you guys thought about moving to Australia? Sydney & Melbourne are expensive but Perth is far more affordable in comparison. There’s beaches, a more laid back lifestyle, the great outdoors, good people and sun!
Fab vid. Gosh I really feel like you all would love living in Australia for a stint. You could find a school that was a good fit for Gray, and spend so much time outdoors and in nature. Not really sure though if it would be any easier financially. Where ever you all end up, it’ll be great, because you have each other.
First comment however I have been watching for some time now. I have recently had the same thought of questioning my purpose and lifestyle. Bound by the corporate lifestyle and general state of the uk. I question how having space and to live, to grow and connect with the earth without living ontop of one another is simply a pure luxury.. on a smaller scale we are selling up and moving out to seek a quieter life. An odd scenario where on finishing a large renovation that should be a forever home I find myself taking the jump and putting my time first, downsizing at 24, disregarding peer pressures and views of others. You can’t get time back. I hope you find your route to happiness.
Such a nice video. Editing always on point! Also, did you guys visit Aveiro in Portugal? It is quite close to Porto and it is less expensive to get a house there. Also, less traffic, less tourists, etc. but you are still very close to Porto and you have everything you need in the city of Aveiro.
We didn't mate. When we move we're going to rent for the first few months so we can travel around and find the best place for us, we'll try to check out Averio x
Loved that quote at the end. I get lost in the hustle and wanting more. I have now what I never dreamed I would have, somehow I still want more. It’s never ending.
It seems nearly everyone wants to move to Portugal. I have just walked the Fisherman’s Trail down the Portugese coast, it was beautiful, natural and unspoilt.
Thank you! I love listening to your thoughts and Life experiences since it seems i can Always relate to them. Thank you for Sharing them. You Cross my digital path regularly on TH-cam since Hannah was pregnant with Grayson. I Wish you all the best! Greetings from Germany
My parents left everything behind in their late forties to move across the pond, leaving everything behind, including friends and family. Only now do I realize how fucking brave that was at their age. Good luck to you both! Love you
Love your content and don't watch it often enough. The pull for a simpler life is real. There's so many of us feeling this and searching ways for a mortgage free easy existence. The system sucks. Travelling often and filing the cup helps.
Can really relate to the video like I'm sure many of us are and really engaging with all the other stories inbetween. With the long winters in the UK, that was enough for me and now all the other things that have come along such as inflation I too wish to escape to a more simple life. Thanks for sharing your words
Hey guys, have been watching you since like 2015/16. I understand the need to runaway from the monster that is mortgage and taxes and massive inflation. Just remember, even if you feel more free in Portugal, there will inevitably stuff that will bug you about living there - the slow bureaucracy, humidity etc. I really do have fingers crossed for you, truly, but please make sure not to shut the door in the UK completely. You never know.
Your way of thinking about school and now life in general , we as a family feel the same way! We’ve contemplated abroad too. We feel there is no help in Britain at all -companies are out to get you, the greed of everything going up- the cost of living … no wonder there is a mental health issue how can anyone afford anything these days 😢
I agree with most of this. But AI only has the info humans give it online so if nobody is doing content creation then the ai can’t keep providing temporally relevant answers. The priors remain constant and don’t reflect the new reality.
I've found that school can be an interesting subject. Went to an all-boys Catholic school in Manchester in the 70s (Johnny Marr of the Smiths was a classmate). It was pretty tough. Lots of sadistic teachers, rules. But in an odd way I've found a real happiness knowing I went thru that & that perhaps there was some logic in all that nonsense. Recently, we've started doing mini-reunions. Love them. Perhaps they're actually therapy sessions but highly enjoyable to tell our tales of craziness. But, of course, as you say, we all have our own roads to go down. Cool video.
I do agree that the cost of living crisis is real here and running away to a hot country sounds ideal...but you chose to live in one of the most expensive cities in the UK, bought a house in one of the most expensive parts of Bath, bought (or leased) a Tesla, one of the most expensive cars around, you seem to go out for coffees most day, buy all the nicest expensive food.... see where i'm going here!?
....yes!! and some parents are skipping meals to feed their children ......there's poor and there's 'poor'. People don't seem to be grateful even though they have quite a comfortable life
I agree but after watching the whole video is not all about the cost of living, it’s a lot more than that.
But also, it’s a life they could afford a few years ago so it is down to the cost of living that they can no longer afford it.
They took money from trusting people to invest in their new company, only to immediately spend it on going to Australia for a month!
Followed by then moving to Bath and never communicating to their investors again.
Voted for Brexit and now wants to ‘break up with Britain’
Despicable behaviour.
@@eurotrachow do you know they voted for Brexit? I don’t think so…
Because he said so at the time. 🤷🏻♀️
Feels good to be back gang :) .... (cue the 2 days of debilitating depression)
Stef, have you read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert? I wonder whether separating your creation from you and seeing yourself as a channel will get rid of the feelings after releasing it? ❤
Feels good to see you back 😊
Miss the Michalak videos and Hannah’s vlogs. They were the best on TH-cam…
Great to see you Stef.
What is your human design, Stef? If you are a projector it is natural to want recognition.
Such a good storyteller. Really enjoyed this one. It's exactly how many of us feel right now.
It's always a joy to hear from you guys. Such a heartfelt video - I hope you find your way, wherever your feet may take you. 🥰
It all starts with a leap of faith. We are here for such a short time and life can be hard and challenging. Well done on recognizing that you need to make a change. Much respect!
I'm so with you, Stef. My house (or shack!) in the Canary Islands is worth nothing compared to my 'starter' home in Surrey. But it is worth so much more to me because its given me freedom. I have two boys, age 2 and 8 months and we are together every day. Our big dramas are the chickens escaping... there's none of that dull, incesant noise that I had back in my old life. I, of course, unfortunately brought myself along in this life so my usual cycles of emotions (like Hannah) have joined me but I'm not anxious or depressed anymore... I think its a great idea to move and give yourself that space to create for those right reasons you mentioned.
So much love for you guys, you've got this! ❤
Great to have you and your family back! Been following your chanel since your time in London, when Grayson was little. Sending lots of love and good thoughts!
Gosh you are so talented at content creation. Everytime i watch one of your videos it takes me on such a journey. I can relate to so much you speak about. Your family really do deserve the world. Have been here from the beginning and its lovely to see how you have both grown and blossomed! I really hope one day you will all find your happy place. I know lots of us are searching for it sometimes forgetting its not always a place but a feeling inside ❤
my god this pulled at the heart strings, what an amazing creator you are, just incredible. Thank you.
Thank you for being here ❤️
So lovely to see you! So many important conversations had in this video Stef and please continue to have them. I’m raising two boys and the structure of school has been a huge pressure and source of anxiety but we’re getting through it, also think a lot of us are feeling this right now. Love this journey for you and can’t wait to see you all live a life that’s authentically you. Loved Hannah’s biohacks and also loved the soundtrack! Hannah also looks fab in that black sweatshirt and gold earrings! ❤❤❤
Living in New Zealand for 10yrs now and OZ for 6yrs before that.. I left the UK when I was 28yrs old. (Now 45).
I grew up in London.. I’m close to nature now in NZ, have 2 kids and it’s been so hard setting up a new life.. away from everything I knew.
But I wouldn’t change it.. I have space.. freedom and can see the sky.. walk on a beach whenever I want and virtually have no people if I don’t want to be near them..
You never regret it.. the kids love the outdoors and something I never got to experience when I was small.. I’m giving that to them now..
We go camping too.. we have the best of both worlds. I live in Auckland. But can leave it when I get the chance. ❤
It seems that many of us are going through a mass awakening. We see the failure of our systems. Our governments, healthcare, education, media. It's all burning and crashing. We are thinking of leaving our home country for new environs as well. It has become almost impossible to thrive here. Wishing you all the best in following your heart. So long as you have each other, that's what's most important.🙏🏻🩵🪷
Glad to hear that Hannah is feeling so good after her surgery. Wishing her all the best in her recovery.
I resonate with wanting to leave the country too. Thanks Steph for being so honest and raw. You always give me food for thought.
I have had minimal outside validation as have experienced pretty debilitating social anxiety and struggled to put myself out in the world at all. So I've had to support myself from within, but now I need to move into more self-expression. We all have such unique journeys.
I’m experiencing very similar things to you. It’s really tough and we are all on very different journeys, that hold so many similar truths at their core. 😊
I'm in the US and this deeply resonates with me. I also really appreciate your honesty. Have you seen The Newbys channel? They bought a farmhouse in northern Portugal a few years ago are vlogging it. I would check out northern Portugal as it's increadibly beautiful and you could grow your own food and be self sufficient. If you had enough space, Hannah could hold yoga retreats as well :) Can't wait to see what you do next! 💛✨
That’s such great suggestions! I imagine North Portugal is also more affordable as well.
If it possible I wouldn't invest everything into Portugal, the everyday things that bug you about here will inevitably happen there too, in possibly different form but it's worth considering! And the cheaper cost of living there doesn't apply to cities, but if you live rurally the issue of accessibility to work or school especially for the boys growing up could be a problem. If you do sell, I would consider renting a small place in a part of Portugal that you love and really waiting to see if it is for you long term. You could buy a small cottage or piece of land here in a cheaper/rural but lovely part of the UK that is a bit cheaper - Bath/Bristol way is very expensive but you could look elsewhere for something. Or a fun project to get stuck into! A change of pace and life doesn't necessarily mean leaving the country! Just my 2 cents! Good luck with it guys :)
Going on vacation is so different than living somewhere. Touristy areas also cater to English speakers more than small communities where it would be affordable to live. If school is difficult for Grayson I worry about learning Portuguese especially if being homeschooled and surrounded by a family who doesn’t speak Portuguese. Living a simple life in Portugal may be best for adults and young children but tough for teenagers. There are no easy answers I’m afraid. Sadly if they have to sell the house it becomes much more difficult to ever return to the UK.
I have a good permanent job in public service in Ireland still not enough to get a home. I’m living at home with my parents and will never own my own home till they pass. That reality we live in now be sad.
I feel you. Same situation here in Munich. Good job in public service, but i earn way too little to afford my own home (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen). Instead I live at my parent’s house at the age of 34. The system really makes me sick to the bones and it seems that there is no way out.
I loved this video and could relate to your feelings about school, i hated it from the first day walking or should i say getting dragged through those gates kicking and screaming. I always felt anxious and always feeling not good enough at anything. They were always testing us on something or other and of course i was never as good as some of the other kids, i left school with no confidence at all it was awful.
On a happier note i wish you Hannah and the boys an amazing wonderful life in Portugal, go for it we only live once, please keep up the amazing videos sending you all love from bonny Scotland x
I think validation goes both ways, it's comforting knowing other people are going through similar things as us. I think many of us would agree that we enjoy your family's videos not just for the visuals and the storytelling but also because we can relate. We find ourselves in the struggles and the happiness, you never show just the positive aspects of living but also the grief and the sadness that sometimes accompany life.
Glad to see a video after so long. You are both so lovely and talented. I hope you can find your new direction and you are right, we do not need all these material things. We all have way too much. ❤
I just found you and this video. It was EXACTLY how I have been feeling for so long. I am not the story I’ve always been told or told myself. I am so much more. I have been on the discovery path for so long. I have read many books. Watched many videos and films. You name a guru or spiritual teacher and I have probably already studied them. While I got something from each of them I have never heard someone say it so succinctly as you did. Your line “I just don’t want to be trapped anymore” cut me to the core. Just 8 little words summed it all up. Thank you so much for making me feel way less alone and for giving me the perfect explanation. You have no idea what a difference you just made. I too may move to Portugal or somewhere else but I am going to find my bliss. At 61 years old I may not have as much time left but I refuse to live miserably one day more than I must. A million thank you’s.
@@sheshe902 fuck yeah 🥰🥳☺️🙌
I feel as we get older we don’t want the same things we did before and that’s a huge growth. Wish you the best for your journey.
So good to see you all! Loved every bit of this video. Can relate to all of it too. Thank you for articulating what many of us feel and can’t put into words. Speedy recovery to Hannah and Grayson! 💟 Maybe we’re all one at the end of the day like they say?
This made me feel so emotional! Love this for your family! ❤
One of your best videos so far (I’ve been watching since it was you, Hannah and Grayson living in London)… because I’ve been feeling the same way lately, some sort of mid life crisis. I’ve taken my 6 year old out of school because he HATED it. If I could pack up and leave the country for somewhere like Portugal I would, unfortunately I just simply can’t afford to. But I look forward to following your family’s journey.
Loved this video ❤it made me emotional when talking about Grayson, as my son who is 7 is also the same with school and I also struggled back in the day, I would love to pull him out and home school but I'm totally on my own with him so it would be even harder than it already is.. You guys are so relatable and I've always enjoyed your content.. Running off abroad for the simpler life would also be amazing!
Thank you for your relatable and lovely content ❤
So many of us are in the same boat. Both my kids don’t suit the school environment. I wish I had the skills and resources to homeschool them. I already experienced it somewhat during the COVID lockdown, so I know it isn’t really a better option.
Yes, it’s the awakening ! It’s happening spontaneously all over the world. We’re starting to remember who we really are. Wishing you all the best ❤
So happy to know you're coming to Portugal. I live near Ericeira, a place that I know you loved. If you decide to come here and need help, let me know. I wish you all the luck in the world.
Many kisses!
Interesting point of view, but bear in mind that school is school, and if your son goes to one in Portugal then the same will apply in terms of having to conform to "the system" and obey school rules. I think that this may be a case of the grass being greener on the other side as far as that goes. Also, life _is_ cheaper in Portugal, but its economy is still in the toilet after the great recession (Portugal is one of the PIGS countries that are in economic difficulty along with Italy, Greece and Spain) and its average incomes are among the lowest in Europe. However, maybe this won't matter if you have an income in GBP from TH-cam and/or can work remotely in UK-based jobs.
There are some very good points here. I live in Portugal and love it, but the school system is just as arbitrary as in the UK. In fact, I feel like kids are expected to do more exams (my son has just done his first national ones at age 7) and the general academic load is more challenging than in the UK (compared to when I went to school in the '90s). Also, homeschooling is not a legal option here unless you have a Master's degree and a native Portuguese speaker to teach your kids from home. Finally, here you are required to retake a year if you fail, and there are instances of classes with 16 year olds and 21 year olds in the same group. Oh one more thing, teachers are constantly on strike (there was another one last week) because they are paid terribly and often forced to work hundreds of miles away from where they live because their job placement is directed by central government.
My point is, that everywhere has problems, and the education system isn't necessarily any better here.
Follow your hearts you guys. As a mom of a three year old & getting older myself I'm questioning a lot myself. Thank you for this video. The whole atmosphere & tone might be serious & yes sad. And yet I'm leaving watching it hopeful. All the best to you💙
Went to like this video at least 3 times, forgetting I had already liked it! Thanks for the interesting facts, the biohacks and the deep questions... always feels good (sort of) to wake up and reflect on life properly.
Healing thoughts to Hannah and Grayson!
Two days ago I returned with my family at home… from long trip over Europe, by car from Czechia to Portugal - I got so inspired from yours videos, so I needed to do it so, was fun, bring us together, was difficult, was crazy… but we did it, and even Portugal is not our cup of tea, I knew we need to simplify our lives. And now you publish this, it’s basically the same I got in my mind during whole this trip. Thank you guys, you are inspiration, at least for us. ❤
Oh my skin crawls reading or hear our beautiful country using this horrible name Czechia 🤮 they seriously need to bring back Czech Republic everyone calls us still CzechoSlovakia anyway! No we’re just Chennai 🙄
@@alenkamoore7262 mate pravdu, bohužel si na to v zahraničí víceméně zvykli, nevím proč.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, your experiences, your family life, your ups and downs and dreames and nightmares. I haven't followed your content for a while, because I couldn't relate so much. I'm a queer woman, single, no kids living in Berlin in her 50th. So my life expierences are different. However with you being so honest, authentic I can relate and sympathize to much. Aren't we all wondering if we should change something in our life? Haven't we had our fair share of suffering in school for not conforming? Also great so see Hannah happy after surgery. All the best for a speedy recovery!. Camera, edit, storytelling also superb as always! ❤
this video is so authentic, relatable and so beautifully made 🙏🏻
I am fully with you on everything you said in this video!!! Loved it!!! Excited to see where the new chapter takes you and I am sure you will continue to create inspiring content!
Stef was really hope you and Hannah get to where you both feel is best for the family , I do think you totally underestimate how good your videos are , imo only think holding you back is you own outlook on your work , bloody love your videos, glad Hannah has gone through the op all ok ❤
Used to love this channel, keep dipping in and out but it’s so cynical and depressing now, so dark.
You sound like the sort of person that would be much happier watching Lydia elyse millen . Her world is perfect until she gets a bad haircut.
@@andreadarvay6424 can’t stand her.
One of your best videos, I related to every word. My family went through the same "crisis", relocated to Spain. Not easy at all (mostly due to language and distance from family), but don't regret it! not for a second.
All the best to you and good luck on this journey.
Thank you Stef, I enjoyed this one! I must compliment Roo, his hair is looking great, love the cut he has had. He's definitely a lot better this time with a years progress of growing his hair ❤ love you guys! Hope Portugal is coming soon for you guys xx
You are extremely talented, your videos are like mini movies. The music, footage, timing, angles, narration. Really brilliant, wish your family all the best on your Portugal adventure 🩵
Have been watching you for years guys (probably since 2015?) Hope everything works out with Portugal ❤ and great vlog!
Absolutely loved it ❤ as always great food for thought. You are on an awesome adventure, so much growth and the kids are the perfect age for it. ❤
51 still digging, been digging probably from early teens.. Caring for mother and once she 'leaves' I'm out of this country to truly live.. Good for you for acting on your thoughts and emotions.🙂
You are overthinking the whole situation. If you can’t be happy with your family where you live, it’s not going to be that different wherever you go. I think right now it is focusing on the wellbeing of your kids (I’m sure they’ve made plenty of friends at school). From watching your videos, what seems to be missing is the sense of a community. Surrounding yourselves with good friends and family, I believe can make a difference.
I have to disagree, my family too feel the pain of living in the UK. At a time i loved my life, now i have young children i do not want to live in a state of worry as cost of living is going through the roof. The social media aspect, the school crisis, the crime rate and the feeling of being unsafe. We have been going to Portugal over the last 15 years and when we can financially we will too be in Portugal permanently. The life, people, and the environment my children will be raised in will be for the better.
@@budgetanewlife5744 Facebook has quite a lot of groups now where people are leaving Portugal and regretting their move. Why are there 200,000+ Portuguese in the UK?
so glad I decided to click and watch this video. impeccable editing & a video with ACTUAL substance which is just refreshing to see amongst the sea of vast bullshit on social media. keep going! ❤
Hannah is practising Yoga. In Yoga they teach Non-attachment. Attachment is one of the root causes of suffering. You're not having a 'mid-life crisis'. You're seeking freedom and peace.
thank you for continuing sharing your journeys 💖💖 thank you for telling abt exercises too, i've just instantly got up to wtite this and i'm gonna shake my lazy bones a bit
I wouldn’t normally comment, but this video was incredible, your words are so powerful, yet so calming… resonated with everything you said. Thank you so much 🫶🏽
Missed your videos a lot, they are so wonderfully done and it feels like hanging out with my cool older siblings or something 😂used to watch your videos a tonne especially re-watching while wfh and now am in hospital regularly so am enjoying a distraction as well😊
Top video!! so glad I stumbled on this. You are so watchable as a young family.
We’re homeschooling in the US and it so amazing! Lots of homeschoolers around us and the kids are turning out to be brilliant little weirdos in the absolute best of ways. ❤️ give it a go!
Best decision we ever made was homeschooling our girls. We also moved our family to Florida for more ☀️. It really helps with mood. We have a huge community now of homeschoolers too. Kids weren’t designed to sit in a building the whole day. None of us were. Your videos have always been THE BEST quality out there. Hopefully you still find it enjoyable for yourself.
I’m so happy for you. I would love to do the same for my little family! Please keep me in your prayers. 🙂🙏
This video spoke to my soul, especially on the school bit, couldn’t agree more. Thank you
Not sure what your options are in Bath but if you stick around for the next school year I recommend checking out outdoor schools or Montessori based education. Way more hands-on, active learning that is especially good for kids with learning differences/disabilities (i.e. ADHD)
I remember watching Grayson as a little baby, floating in a baby spa in London... It was one of the first videos of yours I saw and it was so sweet and so silly. Feels like ages ago now... I'm happy you're all finding your peace. Forever a fan here
Great & authentic content ! Thank you for sharing your thoughts about these important life-topics. I could certainly relate to your feelings regarding the school-system and the AI-problematic. I am originally from Germany and I immigrated with my children to South Africa, and never regretted this decision. I settled down in Somerset East / Eastern Cape recently and I was positively surprised regarding the beautiful properties at very reasonable prices :) I am establishing now a sanctuary for abandoned infants. All the best for you and your lovely family.
This... " School felt like a place where I would go to have tests that would quantifiably prove that I was stupid". I can relate to this so much being adhd and dyslexic. The journey to grow deeply and confidently into positive neurodivergent identity formation is so worth it and is the healing path for so many after academic trauma. “We are acceptable humans as is, not once we stop having ADHD. You do not need to be fixed because you are not a broken version of normal.” ~- Jessica McCabe
We left the Uk in our early twenties with two young kids. Being away from family is tough, especially as kids grow up and miss out on the extended family stuff i had growing up, but on balance it’s worth it. We enjoy life so much better here; better weather, better outdoor opportunities, more space. Good luck on your adventure, and I hope you find what you;re looking for. Worst case scenario, you go back to the UK with new memories and new experiences, that most of your friends and family will never have the luxury of.
Wow I resonated with this so much. Thank you, as always, for sharing 💕
I’m enjoying your video! I live in Portugal (also a Brit), and plan to move away from Porto this summer. Locations in and around the coast are costly for rental accommodations, so we’re headed inland. It tends to have more extreme weather (hot and cold), but we think that the savings and cost of living will be worth it in the near future. :)
So many are waking up- it’s great to see but also sad as all the good ones are leaving :( the ones that make Britain great ❤ hard working people are literally being crushed and squeezed. I feel like homeschooling my little girl and she’s only one so god knows how I’ll feel when she is old enough lol! We will miss you but good luck on your new adventure x
Favorite video of all your uploads. Thank you.
Wow, thanks! But id give it a 37/100
Fantastic video, confirming all the feels me and my wife are having. I returned from Italy yesterday getting a feeling for the place, also Greece is a big option. Unfortunately Brexit is making it really hard with visas, we need to be sure it’s the right place as we also have two young children. Good luck 😊
Iv watched you since Grayson was a baby but lost touch with you guys for a long while. But it’s so good to watch you again. Your videos are exactly what I needed today. Your videos are beautiful and you’ve reminded me how much I love them!
That warms my cold black heart Charlie :) xxx
"Always take the stairs" Bio hack No.47 Leg Day never felt so good if one always takes the stairs. I adopted this rule working on the building sites to ensure I was fighting fit on the snowboarding slopes. Steph, when you know you know!!
Loved this one a lot! Couldn’t agree more!! It may feel like giving up but I think It’s a real privilege to be at a point in life where you can identify and connect with what truly fulfils you. Your boys are so lucky to have parents who did the work to get there! I wanted to ask Hannah, do you do your Pilates or yoga on the acupuncture mat? Or do you do the 20 mins first or exercise then 10 mins meditation alongside acupuncture? Thanks! 😊
Loved this video, I'm excited for the next steps in your journey :)
Poor Grayson! I'll never forget the trauma of being called in to school when my daughter dislocated her knee. It's so awful to see them in so much pain :(
I moved to Portugal 11 years ago on a whim and I'm still here and it feels like home :)
Have you guys thought about moving to Australia? Sydney & Melbourne are expensive but Perth is far more affordable in comparison. There’s beaches, a more laid back lifestyle, the great outdoors, good people and sun!
Fab vid. Gosh I really feel like you all would love living in Australia for a stint. You could find a school that was a good fit for Gray, and spend so much time outdoors and in nature. Not really sure though if it would be any easier financially. Where ever you all end up, it’ll be great, because you have each other.
We moved to australia from
England 2.5 years ago and would 100% recommend!
Australia 🦘 is full of English and Irish invaders for the longest all convicts and pommes from the UK in Australia.
First comment however I have been watching for some time now. I have recently had the same thought of questioning my purpose and lifestyle. Bound by the corporate lifestyle and general state of the uk. I question how having space and to live, to grow and connect with the earth without living ontop of one another is simply a pure luxury.. on a smaller scale we are selling up and moving out to seek a quieter life. An odd scenario where on finishing a large renovation that should be a forever home I find myself taking the jump and putting my time first, downsizing at 24, disregarding peer pressures and views of others. You can’t get time back. I hope you find your route to happiness.
Such a nice video. Editing always on point!
Also, did you guys visit Aveiro in Portugal? It is quite close to Porto and it is less expensive to get a house there. Also, less traffic, less tourists, etc. but you are still very close to Porto and you have everything you need in the city of Aveiro.
We didn't mate. When we move we're going to rent for the first few months so we can travel around and find the best place for us, we'll try to check out Averio x
Loved that quote at the end. I get lost in the hustle and wanting more. I have now what I never dreamed I would have, somehow I still want more. It’s never ending.
It seems nearly everyone wants to move to Portugal. I have just walked the Fisherman’s Trail down the Portugese coast, it was beautiful, natural and unspoilt.
Lovely video :-) my favourite sunday moment is back
Life is for living ✨
Thank you for sharing ❤ take care.
Would love to watch you on this journey Stef. Good luck.
Thank you! I love listening to your thoughts and Life experiences since it seems i can Always relate to them. Thank you for Sharing them. You Cross my digital path regularly on TH-cam since Hannah was pregnant with Grayson. I Wish you all the best! Greetings from Germany
Take the time off you need! ❤ We'll survive
House prices are predicted to grow 3%/year. So stick your money into a global low cost index fund to achieve on avg 8%/year.
My parents left everything behind in their late forties to move across the pond, leaving everything behind, including friends and family. Only now do I realize how fucking brave that was at their age. Good luck to you both! Love you
Oh my goodness I relate sooooo much.
Love your content and don't watch it often enough. The pull for a simpler life is real. There's so many of us feeling this and searching ways for a mortgage free easy existence. The system sucks. Travelling often and filing the cup helps.
Hannah would you consider making a video on bio hacking/ alternative therapies/ supplements at all? I’d love to learn more
Can really relate to the video like I'm sure many of us are and really engaging with all the other stories inbetween. With the long winters in the UK, that was enough for me and now all the other things that have come along such as inflation I too wish to escape to a more simple life. Thanks for sharing your words
Great to see you guys again! Wishing you all the luck with your journey & excited to see more ❤
I’ve loved this channel for years but the whining is insane.
Hey guys, have been watching you since like 2015/16. I understand the need to runaway from the monster that is mortgage and taxes and massive inflation. Just remember, even if you feel more free in Portugal, there will inevitably stuff that will bug you about living there - the slow bureaucracy, humidity etc. I really do have fingers crossed for you, truly, but please make sure not to shut the door in the UK completely. You never know.
Beautiful track at the end!
Your way of thinking about school and now life in general , we as a family feel the same way! We’ve contemplated abroad too. We feel there is no help in Britain at all -companies are out to get you, the greed of everything going up- the cost of living … no wonder there is a mental health issue how can anyone afford anything these days 😢
I agree with most of this. But AI only has the info humans give it online so if nobody is doing content creation then the ai can’t keep providing temporally relevant answers. The priors remain constant and don’t reflect the new reality.
"The Dictionary Of Obscure Sorrows", Wow, that looks great. I never would find things like that without watching you.
Thank you so much for your videos❤️
Yep, public schools, in my case, very strict Catholic schools, messed me up more than I learned stuff that was actually useful in my life.
I've found that school can be an interesting subject. Went to an all-boys Catholic school in Manchester in the 70s (Johnny Marr of the Smiths was a classmate). It was pretty tough. Lots of sadistic teachers, rules. But in an odd way I've found a real happiness knowing I went thru that & that perhaps there was some logic in all that nonsense. Recently, we've started doing mini-reunions. Love them. Perhaps they're actually therapy sessions but highly enjoyable to tell our tales of craziness. But, of course, as you say, we all have our own roads to go down.
Cool video.
Awesome comment to read. ❤️
Schools are still like that in any country….
I’m so happy for your family! 💛
Tried? Looks to me like you've done really well for yourselves. That gives you options at least. Hope you all find your happy place.