Ian W
@cyberescue1
English expat in Bulgaria
Forum posts
228
Contacts
4
About me
English
Lives in Varna
Speaks English, some French, little Italian, little Bulgarian.
Registration: 01 January 2023
About
English guy, from London and Scotland, moved to BG, Aug 2020, first living in Veliko Tarnovo, then, from December 2020, in Varna. Married to a half Bulgarian, half Russian lady, with two kids.
Loving Varna and never to return to the UK.
I left the UK for around 33 reasons. Pm me if you want the 33 reasons. Love life here and never want to return to broken Blighty.
Occupation
I am Managerial for Last job in the UK was working in Retail - Supermarket chain in the UK
Education
Banff and Buchan College
Vocational Certificate, IT conputing
2009
City Literary Institute
Higher National Diploma, Counselling
1996
RoSPA (Royal Society of Prevention of Accidents)
Vocational Certificate, Advanced Police Driving (attained Grade 1)
1985
RTITB (Road Transport Industry Training Board) RSA Certificate of Professional Competence in National Road Haulage.
Vocational Training Cert., Road Transportation
1983
My expat journey
Varna, Bulgaria
When I decided to emigrate from London, UK, in 2014, my first choice was South America - Chile was at the top of the list. I had a criteria list, as to what I wanted to achieve, moving to another country - climate, cost of living, stable political situation, low cost housing, people I could integrate with, good infrastructure, food I enjoyed. Whilst Chile ticked all those boxes, it also had two major negatives - large earthquakes and not being able to have a bank account for over two years.
With political changes rapidly happening in Europe, I decided to look at Eastern Europe, as an alternative to South America. I researched Poland, Hungary, Czechia (Czech Republic), Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. What made me choose Bulgaria? Firstly, a friend on social media, who I met face to face with in Manchester, suggested I come to Bulgaria, where she lived with her husband. I made four trips over two and half years. It would have been a shorter period, but breaking my hip in a work accident, delayed things by 14 months.
My four trips were to Veliko Tarnovo, via Sofía. My friend lived in a village nearby.
I met with other expats on my third and fourth trips. Was the country love at first sight? Pretty much, but I had loads of questions.
In my view, The biggest concern and hurdle was the language, because not only did I know nothing of Bulgarian, I couldn't even read the words. But, I'm not one for giving in at the first hurdle and I go to on trying until I succeed. After the second trip, I knew I wanted to move to Bulgaria and by putting my trust in a number of expats and Bulgarians, I made it happen. What do you psychologically need to move? Motivation, determination and patience! If you don't have motivation, it will never happen for you. If you don't have determination, you won't see it through to completion and if you don't have patience, things my go pear Shaped!
I had planned on moving from my South London bedsit in September 2020 and, thinking I had plenty of time, I was slow to commence packing up my wears. But, suddenly this changed, as the expat doing my removals, needed to move me a month earlier, meaning I had just 16 days to pack everything - a mammoth feat, when looking around my very crammed bedsit. I worked on packing an average of seven boxes a day, estimating I'd have to 110 boxes and packing more here I could - there were plenty of times when I questioned whether or not I could do it, especially, as I was still recovering from two operations on my hip, broken in four places!
But will and determination prevailed and I finished two days early.
The day of the removal, was strange for me - leaving an area I'd known well for eight years and saying goodbye to many work colleagues and friends. But, I knew in my heart, I was doing the right thing and quality of life in the UK was deteriorating rapidly, worsened by the Covid situation. I escaped just in time.
My furniture left in a van and trailer on August 20th 2020. I left two days later, after two nights in two hotels, so that I could hand back my rented bedsit and relax a little, before the journey.
I flew to Sofia, where my estate agent met me and we drove to Veliko Tarnovo. He had arranged a brand new, one bed apartment, in a quiet street, in the centre of the city.
I arrived on a Thursday and my things arrived on the Saturday. It all went perfectly and according to plan.
I couldn't look back. I didn't want to look back, but, of course, some of my friends were eager to know how I was getting on.
I lived and loved VT for three and a half months, but life's never boring! On October 5th, 2020, I met my wife to be! We lived together with her children, for a month and a half, in an apartment, right on the edge of VT. But, she wasn't happy in VT and so, we decided at looking to move to Varna. Once again, will and determination prevailed and, not only did we have to pack hers and the children's stuff up, but I had all my stuff too. Mercifully, a sizeable chunk of my chattels were being stored in my garage, below my apartment, ready boxed.
We moved to Varna on 10th December 2020, renting a large apartments in the Chaika area. Whilst there were aspects of VT I missed, Varna grew very quickly and favourably on me.
January 2021 and we decided to get married. After a lot of bureaucracy, dealing with the British Embassy and Bulgarian authorities, we married in Varna on May 14th, 2021. Our wedding was special. We had two friends as witnesses, a couple, who coincidentally had their wedding anniversary on the same day. We learnt too, that May 14th is a lucky day to have a wedding! I felt very proud of my achievements so far. In March 2021 my father died, aged 95, in a nursing home in London. Covid restrictions prevented me from travelling back to London. But as sad as that was, I now had my own family - albeit I'd started a little late at 60 years of age. I marked the funeral of my father with a white rose, dropped into the Black Sea.
Later that year, in October and in December, I finally received compensation from my work accident and, also received an inheritance from my father. We decided to use some of it, to buy property and in April 2022, we bought a three bedroom maisonette. Two months later, we bought a studio apartment and in December 2022, we bought two garages and a parking space. Needless to say, we are renting the studio, garages and parking space. - good passive income, to supplement my pension. My wife, who is Bulgarian, works too.
So, life's great. In fact I am struggling to think of a better time since my childhood.
Would I return to the UK? No. Why not? For those who have their eyes open and are "awake" it's obvious, but, the UK is no longer a safe place to live, has an horrendous cost of living, is over crowded and has high crime rates, most of which goes undetected.
What do I love most about Bulgaria? Freedom and liberation - something the UK has completely lost.
Retired from various occupations, including...
Self employed - Road transportation, chauffeur, boarding cattery proprietor, computer technician, locksmith.
Varna and Bulgaria give you freedom, liberation and a good quality of living.
On the negative side, too much bureaucracy, bad roads and pavements.
Balham, England, England
Worked in retail, for a large supermarket. Long hours, low pay, lived in a rented bedsit, poor quality of life, as high cost of living.
Retail, worked for a large supermarket chain.
Balham was quite sociable
Dirty streets, high crime rate, dangerous, expensive, poor quality of living.
Activity
How many houses do you have? by Zooldrool
It seems like a lot of folk here more than one house (or a flat in the city and house in a village etc). If so how many do you have and is it a burden with the upkeep or dream lifestyle.We have one in the city and one on the coast but I am thinking ...
@JimJ We're pretty much following what you've stated in your first paragraph, for the small block we live in.As far as I know though, never been asked by the Municipality or Mayor to produce any proof.As for the Studio in the large block, they ... Read More
How many houses do you have? by Zooldrool
It seems like a lot of folk here more than one house (or a flat in the city and house in a village etc). If so how many do you have and is it a burden with the upkeep or dream lifestyle.We have one in the city and one on the coast but I am thinking ...
@JimJ Interesting.I own an apartment in a two blocks, one small block, one big. The small one has just six apartments. We used to have a management company, to clean the floors, repair lighting (no lift) but we got fed up with their poor standard. ... Read More
How many houses do you have? by Zooldrool
It seems like a lot of folk here more than one house (or a flat in the city and house in a village etc). If so how many do you have and is it a burden with the upkeep or dream lifestyle.We have one in the city and one on the coast but I am thinking ...
@Zooldrool We have two apartments in Varna.One is the one we live in; it's a three bedroom maisonette.The other is a studio apartment, eight minutes walk from home, that we Airbnb.The studio is work, but not too difficult, because it's a small ... Read More
Been extremely ill. Been in hospital for 4 days now by cyberescue1
I was admitted to St Marina Hospital on Thursday night, after walking in to A&E with my wife.This is what I posted on Facebook, as for many, especially those in or near Varna, it will give information on what the medical service is like here ...
@janemulberry I'm very lucky, jane, married to my wife who is a GP and knows many people in the Varna medical world, many she met whilst training.It was a shock to say the least, as it was so sudden and the time it took from arriving at A&E, ... Read More
Been extremely ill. Been in hospital for 4 days now by cyberescue1
I was admitted to St Marina Hospital on Thursday night, after walking in to A&E with my wife.This is what I posted on Facebook, as for many, especially those in or near Varna, it will give information on what the medical service is like here ...
@Snowball6 Well that's an interesting view, because my wife, who had lived in Varna most of her life and who is a doctor herself, is pretty critical of system in Varna.That said, she has a lot of positive words for how we've been treated this time ... Read More
Been extremely ill. Been in hospital for 4 days now
I was admitted to St Marina Hospital on Thursday night, after walking in to A&E with my wife.This is what I posted on Facebook, as for many, especially those in or near Varna, it will give information on what the medical service is like here ... Read More
Cost of owning a cat in Bulgaria by JimJ
Pet food is a bigger cost, more expensive in Bg.... - @janemulberry "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche! " 😁
@JimJ Ours (4) will eat almost anything. We're buying liquid cat snacks in tubed sachets, just tear the top and squeeze a little at a time, for them to take - five in a box, 90 cents. Then their main food is DM own brand pouches, 12 in a box, 4 ... Read More
Cost of owning a cat in Bulgaria by JimJ
Pet food is a bigger cost, more expensive in Bg.... - @janemulberry "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche! " 😁
@janemulberry We buy Turkish or Romanian brands, way cheaper than the mainstream Western European / USA stuff. Read More
Increasing Property Prices by JimJ
Members might be interested/amused to learn that the cost of a GARAGE in the "coloured parking zones" (Blue/Green) in Sofia is now over €3,200/m²! 🤑
@JimJ Foxy Tornado. Soft, good absorbancy, good perforations - consistent. Good size, bigger than most, sheet shape consistent - many are not. Stronger than most, no bits falling off whilst wiping , 250 sheets per roll.freshhome dot bg Read More
Increasing Property Prices by JimJ
Members might be interested/amused to learn that the cost of a GARAGE in the "coloured parking zones" (Blue/Green) in Sofia is now over €3,200/m²! 🤑
As Jane says, the cost of living in Bulgaria has most definitely gone up. I live in the second most expensive city, Varna and my wife says we're getting ripped off in this city. However, I've put in place ways to save money. I shop around - the ... Read More
Is it a requirement to register with GP by jeanmandredeix
It has just occurred to me that now we have our residency is it necessary to register and pay into the health system? Happy to pay, that isn’t my issue, just don’t want to go for checks.We obviously have our private health cover and have ...
It would be worth considering paying into the public system - I certainly do. Reason being, not only will you get treated at public hospitals, but you can often get treated at private ones too, depending on your condition and where you live.If the ... Read More
Increasing Property Prices by JimJ
Members might be interested/amused to learn that the cost of a GARAGE in the "coloured parking zones" (Blue/Green) in Sofia is now over €3,200/m²! 🤑
@JimJ It's getting like that in Varna too. In January, they extended the Blue Zone, and a whole chunk of Varna suddenly became paid parking, both residents and visitors. This had a result of many moving their cars to the areas that are still free, ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
@JimJ Good luck Jim. Hope you mend quickly!I shall need a new hip replacement in around four years time, to replace the exist one. Read More
Congratulations Bulgaria by SimCityAT
Eurovision 2026: Bulgaria beats Israel to win song contest - as UK comes last with one point Bulgaria beats Israel to win song contest - as UK comes last with one point
Living in Varna, where Dara lives, we get to hear it incessantly - no doubt, for the next 12 months. It's all we hear now going into cafés and restaurants.I think I preferred Tommy Cash's Espresso Macchaitto.As for the the British song - "Oh ... Read More
Suggestions for a short break? by jeanmandredeix
Has anyone got a suggestion for an area for a short break on the coast? Somewhere that is quiet and polar opposite to Sunny Beach? Would like to do a short break with the dog before summer arrives. Thanks.
@jeanmandredeix Kavarna, further up from Balchik, has a beautiful beach. The town is small, but has decent enough infrastructure for a short break. You can also visit Cape Kaliakra, about 20 mins drive from Kavarna. If you like mussels, you can ... Read More