We moved to South West Wales in March 2024 — leaving our jobs, our home and everything familiar in Northamptonshire behind. No big plan. Just a bungalow near the beach, two spaniels, a couple of Land Rover Defenders and the hope that a slower, simpler life was actually possible.
One year on, we’re taking you through everything — the good bits, the hard bits, and the unexpectedly expensive bits.
In this video:
→ Four months of exploring the area, sea swimming, paddleboarding and cycling before we touched the house
→ Replacing oil heating with an air source heat pump
→ Emergency roof repairs (not in the plan)
→ Knocking through the bedroom wall to create a larger master room
→ Solar panels and battery installation — running the house off the roof
→ Our first Christmas in Wales — and a Boxing Day sea swim
→ A honeymoon in New Zealand
→ Building a large carport for the Defenders
And the question everyone keeps asking — was it worth it?
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🔔 Subscribe to follow along for year two — we’re creating our dream garden, the custom wardrobes are being built, the log burner will get installed, and the carport is nearly finished.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Was it worth it?
01:16 Why we left
02:32 The Year in Review. March – June: The Long Holiday
03:34 August: The Heating Revolution and Dog Crates
04:45 September: Fireplace out, Roof emergency
05:35 October: Knocking Through
06:15 November: Solar, First Snow and the Carport Begins
07:39 December: Painting, Christmas and a Boxing Day Swim
08:28 January: New Zealand
09:00 February: Maintenance Month
09:45 March: The Carport Comes Together
10:52 The Honest Bit
13:39 Big Plans Coming Next….
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📌 WATCH NEXT:
🔧 Land Rover Defender Maintenance —
🌏 Our Honeymoon in New Zealand —
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📸 Follow us:
Instagram — @littlefixbiglife
Facebook: Little Fix Big Life
Say hey: littlefixbiglife@gmail.com
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About the Channel
Little Fix Big Life is about renovating our 1980s bungalow, working on our Land Rover Defenders, and improving our home and garden in Carmarthenshire, near Kidwelly, in South West Wales. We share practical projects, simple upgrades, and the process of building a big life around small improvements.
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#WalesLife #MovingToWales #SouthWestWales #LifestyleChange #HouseRenovation #OffGridLiving #AirSourceHeatPump #SolarPower #LandRoverDefender #SlowLiving #CoastalLiving #BungalowRenovation #MovingAbroad #NewChapter #WelshCoast #SimpleLiving #HomeRenovationUK #ExpatsInWales #OutdoorLifestyle
18 Comments
Thanks so much for watching this one — it was a proper trip down memory lane putting it together. If you've got questions about anything we covered, ask away below — we'll answer everything we can.
👉 Land Rover Defender Maintenance —
https://youtu.be/K7XRDahObLs?si=93EksKc9MePEadn1
👉 Our Honeymoon in New Zealand —
https://youtu.be/lOvf3AJUndI?si=TTiOKrlX4hifyPWO
And honestly — have you ever thought about doing something like this? We'd love to know. 👇
I saw your first video when you moved in but haven't had any others come up on my feed or notifications ?????
Anyway, you are doing a fabulous job xxxx
I have enjoyed very much your videos of house, defenders, dogs and your outdoor life at home in Wales and in NZ! I am glad you take time to do what you want and not rush through a mega house makeover with work work all the time – your approach must be a much more sustainable and enjoyable way that many of us should adopt😃 Looking forward to year two!
I came to Pembrokeshire 40 years ago aged 23 from Hampshire. Never looked back no regrets. Love it here. I've watched you pair from day 1 and enjoyed it immensely you have worked hard and achieves a lot. Well done. Here's to the next 12 months. Good work/life balance is so important. You look like you've cracked it.
How does work fit into this? Is the income vs hours worked vs work availability comparable to where you lived before?
Are you learning Welsh?
I've loved watching along for your first year, especially because you do make very genuine videos. I certainly think you made the right choice. I'm sure there have been challenges along the way. Nothing in life worth doing is easy, or plain sailing, but thats what makes it special. Here's to the next 12 months, I am really looking forward to where it takes you. ❤
You obviously made the right decision because you are so happy and content with your lifestyles.
You all look very happy. Best wishes as you continue living your dreams.
Can't believe we're looking at year 2 already. I'm looking forward to seeing how you continue to transform your life and home. Thanks for sharing.
you guys really do present great videos. its amazing what you have achieved in a relatively short time👍👍
Loved this video,you guys have been busy this past year! Congratulations on your Honeymoon as well! Watching this video of course and then will go back to see the ones I missed! Have a nice week!
Can’t believe a year has passed already, you guys have done loads already. It may not feel like it but you have. So pleased you are happy with your move and look forward to seeing what you will achieve this year! Happy 1st birthday living in Wales. Love a Welsh girl living in Herefordshire 🤗🦋
Nice catch up! I think you both have a lot of good sense with the way you've approached everything. And you really have dragged that house into the modern age! Looking forward to year two x
Nice work both of you. Reno's take shape in many ways and that's what makes them interesting to watch. I hope now that you've got those big costs out the way you can enjoy your home….and I am absolutely certain I can spy a lot of "house-modding" and creative projects on the cards.
Did you integrate
But you have no children. Very sad and unfulfilled
Just subscribed .I love to see young people getting on….happy to see you bought a house with a roof and doesn't need gutted before you can live in it.like most of us did in my day starting out we did it bit by bit…well done so far….