In 2003 I took a leap of faith and moved with my husband and twelve-year-old daughter from Sydney, Australia to Barcelona in search of long lunches and better Spanish. I had with me my favourite chopping board and chef’s knives, some clothes of course and no idea how I was going to make a living.

Four months later during an evening stroll around our new suburb Gracia, we passed a small rundown local with an ‘En Traspaso’ sign out front and the next thing we knew we were the somewhat daunted owners of our own tapas bar.

Looking back, I’m not sure spending our life savings on a roach-infested hovel the size of a train carriage and with a kitchen the size of a walk-in pantry in a foriegn country was the most prudent move. But I am glad we did it.

EMU BAR was Barcelona’s first and only Australasian eatery and our quirky little place quickly became known as the only tapas bar in Barcelona to get a taste of real spice. Four satisfying but exhausting years later, I closed Emu Bar doors to dedicate all my time to food writing and Boca Boca foodie tours.

Then in 2016 we decided to leave the city in search of long walks with our dog Rufus and a better connection with nature. Once again, we happened across a delapitated edifice in need of resurrection and without much debate, bought it. The Old Girl as she quickly became known, had great bones and views that literally took our collective breath away.

The Old Girl is now our wonderful new old home and the guesthouse on the property we renamed La Masia Alt Penedès. Here we share the privilige of living in a spectacular setting with our three dogs Rufus, Lady & Paco and are thrilled to be the hosts of a unique travel destination for our guests.