Ahh now where do I begin? I remember the days I used to just take cash out of any hole in the wall, cash machine, ATM. How boring! Where’s the challenge, the gamble, the risk, the thrill? It never used to be an adventure, I just took my money and plodded on under the …

Well meaning folk sit down and chat to me… in Spanish. I die a little inside, give them my biggest grin and tell them I don’t understand (no entiendo), I don’t speak Spanish (no hablo Español) I’m sorry (Lo siento) I’m learning (estoy aprendiendo). Then I whip out my pocket book of Spanish grammar …

I knew this move to Barcelona was going to push me out of my comfort zone. It’s a big step to move country, house and job into a new land where your native language isn’t spoken. I’m here on my own, no network of friends, no UK TV or radio – I can’t understand …

I’m here, I’ve landed and I’m starting to acclimatise! It’s mid-October and the beaches are choca-block, because that’s right boys and girls the sun is shining here in Barcelona. It was a shaky start. My taxi driver from the airport knew no English, I knew no Spanish. He didn’t have a clue where I …