Hi I’m Tracey. Welcome to my blog – Sheddie Grandee!
I’m a Sheddie, an affectionate name for someone who works
out of a shed, and my grandchildren call me Grandee! A Google search says
Grandee could be a large person, an aged person or a very important person! So
at 75 I’m old, lost 3 stone so perhaps not so large - but of course I am
important - to God, to my family, and my
friends!
At this new place I’m living at there’s a shed at the bottom
of the garden. Friends renovated and insulated it for me and I began to open up
my retirement “wish-list” – to write, to blog, to study, to have a God-spot.
Not that He, God, wasn’t with me all the time but I wanted a special place where I could get to know Him
better. UCB (United Christian Broadcasting) announced they were starting a
“Coffee-with-God” time and that just fitted in. Around 7 am me and my coffee,
still in my dressing gown, go to meet God in the shed. He’s always there!!!
Later I get ready for the day and then return to write!
There’s a wonderful smell of wood as I step inside the shed, and a peace that
seems almost supernatural. The birds outside eye me up and down to see how safe
I am. There’s time to contemplate life, reality seems miles away. How is it
that a short walk down the garden can bring an Alice in Wonderland experience
as I enter my world of wonder! On the walls are photos of the family,
friends, holidays, projects done and some to come.
Eyebrows are raised when I say I have a shed – “Sheds are
for men” they say, “whatever does a woman want with a shed?” Just have a look at the book “A Woman’s Shed”
by Jill Hertz, 80 different women and their sheds!
So I’m retired! Yippee! But what now? What should I do with
my life, my time? I feel I want to put out my arm and stop the world racing by!
I should be doing something with my life – perhaps blogging will be the answer!
I’ve loads of experience of the joys and downfalls of life
and I want to encourage others who are struggling like I have. I’ll be writing about women and sheds,
gardens and the fascinating world I see from the shed, the environment,
composting, birds and bees, organic stuff plus how to look after ourselves
better. I had a health scare recently which made me begin researching vegan and
raw food diets.
I’m divorced with 3 children and 5 grandchildren – their ages
range from 11 years to late 20’s. December
2012 I retired from years of charity work – shops and coffee shops – and have recently
moved to a lovely bungalow with a garden which I share with my missionary
friend Sue. We’ve worked together for 30 years, in the UK and 14 in Spain, with
charity shops called Second Chance.
I’m a Christian too which helps me to cope with this funny
old world we are all trying to come to terms with and I have included a
testimony to explain how this happened - some might find this interesting –
even helpful!
We can help each other, have a laugh or a cry along the way,
share our experiences and challenges.
