I am blessed with 3 wonderful grown up children and twin grandaughters aged two and a half. They are shortly to be joined by a baby sister -and Granny duty calls. I have a background of 30 years teaching (21 running my own nursery school) so it is great fun to get out the play dough, glitter and sticking or to drink endless cups of tea from the play kitchen or read endless stories (just as well that one of my home based businesses is Lyn's Book Biz.co.uk)
I am not far off drawing my pension so lots of friends and aquaintances found it hilarious when I moved back in with my octoganarian parents. I hasten to add that it is as a carer. So when I am not on granny duty - I find myself at the other end of the scale helping caring for my parents.
On Wednesday morning I am usually up and out early as I am a member of the Vectis Sunrise Rotary club and breakfast starts at 7.30. I am a recent past president of the club and enjoy the friends I have mader through the club. The motto of Rotary, a world wide organisation is service above self. We are volunteers and get involved with as many things as our busy lives will allow. We run the Youth Speaks competition for school children and then Chef of the Year for children and adults. We undertake fundraising for lots of good causes but we have a lot of fun while we do. We also raise funds for projects aboard include shelter boxes which are sent abroad in times of disaster. We are always looking for new members both in our club and others nationally and globally.
I am a member of my local methodist church and recently joined the drama group - that was a first!!! The Christmas entertainment was very well received! There were various sketches etc and I am delighted to say that the directors had such faith in me that they wouldn't let me give up on Joyce Grenfell's Nursery School nativity play. I was really struggling - but I couldn't let them down and managed to pull it off - I even surprised myself!!!!
I have been known as a book lady for about 17 years. Firstly, I was a distributor for Dorling Kindersley Books running this alongside my teaching. This came to an abrupt halt when Peter Kindersley sold the company and the new owners decided to dispense with the direct selling arm. Having enjoyed this way of working - I tried various other educational sales opportunities and eventually ran a 7 year Usborne book business. Last year, I left Usborne for pastures new and decided it was best not to have all my eggs in one basket and so I branched out. I decided to take on a business whereby I can help people and businesses to save money on their essential bills and so Lyn's Utility Biz was born. I am building up a history of satisfied customers and am pleased that I have been able to help and shall continue to seek out people who want to save (or earn). As if this wasn't enough - I decided to take on a third home based business. Just before Christmas I became a distributor for Wikaniko (pronounced we-can-eco) and Lyn's Green Biz came into being. I am not a great eco - warrior but I do believe I can play my part in helping others to become a little greener but I was keen to make sure that the products were not going to cost them more. I was delighted to find Wikaniko and find that I can help people save money as they take steps to go greener.
As I say, life has been tough but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and I am looking forward to finding what the future has in store. I am looking forward to the arrival of my new grandaughter and granny duty. The new businesses are all beginning to build. So what does 2010 hold in store for Granny Lyn? I have my plans but only time will tell! Whatever happens I intend to have fun in whatever I do or wherever life takes me. When I am having a bad day - I just think of all those worse off than me and suddenly my lot doesn't seem so bad.
