Hi all!

My name is Tracey, I was just made redundant from a 5-year 6-month position on 24 Nov 2011 and I'm now ploughing full-steam ahead into setting up my own VA business - Amber Cat Admin.

I'm stolen our "hobby room" (aka. "junk room"!) for my office, which involved a serious blitz on the place to tidy/remove most of the stuff in it, and I have already got my company name, logo, business cards and website sorted (though the website is still at the "please have a look and tell me what you think" stage).

I'm really looking forward to everything about it (even the terrifying prospects of networking and finding that first elusive client!), but as you've all been in this position, I'll shut up about that now!

So - who is the non-VA me?
I'm living in Leeds, UK with my partner, after moving "down south" from Consett (near Newcastle/Durham), to live with him and we have 4 lovely cats.

I enjoy a slightly odd hobby called Live Role Playing, which is a bit of a cross between reenactment (silly costumes) and improvisation (you have a character to play with no pre-written lines!) while camping in the middle of a huge field! It's great fun (and very escapist!), although this is only a handful of weekends a year.

I'm a bit of a "tree-hugging hippy" - I love all animals (including birds, insects and fish), nature, and I try to be as "green" as I can with everything I do - from saving energy and recycling to hopefully converting the garage to vegetable beds next year so I can grow my own veggies!

I dream of living "The Good Life" while working from home and I'm trying to convince my other half to let me have chickens for eggs too! That's still a big "no" at the minute! :P

I also enjoy playing World of Warcraft, so have invested in a laptop for the office, just so I don't have any games on it that I can be distracted by. :P

Best Wishes!

__________________
Tracey A Dixon
Amber Cat Admin

Hi Tracey,

Welcome to the forum! While I am sorry you lost your job it sounds as though it is a gateway into something bigger and better for you!

I too am an animal lover and used to have 3 cats myself, although now we are down to 1 dog.

I admire your "green theme" and it inspires me to try and do more than simply recycling.

Best of luck to you on your new business and keep us posted!

~Lori

__________________
Lori Hedgpeth
Author One Source

Hi Tracey, welcome to the community!
Thanks for taking the time to give us a peek into your business plans and your life - sounds like you have a very happy life and the only thing that's been missing is the freedom to work for yourself (which you are in the process of remedying - good for you!).

I'll look forward to seeing you around the boards and wish you much success with your virtual assistant business.

__________________

Welcome to the forum. Your live role playing hobby sounds very interesting

__________________
Paulette R.
Rhythm Virtual Solutions | Alpha & Beta Translations

Hi Tracey - from another Tracy, also based in Leeds!

I am also a cat lover - I have 3 of the furry little (well 2 are not so little now) bundles.

Welcome to the boards, I'm sure you will find lots of help and support on here.

__________________
Tracy
Eternal VA

Hi Tracey,

They say when one door closes another opens and you sound like you are walking through it will full force. I too try to live as green as possible but the hubs is drawing the line on solar panels and windmill. Hoping you get your chickens and your first elusive client soon.

__________________
Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Thanks all for the welcomes!
@ Tess - Thank you - I do hope it does bring the freedom I'm looking for!
@ Paulette - LARP is VERY escapist... It lets you be someone else for a weekend! Like BEING in a book / movie, rather than just reading / watching it!
@ Tracy - It's quite surreal how small the world can seem if you look in the right places - I've found you on twitter - it would be good to keep in touch!
@ Lee - I just wish we could AFFORD solar panels! :P

Best wishes all!

__________________
Tracey A Dixon
Amber Cat Admin

Welcome, Tracey! The UK seems to be taking over the forum lately. I like your logo and the background of your website. Much luck with your new business - and stay in touch with us!

__________________
Terri Williams, Assisting the small business owner
www.terripwilliams.com

Tracey

I'm more than happy to stay in touch, I shall add you on Twitter.

I'm also on linkedin (only just joined that so am still trying to find my way around!)

__________________
Tracy
Eternal VA

Ahah - I found the networking section of the forum!

If you're in Yorkshire and interested in possibly meeting up, let us know here:
VAs in Yorkshire, England - possible meetup?

__________________
Tracey A Dixon
Amber Cat Admin