Shed of the year 2024, Sponsored by 
The Snug is a place to read write and remember Its a time capsule a repository of precious memories and a cosy place to work Sitting in The Snug with a big mug of tea feels like a longawaited hug from my grandmother Ive been a freelance writer and editor since 2010 specialising in pet journalism At the beginning of 2020 my biggest client went bust and I found myself suddenly without work When the pandemic reached the UK my husband needed to work from home and he took the space where I previously wrote I no longer had a need for my corner desk so moved to the kitchen table where I spent the days helping our 6 and 11yearold daughters with their school work It was a struggle and I lost all confidence in my ability to write My 91year old Nanny Jean moved into a nursing home in February 2020 and when the doors closed to visitors the following month I knew I would never see her again She was unwell and had dementia so keeping in touch was difficult It was heart breaking not being able to visit her My Nanny Jean and I had a very special relationship Despite the 50year age gap we shared many interests and enjoyed holidays together before my children were born Sadly Nanny Jeans health deteriorated rapidly and on 18th April we had the devastating call to say she had passed away Grieving for my nan and my career as well as enduring the separation from my mum due to lockdown and the stress of home schooling had a detrimental effect on my mental health Id always dreamed of a place of my own to write and with Nanny Jeans inheritance I was able to make this dream come true I bought a Georgianstyle 6x8 summer house and filled it with special things and heating so that I could use it all year round Then as if by magic some lovely new clients came my way and I was soon writing again In between articles on pets Ive been writing about Nanny Jean to keep her memory alive and preserve her welltold stories When Im sitting in The Snug I can feel that she is with me retelling a tale from her time as an evacuee or singing one of her favourite old songs with misremembered words I miss her every day but The Snug has helped me to remember the good times and start looking to the future Features of The Snug include French doors and 2 opening windows Insulated walls and ceiling Multiple power points Laminated flooring Radiator with thermostat to keep The Snug toasty all year round A pine writing desk Patchwork desk chair Chesterfield arm chair Tea making facilities Vintage typewriter 1934 Radio Fairy lights and desk lamp Wifi and smart speaker Bookshelf of inspiring reads Handwritten song lyrics by Scott Matthews Green Man portrait by Red K Elders Dog bed for Popsie the Lurcher Storage locker Lots of notebooks Spider plant Noticeboards full of special photos and cards I share photos of The Snug my work and writing inspiration on Instagram at InTheSnug
I bought a 6'8' Georgian-style summer house for £1,800 but it was never going to be just for summer.My husband, Simon, fitted electrics, insulated and plasterboarded the walls and ceiling, and laid laminate flooring.I painted the interior and fitted solar-powered fairy lights to the exterior.
