January has become known as the most depressing month of the year. Debates abound as to which Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year with bad weather, debts and guilt over resolutions already come to naught.

Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? I like a New Year’s Resolution. The idea of new starts, new projects, a whole bright, shiny new you. But I’m very much an advocate of the Bridget Jones philosophy that they absolutely can’t be started on the January 1st. “Since, because it’s an extension of New Year’s Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight… Also, dieting on New Year’s Day isn’t a good idea as you can’t eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second.” Or January 3rd in this case. It’s not too late.

I’m also a great believer in giving up if you feel like it and not being too downhearted if that bright, shiny new you turns out to be much like the old perfectly good version. It’s the good intentions that count.

To cheer us up, I thought I’d find a few goings on in Bradford that will help us to enjoy the start of 2019.

• Visit Bradford has a list of walks with maps and inspiration on how to best experience the district’s great outdoors.
• Bradford Cathedral is celebrating 100 years since it was designated a cathedral, with a range of events every month including services, concerts, coffee mornings and lectures. 18 January has a violin concert featuring Tasmin Little.
• Ways of Communicating exhibition of paintings and drawings by Bradford deafblind artist Minerva Hussain at the Kala Sangam centre continues until 24th January. Free entry
• Special showings at the Light Cinema – a ‘mystery’ screening on Thursday 3rd January and Andre Rieu New Year’s Concert from Sydney on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th January
• First guided walk of the new year at the Denso Marston Nature Reserve in Shipley, 12th January 10am and on 19th January there’s a practical coppicing workshop 10am-2pm adults only (I had to google it).
• Shipley Repair Café and clothes swap, Shipley Kirkgate Centre, 12th January 10.30am-12.30pm
• TEDex Bradford 2019 event Radically Social at the Media Museum, January 16th
• Community Tree Planting Day at Betty’s Wood, St Ives Estate, Bingley, 17th and 26th January with Bradford District Parks and Trees for Cities, sign up at woodlands@bradford.gov.uk
• Paralympics Heritage – Stories from Bradford exhibition celebrating disability sport and local and national Paralympians from 26 January at Cartwright Hall.
• Saltaire Vintage Home and Fashion Fair featuring vintage fashion, jewellery, prints, small furniture, records and collectables, Victoria Hall, 26 January
• Indian street food takeover at Bread + Roses cafe on Saturday 26th January.  (Update – it is now sold out, so this is a plea to organise another one please Sonia).