January is 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 back to work blues, bad weather and #divorceday trending on Twitter.

Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? I quite 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 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 6^th January in this case. It’s not too late.

So with that in mind, I’ve finally got around to putting together the best of what’s on in Bradford this month. Happy January – here’s a few ideas to make the month a bit more bearable and get you out of the house.

• Regular, monthly Book Quiz at the Waterstones book store, Café W on 6 January 6pm-7pm.
• Launch of the Peace Museum’s new exhibition The Eye as Witness: Recording the Holocaust a series of secret photographs taken by Jewish people and members of the anti-Nazi resistance on 9 January 5.30pm-7pm with a talk from the National Holocaust Centre. The exhibition continues until 29 March.
• Winter Bird watching walk at the Denso Marston Nature Reserve in Shipley            11 January at 10am.
• Free theatre workshop Everyone is an Artist hosted by Common Wealth Theatre Co at Speakers Corner, Ivegate on 11 January, 12pm-4pm.
• A Party for Ann Bronte’s 200^th Birthday on 15 January at the Delius Arts and Cultural Centre with live music, poetry, DJs, dancing and crafts. 6.30pm-10.30pm.
• Drawing and illustration course with local artist Sven Shaw starts 16 January and runs for six weeks at the new Craft House in Bingley. 10am-12pm.
• Opening of the new Nalini exhibition by Arpita Shah of photographs and artefacts exploring migration, distance and loss at the Impression Gallery, Centenary Square 16 January from 6pm-8pm. The exhibition continues until 28 March.
• The Record Café’s series of Sporting Lunchtime Lectures continue with Terry Dolan “A Life in Bradford Football”. 18 January, 12pm-1pm.
• Better Than Therapy – plaster carving workshop with artist and sculptor Salma Patel at Nordish café, Saltaire. 19 January from 10am-4pm.
• The Light Cinema has a great range of films and National Theatre Live events this month including All About Eve staring Gillian Anderson and Lily James on 20 January at 7.30pm.
• Showing of Official Secrets with Keira Knightley filmed at Bradford City Hall at the Keighley Film Club 19 January. Doors open at 5.30pm.
• Latest edition of Glug Bradford featuring talks by local designers, creatives, jacks of all trades plus beer, VR, food and chat. 23 January from 5pm-10pm at Assembly Bradford on North Parade.
• The next Café Scientifique event takes place at the Science and Media Museum on 23 January at 6.30pm. This month’s topic is Wet Futures: Understanding Wetland Heritage in Contested Environments.
•  Try January beer tasting event at the Rose and Crown, Sunbridge Wells at 7.30pm.
• Bradford Transformed presents a special showing of Ken Loach’s documentary Spirit of ’45 at the Delius Arts and Cultural Centre. 24 January 7pm-10pm (if you don’t cry at the doctor’s story there’s something wrong with you).
• Bradford’s monthly Comedy Club at the Tapestry Arts and Performance Studio        24 January at 7.45pm. Other events at the studio this month include a jam session, 60s night and a psychic evening.
• Saltaire Vintage Home and Fashion Fair at Victoria Hall, with 1940s and 50s fashions, jewellery, accessories, furniture, vinyl and collectibles. 25 January, 9.30am-4pm.
• Exhibition of Bradford photographer CW Wood’s aerial photographs of the city and surrounding countryside begins at the Bradford Industrial Museum on 25 January until November 2020.
• Poetry and Open Mic Night at Bread + Roses Café for 14-19 year olds. 25 January, 6.30pm-8.45pm.
• Recording of BBC Radio 4 comedy show I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue at St George’s Hall with Jack Dee.  27 January at 7.30pm.