A very happy new year to all!

2016 has got off to a rather wet and dismal start, but despite the seemingly hopeless weather, it’s still a new year full of promise and opportunities.

I for one intend to get out and about much more this year to draw inspiration from new places and ideas – as well as seeking online resources that have not yet made it to my favourites list.

There are lots of events coming up, including the annual Literary Festival at the University of East Anglia, which kicks off in February. This year’s programme includes talks by Julie Myerson, Melvyn Bragg and Joanne Harris. uea.ac.uk/litfest

I’m also hoping to make a trip to the Hay Festival in May, but in the meantime I’ve been soaking up the excellent audio library on the Hay website. If you haven’t already discovered it, do take a look. It’s packed full of talks by writers, historians, artists and others that have taken place at previous festivals and can now be enjoyed or relived online (either for free or a small price). I’ve found Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris to be particularly inspiring. www.hayfestival.com/archive/

Of course it’s not only events that will see us through the year though – coast, countryside, mountain peak, river, lake, historic site, gallery, song, film, day, night, dusk and dawn are all waiting to show us our next move in life.

Enjoy the journey!