Only a sleep from old to new
Only a sleep from night to morn
The new is but the old come true
Each sunrise sees a new year born.
By Helen Hunt Jackson
Nicola here, wishing everyone a very happy 2017! January 1st has traditionally been a time to reflect on the year that has gone and 
the opportunities, hopes and dreams for the one that lies ahead. It’s a natural human instinct to be optimistic even if sometimes the world feels like a difficult place. Perhaps positive resolutions and hope in the future helps us to deal with that uncertainty.
The calendar is, of course, an arbitrary thing that has changed over the centuries, but it is something that gives structure to our lives and that can be helpful. I'm not a big user of calendars with two exceptions. The first is my Advent Calendar, which I get every year to mark the days from December 1st to Christmas. This year I had a gorgeous one from the National Trust. Now that we are in a new year I am about to put up my 2017 wall calendar, which is a very special one showing the paintings of Eric Ravilious, one of my favourite artists. In both cases the calendars bring emotions of positivity and excitement in me about the potential for the time ahead.
Here in the English countryside the New Year also brings the usual British preoccupation with the weather with a proverb for January 1st that dates from the 19th century:
If the wind blows from the south it will bring warmth and growth, from the east lots of summer fruit on the trees, from the west 
milk and plenty of fish in the seas, but f the wind blows from the north then it’s going to be cold and stormy all year. I’ve just checked the forecast and the wind starts off in the south west today but turns around to the north later so I expect we’re going to get a mix of everything this coming year, as usual, both weatherwise and in other ways.
Whatever the winds bring, I wish everyone a happy, peaceful and healthy New Year!
Helen Hunt Jackson! I haven’t heard that name in years. Ramona was one of my favorite books when I was young.
Helen Hunt Jackson! I haven’t heard that name in years. Ramona was one of my favorite books when I was young.
Helen Hunt Jackson! I haven’t heard that name in years. Ramona was one of my favorite books when I was young.
Helen Hunt Jackson! I haven’t heard that name in years. Ramona was one of my favorite books when I was young.
Helen Hunt Jackson! I haven’t heard that name in years. Ramona was one of my favorite books when I was young.
I felt just like Lillian Marek, I haven’t though of Helen Hunt Jackson in years, but remember Ramona (vaguely) fondly.
I felt just like Lillian Marek, I haven’t though of Helen Hunt Jackson in years, but remember Ramona (vaguely) fondly.
I felt just like Lillian Marek, I haven’t though of Helen Hunt Jackson in years, but remember Ramona (vaguely) fondly.
I felt just like Lillian Marek, I haven’t though of Helen Hunt Jackson in years, but remember Ramona (vaguely) fondly.
I felt just like Lillian Marek, I haven’t though of Helen Hunt Jackson in years, but remember Ramona (vaguely) fondly.
I’m so glad it brought back happy memories! A very Happy New Year to all!
I’m so glad it brought back happy memories! A very Happy New Year to all!
I’m so glad it brought back happy memories! A very Happy New Year to all!
I’m so glad it brought back happy memories! A very Happy New Year to all!
I’m so glad it brought back happy memories! A very Happy New Year to all!