The Beechwoods

We took Willow for a lovely walk to the Beechwoods the other day. I have gone to the Beechwoods since I was little girl, I once found a butterfly brooch in there! It’s a lovely place and well worth a visit especially if you haven’t been before. Cambridge has some wonderful places to go for picnics, walks and to take the kids and dogs and even better most of them are free.

Just over halfway into the Beechwoods is a hollowed out area in the natural chalk, which we used to aim for as kids - many kids called it 'the skull' due to it's rounded shape. We would run up and down the sides of it.

The Beechwoods is on the Gog Magog Hills in Cambridge. Take a look at the Wildlife Trust’s website page about the Beechwoods where you’ll find a map and directions along with information on the history and info about the nature and wildlife you can find there.

 Wildlife Trust - Beechwoods

A New Start 2011

It’s a new year now and for many of us this brings the joy of a new start. We can think back on all the lovely happy things that have happened and all we have achieved over the last year and we can also put behind us the negative experiences and people who do not deserve to be part of our lives. I am so grateful to have such amazing friends, family and colleagues who have helped me and stood by me through everything over the past year. You have all been brilliant and I am very lucky to have you all in my life.

Now to look forward and see what wonderful things 2011 has in store for us.

Most people make some kind of New Years resolutions and I suppose mine aren’t that different to many peoples. I am definitely going to try and completely give us smoking though and instead of worrying and focusing on weight and body image I just want to get more fit and healthy – by focusing on that the other will follow :)

I made a good start by taking Charlotte Ice-skating on Parker’s Piece, Cambridge on new Years Day – blimey those skates don’t half make your feet ache! We usually have to go up to Peterbourgh to the ice-rink there and we only manage that about once a year but the temporary rink at Parker’s Piece was ok – I really hope they do get a permanent one for Cambridge sometime soon though.

Lot’s of exciting things planned for this year already and which I’ll post news and more details of soon but include:

Cambridgeshire Association for Local History’s Diamond Jubilee Year for which we’ll be hosting many various events and celebrations. (www.calh.org.uk)

Cambridgeshire Community Archives growing and new groups joining, new FREE events which include training and oral history recording, video, pod casts and much, much more (www.ccan.co.uk)

Mobile Makeup Artist – I am now looking to recruit several new people to my team and will be growing my business across East Anglia, if you’re feeling the squeeze of January and would like to earn some extra cash, learn a new skill and have amazing fun then please do get in touch and I will give you more info – also please do check out my career opportunities page on here :)

And watch this space for news of my new publications along with the launch of the Cambridge Local History Book Shop!

Michelle xxx