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

I had a lovely time meeting up with one of our Cambridgeshire Community Archives Network (CCAN) archive groups this week. The Romany Archive is run through the Romany Theatre Group and they are going to be adding some more great stuff - as with all our CCAN groups and people who want to get involved with CCAN - Cambridgeshire largest community run archives website- we give free training, advice and care - from audio training, how to do oral history, publishing archives and written work, looking after old photos etc. etc.
As of 2011 we will continue to come and visit groups and people interested, for free, but we will also be running regular free workshops where you can come along with your memories, interest and old photos and find out more - Look out for news, dates and locations coming soon!!!

I'm really pleased to tell you that I am now Vice Chair of Cambridgeshire Community Archives Network (CCAN) overall managment committee :). For those of you that don't know about or haven't had a look at CCAN yet please do visit our fantastic site www.ccan.co.uk At our meeting we had a look at how many images alone had been uploaded to the site since we started about 3 years ago and we have an amazing amount! Well over 23000 images alone and that's not even counting our text, stories, articles and hotspots!!! All donated and shared by you! :)

CCAN is a fantastic resource for schools, researchers, family historians, local communities and people just like you to be able to share and get involved with the history of Cambridgeshire. If you would like to know more about how to get involved and start a group for your area, village or club or if you'd like to become a contributor and recieve free training and help on being part of this great network then please Contact Me and I will help you get started.

We have some really exciting plans for the future of CCAN and some great linked projects coming up. So watcch this space for developments! ;)