As we box away the Christmas decorations and return to normality in preparation for the New Year, it's fair to ask ourselves – what is there to look forward to in 2015?
There's no football World Cup, no Summer Olympics and few notable anniversaries that come to mind.
We think Essex however, home to a multitude of events and multi-million pound developments, is bucking the trend.
We've compiled a list of nine things to get excited about.
- 1. John Lewis development in Chelmsford
Groundwork starts on a £120 million project to build a three-storey John Lewis department store, 20 shops, five restaurants and a Cineworld on Sunday, January 4. Impressive machinery will be seen towering over the hoarding blocking off the Bond Street car park. The project is due for completion in autumn 2016.
- 2. Chelmsford City Racecourse
Galloping horses will race down the track at Great Leighs, based in Moulsham Hall Lane off the A131, on Sunday, January 11, for the first time in six years. The fixture will be the first of 58 race days in 2015 in front of a 3,000-capacity grandstand, complete with bars and restaurants. Ticket prices start from £15. For more information see: www.chelmsfordcityracecourse.com
- 3. V Festival
The 20th annual V Festival in Hylands Park, Chelmsford, in August. The 2014 festival, the first not to sell out in at least 10 years, faced a barrage of criticism from music fans unhappy with the line-up. Let's hope organisers answer the critics with an almighty collection of artists in 2015.
- 4. Maldon Mud Race
The hugely successful Maldon Mud Race, which has been running since the 1970s, will return once again for the spring.
- 5. Chelmsford City FC promotion battle
After a poor season last year, with the team dropping into 17th place, Chelmsford City FC appear to be in with a chance of promotion into the Conference Premier. The Melbourne team sit in eighth place, two slots off the play-off places. Get behind the Clarets before the season's end in April 2015.
- 6. Essex County Cricket Club development
The first of four tower blocks being built beside the cricket ground and the River Can in Chelmsford should be ready for residents to move into by September. It's part of an £85 million project which includes increasing the ground's capacity from 4,500 to 7,500.
- 7. Southend Airshow & Military Festival
The event, formerly known as the Southend Airshow, briefly became no more when Southend Borough Council announced it would close the show in 2013 due to a lack of funding. But a campaign saved the historic event last year. It will take place September 12-13.
- 8. Chelmsford Marathon
Great Baddow-based charity and event organiser The J's Hospice has promised the second annual Chelmsford Marathon in October will be even better. More than 1,000 ran through the parks this year along a multi-terrain route, but runners found the distance deviated slightly from the 26.2-mile standard.
- 9. Chelmsford Railway Station development
Abellio Greater Anglia is spending £3.2 millon on giving the second busiest station in the country a new stair tower, ticket office and shops. But the company has delayed construction. Work will be completed apparently some time in 2015.
