Depressed by Brexit? Terrified by Trump?

Don't worry. There are plenty of reasons to hope for good things in 2017.

We've put together this optimist's guide to the things that could happen in the coming 12 months.

Some are, admittedly, more hopeful than others.

Wales does well economically

How the new TVR might look like

In terms of unemployment, Wales has been outperforming the rest of the UK.

And why shouldn't it continue?

Production is set to begin on iconic sports car TVR at its new factory near Ebbw Vale.

Tata's Port Talbot plant no longer looks likely to close in the near future.

And Welsh manufacturing will be prominent with the launch of the new Llantrisant-made £1 coin in March. A new plastic £10 note is launched in August, featuring Jane Austen.

Our infrastructure starts to improve

A date has been set for an independent public inquiry into the M4 Corridor relief road
A date has been set for an independent public inquiry into the M4 Corridor relief road

An inquiry into the proposed M4 relief road will finally get under way by March.

If that is successful, an end may be in sight to the crippling congestion faced by motorway users.

A similar scheme for one of North Wales's busiest roads, the A55, will be announced by the summer, when the Welsh Government is due to decide in which of two options to invest £200m.

There will also be further progress on the £1.3bn City Deal for Cardiff, provided it wins the backing of all the regions councils, bringing the prospect of electrification of the Valleys Lines closer.

Cardiff's Central Square development will come on leaps and bounds this year, with large parts due to be finished by summer 2018.

Progress will also be made on Swansea's £500m regeneration with work starting this year on shops, an indoor arena and an aquarium.

And the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon (and even the bigger Cardiff project) could win the backing of the UK Government as well, creating thousands of jobs and a new source of sustainable, clean electricity.

Major events build our profile across the world

The 2017 Champions League final brand identity

Wales will be put on a global pedestal as the biggest annual game in football comes to Cardiff at the beginning of June.

We may naturally fear the worst, remembering the comment pieces that accompanied the rain-affected start of the Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor.

But why should it go badly? We're good at major sporting events.

The atmosphere inside Principality Stadium will be electric, with some of world's best players – perhaps including Welshmen Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) or even Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) – taking to the field.

Then there's also the small matter of Justin Bieber playing Cardiff on June 30 as part of his Purpose world tour.

Brexit doesn't mean disaster

Dr Liam Fox Secretary of State for International Trade
Dr Liam Fox Secretary of State for International Trade

Brexit will continue to dominate the domestic agenda, with Article 50 due to be triggered by the end of March.

Although negotiations will remain confidential, at least some of the uncertainty is likely to fade. We will find out what "Brexit means Brexit" actually means.

Many have expressed fears that leaving the EU could spell trouble for the Welsh economy by removing our manufacturers' access to the single market – but with even arch-Brexiteer Liam Fox suggesting that leaving the EU's customs union is not already a done deal, perhaps we shouldn't fear the worst.

And after the turmoil of 2016, the may even be a degree of stability among the political parties – phew.

International football

Wales manager Chris Coleman celebrates his team's success
Wales manager Chris Coleman celebrates his team's success

OK, for Welsh football fans nothing is ever likely to compare with 2016.

But, although Wales didn't get off to quite the start they had hoped for in the qualifying campaign for next year's World Cup, Chris Coleman's side is still in a decent position.

The first two games of 2017 are tough but winnable – away to both Ireland on March 24 and Serbia on June 11. Win them both and Wales will be in prime position to qualify for Russia 2018.

The final four games of the campaign come in more of a rush in the autumn, with Austria visiting Cardiff on September 2 before Wales travel to Moldova three days later.

Wales then face an away trip to Georgia on October 6 before rounding off the campaign with what could be another crucial game at home to Ireland on October 9.

International affairs

The new leader of the free world?

Syrian peace talks are due to begin later this month after a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey.

The eyes of the world will be on the talks to see if they can bring an end to the bloody violence there.

Perhaps, new US President Donald Trump will turn down the bravado levels as the reality of the top job begins to hit home.

He may also be kept in check by a Republican Congress fearful of Trump dogmatic approach wearying voters in swing states who are vital for their own chances of winning the 2018 mid-term elections.

In France, far-right Marine Le Pen faces an uphill task to be elected in the French presidential election – with mainstream conservative Francois Fillon, whose wife Penelope hails from Llanover in Monmouthshire, favourite to take over from socialist Francois Hollande.

Populists are seeking election elsewhere, but in Germany Angela Merkel is likely to continue as chancellor, which gives stability to Europe at a vital time.

In the Netherlands, though, the nationalist Party for Freedom is leading in the polls ahead of a March election.

Welsh football clubs turn round their dire starts to the season

Neil Warnock was a happy man after Cardiff City's win
Neil Warnock was a happy man after Cardiff City's win

It was not a good end to 2016 for the Welsh club sides, but each now has reasons to be optimistic.

Cardiff City secured an excellent 1-0 win over Aston Villa in their first game of 2017, and, under Neil Warnock, look well set to continue to inch their way up the Championship pecking order.

Rivals Swansea City look in a sticky situation in the Premier League, sitting bottom of the table as they kick off their 2017.

With just 12 points at the season's halfway stage, they would need 28 more just to reach the fabled "40 points for safety" mark in the second half of the campaign – the equivalent of accruing 56 points for the season as a whole.

But 56 points is exactly what they achieved two seasons ago – so it's far from impossible for them to do so again.

And, perhaps inspired by the arrival of new manager Paul Clement, a couple of wins will suddenly put a very different complexion on the table.

Worrying though things look for Newport County, meanwhile, the Rodney Parade outfit are similarly only one good run away from extricating themselves from the League Two dropzone.

The Six Nations

Alun Wyn Jones

Wales may be coming into the competition as deserved underdogs. But the fixture list may be in our favour.

A pessimist might look at our opening game, against Italy in Rome, as a potential banana skin.

But an optimist must surely see the two home fixtures at the Principality Stadium against England and Ireland as an opportunity to knock the two favourites off their perch.

And if Wales win one of those, as well as winning its three away fixtures, could that be enough to claim the nation's first title since 2013?

With England, France, Ireland and Scotland all having the opportunity to take points off one another, four wins could well be enough to clinch it – and give Welsh players the chance to star in the Lions team which tours New Zealand in the summer.