Editors letter

Hello and welcome

Welcome to the first edition of EM for 2006.I hope you have all had a peaceful and happy Christmas and are looking forward to the new year with enthusiasm and hopefully some excitement. Despite the trials and tribulations of any passing year, we all look forward to the start of a year with new hope. We like to think that it will bring new joys and maybe adventures - even the most cynical among us, though you may not admit it!

What is it about New Year's Day that causes us all to have more hope? Is it a line drawn in the sand on December 31st where we have an excuse to start afresh, even if we all don't make New Year resolutions? Maybe we can try again to achieve those things that we failed to do in the previous year - give up the cigarettes, start a keep fit regime, keep in touch with friends more regularly or de-clutter the house? Whatever the reason, I think we all need a particular event or day where we can decide 'it starts from now'. And as each year passes, we probably value the friendships of loved ones and the ordinary pleasures of life more - like spring around the corner or snowdrops starting to push their heads above ground.

Each year-end in EM we review what we have done and look for new and innovative items to bring you. We hope 2006 will be the year of interaction whereby you'll email or visit our website and send us your thoughts and ideas together with some tips to share with readers. You might like to review your favourite restaurant, holiday location or share a favourite recipe or DIY tip.

We are delighted with the response to our competitions which has grown immensely since we introduced entries by text. However, for those of you not wishing to use a mobile please continue to submit by post - remember everyone is in with a chance of winning.

So let 2006 be a year of involvement - decide you will do at least one of the many tasks on your wish list and at the end of the year you can say - "I've done it!"