First word

There's nothing like a forced and unplanned stay overseas to make you appreciate all of the comforts and familiarities of home.

And as I waited (impatiently) in Marrakesh for the ash to clear over Europe back in April, I had ample opportunity to reflect on the place where we live and work.

We're lucky to live in a country in which we all have the right to vote and have a say in local matters, superb countryside in which we are free to roam (see the Horsell Common feature) and responsive services, such as Surrey Air Ambulance, which can make the difference between life or death.

Despite the stresses and strains of daily life, we all have a lot to be thankful for and plenty of opportunities to make a positive contribution to the place that we call home.

Whether it's recycling as much as you can to reduce the impact of waste on the environment, taking up cycling to reduce the amount of carbon that is being pumped into the atmosphere or taking up a volunteering opportunity to help a local group or organisation, there's generally something that you can do each day to make a positive difference.

And when you've done your bit, you can really kick back and enjoy your free time, safe in the knowledge that you've earned the right to relax. If you're looking for ideas of things to do in the Borough this summer, take a look at the `What's on' pages, check out the walk or just put your feet up and relax with a good magazine :-)

If you're off overseas, my advice is take plenty of spare pants with you because you never know when an Act of God is going to interfere with your plans to get home!

Have a great summer!

Karen Porter

The Woking Magazine Editor