A big question for 2022

I think the Ghislaine Maxwell affair is a tragedy for all concerned – the numerous victims who have been scarred for life and the woman herself.

As I have watched the trial unfold and heard more sordid and dreadful details enter the public domain, I have found myself asking the same question: would Ms Maxwell, if she knew how her life would be defined when she reaches the age of 60, change anything in the intervening years to ensure a different outcome?

I think this is a particularly poignant and pertinent question to pose on New Year's Eve, a time when we traditionally create new and improved blueprints for our lives in a bid to erase some of our bad practices, replacing them with behaviours that are good for our mind, body and soul.

And, regardless of our respective ages, it is certainly something we should also be asking of ourselves.

MEDIA MOGUL: Ghislaine Maxwell is the youngest daughter of the late Robert Maxwell.

I used to work for Bob Maxwell, Ghislaine's father when he was the proprietor of Mirror Group Newspapers and one of the world's biggest media moguls. I was employed by The Daily Mirror and Sunday People as an investigative journalist.

In life, Maxwell was a force of nature. To a lesser extent, so are his many surviving offspring.

While he will be forever known as the man who raided the Mirror Group's pension fund to prop up his newspaper empire – something that only became known when he died – he was not all bad. In truth, he was a courageous man who committed many brave acts, particularly during the Second World War, when he was awarded medals for his gallantry and courage.

I suspect Bob Maxwell would have done all he could to have rewritten the script so his legacy was a positive one. Yet none of us can really decide when it is time to leave this world. So, it proved for 'Captain Bob' in the early 1990s. As a result, his name, and that of his family, was forever tarnished. This week, after the latest episode involving a member of the family, I suspect the Maxwell name has now been damaged beyond repair.

As for Oxford-educated Ghislaine, the youngest of the brood, only she knows the true extent of her culpability in the affairs of Jeffrey Epstein. She has been found guilty of sex trafficking by a US jury, and life imprisonment beckons for perpetrators of such crimes.

PARTNERS IN CRIME: Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein left a trail of victims.

I hope Ms Maxwell is now contemplating how she could have changed her life – and how she can atone for whatever crimes she has committed. Even though the rest of her natural life may be played out behind bars, it doesn't mean she has to be a prisoner. She can be locked up and spiritually free at the same time. But only if she is truthful. And that means bearing her soul to a higher authority.

The same can be said for you and me. We, too, need to look upward and thank God for everything we have been given in this life. None of us leads a perfect existence. In my case, perfection isn't even on the horizon, never mind being within touching distance.

Thankfully, those of us who look upward and believe in something greater than ourselves have the chance to reset our lives and apologise for the mistakes we have made. Sincerity and repentance are the only ingredients required. And we don't get the chance to do this once a year; we can do it hourly, or as frequently as we wish.

In truth, I don't take advantage of the opportunity as much as I should. But I do make my peace with God several times every week. As a result, I am stronger, more determined for the challenges of the next day – and I feel more alive.

DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER: Ghislaine was Robert Maxwell's favourite child.

So, while you are digesting the latest morsels from the sordid Maxwell case in the next few days and weeks, try turning the focus on to yourself – and pose the question: am I capable of changing my behaviours and turning my life around before it is too late?

It is not easy to do. The world can sometimes seem like it has us held in a vice-like grip. Even so, I bet Ghislaine Maxwell is now regretting many things and wishing she could do whatever it takes to turn the clock back.

We are luckier than she is; we have not yet been 'found out' for our own bad conduct and awful thoughts, however, they may have manifested themselves! But the clock is ticking; it's only a matter of time before something goes wrong – and we all need to remember this when making those resolutions that will help us define 2022.

Happy New Year.

Tony Yorke is deputy editor of Sorted magazine.

OUT NOW! OUR LATEST ISSUE

We have got a real Christmas cracker of an edition on offer – and it's on sale in newsagents, and available via subscription, right now.

Inside the latest edition of Sorted are:

• An exclusive interview with Matt Goss, one half of the hugely successful 90s band Bros, which is a fab read regardless of whether you were a fan of their music, or not;
• An exclusive interview with Rob Gardner, one of the UK's leading UK money gurus, who is trusted to look after tens of billions of pounds worth of client assets – and who wants us all to invest our money ethically and sustainably;
• Our motoring correspondent, Tim Barnes-Clay, has had a ball reviewing a trio of cars that meet all tastes and budgets. You'll love what he has to say about the latest offerings from INEOS, VW and Dacia;
• Our columnist, Emma Waring, tackles the emotive subject of what you do when you find yourself in a passionless marriage – and you are attracted to someone else;
• Multi million-selling musician, Sufjan Stevens, talks about how his father and faith have helped to shape his career;
• And we also bring you a fantastic profile of Manchester City's Ederson and a six-page feature on the soon to be unleashed Six Nations rugby tournament.

In between all these great features, Bear Grylls leads the list of columnists and writers bringing you a wide range of thought-provoking columns, a regular sprinkling of humour – and a load of wholesome content.

We hope you enjoy our latest blockbuster of a magazine. And if you struggle to find a copy on the newsstands, click here and find out how easy it is to subscribe to one of our tailored packages.

Wishing you a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

The Sorted editorial team

Be jolly, not melancholy

Parents cheat to beat kids

Have you always wondered why Mum or Dad regularly beat all-comers at traditional Christmas games? Well, it appears that nine out of ten parents cheat in order to claim a win, shocking new research has revealed.

Parents across the UK have recently been polled to see how many swindle their children out of a joyous victory. And a whopping 86% said they regularly pulled a fast one in order to beat their children at popular board games – with most admitting to cheating at Monopoly.

Oh no they didn't... oh yes they did!

NOT SO FAIR: Mums and Dads regularly cheat at board games, new research claims.

Parents confessed to dodging rules for a variety of reasons, with one of the most popular excuses being to get the game finished quicker.

Only 14% of those who responded to the survey said they never cheated at family games.

But while there are laughs aplenty during the festive season, some families can make things a bit too competitive, which does lead to conflict – with 'playing bans' being imposed on some, or the length of the game time being limited.

MAIN OFFENDER: Parental cheating at Monopoly would appear to be off the scale.

Our pals at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk compiled the research, basing their findings on the opinions of 400 families dotted around the UK.

In terms of the most popular games played at Christmas, Monopoly is the undisputed festive number one. Cluedo ranked as the second most popular game, with Scrabble gaining the bronze medal position.

All white on the night?

If it's snow you are after this Christmas, Scotland would appear to be the place you are most likely to find it.

Seven of the country's regions and cities are among the top 10 most likely places to see snowfalls on Christmas Day, according to new research published this week.

FRONTRUNNER: Moray in Scotland is a firm favourite to see snowfall on Christmas Day.

It has been 11 long years since the white stuff fell from the skies on 25 December anywhere in Britain, and many of us, fed up with being bombarded on a daily basis by the latest depressing news about Covid, are desperate for some festive cheer in the form of some long-overdue seasonal weather.

So, curious to uncover which UK regions may be in luck this time around, Sorted and our pals at NoDepositDaddy.com have analysed Met Office weather data from the past 20 years – covering for 363 districts – in a bid to determine which regions might just strike it lucky.

WAY OFF THE PACE: Pendle District on the Northwest is the fourth most likely place to see snow.

Here's what we discovered...

• Moray in Scotland has a 95.87% chance of seeing snowfall;
• The Scottish Highlands aren't far behind. There is a 91.24% probability locals there will be blessed with a white smattering this time round;
• Perth and Kinross in Scotland make it three-in-a-row for the Saltire nation with a 90.58% chance;
• England's Pendle District has the best chance of seeing snow south of the border. Its chances are rated at 86.30%;
• Dundee further enhances Scotland's chances with a rating of 83.50%;
• The comes Aberdeenshire (at 82.11%) and the Scottish Borders (81.17%);
• Craven District in England comes in with an 80.76% chance;
• The beautiful Midlothian region of Scotland emphasises Scotland's dominance in the statistics charts (79.92% probability);
• Meanwhile, Stockport, nestling on the outskirts of Manchester, has a 79.51% chance of seeing snow land on the rooftops of its houses and businesses.

Alas, for Londoners and people living in the Southwest, the odds of seeing snow are a long shot – at best. Both areas are the most likely to see any chance at all of experiencing a White Christmas this year!

SNOW CHANCE: London is almost guaranteed to have a snow-free Christmas this year.

Enjoy a sustainable Yule

Time for some bleak news...

So, for the umpteenth time, an official survey has been published proclaiming there are fewer Christians today than there were a decade ago.

Today's latest entrant into the Hall of Flame - a place where the latest news and data is kept simmering and used to bash churches over the head when it's convenient to do so – has been prepared by the rather grandiose-sounding Office for National Statistics (ONS). A government department, no less.

According to this body, only 51% of the UK population now identifies itself as 'Christian' compared to 58% of Britons in 2011. The ONS also reveals there has been a huge growth in atheism – with one-in-three people classifying themselves as such.

Predictably, media reaction to the report is a combination of shock and 'told you so'. The assertions in today's papers claim it is another clear sign the erosion in the Church's authority, in its many guises and denominations, is speeding up.

ALL THINGS NEGATIVE: The Office for National Statistics paints a black picture about UK faith.

On the surface, the 'facts' may indeed back up this assertion. Yet scratch underneath and I believe a very different picture emerges, one of our churches at last truly recognising the needs of the society in which they are called to serve, and one where many Christian men and women are now actively doing things that reach out and support their communities in loving, supportive and faithful ways.

It has been ever thus. It's just today, I really believe it is happening on a larger and wider scale.

I make this comment largely based on my own personal experiences – not least, last night when I attended a wonderful soup kitchen in Loughborough (which, in reality, is a tub-thumping church service) and a young woman sitting next to me proclaimed: "Chlamydia has brought me to Jesus."

At the Beacon Christian Centre, sited a mile outside the town centre, approximately 60 souls came together to share a Christmas meal (while observing social distancing rules). Most have a history of drug addiction, alcoholism, relationship breakdown, prostitution or criminality. But that's their past. Today, they are new converts to the faith, as is the woman whose bold statement caught my fellow diners slightly by surprise.

SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND: the soup kitchen at Beacon Christian Centre is a lifeline for many.

This church is changing the lives of many people. Thankfully, it doesn't need newspapers and social media to demonstrate how, through its love and support, many lives are being changed. The evidence is everywhere to be seen. And although it is a small cog in the overall scheme of things, my goodness, what a huge impact it is having throughout Leicestershire and the East Midlands.

What is happening in Loughborough is also occurring in many other churches elsewhere. They are stepping up and meeting the need. But bodies like ONS don't see this. All they seem to recognise is negativity; all they can publish and peddle are digits that paint a bleak picture – or, at least, that's my perception.

Yet the truth is there are many Christian men and women quietly going about their business, reaching out and supporting people badly affected by the ways of the world. While some certainly see the light immediately, a lot won't be converted straight away. But to Believers, it's not a numbers game. It never has been. All that matters is good has flowed and seeds have been planted. And provided they are watered on occasion; we know they will germinate and grow. But the harvesting will be in God's time, not ours.

LOOK DEEP ENOUGH: Christian men and women are stepping up in support of their communities.

This will continue, regardless of what the media or central government says about our faith. And that's why there is real hope for everyone.

For I believe we are all seekers in some shape and form. And the louder people shout and scream, declaring a lack of belief in God, the more they are actually saying "we need God."

If 49% of the population claim not to have faith, that just gives Christians up and down the land a big pond to fish in.

Personally speaking, I think that is something to celebrate and be optimistic about. Don't you?

Tony Yorke is the deputy editor of Sorted.

Has Spielberg done it again?

Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story cost more than £100 million to make and market. And it's now doing the rounds at cinemas up and down the UK.

The original 1961 version – lovingly crafted by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins – was an incredible feat, winning 10 Oscar's. Now, all these years later, Spielberg's stunning take on the lives of the 'Jets' and the 'Sharks', and those associated with them, has managed to bring this wonderful and tragic tale to new audiences, many who will be unfamiliar with the gripping original that created some of the most memorable music ever made.

HARD ACT TO FOLLOW: the original 1961 version is one of the best musicals ever made.

Before going into the cinema, I was thinking to myself 'why has Spielberg bothered' and 'what's the point'? My view was it would be impossible to improve on the 60s film.

Yet, in truth, the world's most famous director has delivered two hours and 40 minutes of entertainment that delights, thrills, gets your toes tapping and enthrals in equal measure.

GRIPPING AND FAITHFUL: Spielberg's remake has captured the essence of the original film.

To those of us in the 'know', there have been some tweaks to the original film. For example, the 'Doc', the male shop owner, is now 'Mrs Doc'; we get to spend a bit more time with Tony and Maria on the day after they meet; and certain songs have changed locations.

But none of these detracts from the cinematic spectacle created by Spielberg. Such changes work well, and the director has achieved his goal of capturing the essence of the original stage play as well as the 1961 film.

ANGRY AND VIBRANT: Ariana DeBose (centre) puts in a stirring performance as 'Anita'.

The language, while updated, remains faithful to the story and the time.

Among the strong cast, Ansel Elgort plays a very sympathetic 'Tony'; Ariana DeBose is a very angry and determined 'Anita', while Rachel Zelger, playing 'Maria' and making her screen debut, has a voice to die for. It was also great to see Rita Moreno, the original 'Anita', playing 'Mrs Doc' and putting in a memorable performance.

But the big question is, was all this trouble and expense worth it?

A DOOMED LOVE: Tony woos Maria in the Spielberg remake of West Side Story.

Going in, I really did have my doubts. By the halfway point, I was really loving it. And at the end, I was asking myself: if I could only watch one version again for the rest of my life which one would it be?

Sorry, Steven, the original wins out for me. But only by a whisker.

Andy Godfrey is Sorted's film reviewer and a founder of the Mark Kermode Appreciation Society.

Top Christmas trees revealed

So, we are at the halfway point in December, and the news headlines may be dominated by talk of Covid. But there are some souls who can see beyond a global pandemic and just want to put a festive smile on all our faces.

The research team at DIYS.com are one such group of people. And they have brought to our attention, in order of popularity, the world's favourite Christmas trees.

Yes today, it seems there is a list for everything – and the pine citadels that dominate village, town and city squares no longer feel left out!

NOT SO GLITZY: Trafalgar Square has a lot less razzle-dazzle than its US counterpart.

Using google's search engine facility, it is possible to discover how many people have searched on the Internet for certain things. It's not the most scientific of approaches, but (in crude terms) it does tell an interesting story.

According to the findings, the Rockefeller Centre's (main picture) stunning tree is number one – by quite a margin. It was first erected went in front of the iconic New York landmark in 1933, as a symbol of hope during the Great Depression. Today, many Americans will be hoping it can help to lift the dark moods of recent times that have gripped the US.

In a distant second place, is the pine delight that graces London's Trafalgar Square. Every year, a tree is gifted to the UK by Norway – a tradition that started in 1947, shortly after the Second World War ended.

DOMINANT FEATURE: the Christmas tree at Boston Common certainly has the wow factor.

In bronze medal place is the Boston Common Christmas tree. This has been a feature in the city every December since 1941.

Interestingly, the largest tree in the world – sited in Dortmund, Germany – can only muster fourth place in the poll. Weighing in at 40,000 kilos and standing 45 metres tall, this is surely a sight to behold?

Wrapping up our festive top five is the best Australia can offer in Sydney's Martin Place, which comes with its very own light display.

Interestingly, the trees located in Moscow's Red Square and Mexico City are among the least popular – by quite a considerable margin.

NOT SO POPULAR: But the Red Square tree is still a stunning festive celebration.

Boris urged to aid Afghans

A leading UK barrister, who specialises in protecting the religious freedom of persecuted Christians, is urging the Prime Minister to come to the aid of 200 Afghans and help them flee the crisis-torn country.

Paul Diamond, who for three decades has represented persecuted Christians in British and European courts, is in contact with around 200 Afghans. All are Christian converts from Islam, and to abandon them to their fate would, he believes, condemn them to certain death at the hands of the Taliban.

Such are his concerns, Mr Diamond has felt compelled to write to the Prime Minister pleading for urgent help after their plight has been ignored by British Embassy staff in Kabul and Islamabad (capital of Pakistan), as well as the Home Office and Foreign Office.

CALLED TO ARMS: Taliban gunmen are enforcing strict Islamic laws – and killing Christian converts.

The barrister, who has fought and won some of the most high-profile religious freedom cases contested in British courts, believes there could be as many as 12,000 Christians in hiding in Afghanistan, where they are being hunted down by armed bands of Taliban militia.

"I am in daily contact with Christians in the crisis-led country, all fearful for their lives and desperate to leave," he said. "What we need is a special department within the UK Scheme which recognises the unique needs of people of faith, acknowledges their vulnerabilities, and via the validation of NGOs, or churches, can process applications in a swift, but secure manner."

In August, when the US and allied nations announced their hurried departure from the region, a system was set up to help Afghans flee the country. Yet, four months on, it has been exposed as being shambolic. In some cases, claims Mr Diamond, "it was literally down to personal contacts with individual US soldiers at certain gates who would let Christians through".

CALLED TO ACT: The Prime Minister has been urged to intervene and help the persecuted Afghans.

Now the Cambridge-based barrister is deeply concerned the Government will make the mistake of basing the Afghan Scheme on the United Nations one (UNHCR) that proved disastrous for thousands of Syrians a few years ago.

“Sadly, the experience of many of us who were involved in the Syrian Vulnerable Resettlement Scheme is that for people of faith, the UNHCR is the least efficient route to process those from religious backgrounds," he explained. "Their lack of understanding and willingness to engage with the very real needs of people of faith has led to many being left stranded in Syria, and many deaths."

Mr Diamond's plea is echoed by an Afghan Christian leader who has fled to Pakistan. He says that because of the Taliban’s strict adherence to Sharia Law, a death threat now hangs over every converted Afghani. 

MOUNTING CRISIS: Afghan Christians queue to leave the ravaged and stricken country.

Known as Qasim, he said: "For Christians, no country in the region wants them: they are simply left to die. Daily I hear about my brothers and sisters being beaten and murdered."  

Mr Diamond, who has offered his legal expertise free of charge to the Afghan campaign, is now urging the Government to come to its senses and act decisively.

"The UK owes these Christians a duty of care because the UK Armed Forces (and Allies) held and exercised control over Afghanistan where they were able to live peacefully and practice their religion," he added.

"Their lives are in daily danger. There is currently no provision in the Immigration Rules for them to apply to come here, so we need the UK scheme, with a dedicated faith department, announced by Christmas. Morally we cannot abandon them!”

NOT GIVING UP: Syrian Christian women marching through a Damascus street recently.