https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2022/05/18/letting-go-of-what-i-know?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=212716989&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8B1ctoTmM58MlO8xjdpHxfUHVkwLMJSIwOQFVrFZGGRKNE0gDcLYE0tJnkIYNIQnPTVPemucraNeySfZbZ5JNw9GxZjA&utm_content=212716989&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread

Letting Go of What I Know
May 18, 2022
by Jodi Harris

“... For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 (NIV)

With the last of our things loaded, we are closing the door on this chapter of our lives. My husband has quit his job as a pastor, and I am saying goodbye to what has been my identity for more than two decades being a pastor’s wife.  For years I have shepherded women, praying with and encouraging them, teaching the Word and leading small groups, equipping them to use their gifts and lives for God. I know God’s gifts and calling on my life are irrevocable, (Romans 11:29) and I have loved this role in the body of Christ, but due to church leadership changes and with wise counseling, it’s time to go.  This abrupt decision includes a cross-country move away from our beloved community.  My husband and I have no vision, no income or plan. We just pack up and leave, trusting God to provide. But the pastor’s wife who touted the words “Don’t worry! God will provide!” when others struggled is now the woman who tosses those words aside.  Not only am I scared for how we will feed our family, but I am scared for myself.  Who am I if not a pastor’s wife?

What do I do if I’m not serving in these ways?

Suddenly I feel 6 years old, as if God has put me in timeout. I squirm on my carpet square, picking my fingernails, shame washing over me while others look on. I can hear whispers behind pointing fingers and laughing faces. But in reality, I am a grown woman believing the enemy’s lie: You’re finished. God is done with you. You’ve failed.  In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat understood fear of the unknown. He was leading God’s people, and suddenly an enemy was coming to destroy him he was terrified. The last time he had been in this situation, he had taken things into his own hands to fight his enemy head-on, and he almost lost his life. He needed to do things differently this time.  Was he still terrified? Yep. But this time, he resolved to inquire of the Lord. So he gathered God’s people together to fast and pray, ending his prayer with our key verse, 2 Chronicles 20:12: “… For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

The enemy was coming fast and furious, and the natural response would have been to get into position quickly to fight. Instead, King Jehoshaphat slowed down, acknowledged God, asked for His help, admitted his own weakness and waited. (2 Chronicles 20:3-13)  How many times, and especially now, am I quick to figure out a fix to my failure?

To jump in full force to solve it so I don’t have to sit in the discomfort or fear of the unknown?

I don’t like pain. And I don’t have patience. I want peace. Now.  As my inner 6-year-old squirms on her timeout square, I decide to pray like King Jehoshaphat Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You.  As I wait, He speaks. This is not a timeout because I’m in trouble. It’s because I’m wounded. This new season is a time to restore, renew and rehabilitate. It’s a time for my God to teach and train me and ultimately transform me. Because sometimes God doesn’t fix our problems; instead, He wants to fix us in them.  My heart still stirs to use my gifts in the body of Christ. This passion pushes me to show up for my time with God. Hope is being restored as my character matures.  Often God’s plan doesn’t make sense to me, but as I’m leaning into His steps instead of my own, I can trust His path is good.

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2022/04/18/the-sun-still-came-up?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=209872515&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-89l_zUtxHqjjcuFldSQT2S5owU7komTPjwSx5gfkyi6TSpzU4gC6KVMsMHQ4nEY3RzWVIZllFkWmS6v2qpKw04lzCcVA&utm_content=209872515&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread

The Sun Still Came Up
April 18, 2022
by Stacy Lowe

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

I crawled out of bed in the wee hours of the morning, grabbed my camera and drove to the beach. It was January 1 the start of a new year and I planned to mark it with a picture of the sunrise over the ocean.   Shivering in the cold, I waited for the sun to peek over the horizon, but as the minutes ticked by, all I could see was a thick blanket of gray. The bright, colorful hues I had been hoping for were nowhere to be found. It soon became painfully obvious I wasn’t going to see the sun.  Disappointment flooded my heart. That day was set to be the start of a yearlong photography project, and now my plan for the perfect “Day 1” photo had come to nothing.  That’s when it suddenly hit me: The sun still came up.  I couldn’t see it, of course it was obscured by clouds but if the sun wasn’t there, how could I have seen anything else? I was surrounded by sunlight and almost missed it simply because it didn’t show up the way I wanted it to.  How many times have I missed seeing God for that very same reason?

You see, it’s easy for me to take note of God’s presence when life goes exactly the way I think it should; I thank Him for His blessing and move on with my day. Problem is, that’s rarely how it goes. More often than not, my plans are interrupted as my day is rearranged, and my head is left spinning, trying to keep up with it all. But those moments don’t slip by the God of the universe. He isn’t caught unawares.  He is right there with me, just like He’s always been. How, then, can I better see Him?

The prophet Isaiah offers us a clue in today’s key verse:  “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isaiah 26:3)

Keeping my thoughts fixed on God broadens my perspective beyond what’s right in front of me. It reminds me that my daily purpose is not to satisfy my own agenda but to play my carefully orchestrated part in accomplishing His.  As I remember this, my heart is flooded with that perfect peace Isaiah speaks of, and my eyes are opened to search for God in each and every moment, whether that moment looks anything like I imagined it or not.  I smiled as I left the beach that morning. I may not have gotten the picture-perfect sunrise I had hoped for, but the lesson God tucked in my heart was infinitely better.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12041035/The-murder-Sarah-Groves-Devastated-parents-waiting-justice-10-years-on.html

The murder of Sarah Groves: 10 years after 7ft Dutchman Richard de Wit 'stabbed Brit to death', her devastated parents fear they may never see justice

    The British backpacker was savagely murdered in Kashmir, India, in April 2013
    But the only suspect in Sarah's case is yet to stand trial more than a decade later
    MailOnline recaps the dark case and a grieving family's ongoing battle for justice

By David Averre and Vivek Chaudhary

Published: 08:52, 8 May 2023 | Updated: 09:51, 8 May 2023

On April 6, 2013, British backpacker Sarah Groves was brutally stabbed to death in the idyllic Kashmir valley of India as she slept aboard a houseboat.  The 24-year-old former public schoolgirl from Guernsey was found in bloodied sheets, covered in puncture wounds and slashes indicative of a violent attack.    Her suspected killer a towering 7ft-tall Dutchman named Richard De Wit was tracked down by authorities hours later. He said the Devil compelled him to conduct the heinous act and even confessed to the murder only to later retract his statement and declare himself innocent.  Yet despite the overwhelming evidence against him, the lying Dutchman has managed to evade justice as Sarah's case descended into farce.  A total of 225 scheduled court dates have come and gone. Witnesses have died or disappeared. And all the while, the now 53-year-old De Wit has embraced the role of the villainous, unhinged criminal.  Doctors claim he's likely a paranoid schizophrenic who refuses to take his medication, has fired five lawyers and believes the entire case against him has been fabricated by nefarious elements of the Dutch government.   But he has also toyed with the emotions of Sarah's grieving family, cruelly telling her father Vic that he had a 'secret' to share about his daughter's murder but never actually doing so.   Now ten years on and with no murder trial in sight, Sarah's ageing parents are frustrated and fearful that they may never see justice for their daughter's murder.  Vic Groves, Sarah's father, told MailOnline: 'We are not confident that it will ever conclude.   The worst aspect of the last decade is that we are no longer a complete family. There is a massive gap in our lives that can never be filled Sarah was one in a million, a wonderful person in every way who always considered others ahead of herself.'

Mr Groves, 80, and mother Kate, 76, added: 'She is sorely missed by very many people family, friends, acquaintances and even people who never really knew her.'

Here, MailOnline remembers the horrific circumstances surrounding Sarah's death, delves into the dark mind games employed by De Wit, and tells of the Groves family's enduring fight for justice.

Sarah's murder

Sarah Groves had travelled to India in February 2013 to meet her boyfriend, Indian national Saeed Ahmad Shoda.  Described by her family as 'a joy from the moment she was born', free-spirited and optimistic Sarah loved to travel. Her journey to the picturesque Kashmir valley promised to be yet another exciting adventure.  But parents Vic and Kate could not shake the feeling that their daughter's trip was a bad idea.  They had begged Sarah not to travel to Kashmir which lies in territory disputed by India and Pakistan and as such is prone to unrest and had even booked a trip to Nepal where they were planning to meet Sarah and persuade her to leave Kashmir.   But their chance to talk Sarah out of her travels never came.  Sarah was found dead inside her room in the New Beauty houseboat in Dal Lake in Kashmir's Srinagar city on April 6, 2013. She had been stabbed 45 times.   Mum Kate told ITV last month that even ten years on, she still blames herself for not convincing Sarah to leave Kashmir sooner.  'I have to live with that now anyone I tell says you can't blame yourself but I just said I was her best friend and I wasn't there,' Kate said through tears.

Sarah's bloodied, savaged corpse was discovered by her boyfriend's brother Irfan and father Abdul. They said she was clutching a mobile phone, as if attempting to call for help.  Dr Farida Noor, head of forensics at Srinagar's General Medical College, said the former public school girl exhibited a series of defensive wounds and had likely woken up to find her killer towering over her.   Dr Noor said: 'Two of the wounds were fatal, one on her neck and the other pierced her lung.  The cause of death was haemorrhage, but all the rest of the injuries were defence wounds. She tried to save herself.  I think she would have fought bravely.'

Hours later, Indian police arrested De Wit, of Ridderkerk in the Netherlands, some 50 miles away from the scene of the crime.  He was found shoeless and soaking wet, carrying nothing but a passport and £2,000.   Investigators quickly learned he had been staying in the room adjacent to that of Sarah on the New Beauty houseboat, and had stolen a rowing boat to escape after the murder. The vessel capsized, forcing him to swim to shore before he paid a taxi driver to whisk him to a neighbouring city.  He was charged with murder in June 2013. But almost ten years later, the Dutchman is yet to stand trial.

Richard De Wit: Paranoid politician turned killer

Richard De Wit did not have a history of crime and murder. But details of his past paint a picture of a man whose paranoia led him down a dark path and turned him into a ruthless killer with no remorse for his actions.  As a young man, De Wit had been a member of a nationalist, anti-immigration political party in the Netherlands, the Central Democrats, and served as a councillor for three years before being pressured by family members to leave the party which was disbanded in the early 2000s.  But the Dutchman's exit from politics saw the giant become increasingly mistrustful. He believed the Dutch government was monitoring his activities and wanted him to work as an agent to reveal insider secrets about the Central Democrats, and told family and friends that the Dutch government had tapped his phone and monitored him through his computer's camera.   Another of his wild theories suggested he had been visited by intelligence agents who believed he was a far-Right republican posing a threat to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.  His wife, Thai national Uma Rupanya, told MailOnline that her husband had become increasingly insecure, bordering on psychotic, and had stopped taking prescribed medication before abandoning her and their two children six months before Sarah's murder to go travelling. In the months after leaving Rupanya, De Wit went to Kenya, Dubai and Nepal, before eventually settling in Kashmir the scene of Sarah's grisly murder.   In the years since his arrest, De Wit's behaviour while in custody has been highly unpredictable, and doctors who have evaluated him believe his erratic behaviour and inconsistent recollection of events is indicative of paranoid schizophrenia.  He has refused to take medication, took off his clothes even in the cold winter months, and has been known to lock himself in the bathroom to avoid attending hearings via video-link.  But despite De Wit's apparent struggles with mental health, he has exhibited a complete lack of remorse for his actions, and has even sought to torment Sarah's father Vic.  When questioned about the killing, the Dutchman told authorities that 'the Devil took hold of my body' and allegedly told Sarah's boyfriend: 'There is no reason (why I killed her) I just killed her.'

In 2017, he mysteriously told a court that he had a 'secret' to share about Sarah's murder, despite claiming innocence.  'I am not guilty. I want to meet Sarah's parents and reveal some things about the case,' he said.

'I won't say anything in the court but will only meet and tell Mr and Mrs Groves.'

These words have only served to increase the torment for Sarah's family, whom De Wit has kept on tenterhooks with cryptic messages and false hope.  And he has fired a string of lawyers, further complicating the tumultuous legal process and preventing his case from moving forward.

A family's fight for justice

Vic and Kate Groves have spent countless hours campaigning for Sarah's killer to face justice.  But they have been thwarted at every turn by De Wit's antics, a laborious Indian legal system and apparent refusal on behalf of the British government to aid in the expedition of their daughter's case.  Upon his arrest, De Wit told authorities he had consumed cannabis and heroin during his time in Kashmir.  Doctors who examined him then reported his apparent schizophrenic tendencies and concluded he had a 'well systematised delusional belief' that he was being pursued by the Dutch government.  Police say De Wit once confessed to having committed the murder, but later retracted the confession, claiming that he was under pressure from the officers. The act of retracting his statement meant authorities could no longer proceed to sentencing and were forced to initiate a trial.  In one 2017 hearing, the Dutchman declared that he had converted to Islam in an attempt to ingratiate himself with locals in the Muslim majority state of Kashmir.  I am trying my best to cope up with the case. I converted to Islam long ago to make myself comfortable with the people around,' he said.

'I am looking for a lawyer who could defend my case but there is no one.'

But De Wit's complaints that he had no legal representation were unfounded.  He in fact worked with five different lawyers willing to take his case only to fire each and every one of them, accusing them of incompetence or being in cahoots with the Dutch government.  Already four years into a constant and ultimately futile struggle with Indian authorities to speed along proceedings, Vic told MailOnline in 2017: 'I am beyond frustrated and now have little confidence in the system. The problem is Mr De Wit has no representation and until the court imposes that on him this will not change.  Due to his mental health he can't represent himself and he keeps getting rid of his lawyers as he is so paranoid.  We have written to the judge and asked him to appoint a defender for De Wit, as he has the power to do. Why he hasn't done it, I have no idea.'

Law experts say that the local police have failed to build a watertight case against De Wit and even failed to present witnesses in court.  Some of the witnesses named in initial proceedings have died, such is the length of the case, while others have been deemed 'untraceable'.  Meanwhile, flooding in Kashmir has wiped away evidence of the murder and two judges expected to hear the case have since stepped down.  With each passing day, the chances of Sarah's family seeing justice become yet more slim, and 80-year-old Vic this week slammed Indian authorities for not taking his daughter's murder 'seriously'.  He told MailOnline: 'It's frustrating because the authorities in Kashmir have never treated the trial of the Dutchman accused of Sarah's murder seriously.  There were more than 225 scheduled hearings over the first eight years of which only a small percentage actually took place. The trial was suspended some two years ago because the accused was deemed unfit to stand trial. This is the on-going situation as we understand matters.'

But despite his anguish, Mr Groves hinted that the family might receive some kind of closure in the near future.  He said: 'There are some developments, and we are hopeful that there will be a conclusion that offers some level of closure. No further comment on this at this stage.'

Following her death, Sarah's family and friends set up the Sarah Groves Foundation to help keep her memory alive.  Mr Groves revealed that its aim is to support art, fitness and adventure in young people's lives, areas that were 'close to Sarah's heart.'

Last month, Vic told ITV on the ten-year anniversary of his daughter's murder that he has all but given up hope that Sarah's killer will be brought to trial and slammed the British government for their lack of involvement.  'De Wit has supposedly been having treatment but we don't know where or how effective, so the trial itself has all but petered out.  We are unavoidably wrapped up in international politics and we have a British government who haven't stood by us.  Nothing has worked out in our favour as the political situation between federal India and Kashmir is at an all time low.  In other remarks to the BBC, Vic concluded: 'I haven't got too many more ten-year gaps to lose.'

An FCDO spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are providing consular assistance to the family of Sarah Groves and are in regular contact with the authorities in Kashmir.'

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2022/04/06/the-easy-way-to-rest-when-youre-exhausted?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=208518201&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8r_lFcSiUHrInzWJrw173sU6lEu7hMFlyNoGnz7IKE50VTRz7qMpyaF9cn_0xdkUZyIJ0-y4TUbGytPZaDE1E43uIM3g&utm_content=208518201&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread

The Easy Way To Rest When You’re Exhausted
April 6, 2022
by Asheritah Ciuciu
   
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

I eyed the bright numbers on the clock telling me I’d be lucky to get four hours of sleep that night. Hitting “send” on my paper, I stumbled into bed, murmuring, “Once I graduate, then I’ll be able to rest.”

But over the years that followed, that midnight promise morphed to match new seasons:  “Once I meet this work deadline, then I’ll be able to rest.”

“Once our baby sleeps through the night, then I’ll be able to rest.”

“Once the children are in school, then I’ll be able to rest.”

Those refrains pushed me out of bed every morning and kept me working late into the night, until one day I found myself at our kitchen table, head in my hands and   obbing the words “I can’t do this anymore.”

I was exhausted.  And from talking with older women, I knew they were repeating the same worn refrain, merely aged to match their own challenges:  “Once we pay off the mortgage …”

“Once the kids leave for college …”

“Once we retire from our jobs …”

Women of all ages and stages are chasing rest, but that coveted rest eludes us all.  In a moment of clarity, I realized that rest won’t arrive on the other side of “someday” because, no matter how much we get done, there’s always more left to do.  Wiping my tears, I cried out: “God, I need You. I can’t do this anymore.”

And in His kindness, God reminded me that we’re not the first generation to struggle with such things, nor are we alone.  In fact, 2,000 years ago, Jesus looked at a crowd of women and men just as exhausted as you and me, and He said:  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV).

Jesus doesn’t tell us to wake up early and go to bed late in order to hustle our way into His Kingdom. Quite the opposite. He invites us to lay down our heavy burdens and find rest in Him.  What does that look like in real life? I developed an easy-to-remember R.E.S.T. acronym to guide me toward Jesus when I feel overwhelmed, and you can use it too:

  R: Recite God’s goodness. The next time we find ourselves hustling, let’s pause to praise God for who He is and what He’s already doing (see Psalm 103:1-2). What can we thank Him for? Let’s start there.
  E: Express your neediness. Then we get honest with God about our struggles and sins, casting our burdens on Him because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)
  S: Seek His stillness. Next, we take time to “be still, and know” that He is God (Psalm 46:10a, ESV). We quiet our hearts to listen to His still, small voice. Is there anything He wants to say to us? Are there any burdens or to-dos He’s asking us to lay down?
  T: Trust His faithfulness. Finally, we declare our confidence that our good God, who began a good work in us, will be faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6)

We don’t have to wait for that elusive “someday” to experience God’s rest. The gentle and humble Jesus opens wide His arms, and He says, “Come.” Today, just as you are, come.  Let’s come to Jesus, lay down our heavy burdens and receive the gift only He can give us: rest for our souls in His loving presence.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11805419/Isabel-Oakeshott-leaks-Matt-Hancock-WhatsApp-texts-showing-ignored-care-home-Covid-advice.html

Covid families and critics accuse Matt Hancock of 'criminal negligence': Fury as WhatsApps 'show he ignored Chris Whitty's care home Covid testing advice before 43k died' but ex-Health Secretary insists there 'just weren't enough tests'

    Messages were leaked by the journalist who worked on his Pandemic Diaries
    Whitty said in April 2020 there should be testing for 'all going into care homes'
    Hancock claims he was told it 'wasn't deliverable', and had to prioritise instead

By Emily Craig Senior Health Reporter For Mailonline

Updated: 12:38, 1 March 2023

Grieving families of loved ones who died from Covid and critics of No10's handling of the pandemic today accused Matt Hancock of lying about the care home testing shambles during the earliest days of the pandemic  Bombshell WhatsApp messages unearthed last night show the disgraced ex-Health Secretary rejected advice from Sir Chris Whitty, Downing St's top medical adviser.  Sir Chris told Mr Hancock who resigned from his role midway through the virus crisis after being caught having an affair with a married aide insisted there should be testing for 'all going into care homes'.  But he did not follow the guidance, instead telling advisers it 'muddies the waters', according to leaked messages obtained by The Telegraph.  Mr Hancock today dismissed claims that he ignored advice, with his spokesperson saying they were 'flat wrong'. He was told during a meeting that it was 'not currently possible' to carry out the tests at the time due to capacity issues, it is claimed.  Jean Adamson, whose father died in a care home in April 2020, said she was both 'appalled' and 'sickened' by the damning revelations but added: 'I am not surprised at all'.

Meanwhile, one campaign group revealed that it would back 'an immediate police investigation into criminal negligence and misconduct in public office', if there was enough evidence. Social media users including Piers Morgan and other critics of No10's handling of the outbreak also accused him of 'criminal negligence'.  Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK said: 'There needs to be an immediate and serious police investigation in parallel with the inquiry.' Another grieving relative, who wished to stay anonymous, told MailOnline they would 'fully support' anyone seeking to go down the legal route.  Jayne Connery, of Vulnerable Care, said: 'The elderly residents that lost their lives, need answers.'

Labour and Lib Dem rounded on Mr Hancock's bold claim that he put a 'protective   Ms Adamson, one of the founding members of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, told GMB: 'This just provides further evidence, confirms what we suspected and feared all along that the then Health Secretary Matt Hancock lies his way through.  He was more focused on meeting his targets at the time, rather than the welfare of our most vulnerable members of society.  And as a result of his decisions, his inaction, tens of thousands of elderly people died in care homes.   So I just feel absolutely sickened and disgusted by these revelations.'

She added: 'We have always been seeking the truth and so desperate for lessons to be learned to prevent further loss of life and that's what we've always been focused on.  However, whilst these untruths are being peddled, we can't even hope to learn lessons because there has been this lack of transparency from the very outset.  My father, among tens of thousands of other care home residents, were lambs to the slaughter.  And Matt Hancock has really treated us with contempt. He had this foray into the Jungle, bleating on about forgiveness and wanting to make things right.  But this man is yet to actually show a heartfelt apology.  It's all about him and his image that he's trying to rehabilitate. But he's shown no compassion and treated us with the utmost disrespect.'

In response to the leaked messages, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: 'The claim that the Government threw a "protective ring" around care homes during Covid has proven to be a sham.  They ignored the Chief Medical Officer and people died.  How many lives could have been saved?'

Liberal Democrat health and social care spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: 'These messages lay bare the chaos at the heart of the Government during the pandemic, and the mistakes that led to countless lives being needlessly lost.  Matt Hancock's claims to have thrown a protective ring around our care homes could not be further from the truth.  It's almost a year ago that a court ruled that the government unlawfully discharged people from hospitals into care homes without testing.  But bereaved families are still no closer to having justice and the truth. They deserve answers through the official Covid inquiry, so we can learn lessons and save lives.'

Pointing to the Telegraph investigation, which will run for days, Piers Morgan said: 'So Hancock blatantly lied, as I've always believed.  He didn't put a ring around care homes like he claimed, he ignored expert advice and turned them into death traps. This is criminal negligence.'

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group said: 'We'd back an immediate police investigation into criminal negligence and misconduct in public office.  If there's enough evidence, he needs to face charges.'

MailOnline has not seen the full WhatsApp exchanges, leaked to The Telegraph, so cannot confirm the context behind them.  dBut the messages suggest Mr Hancock rejected guidance from Sir Chris, telling an aide it just 'muddies the waters' if all care home admissions are tested for Covid, and introduced mandatory testing only for those coming from hospitals.  The 'lockdown files' investigation also contains:

    Claims that officials couriered Jacob Rees-Mogg a Covid test for one of his children while there was a shortage;
    Mr Hancock telling former chancellor George Osborne, then-editor of the Evening Standard, 'I WANT TO HIT MY TARGET!' as he pushed for favourable front-page coverage.

Isabel Oakeshott, who has described lockdowns as an 'unmitigated disaster', said she was releasing the messages because it would take 'many years' before the end of the official Covid inquiry, which she claimed could be a 'colossal whitewash'.  'That's why I've decided to release this sensational cache of private communications because we absolutely cannot wait any longer for answers,' she said.

In one message on April 14, Mr Hancock said Sir Chris had finished a review and recommended 'testing of all going into care homes, and segregation whilst awaiting result'.  Mr Hancock described it as 'obviously a good positive step'.  However, the investigation said he later responded to an aide: 'Tell me if I'm wrong but I would rather leave it out and just commit to test & isolate ALL going into care from hospital. I do not think the community commitment adds anything and it muddies the waters.'

Official guidance, which was published on April 15, set out that all those discharged from hospitals into care homes would be tested but the Government would 'move to' testing those going into care from the community.  However, it was not until August 14 that the document was updated to require care home admissions from the community to be tested.  In the first two years of the pandemic, care homes in England logged 43,256 deaths involving Covid. Nearly 18,000 of these were logged between mid-April and mid-August before homes were instructed to test all new admissions.  Mr Hancock told the Health and Social Care Committee in June 2021 that 'sadly the biggest route of Covid into care homes is through the community'.

And in his pandemic diaries, serialised by the Daily Mail in December, Mr Hancock claimed hospital discharges were not to blame, and instead pointed the finger at infections being 'brought in from the wider community, mainly by staff'.

A spokesman for Mr Hancock said the former health secretary is 'considering all options' in response to the leak, with a source close to him saying: 'She [Ms Oakeshott] has broken a legal NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Her behaviour is outrageous.'

The spokesman said: 'Having not been approached in advance by the Telegraph, we have reviewed the messages overnight.  The Telegraph intentionally excluded reference to a meeting with the testing team from the WhatsApp. This is critical, because Matt was supportive of Chris Whitty's advice, held a meeting on its deliverability, told it wasn't deliverable, and insisted on testing all those who came from hospitals.  The Telegraph have been informed that their headline is wrong, and Matt is considering all options available to him.  This major error by Isabel Oakeshott and the Telegraph shows why the proper place for analysis like this is the inquiry, not a partial, agenda-driven leak of confidential documents.'

The spokesman for Mr Hancock said 'the Telegraph story is wrong', arguing that 'instead of spinning and leaks we need the full, comprehensive inquiry'.

'It is outrageous that this distorted account of the pandemic is being pushed with partial leaks, spun to fit an anti-lockdown agenda, which would have cost hundreds of thousands of lives if followed. What the messages do show is a lot of people working hard to save lives,' the spokesman said.

'Those who argue there shouldn't have been a lockdown ignore the fact that half-a-million people would have died had we not locked down.  And for those saying we should never lock down again, imagine if a disease killed half those infected, and half the population were going to get infected as is happening right now with avian flu in birds. If that disease were in humans, of course we'd want to lockdown.'

He continued: 'The story spun on care homes is completely wrong. What the messages show is that Mr Hancock pushed for testing of those going into care homes when that testing was available.  The full documents have already all been made available to the inquiry, which is the proper place for an objective assessment, so true lessons can be learned.'

Declining to comment directly on the leaks, a Government spokesman said: 'We have always said there are lessons to be learnt from the pandemic.  We are committed to learning from the Covid inquiry's findings, which will play a key role in informing the Government's planning and preparations for the future.'

Pat McFadden, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, told Sky News: 'We were told at the time that the Government was putting a protective ring around care homes.  The stories this morning suggest that protective ring wasn't there that people were being allowed to go into care homes that could have been positive, contrary to the advice of the Chief Medical Officer at the time.  What we've got to do is get to the bottom of it, get to the truth of it.   Because if that did happen, it looks like a pretty major breach early on in an area where we knew elderly people were vulnerable.'

Justin Madders, shadow minister for employment rights, pointed to Mr Hancock's exclamation of 'I WANT TO HIT MY TARGET' of 100,000 tests per day in a message to George Osborne in April 2020.  He said: 'This confirms what we suspected at the time that he wanted a good headline, ignoring professional advice, ignoring what was happening in care homes, it was all about him.'

Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist, tweeted that 'these revelations should surprise nobody'.  'Policies more about Hancock's PR than reducing all-cause mortality,' he said.

TalkTV presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer said the messages show that decisions weren't made based on following the science, but instead based on 'politicians' ego, on their careers and reputations' and even their 'likes on Twitter  Carol Vorderman said the investigation 'makes for shocking reading'.  'The many thousands of care home deaths which might easily have been prevented, the school closures, face masks, the casual nature of it all,' she said.

The WhatsApp leaks also lay bare divisions between Mr Hancock and social care minister Helen Whately, who said she was concerned about the Government's policy of discharging NHS patients into care homes to free up capacity.  She also urged action on PPE supplies to social care which were 'all over the place' in April, with problems continuing into May.  Ms Whately also warned Mr Hancock in June 2020 that nearly 100 care homes were refusing to test their staff for the virus over concerns they would need time off work.  The investigation also revealed that senior Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg had a Covid test couriered to his home during a testing shortage.  In September 2020, an aide messaged Mr Hancock to say the lab had 'lost' a test for one of the then-Commons leader's children, 'so we've got a courier going to their family home tonight'.

He added: 'Jacob's spad (special adviser) is aware and has helped line it all up, but you might want to text Jacob.'

As he battled to meet his own target of 100,000 coronavirus tests per day, the investigation shows Mr Hancock texted his former boss George Osborne, who was editor of the Evening Standard from 2017 to 2020, to 'call in a favour'.  Mr Hancock said he has thousands of spare testing slots which is 'obvs good news about spread of virus' but 'hard for my target' as he asked for front page coverage.  Mr Osborne responded: 'Yes of course all you need to do tomorrow is give some exclusive words to the Standard and I'll tell the team to splash it.'

The then-health secretary later added: 'I WANT TO HIT MY TARGET!'

Mr Hancock later clashed with Mr Osborne, when in November 2020 the former Chancellor urged the Government to make testing its 'absolute number one priority'.  In a text following the interview, Mr Hancock questioned the comments and said 'mass testing is going v well'.  But Mr Osborne said: 'No one thinks testing is going well, Matt.  If I wanted a test today I can’t get one, unless I fake symptoms – and [name redacted by The Telegraph] is still waiting test results from 3 weeks ago ([name redacted by The Telegraph] went private in the end).

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2022/01/20/gods-word-is-waste-proof?_hsmi=200488313&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_wM3Y0_qeAEgvBs52A_jrnfNSq7yo0CCMJ9sgy96NsXLIS1mr-gNX8ZLA__bXT4owQxHYK-GJezwIp90-v9WvxQ0GjUQ#disqus_thread

God’s Word Is Waste-Proof
January 20, 2022

by Jasmine Williams

“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (CSB)

It’s hard to shake the feeling of failure that sweeps over me when I’m throwing away rotten, unused vegetables. I had every good intention of eating them this time, and still here I am, dumping wasted produce into the garbage.  A similar thing happens when I thaw out a pack of chicken, with the perfect recipe in mind. Then busy moments lead to busy days, and there I am again, throwing away expired food.  It’s awful! And while I don’t mean to waste food, especially when there are so many who could use it, sometimes this happens. Some innocent piece of forgotten fruit lives out its best days in the back of my fridge before heading to the trash.  This got me thinking about the speed of life. Things pass us by so quickly, even the longer seasons like pursuing careers, raising children or enjoying retirement. There’s always something we intend to get around to that, if we’re not careful, gets forgotten as the opportunity expires.  Maybe we keep saying we’ll read more books to our kids, and then before we realize it, they’re too old to want a storytime. Or maybe we keep waiting for the right time to ask for a promotion, and eventually, someone else gets the position that would’ve been a great fit.  In any situation, it never feels good to let things go to waste. It can be very disappointing and leave us with regrets. At some point, though, we have to stop beating ourselves up about it. There will be other opportunities, even if they don’t look exactly the same.  More importantly, we can take comfort in knowing God has left us with something that will never waste away. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”

Many moments in life will wither and fade before we get a chance to really live them the way we planned. But our time spent knowing God and learning His Word will never expire or spoil before we can use it.  Hebrews 4:12 tells us the Word of God is living and active. When we soak it in, it does a work in us! Whether or not we can see it right away, God’s Word transforms us piece by piece. There is no waste. There is no unused portion that will later be embarrassingly tossed out.  It’s one of the only things we can’t mess up! Earthly ambitions, whether good or bad, require us to plant, water and harvest without missing a beat. Think about it. Something can start off great buying lots of produce or dreaming of a promotion but if we never take the next step, the end result doesn’t happen within the allotted time.  With God’s Word, though, any amount we absorb blesses our lives. We can and should set goals to study more of the Bible but thankfully, even when we fall short, the small amount we did read will still enrich us greatly.  It’s as if God knew we humans would fail at many things. He knew some of our best intentions would result in disappointment. So He gave us His Word, something that can produce fruit in us whether we read only a verse a day or go to seminary to study theology. He uses every ounce of time we invest in knowing Him, and the harvest is always beautiful.  Because He’s perfect, we don’t have to be.  Because He’s steadfast, we can stumble and get back up.  Because He’s so many things that we’re not, we can take in His Word and trust Him with the rest.  This doesn’t mean there’s no effort on our part. We should absolutely push to be more like Christ, ever seeking to align our will to His. But there’s peace in knowing that, even when we miss the mark, His Word is never wasted.  There’s no expiration date on the work God is doing in us.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11331733/Meghans-latest-bombshell-interview-Duchess-pays-tribute-Queen.html

'It's complicated but Harry is ever the optimist': Meghan hints at trouble with the Royals after Queen's death in wide-ranging new bombshell interview and reveals she's 'proud' of the 'warmth' of her relationship with 'the matriarch'

    Duchess of Sussex has spoken to Variety about a wide-range of issues including 'misconceptions' about her
    She opened up on death of the Queen, saying she he is 'proud' of their relationship, which had a 'nice warmth'
    Meghan reveals she never plans to act again and would help anyone playing her on TV and film with the part
    She said: ' I hope that in preparing for that role, she finds the softness and the playfulness and the laughter'
    Duchess reveals she and Harry will go for a drive-thru burger at In-N-Out and love giant chocolate cookies
    Their usual day is getting the children ready before often joint Zoom meetings with people across the world

By Martin Robinson, Chief Reporter For Mailonline

Published: 12:20, 19 October 2022 | Updated: 14:24, 19 October 2022

Meghan Markle has today given a new bombshell interview with one of her favoured US magazines where she paid tribute to the Queen yet hinted that her death and its fallout had been 'complicated' for Prince Harry but he remains 'ever-optimistic'.  The Duchess of Sussex has spoken to Variety about a wide-range of issues including 'misconceptions' about her since she married her royal husband in 2018 - especially after the Oprah interview - and claiming their 'love story' had inspired the world because 'people love love'.  Meghan took part in a glamorous photo and video shoot for the magazine where she wore a £4,657 Jason Wu dress and other expensive outfits and was filmed laughing and joking and even lying on her stomach kicking her legs with apparent excitement. She also wore a $2990 Carolina Herrera dress and a $1,560 Galvin gown for the photoshoot.  In a feature headlined 'Meghan Markle Lets Her Guard Down', the Duchess spoke first about her recent trip to the UK with Harry where their pseudo-royal tour was interrupted by Her Majesty's death aged 96 on September 8.  But in a hint that her death had been troublesome for Harry, who reportedly found out about the passing of his grandmother the just five minutes before the rest of the world, she said of the days and weeks afterwards: 'It's been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said: "Now she's reunited with her husband".' 

Harry had looked heartbroken as he arrived at Balmoral after learning the Queen had died on a private jet travelling alone without his wife. He stayed for 12 hours, apparently refused to have dinner with King Charles and Prince William and also took a backseat at the funeral where he was not allowed to salute irrespective of his military service.  But despite claims that she and Harry have set out to damage the Royal Family since emigrating in 2020, Meghan told Variety that she remains 'proud' of her relationship with Queen and had a 'nice warmth' with her, calling Her Majesty a 'matriarch'.  She said: 'There's been such an outpouring of love and support. I'm really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time. What's so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her.'

She added: 'I've reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate. And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family.'

And opening up for the first time about how she felt after the Oprah interview where the Sussexes accused the Royal Family of racism, she said her California friends had gathered around her to support her. She said: 'It's like they knew exactly what I needed to feel in that moment. It meant, and still means, so very much to me. The power of sisterhood and female support can never be underestimated.'  But she said that the public has 'misconceptions' about her, adding: 'I think that what happens, looking in from the outside, when there is this much noise, is that you become dehumanized'. She said she hopes her Archetypes podcast will help people see her as a 'real person'.

In arguably her most wide-ranging interview yet, the Duchess of Sussex revealed:

*  She is 'done' with acting - but would help someone playing her in a film and would not stop her children pursuing it as a career;
*  Meghan describes her life with Harry working together in a shared office after getting their children ready in the morning. When not on joint Zoom calls they 'commute' to LA and sometimes take a trip to a In-N-Out burger drive-thru where they 'know our order';
*  Former actress described the 'warmth' her friends showed her after she appeared on Oprah with Harry. She said: 'It's like they knew exactly what I needed to feel in that moment. It meant, and still means, so very much to me. The power of sisterhood and female support can never be underestimated';
*  She was 'grateful' to be alongside Harry and support him when the Queen died and spoke of treasuring their first engagement together. She said: 'In big moments in life, you get a lot of perspective. It makes you wonder what you want to focus your energy on. Right now, we feel energized and excited about all of the things we've been building toward';
*  Meghan appeared to distance herself from the Netflix docu-series set for release. Suggesting left-wing film maker Gloria Steinem had taken the lead she said: 'It's nice to be able to trust someone with our story a seasoned director whose work I've long admired even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it;
*  On her bombshell interview with The Cut in September, which contained a series of attacks on the royals, she suggested she had been too trusting and open. She said: 'I've had some time to reflect on it. Part of me is just really trusting, really open. I can survive it';

Meghan also poured her heart out to writer Matt Donnelly about how she will not return to acting again despite the success of Suits and being free of royal duties, raising more suspicions that she could enter US politics. 'No. I'm done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not', she said.

She also offered to help coach any actress who plays her in a drama in future. She said: 'I hope that in preparing for that role, she finds the softness and the playfulness and the laughter. The silliness. I just hope she finds the dimensions. Also, she can call me!'

The Duchess of Sussex also describes what life was like after that explosive Oprah interview, her podcast 'Archetypes,' and the Netflix documentary they are making as part of their $100million contract with the streaming giant.  She also revealed Harry's love for fast food joint  In-N-Out Burger and how they eat 'chocolate chip cookies the size of my toddler's head' while taking breaks from joint Zoom meetings or 'commuting' together to LA.  Speaking of Harry's eating habits: 'My husband's favorite is In-N-Out. There's one at the halfway point between LA and our neck of the woods. It's really fun to go through the drive-thru and surprise them. They know our order.'

Yesterday the Duchess of Sussex told how her time as a glamorous 'briefcase girl' on the American version of Deal or No Deal made her feel like a 'bimbo'.  Meghan, who appeared on 34 episodes of the gameshow, said it was a 'fascinating' experience and she was grateful for the work as an auditioning actress. But she said it made her feel 'not smart' and she quit because of the focus on how she looked.  In contrast, the duchess told how when she was younger, she saw herself as 'the smart one and not the pretty one'. And she said she wanted her daughter Lilibet, 16 months, to be valued first for her brain rather than her appearance. 'I want our daughter to aspire to be slightly higher. Yeah, I want my Lili to want to be educated and want to be smart and to pride herself on those things,' she said.

Today she said she and Harry are 'optimistic' about the future and want to be surrounded by family and friends.  Describing their passions she said: 'So much of how my husband and I see things is through our love story. I think that's what people around the world connected to, especially with our wedding. People love love. I'm not excluded in that sentiment. And our definition of love is really expansive: Partner love, self-love, the love of community and family. We use that as the baseline of the kind of shows and documentaries we want out there'.

But there is a hint that they are not as hands on with their upcoming Netflix documentary as first thought. It is being directed by Liz Garbus.  She said: 'It's nice to be able to trust someone with our story a seasoned director whose work I've long admired even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it. But that's not why we're telling it. We're trusting our story to someone else, and that means it will go through their lens'.

Meghan also shared insights into the life in the US, revealing that they share an office where they do Zoom meetings together. She also said that they 'commute' together to LA at times but only after getting their children ready for the day.  She said: 'We share an office. We work from home, as most people started to do during lockdown. It allows us to have significant time with our kids at this really special moment in their lives. We'll never get this time back. I make breakfast, and we get the kids set for the day.  'We do a lot of joint calls and Zooms, but also try to divide what we can focus our energies on so we can accomplish even more. My husband is on a 24-hour time zone, where half of your life is waking up as the other half is going to sleep. It's kind of the reverse of what I went through living in the U.K.  He's very good at responding on text. Me, I try to be as fast as possible on email. I've always said, if it takes less than five minutes, do it now.'

But the Duchess said her acting career is over despite initially finding fame and fortune on Suits.  She said: ' 'No. I'm done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not.'

But she was asked about how she would feel about somebody playing her in a drama.  She said: 'I haven't given that much thought, to be honest. It's all weird. You have to compartmentalize. Anyone talking about me or casting an actor to play me, that will be a caricature of me that has been created for a business that makes people a lot of money. Once you can separate that out, it's much easier to go: 'OK. That actually has nothing to do with me.' It genuinely doesn't. It's a hard lesson to come to grips with.'

'I hope that in preparing for that role, she finds the softness and the playfulness and the laughter. The silliness. I just hope she finds the dimensions. Also, she can call me!'

Meghan also admitted that she would not stop her children going into entertainment.  She said: I would say, 'Great!' When you become a parent, you genuinely want your kids to find the things that bring them complete joy. They're our kids, obviously, and they're part of a legacy and a tradition and a family that will have other expectations. But I want them to be able to carve out their own path. If it's the entertainment industry, great. And also, good luck. There are so many people that will talk about what opened the door for my children. But it still takes talent and a lot of grit. We're creating multi-dimensional, interesting, kind, creative people. That's who our kids are.'

'My intention is not to act again': Meghan Markle confesses she'd 'never say never' to a return to her first profession - and wants future actresses to portray her as 'soft and playful' in her Variety interview

Meghan Markle ruled out an acting return and wants any actresses to portray her as 'soft and playful' in any future adaptations of her life.  In a new interview with Variety magazine, the Duchess of Sussex, 41, was promoting her new Spotify podcast Archetypes when talk turned to her early career.  When she met Prince Harry in 2016, the mother-of-two was most famous for her role as Rachel Zane in hit legal drama Suits but quit the show shortly before the couple's April 2018 wedding.  Discussing how her professional landscape has changed since then, Meghan said: 'I didn’t think I’d ever be in the entertainment industry again. But the entire culture has changed; streamers have changed things.'

When quizzed about whether she'd ever perform again, Meghan initially shut down the question with: 'No. I’m done.'

But on second thought, the Duchess decided not to rule it out entirely.  She added: 'I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not.'

Stressing that she'd never 'given much thought' to the prospect of another actress playing her one day, Meghan said that they will most likely only know the 'caricature' of her.  She added: 'I hope that in preparing for that role, she finds the softness and the playfulness and the laughter. The silliness. I just hope she finds the dimensions.'

What's more, the Duchess said she would be encouraging if Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, wanted to pursue a career in entertainment.  She added: 'When you become a parent, you genuinely want your kids to find the things that bring them complete joy. They’re our kids, obviously, and they’re part of a legacy and a tradition and a family that will have other expectations.  But I want them to be able to carve out their own path.'

Acknowledging that Archie and Lilibet's family connections might give them a headstart, Meghan stressed that it still takes 'talent and grit' to be successful in Hollywood.  'We’re creating multi-dimensional, interesting, kind, creative people,' she gushed. 'That’s who our kids are.'

Speaking on her new Archetypes podcast with Paris Hilton earlier this week, the Duchess said she wants her daughter Lilibet to be valued first for her mind, rather than 'beauty not brains' as she was on Deal or No Deal at the start of her career.

The Duchess explained: 'I want our daughter to aspire to be slightly higher. Yeah, I want my Lili to want to be educated and want to be smart and to pride herself on those things.'

Meghan appeared on season two of NBC's Deal or No Deal 16 years ago. She first stood beside briefcase number 11 for two episodes, then moved to number 24. She left the show midway through the season.

Here are the key parts of yet another Meghan Markle bombshell interview.

Meghan on the death of Queen Elizabeth II:

'There's been such an outpouring of love and support. I'm really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time. What's so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her. It's been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said, 'Now she's reunited with her husband.'

On looking back at her relationship with the Queen since her passing:

'I've reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate. And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family.'

'In big moments in life, you get a lot of perspective. It makes you wonder what you want to focus your energy on. Right now, we feel energized and excited about all of the things we've been building toward. We're also focused on our foundation. So much of the work we do includes the philanthropic space.'

On what the days were like after her explosive Oprah interview aired on TV:

'Even before the interview, I hadn't been out because I was so pregnant. The one thing I really remember was Gloria Steinem's birthday, a few days after it aired. I really wanted to celebrate her at what I thought was just going to be a small and intimate birthday lunch. I envisioned it being us eating sandwiches in this cottage she was staying at. Instead, it was an extravaganza by the way, as she deserves. But I hadn't really seen people in a long time, and the interview had come out maybe a week before. Walking into a room alone is never easy for me, and I remember feeling a bit uncomfortable. But before I could let my uncertainty linger, Pamela Adlon came up to me and greeted me with such warmth and kindness. She toured me around the room, and at every turn, more generosity and love was felt. Maybe it's just a testament to the kind of company Glo keeps, but I also think these women were extraordinary to ensure I felt so welcomed. It's like they knew exactly what I needed to feel in that moment. It meant, and still means, so very much to me. The power of sisterhood and female support can never be underestimated.'

On the biggest misconceptions about her:

'I think that what happens, looking in from the outside, when there is this much noise, is that you become dehumanized. But if you remember that someone is a human being, then you don't treat them, talk about them, look at them the same way. My hope for 'Archetypes' is that people come out thinking, 'Oh! She's a real person! She laughs and asks questions and approaches things with curiosity.'

On what viewers can expect from Liz Garbus' Netflix docuseries on her and Harry

'It's nice to be able to trust someone with our story a seasoned director whose work I've long admired even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it. But that's not why we're telling it. We're trusting our story to someone else, and that means it will go through their lens.  It's interesting. My husband has never worked in this industry before. For me, having worked on 'Suits,' it's so amazing to be around so much creative energy and to see how people work together and share their own points of view. That's been really fun.'

On how Hollywood has changed

'I left 'Suits' right after the 100th episode, in 2018. I didn't think I'd ever be in the entertainment industry again. But the entire culture has changed; streamers have changed things. The ability to create zeitgeist moments like we had in the '90s where everyone would tune in at the same time for a show or gather for one moment?  that doesn't happen anymore. When I was doing 'Suits,' that character, Rachel Zane, was in your living room with you while you were in your pajamas eating Chinese takeout. That's how connected the experience felt then. But to create a cultural moment or conversation requires something different today. Podcasting has been really interesting in that way. It might be one of the only remaining forums where people are alone to listen. Where else do you have that opportunity?'

On the cultural climate when she was in the industry, before the #MeToo and #OscarsSoWhite movements:

'We didn't have a name for it at that time. There were just certain things that were accepted. If there was any discomfort, you just dealt with it. It forced a lot of women to live with this idea of staying silent, not being disruptive, not giving voice to the things that might create concern or discomfort.  For me, I had tried for so long to land on a show, filming all these pilots, wondering if they would get picked up. All of Season 1 on 'Suits,' I was convinced I was going to get recast. All the time. It got to a point where the creator was like, 'Why are you so worried about this?'

On whether or not she would ever go back to acting:

'No. I'm done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not.'

On what she would say to one of her children if they one day aspire to work in the entertainment industry:

'I would say, 'Great!' When you become a parent, you genuinely want your kids to find the things that bring them complete joy. They're our kids, obviously, and they're part of a legacy and a tradition and a family that will have other expectations. But I want them to be able to carve out their own path. If it's the entertainment industry, great. And also, good luck. There are so many people that will talk about what opened the door for my children. But it still takes talent and a lot of grit. We're creating multi-dimensional, interesting, kind, creative people. That's who our kids are.'

On what it feels like to know, as an actor, that another actor will probably play you:

'I haven't given that much thought, to be honest. It's all weird. You have to compartmentalize. Anyone talking about me or casting an actor to play me, that will be a caricature of me that has been created for a business that makes people a lot of money. Once you can separate that out, it's much easier to go: 'OK. That actually has nothing to do with me.' It genuinely doesn't. It's a hard lesson to come to grips with.'

On the advice she would give to any actor playing Meghan Markle:

'I hope that in preparing for that role, she finds the softness and the playfulness and the laughter. The silliness. I just hope she finds the dimensions. Also, she can call me!'

On how important it is to her to be understood by other people:

'That's a great question. No one has ever asked me that. I can only speak for myself, but I think feeling understood and seen are really important. That has been a common denominator that has come up in 'Archetypes' and the work I do with communities of women. People just want to be seen. That is also where representation comes into play.'

On what it has been like to open up about her life and her interview with New York Magazine, which some people found to be critical of the royals:

'The [New York] story was intended to support 'Archetypes' and focus on our projects. I've had some time to reflect on it. Part of me is just really trusting, really open that's how I move in the world. I have to remember that I don't ever want to become so jaded that that piece of me goes away. So despite any of those things? Onward. I can survive it.'

On her podcast, 'Archetypes':

'Part of what I'm doing with 'Archetypes' is looking at the nuances around the women who come on the show. I'm not a journalist, but I want a candid, real conversation with them. I'm talking to some really textured, colorful, layered, dynamic women with strong histories. And that comes with a lot of pieces you can choose to include or not; I choose to include something that I feel is fair to them and also uplifting. And something we can all learn from.'

On who has been the most challenging interview so far in her podcast, 'Archetypes':

'I spoke to Paris Hilton last week. I told her at the beginning that I was the most nervous about her interview. I was embarrassed to admit it, but I've had a judgment about her that's based on everything I've seen, and I don't like to come from a place of judgment. But I also didn't grow up pretty.'

On the ideal project for Archewell, the company she shares with her husband:

'So much of how my husband and I see things is through our love story. I think that's what people around the world connected to, especially with our wedding. People love love. I'm not excluded in that sentiment. And our definition of love is really expansive: Partner love, self-love, the love of community and family. We use that as the baseline of the kind of shows and documentaries we want out there.  For my husband, the Invictus Games have been such a huge piece of his life and his work, having been in the army for 10 years and working for the rehabilitation of wounded vets and their families. We talk about emotional injuries that come from those types of experiences. Those are love stories. For scripted, we want to think about how we can evolve from that same space and do something fun! It doesn't always have to be so serious. Like a good rom-com. Don't we miss them? I miss them so much. I've probably watched 'When Harry Met Sally' a million times. And all the Julia Roberts rom-coms. We need to see those again.'

On what an average workday looks like for her and her husband:

'We share an office. We work from home, as most people started to do during lockdown. It allows us to have significant time with our kids at this really special moment in their lives. We'll never get this time back. I make breakfast, and we get the kids set for the day. We do a lot of joint calls and Zooms, but also try to divide what we can focus our energies on so we can accomplish even more. My husband is on a 24-hour time zone, where half of your life is waking up as the other half is going to sleep. It's kind of the reverse of what I went through living in the U.K. He's very good at responding on text. Me, I try to be as fast as possible on email. I've always said, if it takes less than five minutes, do it now.'

On snack breaks

'It's funny. People sometimes think we live in Los Angeles, but we're a good two hours outside of it. We're commuters. We drove down recently for a day of back-to-back meetings, equipped with chocolate chip cookies the size of my toddler's head. Also, my husband's favorite is In-N-Out. There's one at the halfway point between L.A. and our neck of the woods. It's really fun to go through the drive-thru and surprise them. They know our order.'

On her recent visit back to her high school:

'I talked to a few of the girls who had just graduated for 'Archetypes' they were so incredible. I was so proud of them. And then I surprised some girls at volleyball practice. I saw my picture in the yearbook that a friend sent me the other day. For your senior-year portrait, you had to choose a quote to accompany the picture. At 17, I chose Eleanor Roosevelt saying, 'Women are like tea bags, they don't realize how strong they are until they're in hot water.' I don't think I'm a soothsayer, but there is something a little prophetic about that.'

On what she wants most out of life:

'Joy. That's really it. It's everything that we can work toward for ourselves, our friends, our kids, those around us that would feel so good. And we do feel joyful.'

Meghan Markle reflects on her only joint engagement with the Queen in Variety magazine, saying she's grateful the late monarch showed her such 'nice warmth'

Meghan Markle has opened up about her relationship with the Queen in her latest interview, with US magazine Variety.   The Duchess of Sussex, 41, said she has been reminiscing about her first joint engagement with Queen Elizabeth II, which took place in June 2018 in Widnes, Cheshire, since the death of the late Sovereign on September 8.  Speaking with one of her favoured US magazines at her Montecito house, Meghan, said the late Monarch made her feel special during the event, which saw them opening the Mersey Gateway Bridge.  Photographs from the time saw the two women appearing to enjoy each other's company, sharing a joke and laughing.   More than four years on, and after Meghan and Prince Harry's much talked about departure from the royal family and bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, the Duchess of Sussex said she is 'grateful' to have been able to spend time with Queen Elizabeth, with whom she said she shared a 'nice warmth.'  Meghan took part in a glamorous photo shoot for the interview, and was also filmed talking about her recent trip to the UK with Harry where their pseudo-royal tour was interrupted by Her Majesty's death aged 96.  In a hint that her death had been troublesome for Harry, who reportedly found out about the passing of his grandmother the just five minutes before the rest of the world, she said of the days and weeks afterwards: 'It's been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said: "Now she's reunited with her husband".'

Speaking of her engagement with the Queen four years ago, Meghan told the publication: 'I’ve reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate.  And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family,' she added.

At the time, the 92-year-old Monarch seemed to enjoy a growing bond with her grandson's wife, 36.   Meghan and the Queen seemed to be getting on famously, with Meghan whispering into the Queen's ear while watching a children's performance at the opening of the new bridge.

The Top Ten Dinner Dishes When Mom's Away and Dad's Cooking

10. Hot dogs with just a hint of Tabasco.

9. "Kids eat free" night at the steak house.

8. Pizza.

7. Broiled bologna benedict on rye.

6. Back-of-the-fridge goulash (with lots of pepper).

5. Chips and salsa.

4. Cocoa Puff surprise.

3. Something old, something blue, something frozen, call it stew.

2. Cold pizza.

1. Whatever's cooking at Grandma's.