Thirty to 40 years ago most financial decisions were fairly simple.

I have no fear that the candle lighted in Palestine years ago will ever be put out.

In masks outrageous and austere The years go by in single file But none has merited my fear And none has quite escaped my smile.

Forty years ago this country went down a rabbit hole in Vietnam and millions died. I fear we're going down a rabbit hole once again - and if people can stop and think and reflect on some of the ideas and issues in this movie perhaps I've done some damn good here!

I fear that the rising personal bankruptcies and repossessions are the first signs of bigger problems to come and personal debt - Gordon Brown's legacy to millions of Britain's families - will hang like a millstone around the neck of the British people for years to come.

Over the past few years the road to confrontation has shown its consequences: loss of innocent lives destruction and fear. Most costly however was the loss of hope. The most precious gift that you can present to your peoples over the coming weeks is renewed hope born out of tangible progress on the ground.

Americans are terrified because so many of them have been laid off in recent years and months and they fear that they may be next. Even if they have not been laid off or have not known anyone laid off they definitely know someone who has lost his home.

Years may wrinkle the skin but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry fear self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.

I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up this diminishes fear knowing what must be done does away with fear.

I have also just finished three weeks on a soap opera in England. The soap opera is a rather famous one called Crossroads. It was first on television 25 years ago and it has recently been brought back. I play the part of a businessman called David Wheeler.