I put the copy of 'A Christmas Carol' that my grandfather had first read to me 60 years ago on my desk and I began to write. The result for better or for worse is the 'Christmas Spirits.' I plan to read it to my grandson.

The British Red Cross asked me to help them spearhead a fundraising campaign for the victims of the war in Nicaragua. It was a turning point in my life. It began my commitment to justice and human rights issues.

Today we know that World War II began not in 1939 or 1941 but in the 1920's and 1930's when those who should have known better persuaded themselves that they were not their brother's keeper.

We have been travelling through a cloud. The sky has been dark ever since the war began.

When I began writing that I was able and did travel and met some fascinating people and also uncovered some history which has not been discovered before.

The boys of my people began very young to learn the ways of men and no one taught us we just learned by doing what we saw and we were warriors at a time when boys now are like girls.

I had no idea of the character. But the moment I was dressed the clothes and the make-up made me feel the person he was. I began to know him and by the time I walked onto the stage he was fully born.

Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.

Since this war began our sympathy has gone out to all the suffering people who have been dragged into it. Further hundreds of millions have become involved since I spoke at Limerick fortnight ago.

I never really participated in specific sports or anything but once I hit 40 I started to get a little bit more active and began swimming more.