When I was nine, the teacher asked us to write a piece about our village fete. He read mine in class. I was encouraged and continued. I even wanted to write my memoirs at the age of ten. At twelve I wrote poetry, mostly about friendship - 'Ode to Friendship.' Then my class wanted to make a film, and one little boy suggested that I write the script.

We want a fully comprehensive trade deal that reflects our deep, ongoing relationship, the friendship between our two countries, the fact that Australians want to come and live and work in Britain, and Brits want to come and live and work in Australia.

Ray Bradbury is, for many reasons, the most influential writer in my life. Throughout our long friendship, Ray supplied not only his terrific stories but a grand model of what a writer could be, should be, and yet rarely is: brilliant and charming and accessible, willing to tolerate and to teach, happy to inspire but also to be inspired.

Friendship is one of our most treasured relationships, but it isn't codified and celebrated; it's never going to give you a party.

Friendship is mutual blackmail elevated to the level of love.

Longevity in friendship is very important and one of the keys to the foundation of a happy life.

A passion for politics stems usually from an insatiable need, either for power, or for friendship and adulation, or a combination of both.

When I read 'Stand By Me,' it was like, 'This is a look back at the same time period when I was growing up, and it was about kids, but it really felt like what it was like to have those powerful feelings of friendship at age 12.' That's what got to me.

During the 1950s, Aristotle Onassis and I formed what grew to be a close friendship and association in several business ventures.

Friendship is the complete explanation of what a Cheetah Girl is - if you have that true friendship, you can conquer anything you want.