$(document).ready(function(){

  //Action message handler, allows the dialogue to be closed
  var $messages = $("#action-messages");

  $messages.fadeOut("fast").fadeIn("slow")
           .append('<p id="action-message-close"><a href="#" style=" display:none;">[hide this message]</a></p>');
  setTimeout(function(){
    $('#action-message-close>a').fadeIn("slow");
  },750);

  $("#action-message-close>a").click(
    function () { 
      $('#action-message-close>a').hide();
      $messages.slideUp();
      return false;
    }
  );

});