I was a dreamer when I was at high school and even primary school. I used to dream about doing adventurous things.

I always refused to give in if there was some argument with my father. Whether it was true or not, I refused to admit it and so often I would - well, tell lies, perhaps. I would either do that or change the story. Particularly if I felt that my father was being unjust, then I was very strongly motivated to not accept his ruling.

I found fear stimulating. Particularly after you've done something that you'd been frightened of at the time, but you carried through and did the job.

There are lots and lots of challenges that I wished - at the time - that I had done.There are lots of occasions where there were exciting things to be done but for some reason or another it was physically impossible for us to do them. I still wouldn't mind if I was able to go down into this most impressive valley in the Antarctic, but of course those things are beyond me now.

I hate being called an 'icon.' I just don't like it. That's all there is to it.

Everest you won't change, but I will get better...I will conquer you.

Life's a bit like mountaineering - never look down.