It's not a real adventure when you have to pay for it.

As a youngster I was a great dreamer, reading many books of adventure and walking lonely miles with my head in the clouds.

With practice and focus, you can extend yourself far more than you ever believed possible.

I was definitely seriously affected [with wifw and daughter deaths], no question, but I learnt to devote myself to the things that we'd been doing for years and years and slowly the pain drifted away.

While on top of Everest, I looked across the valley towards the great peak Makalu and mentally worked out a route about how it could be climbed. It showed me that even though I was standing on top of the world, it wasn't the end of everything. I was still looking beyond to other interesting challenges.

I have to admit I do get a bit depressed at times and you know I think about the good old days when I was charging ahead.

Becoming a 'Sir' is slightly uncomfortable at first, although it is a considerable honor. It is amazing how quickly you become accustomed to it.