I was not a beater of children and as a consequence I've always been, I think, very agreeable and co-operative.

I think Himalayan climbers tend to mature fairly late. I think most of the successful Himalayan climbers have ranged from 28 to just over 40, really.

Boredom has always been a problem.

Waihi Beach. It's a lovely beach, and we're right on the shore and I get a lot of pleasure out of waking up in the morning and hearing the waves roll in.

I will come again & conquer you because as a mountain you can't grow, but as a human, I can

In those days we were punished very frequently and I felt that it was often unjust, and so I would resist the desire to agree with many, many things. So I used to get beaten quite frequently and I more or less accepted it as part of life.

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