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

It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.

My mother really was the strength in our family. She would sort of keep us in line and I admired her very much .

My grandmother I admired even more [than mother]. She was an Irish lady and a very kind-hearted person. She had a lot of talent, she painted extremely well. She was quite a strong factor in my life.

I would like to be remembered for the schools and hospitals and bridges and all the other activities that we did with the Sherpas. Unquestionably, they are the things I feel that were the most worthwhile of everything I was involved in.

Nothing can replace courage, a resounding motivation and that little bit of luck.