The book opens on a happy note. Sir Francis Younghusband, doyen of Everesters, says in his Foreword Everest is the symbol of the loftiest spiritual height of Man's imagination, a view with which no mountaineer will quarrel since it is the very essence of his creed.

I gave the salesman an Irish hint that he wasn't welcome by slamming the door in his face.

The chairman also doesn't want to miss this event and is keen to have one of those fresh kangarooburgers Paul has organized from the delicatessen shop down the street.

Oh yeah, I'm supposed to promote that vision thing.