What do you see?

The sky or the glass and steel roof?

Is the roof there to keep the sky out – or the observer in?

Back in March 1998 I was at Everest Base Camp chatting with Tom Whittaker, who was attempting to become the first disabled person to summit the peak.

He succeeded on May 27 of that year, on his third attempt.

On his return to Base Camp he emailed a message to his supporters which read:

“I prefer to be defined by my abilities, rather than my disabilities.”

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“These “letters” are the personal observations of me, Chris Barrow and are not intended to reflect the views of 7connections and its team members, they just give me permission to publish here on the basis that they can keep an eye on me, a bit like a mad relative at a wedding reception. I’m likely to upset the sensitive and outrage the sensible – if you fall into either of those camps then read at your peril.”