“When Toby was four months old, he’d managed to half get himself over the cot rail”

Growing up, I savored every sport I engaged in – rugby, football, cross-country, hockey – yet found their routines somewhat tedious. A fresh thrill came with climbing. The opportunity to test my boundaries in an unpredictable manner was exhilarating. If not a climber, I’d likely pursue a career as a Formula 1 racecar driver due to my long-standing fascination with the sport.

“I wanted my children to love the water. I took them all to baby swimming classes”

When we were young, my four siblings and I were all regularly taken swimming by our mother. I would even get up as early as 6am to join her for a swim before she went to work, relishing the feeling of being in the water. For many years after that, it was her task to rouse five teenagers every morning for swimming practice in a chilly pool – an endeavor that proved worthwhile in the long run.