And he is back. With a smile. With pleasure. With emotions.

You mentioned yesterday a change in
your training regime…
The change occurred in the physical aspect of the training. What I realised, in the last couple of years, is that I worked incredibly hard. And when I say that, I don’t mean hours and hours of work, I’m very specific and concentrated on what I do. So the quality in my work is excellent. So what I have been able to do now, what I have to do now, is to cut down on the amount of time spent on court, and cut down on the physical exercises on court, because it’s too hard for me now to do that and try to play. I just can’t do it.

How do you “get away with it” then?
Well, because after years and years of training extremely hard, I am still very strong physically. So what I’m doing now, is concentrating on some parametric work, I designed a program myself actually. I also go swimming quite a lot, so I get in the swimming-pool and get my aerobic exercises through that. And the parametric training is quite challenging, it’s very hard, no break for 10 or 15 minutes of short and sharp movements that I do on court, all based around the T.

So a complete change of direction, as far as
training is concerned?
I’m still working extremely hard, but it’s just nowhere near the amount of time that I used to do, which is correct, because I can’t do it anymore.

What is Neil Harvey’s position in your life
at this point in time?
I do all my stuff myself now, I don’t go round for sessions anymore, we still talk a lot, and by the sheer fact of all the things I’ve done with him for the past ten years, Neil has a huge influence, like on my work ethic for example, or what I actually do on court, and how I work on court. Actually, you could also say that it relates back to my father's “do things properly, if you’re doing them, do them properly”. And Neil is very much of the same attitude.

But during those 10 years, did you work with
others as well?
Yes, it’s a mixture you know. In my head I’ve got Neil’s voice, my father’s voice, David Pearson’s voice, lots of other voices as well, and also, and it’s the most important, what I think now. And most of it is MY interpretation of what I need to do. So now, I’m saying, it’s up to me.

You’re growing up, aren’t you?
It does happen to everybody, eventually…

Is every day a good day, Peter?
No, not really, but I’m enjoying my life more than I ever have done, but that’s because I’m looking outside squash. I’m looking into life in general, how I live, why I want to play squash, why I wanted to achieve what I’ve achieved, is it me? Or is it influences that pushed me? And it’s a mixture of everything.

Have you learnt things about yourself then?
I have realised that I’m a very competitive “animal”, human being, so the squash suits me, and I love the game, I do, I truly do. The more I look at it, the more I love playing. But I also want to know what’s going on in life in general, learning about people, and having relationships with people, and understanding more about things, instead of just through things, just seeing things and being alone. “So much, and yet so little”.

Could you develop that, please Peter?
So much to do, and yet too little that is really important … I’ve stopped being busy all the time, so I spend a lot of time at home, doing “nothing”, by that I mean, cooking, reading, talking with friends… I don’t use my phone very often, I don’t reply to emails anymore… And that must sound ridiculous for a lot of people, but for me it’s wonderful, just stopping the interferences of being busy all the time for no apparent reason other than getting on, getting more money, getting this or whatever, you know?

A different way of life?
A QUALITY of life… and I’m getting there. And the benefits are immense, it means when I come and play squash, I’m really excited about it, I feel like a kid again, I even felt nervous yesterday, and I don’t normally get nervous!

What is your goal now?
To live! Just to live. See what happens. I want to carry on playing squash, because I love the game, I love playing, but at the same time, do lots more outside the sport, outside the playing, and at the same time, I don’t actually know, and I don’t want to know! I want things to just… happen. I’m looking into things, things that I enjoy and like and being open minded about it as much as possible. I’m not going to say “I’m going to do this”, or “I’m going to do that”, or this is when this is going to finish.

So, no retiring plans yet then?
Well, I know roughly when I want retire from being serious about playing squash, and that is 2006 Commonwealth Games, but that doesn’t mean I will stop playing. In my mind, I’m going to go “right, time to really physically take a step back,” and see what happens. I might still play incredibly well, but I may have gone by then, who knows? That’s just a rough idea of what I may do.

And after that?
After that … I don’t know.
  
You’re far from Jonah Barrington’s state of mind who replied to a journalist about his retirement plans, “the day I stop playing squash, I die…”
  
The day I stop playing squash, I’ll start to live. How about that?
   
Could you describe the life you want in 3 words?
Brutal, emotional, and honest.
  
Thank you Peter.
 

Peter with Neil Harvey

and David Pearson
 

from August 2004