Graydon Carter: When were you happiest?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Graydon Carter said elsewhere, not written here

My first week in New York in 1978, when I was about to start as a writer at Time. And my first week in the south of France after retiring from my job of 25 years as editor of Vanity Fair.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 June 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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Richard Coles British musician, writer, presenter and priest

Technically, Ibiza 1990, because of the amount of ecstasy I’d taken.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 June 2023 source ↗

Brian Cox Scottish actor

I’ve had a lot of happiness in my life: 1) the birth of my children; 2) getting into Lamda when I was 17; 3) meeting my wife; 4) and the renewal of our marriage vows and my 60th birthday.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 July 2016 source ↗

Ardal O'Hanlon Irish comedian and actor

I have become progressively happier as I’ve got older. It’s to do with not striving as much.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 June 2022 source ↗

Caroline Lucas

Picnicking on the Downs with my family and dog – birds singing, sea sparkling, and mobile switched very firmly off.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 April 2024 source ↗