The question
What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?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.
On a train journey to Arcadia many years ago while making a TV documentary.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 July 2026 source ↗
Anywhere with her, while she lived.
Childhood, up until the age of seven, when my sister died.
At 37 Crawford Road in Camberwell, London. My mother had separated from my father and we had nothing, but I remember roast potatoes, twopence in the gas meter and music. It was the only time in my life when I felt at home.
The first time I remember being truly happy was with my children on Ainsdale beach, not far from Southport. I spent £15 on butties, and we spent the whole day by the sea.
We don’t die. We change realms. Life is eternal. Living is not. Live while you are alive.
Composer, pirate, scientist, philosopher.
Worrying at things.
A Dalí painting.
Evolve or perish.
Not being there for my daughter.
Lesley Sharp, Michelle Yeoh, Anne Enright, Jay McInerney, Dervla Kirwan, Judith Kerr
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