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.
Happiness is planting the vegetables, sleeping with my girlfriend, running, doing my work, sitting by the fire with a book and a glass of wine... I need a reason to be unhappy, but do not need one to be quietly cheerful.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 December 2009 source ↗
In the sea, somewhere hot. Looking back at people I love on the beach.
Belfast 1994, when my first son was born.
On stage – the Old Vic in 1981 and Glastonbury last year.
Our wedding weekend in Ireland.
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