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.
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Flying over the Australian outback in a jet, looking down at the incredible orange scenery, the uninhabited hills and gullies, listening to Tchaikovsky on my headphones and drinking champagne with a cigarette in my hand. It was 1984, I'd been to the Adelaide Book Festival and was going back to my husband and my children.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 January 2007 source ↗
1990 FA Cup final, playing for Crystal Palace.
I have been very fortunate in my life. I have had a lot of happiness. I have a great family and I work a lot, and that's what I like to do.
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.
Right now. I think I was born in my early 30s and I am finally catching up to my age. It’s fine to be a bit like Frasier now, but it’s probably not ideal when you are 12.
Losing my independence.
Ethan Hawke, David Baddiel, Jeanette Winterson, Nicholson Baker, Adrian Edmondson, Ian McEwan
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