Kellie Maloney: What disappointment has stayed with you longest? — FLAPSS

The question

What disappointment has stayed with you longest?

Originally asked

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

This exact question recurs in The Guardian's institutional Q&A pool.

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

KM

Kellie Maloney

Retired boxing manager, promoter and politician

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Not being truthful to everyone from an earlier age.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 367 →

Philippa Gregory

I was very sorry to stop at two children – I would have liked to have had a third – and I am very sorry to have got divorced.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 March 2024 source ↗

Paul Theroux American travel writer and novelist

Political leadership generally.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 May 2013 source ↗

Boris Becker German tennis player, coach, and commentator

Never to have won the French Open.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 June 2012 source ↗

Hayley Atwell British American actress

Everything’s disappointing when it loses its shine. I’ve lowered my expectations.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 December 2018 source ↗

More from Kellie Maloney

View profile →

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

In my early days of transitioning, I used to come to London and meet for a drink with a group going through the same thing. I used to wear a full wig, and one night I’d drunk too much and fell asleep on the train, and my wig slipped off.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought? Money & investment

A black Russian terrier – I paid almost £4,000 for him.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? Time & hindsight

At the birth of my children; when Lennox Lewis was crowned undisputed world heavyweight champion; and the day I had my final gender reassignment operation.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question What lesson has mattered most in your life? Time & hindsight

Choose your friends wisely.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question Who deserves an apology from you, and for what? Failure & regret

To my daughters and my partner, Tracey, for what I put them through with my transition.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question How would you describe what love feels like to you? Relationships

Love comes in different aspects. There’s sexual love, companion love and unconditional love, and I think you only have unconditional love with your children or your pets.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

More on failure & regret

Also answered this

Caroline Lucas, Gloria Steinem, Kirsty Wark, Joan Bakewell, Jacqui Smith, George H. W. Bush

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

All failure & regret questions
The The Q&A questionnaire — 25 questions from the same format
Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject

Report this answer