Fay Ripley: When were you happiest?

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 Fay Ripley said elsewhere, not written here

When my kids had little teeth and curly hair, and hadn’t discovered the idea of wanting to leave home.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 November 2022 source ↗

Others on this question

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Ann Patchett American author

Before email was invented.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 April 2017 source ↗

Nick Robinson British political journalist

Toasting marshmallows on an open fire in Yosemite national park.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 November 2013 source ↗

Sarah Parish English actress

In the first month of my second daughter Nell’s life. My first daughter, Ella-Jayne, was born with a serious heart defect so I didn’t get to just be a mum, I was a carer for the eight months of her life and lived in a hospital. When Nell was born, having a healthy child and being able to be a mum was incredible.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 December 2019 source ↗

Winston Churchill Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1940–1945 and 1951–1955; Member of Parliament 1900–1964

But the years 1895 to 1900 which are the staple of this story exceed in vividness, variety and exertion anything I have known—except of course the opening months of the Great War. When I look back upon them I cannot but return my sincere thanks to the high gods for the gift of existence. All the days were good and each day better than the other. Ups and downs, risks and journeys, but always the sense of motion, and the illusion of hope.

Recorded Chapter of his autobiography, written at Chartwell in 1930, Winston S. Churchill, My Early Life (Thornton Butterworth, 1930), Project Gutenberg Canada, October 1930 source ↗