Best year of your life?

[Hugo]

Either because of how good it was for you personally or what was going on in the world that made it so special.

Started thinking about it since I am listening to Nevermind and I think 1991 sounds about right to me. Major events - a very snowy January, relatively peaceful end of Soviet Union/Cold war, first gulf war (but it was done and dusted very quickly), Terry Waite released, epic long jump final in Japan, Nigel Mansell back at Williams (him and Senna in Spain), England win first Grand Slam in donkeys, that French try at Twickers, Achtung Baby and most importantly Bryan Adams everything I do being at number 1 for the entire year.

The negatives - death of Freddie Mercury and England losing the RWC final.

[sturginho]

2006 - Me and the Mrs first started going out at the start of that year. Bought my first house, got burnt to a crisp at download, saw Guns N Roses for the first time, saw Tool play twice that year. And Italy won the world cup

[FujiKiwi]

Born in 1974, I had a ridiculously idyllic and enjoyable childhood. It was all good but I’d take a stab at 1982 at having been maybe the best. My memories of that time are just aglow with how much fun I had.

Then, probably when my son was 2, which is peak cuteness time. So that would be 2011.

Then, this year, which has been hellish for so many around the world, I was blessed to come through with my family, and my daughter, who is nearly 9, really started to grow in confidence and come out of her shell. So this’d be third.

It’s a bit strange to think my best time was before having my kids. Seems selfish. But the fact is, with having kids comes so much stress and worry, too. My blissfully stress-free years as a kid end up shading my later years as a family man, for happiness but not for richness.

[Gumboot]

Next year, hopefully. The last few have been pretty shit on a personal level, with far too much illness and death amongst nearest and dearest.

Every year's a mixed bag of course, but I guess two of the most memorable for me are 1981 - 20yo and living large in Wellington, the Tour etc, and 1999 - the ex and I brought a tour group of Taiwanese kids over here at the beginning of the year, had a great time and somehow managed to get them all home safe and sound; survived the 921 earthquake in a swaying high-rise two months before the birth of our daughter...

There have been plenty of proud parent moments in the years since.

[tabascoboy]

I guess 2010, when I was able to stop the daily grind of commuting and slip into early retirement!

[Sandstorm]

London 1998. In Trance We Trust.

[Gumboot]

It’s a bit strange to think my best time was before having my kids. Seems selfish. But the fact is, with having kids comes so much stress and worry, too. My blissfully stress-free years as a kid end up shading my later years as a family man, for happiness but not for richness.

Maybe a happier childhood makes a better parent. Best of both worlds?

[Line6 HXFX]

1993 and 1994
I was on a great Btec National Diploma in Performing Arts course, the first of its type in the UK. A truly difficult course at the time.
I studied IT at a much higher level, and that was breeze in comparison to this.
They make these courses extremely hard.
1600 people applied, 35 were selected about 10 of us actually passed the thing. All mainly professional gigging musicians.

We as a group were writing, rehearsing and performing constantly,
I don't know if you ever found "your"group in life, in the South Wales Valleys it is easy to be isolated, and you can go your whole life not meeting people who like the same thing as you, and constantly practising a instrument is really isolating in and of itself, but these were my people.
I met my guys. Supporting each other, financially, emotionally, just through humour and having and maintaining a positive attitude.
We spent 2 glorious years together constantly writing and performing and having the time of our lives.
I was so fucking happy. bold, confident, felt I could do anything.
It was incredible.
So much fun.
After the course ended we actually stayed for three months the do a run of shows, over the Summer Holidays.
The right knock the arts, performing arts courses in particular, they think it is all a worthless hobby.
To be derided.
Not many would have even been able to get on, let alone sustain the attitude necessary to pass this thing.

[Lemoentjie]

2007. In Europe pre-crash, travelling throughout the EU for work, visiting Russia with my wife, Boks winning the RWC, my wife learning that she is pregnant.

[assfly]

2010. Graduated, got married, left the UK for Dubai. Good times.

[FalseBayFC]

London 1998. In Trance We Trust.

Ha ha, might have bumped into you at a Strawberry Sundae at the Arches. Or Turnmills or the Fridge. 1998 was a good year for me too. Thank God there were no cellphone cameras then. Don't remember much of it.

[Niegs]

Probably 2014/15. Coached the Prem ladies to an undefeated season (mostly them being a stacked team, but they did have the tendency to be at each other's throats under previous coaches, and after I left, so at least kept the ship calm and on course!). Loved my job cataloguing old artefacts at our Navy's museum. Lived rent free at the rugby club so was banking most of my money. Had probably the greatest group of friends, most being kid-free, so we did proper adult hangouts.

... sadly, the job was temp, the rugby club sold the grounds and I had to move out, and didn't find a good enough job to keep me there. :(


Hoping this next year is going to rival it, though. I've decided to do further study in the UK, focusing on sport development. Hoping to also take advantage of the two-year window to look for work post-graduation.

[Kawazaki]

From a very shallow and selfish standpoint, I'd rate my best years based on the amount of shagging I did. I probably had twice as much sex as a callow 17 year old who fluked in with a stunning 19 year old girlfriend than in any other year of my life. She was insatiable. From a more grown up perspective, it should be 2007 when I met my other half - I hope one day to be half as great a person as she is.

[Tichtheid]

There was a quote from an elderly tv show character that made me laugh, on being wished a happy birthday he said, "I count every year above the ground as a kind of Pyrrhic victory".

[Insane_Homer]

There was a quote from an elderly tv show character that made me laugh, on being wished a happy birthday he said, "I count every year above the ground as a kind of Pyrrhic victory".

[Insane_Homer]

1987 - I was invincible 14 year old, not a care in the world, great friends, in peak physical condition, top of my game.

[GogLais]

Apart from the usual stuff - probably 1975. I’d left Uni in 1971 with a reasonable degree in engineering but I couldn’t get a degree level job. I went to see a careers adviser who said engineering is a dead-end in this country and I should try one of the numerate professions. So I changed tack, started off as the lowest of the low, part-time study got me my RICS qualification in 1975 and I then knew I was an a reasonable career path.

[Happyhooker]

2007. In Europe pre-crash, travelling throughout the EU for work, visiting Russia with my wife, Boks winning the RWC, my wife learning that she is pregnant.

Did you ever find out who the father was?

[Happyhooker]

London 1998. In Trance We Trust.

Ha ha, might have bumped into you at a Strawberry Sundae at the Arches. Or Turnmills or the Fridge. 1998 was a good year for me too. Thank God there were no cellphone cameras then. Don't remember much of it.

Oh fuck

[Kiwias]

Still waiting for it.

[Trapper]

Always been happiest when travelling. 1991 through Europe with mates in a combi was fantastic but I’m gonna say 1998 the year I got married and wife and I spent a year travelling through Asia and South East Asia, epic.

[Openside]

1993 and 1994
I was on a great Btec National Diploma in Performing Arts course, the first of its type in the UK. A truly difficult course at the time.
I studied IT at a much higher level, and that was breeze in comparison to this.
They make these courses extremely hard.
1600 people applied, 35 were selected about 10 of us actually passed the thing. All mainly professional gigging musicians.

We as a group were writing, rehearsing and performing constantly,
I don't know if you ever found "your"group in life, in the South Wales Valleys it is easy to be isolated, and you can go your whole life not meeting people who like the same thing as you, and constantly practising a instrument is really isolating in and of itself, but these were my people.
I met my guys. Supporting each other, financially, emotionally, just through humour and having and maintaining a positive attitude.
We spent 2 glorious years together constantly writing and performing and having the time of our lives.
I was so fucking happy. bold, confident, felt I could do anything.
It was incredible.
So much fun.
After the course ended we actually stayed for three months the do a run of shows, over the Summer Holidays.
The right knock the arts, performing arts courses in particular, they think it is all a worthless hobby.
To be derided.
Not many would have even been able to get on, let alone sustain the attitude necessary to pass this thing.

Presumably these were your least worst??

[Grandpa]

Always been happiest when travelling. 1991 through Europe with mates in a combi was fantastic but I’m gonna say 1998 the year I got married and wife and I spent a year travelling through Asia and South East Asia, epic.

I beat you by a year... Combi around Europe in 1990...

Out of interest, had Yugoslavia imploded when you were on tour or did you just avoid that? When we were there we saw a lot of military so sensed something was up.. and that was in 1990...

Oh, we did a Contiki trip first... epic...

[tc27]

Hopefully still ahead of me...


But always remember 2010 fondly. I got out of a terrible relationship, lost weight and got into shape, added some well needed notches to the bedpost and got a great new job (from which a new group of friends was established). I view it as a watershed that got me out of a rut and set me up for the good things that have happened since.

[Hugo]

Hopefully still ahead of me...


But always remember 2010 fondly. I got out of a terrible relationship, lost weight and got into shape, added some well needed notches to the bedpost and got a great new job (from which a new group of friends was established). I view it as a watershed that got me out of a rut and set me up for the good things that have happened since.

That's great. I can relate, I have had a couple of those "turn the corner" years where you start a new job or move house and you manage to start afresh and shed some toxic situations.

[Slick]

Excellent and tough question.

1993 was great- left school then went on the Lions tour followed by a year in Oz

2005-2008 was utterly brilliant. Worked in a job I loved with people I loved and as part of that job travelled the world having experiences few could buy. It was also the start of a few years of pills, thrills, sex and rock n roll with mostly those same
people in London and, pre kids, the happiest years of my life.

If I had to pick one it might be 2012. London Olympics was immense, got married and the last real hurrah before the next phase of life.

[PCPhil]

Prob 1984 but of course grass is always greener sky aways bluer. At 6th form, long hot summer, great girlfriends, jumping on coaches and trains on holidays, going to night clubs in the week..bed at 3am…still alert in class next morning, invincible and instinctive.

[Blake]

2007 for me. Fresh out of University with some disposable income to burn. Enjoyed my first job, had a terrific mentor. Great rugby and attended some great music festivals.

[Line6 HXFX]

1993 and 1994
I was on a great Btec National Diploma in Performing Arts course, the first of its type in the UK. A truly difficult course at the time.
I studied IT at a much higher level, and that was breeze in comparison to this.
They make these courses extremely hard.
1600 people applied, 35 were selected about 10 of us actually passed the thing. All mainly professional gigging musicians.

We as a group were writing, rehearsing and performing constantly,
I don't know if you ever found "your"group in life, in the South Wales Valleys it is easy to be isolated, and you can go your whole life not meeting people who like the same thing as you, and constantly practising a instrument is really isolating in and of itself, but these were my people.
I met my guys. Supporting each other, financially, emotionally, just through humour and having and maintaining a positive attitude.
We spent 2 glorious years together constantly writing and performing and having the time of our lives.
I was so fucking happy. bold, confident, felt I could do anything.
It was incredible.
So much fun.
After the course ended we actually stayed for three months the do a run of shows, over the Summer Holidays.
The right knock the arts, performing arts courses in particular, they think it is all a worthless hobby.
To be derided.
Not many would have even been able to get on, let alone sustain the attitude necessary to pass this thing.

Presumably these were your least worst??

Presume all you like my love. I gave up Caring about what you presume years ago.



Date correction it was 1992 -1993 btw.

[Gumboot]

Prob 1984 but of course grass is always greener sky aways bluer.

Yeah that was another fun year, but for some reason it always gets a bad rap.

[clydecloggie]

1993 - met my wife-to-be, was living the university student life with not a care in the world, amazing music everywhere.

2014 - flying high in my career, youngest child 2yo so out of nappies and starting to develop her personality, and an amazing vibrancy to Glasgow at the time because of the Commonwealth Games and upcoming independence referendum. Just a great place & time to live. Only downside to that year was the outcome of said referendum...

[Ovals]

I remember 1970 being a really good year - I was 17, bought my 1st car and passed my test - giving me my 1st real taste of freedom.

1973 when I met this gorgeous girl (who I married the following year) - couldn't believe my luck, felt like I was walking on air - I was batting well above my average !! We're still together.

1979 - Started a new job and birth of our 1st child - amazing time. I really loved all the years when my kids were at home, especially when they were small.

2000 - Got head hunted, out of the blue, into the job/company that I really enjoyed - and which rewarded me well. The 1st year there was challenging and great fun.

[Thor Sedan]

1995 - 1999: In NZ, flatting with 3 outstanding people. Working in a music store, very little take home responsibility, disposable income, brilliant perks (concerts, free CD's, mixing with some relatively famous folk) a girlfriend that was out of my league and locally famous for late night comedy.

1999 - 2001: Travelled through South East Asia for 3 months, living in London in a 5 bedroom house with about 20 people. All the social life I could ever want, best physical condition I have been in and my 'purple patch' with the ladies. Travelling all round Europe, clubbing Friday evening to Sunday mornings (Twisted and Frantic being personal favs) having the time of my life. And helps that I headed back home via a 4 month stay in Africa which was my traveling highlight. Buffels Baai I miss you so.

But if I had to break it down to one year - probably 2007. Met my now wife, moved to where I now live and started me down the road to where I am now with a house, wife, 2 kids and a hybrid car. It was definitely my defining year. I can think of 3 major decisions in that year that would have impacted me hugely had I gone a different way.

But man I miss the carefree days of London Town.

[Yr Alban]

Has to be 1998, TBH. Had my own flat in Edinburgh, working reasonably close by, started going out with my now wife, ended up moving with her to Queensland later in the year, watched Hearts win the Scottish Cup (first trophy in 36 years).

Lots of good stuff happened since, including wedding and kids etc, but if I had a vintage year it was that one.