Describe a happy memory from your childhood.

I’d like to talk about a really vivid childhood memory from when I was about eight or nine, a family picnic by the river that still sticks with me. It was during the summer holidays, at the end of primary school, when life felt wonderfully simple and the days seemed to last forever.

I was there with my parents, my younger sister, and a couple of cousins who were visiting from another city. We all piled into my dad’s slightly unreliable old car and drove out to this quiet riverside spot just outside town. The weather was perfect – clear blue sky, a light breeze – the kind of day that practically invites you to stay outdoors.

We spread out a huge checked blanket, and my mum unpacked what felt like a never-ending feast: homemade sandwiches, fresh fruit, and this amazing chocolate cake. The adults chatted and dozed in the shade, while we kids spent hours skipping stones, playing hide-and-seek among the trees, and daring each other to paddle in the freezing water. At one point, my dad tried to show us how to fish with a makeshift rod, and even though we didn’t catch a single thing, we laughed ourselves silly at his overly dramatic “fisherman” stories.

This memory is so special to me because it captures a moment of pure, uncomplicated happiness and a real sense of togetherness. There were no phones, no distractions, just us enjoying each other’s company. Looking back, I realise it was one of those formative experiences that made me appreciate family, nature, and the value of slowing down. Whenever adult life feels a bit overwhelming, I mentally go back to that riverbank, and it instantly lifts my spirits.