The BBC is reporting on a study that has become a BBC TV program...or maybe a BBC TV program that became a study...they seem to specialize in that which came first thing:

In an unusual three-month experiment, six specialists from a variety of disciplines worked to improve the happiness levels of a typical UK town. The experts tried and tested 10 simple measures in the quest for happiness... A four-part observational documentary series, Making Slough Happy, beginning on BBC Two on Tuesday, follows the team and their progress.

This is quite good as we do not spend much time thinking about being happy. We think of derivative ways to get there like getting wealthy, getting a different job, getting stuff but we do not think about the actual thing that will make us happy much. This list of the simple measures is fairly reasonable:

The 10 steps to happiness

• Plant something and nurture it
• Count your blessings - at least five - at the end of each day
• Take time to talk - have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week
• Phone a friend whom you have not spoken to for a while and arrange to meet up
• Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it
• Have a good laugh at least once a day
• Get physical - exercise for half an hour three times a week
• Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day
• Cut your TV viewing by half
• Spread some kindness - do a good turn for someone every day

I suppose this means I only have to watch two of the four shows in the series. It does seem a rather...err...British in its mouse-i-ness. If I think if one thing that has given me pleasure over the years it is dishing out a good clean but heavy slide tackle in soccer. I have even congratulated the laddie now and then who actually springs one on me. There is nothing like that moment when you are mid-air and realize that before you will be able to do anything about it you will have a faceful of lawn. And how about a good blistering argument with a pal. You know...not having time to talk over tea and a bun but a real paint stripper of a finger-pointer over how he nicked your Hall and Oates album back in '83. Why don't those things ever make these lists?