I’ve been doing some research into how to save the planet and make people happy at the same time. I like to think the Laundry hits both targets, ker-ching.

Here are some eerie facts I learned while studying:

Relationships
In the first year of marriage, you suddenly become really really happy, but then as time creeps on, your happiness levels go down and down reaching nearly what they were in the first place. Divorce is the inverse, it makes you really miserable, but after a while you get used to it.

Notice that married people are still marginally happier than divorcees, giving them reason to be slightly smug. The best news is that the super happy are the ones with loads and loads of mates, presumably real ones, not competitive friend making my face style.

Age
Young people and old people are jolly old things. The mid-life crisis is no cliché and the most miserable age is 44. So it’s downhill from here for me, ho hum, better get married or something.

Wage
Here comes the good news, money, officially, can’t buy you love, everybody tells me so. (And by love I mean, happiness, but unfortunately the Beatles didn’t write about that).

Once you are able to pay for your basic things like food and shelter, increased salary doesn’t do much to increase your wellbeing. Have you just been turned down for a pay-rise? Don’t worry, be happy

So there’s the things you can’t do much about, before you despair, here are ten things that are scientifically proven to make you happier.

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

Also this made us happy

We have a winner for our orange bin competition to design some thing clever out of a can or plastic bottle: Fair Philippa of The Whole Hog Design Company now.  She made this out of a milk bottle and got the perfect pig-pink by filling it with strawberry milkshake, genius touch.

 Piggy piggy

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