It was nearly four years ago the powers that be announced the "Return Happiness to the Public" campaign and since then we have all been insanely happy, like it or not. So last week's news that Thailand has been named the "least miserable country in the world" for the fourth successive year by the Bloomberg Misery Index, hardly raised an eyebrow. However, there was some debate if there is any subtle difference between "most happy" and "least miserable".
You may recall that in 2014 we were treated to the delights of happiness concerts, happy haircuts, happy massages, happy movies and happy noodles. It was also free, something that always goes down well in Thailand. There were even happy hedgehogs.
Then we had a memorable "Happiness Week" in Bangkok with cheerful citizens enjoying a sense of wellbeing as they strolled around the happy streets, as long as they avoided plunging down potholes, being strangled by overhanging wires, run over on the pavements by motorcyclists, or wiped out on pedestrian crossings by motorists.
There was also a "Happiness Festival" in 2015 touted as "the biggest back-to-normal party Thailand has ever seen". It was all quite wonderful, although it probably was not wise to think too much about what "back to normal" actually meant in Bangkok.
We even experienced happy traffic jams with motorists stuck in gridlock for hours tooting their horns in delight at the red traffic lights. Yes, happy days are here again.
An axe to grind
Of course not everyone in Thailand is currently in a state of bliss. Those two middle-aged sisters who bashed up a pickup truck blocking their gateway are definitely not happy. Also the woman who stupidly parked there can't be in a great frame of mind either. Many would say it serves her right for parking in such a silly place. It wouldn't be so bad if it had been an emergency, but she had simply "gone shopping''.
Admittedly attacking the pickup with an axe might have been a bit over the top, but you can understand their frustration. Maybe letting down the tyres was an option, but that would have meant the vehicle would have been stuck outside her drive for even longer. Unfortunately she has now been dubbed in the local media as the "axe lady" as if she has emerged from some horror B-grade slasher movie.
Have a good scratch
The pursuit of happiness is nothing new, of course. Back in the 18th century, French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau observed that "happiness is having a good bank account, a good cook and a good digestion."
The late American comedian and actor George Burns shared Rousseau's view, with an added embellishment: "Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal and a good woman -- or a bad woman. It depends on how much happiness you can handle."
Perhaps American poet Ogden Nash got it right when he commented that "happiness is having a scratch for every itch". That would wag a few tails.
Happiness is …
In the early 1960s, Peanuts creator Charles M Schulz published a book, Happiness is a Warm Puppy, which became a best-seller. Marketing men quickly jumped on the bandwagon and soon a whole range of products was being sold with a "happiness is …" theme. Even the British Egg Marketing Board got in on the act with "Happiness is egg-shaped".
I particularly enjoyed the 1960s television ad "Happiness is a Cigar Called Hamlet" with a character puffing on a small cigar to the strains of Bach's Air on the G String. It presented a man finding himself in extremely awkward situations, but no matter how desperate his plight, when he lights up a Hamlet he forgets all his troubles.
The ad was far more entertaining than the actual TV shows and a whole host of celebrities were featured, including England cricketer Ian Botham and comedian Ronnie Corbett. It also sparked improved sales of Bach's music. So everybody was happy.
The last word on happiness comes from John Lennon with the Beatles song, Happiness is a Warm Gun, using a headline he saw in a US gun magazine. "I thought it was an insane thing to say," Lennon said. In the light of recent tragic events in the US, he was spot on.
Welcome to the Happidrome
During World War II, BBC Radio aired a variety show entitled Happidrome, designed to keep up the spirits of the British troops. Set in a theatre, there was a lot of singing and dancing and plenty of really awful jokes, but it was hugely popular and most importantly, made people happy.
It struck me the Happidrome would be a perfect fit for Bangkok, which already has a kind of Disneyland flavour about it. "Let's go to the Happidrome" has a certain positive ring to it. It could even become, to use the popular Thai word, "trendy".
More oldies but goodies
Last week's item about updated titles for old rock music seemed to capture the imagination of our more senior readers. My thanks to those who pointed out some of the songs I overlooked:
Procol Harum: A Whiter Shade of Hair
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bad Prune Rising
Carly Simon: You're So Varicose Vein
Roberta Flack: The First Time I Ever Forgot Your Face
Johnny Nash: I Can't See Clearly Now
James Brown: Papa's Got A Brand New Colostomy Bag
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