Happiness is…
…eating tender ginger beef on a cold, rainy night…
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Happiness is…
…rocking my black heart sunnies with my red Clint Eastwood Ecuadorean hooded cape. Because it’s winter in Sydney, and the red hearts felt like overkill…
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Happiness is…
…escaping into the city for a couple of hours on my own. Even when it’s grey and overcast, Sydney is always beautiful, and it’s always home…
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Happiness is…
…catching the cute baristas at Gumption in the Strand Arcade cracking themselves up over their inability to pronounce the name “Hugh”…
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Happiness is…
…baking Small Man’s favourite buttermilk scones for International Scone Week, hosted by the lovely Tandy at Lavender and Lime. Pop over and join in the fun!
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Happiness is…
…finding an hour to temper some 70% Amedei dark chocolate into after dinner bites…
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Happiness is…
…achieving the plasticky sheen and holey crumb so coveted by Italian bakers everywhere…
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Happiness is…
…running into Steve the Bush Jeweller at the Rocks Markets and finding that his new pendant matches my other pieces exactly. Made from an old silver plated fork and spoon, it came on a sterling chain and cost just $28…
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Happiness is…
…learning from Auntie Sim how to steam a fish head in the microwave.
Pop a split and de-gilled head (just one side, about 350g) into a dish and cover with sauce and ginger, then cling film the top. Microwave on high for three minutes, medium for three minutes, then low for three minutes. Scatter over chopped scallions and serve.
I ate this on my own for lunch…
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Happiness is…
…discovering a new brand of shoes for my Hobbit feet. These are Wolkys and unfortunately they’re not available here (I bought then in San Francisco). To date, they’re the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn…
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Happiness is…
…knitted churidar pants from Fabindia – super long, über comfortable leggings that bunch at the ankles, hence the name “churidar” which means “bangle-like”. Best of all, they’re just US$22 a pair from Fabindia online, delivered anywhere in the world for free if you spend over $100…
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Happiness is…
…a new dryer.
We really did try to fix our old one, but after 16 years, it was no longer possible to get parts. We were pretty happy though when the repairman told us where to buy a Miele demonstrator model for $700 off the recommended retail price!
The model we bought uses heat pump technology, which my engineer husband believes will save us $300 a year in electricity…
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Happy days! Hope all is well in your world too!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Happiness today for me is a beautiful sunshiny day, a cool brown Labrador nose to wake me up, another drop in my pain medication, and reading your blog this morning! I would so love to say hello one day Celia. If you are ever coming up to the Sunshine Coast, I have a little cabin on my block here at Maleny in the hinterland that you are most welcome to use. Many blessings your way and much happiness.
That’s very kind of you, Marilyn, thank you! :)
I always wish there was a little heart or ‘love’ button I could click after all of your photos!
Strange! I’ve just written the ingredients for scones on my shopping list and didn’t even know it’s international scone week. Haven’t made them in years. Love the sunnies Celia!
Very uplifting to read.
I haunted the Fabindia stores when I was in Kerala a few years ago. They make great cloths. These tights look excellent- do they have a ‘normal’ waistline, meaning not an Indian drawstring thing? Good to see another comfy pair of shoes- now that is happiness. The silver pendant is rather special too. Love your style Celia.
Fra, the knitted ones have an elastic waist, but the regular cotton ones are huge with a drawstring. They delivered five pairs to me, freight free, via FedEx!!
excellent. Those big cotton ones become annoying. Must have a look when I get home. xx
Just sent you an sms…
I didn’t bring my phone to Vietnam- always too scared about mastering the local sim card thing. I’m now in Dalat. We’ve been floating around Vietnam for about three weeks and will be travelling for another 3. xxx
It all sounds a bit too wonderful for words, Fra! :) So glad you’re having such a great time! xxx
Happiness is….. reading this wonderful post. Thanks for sharing Celia. Off to put the sour dough loaf into the wood oven. Your recipe… that’s another great happiness for me. Have another wonderful day. :) X
wonderful and uplifting post, celia )
Happiness is sitting in Broome drinking morning coffee under the mango tree shading our van reading what makes you happy 💗
Hi Celia. Its lovely to hear your happy thoughts and to be reminded that happiness is in the everyday. Go the sunnies girlfriend!!
Great post….think I’ll have to try that first recipe of ginger beef…looks delicious.
happiness is . . . watching a really classy 18-year-old schoolboy win the blue riband 100 meters freestyle in Rio: think how many mornings his parents must have driven him to pool practice when it was still dark . . .
Who knew there was such a thing as International Scone Week. I love scones…pumpkin scones especially! Happiness, for me, is all around in the beauty of the natural world, in family and in friendships and…a honey-coloured Labrador’s nose!
Lovely! Happiness to me right now is knowing we’re heading back to England in a few days! Love those leggings 😀
Fabulous! Happiness is knowing I will see my Pete in just over 3 weeks for a whole week!
Have a beautiful and happy day Celia.
:-) Mandy xo
So many joyful moments Celia. Nearly stayed with the first one, just staring and longing! This post says everything about why you have so many friends around the world
So much goodness Celia…I have loved following your travels recently and I have not disappeared from your blog completely! Is the plastic looking sheen a good thing? Sometimes I look at glimpses of this in my bread and wonder. You rock those shades! x
Jane, love catching up with you too! I’ve been told the plasticky sheen is a good thing – it usually comes with an elastic chewy crumb. It was always in the wood fired Italian ciabatta and pane de casa loaves we used to buy!
Little Red Riding Hood or Caped Super Hero?
Happy Days.
Oh, nothing that classy. Think the gunfight scene in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. In red. 😉
Hmm, I’m gonna have to look for those shoes, I have some hobbit feet of my own that need new kicks. :) Have a great day, Celia!
Happiness is … your blog Celia and I’m only sorry I don’t get to visit nearly as often as I’d like. You’ve reminded me it’s International Scone Week. Must be about time I participated again!
Oh Celia, how I love this post! What a lovely thing to have written. Thank you. I really just try tempering chocolate one of these days, but the thought of buying new bits and starting a new hobby is slightly daunting.
Happiness is … Sheer bliss being home on a cold and rainy night and sharing something delicious and warm. How does one achieve that plasticky look. Is it something that remilled semolina flour would help?
Happiness is ….. being reminded to take pleasure in small things.
It’s still summer here in the UK, and is actually warm today, but the mornings now have a nip that says autumn is coming. I’m looking forward to the first casseroles of the cooler weather. Your ginger beef looks well worth a try – but I’ll pass on the fish heads Celia!
Celia, every time I read your blog I think “I should’ve read this first thing this morning; would be a great way to start the day.”
My happiness is now having all three boys in the same school all day. Oh the things I can get done now, and it’s quiet. Well except when I crank up the music!
Beautiful post, Celia. There are plenty of reasons to be happy surrounding us much of the time. We need but to slow down and take note. :)
Nice post! It’s the little things in life that make us happy
Why didn’t I know about International Scone Week!!!??? :-)
Love this post!