HAPPINESS IS...

The Transport minister, Tom Harris, has come under fire for suggesting that despite soaring bills and mortgage misery, Britons still had plenty to be grateful for. But was he right?Rob Sharp took to the streets to ask: what willkeep our spirits up, now that times are hard?

Rohan Tesh

28, TICKETING MANAGER

The things I want from life are good food, somewhere good to live and a great job. But what I would like most of all is a nice lady to wake up alongside me. My dream would be to wake up next to a gorgeous girl, stroll down to the beach, chill out and have some drinks and then smoke some cigarettes in the evening, although I could just get bored with even that. Variety is the spice of life and you can quote me on that.

Nicky Strunge

30, STUDENT

Money makes me happy, because I live in London and cash rules this city. Just when you think you've got enough, say 100 in your pocket, there's always someone with more than you. And there is always something else to aspire to. If you were living somewhere else in Europe it would be easier to get by with no cash but here, you can't do it. I could really do with a couple of thousand pounds in my bank account every month, 1,500 which I would have to spend after I'd paid my rent. But that said, if you gave me a million pounds, I'm sure I would want more.

Antoinette Hunter

37, HEAD OF QUINTESSENTIALLY GIFTS

I think it's a formula between time and money and living in a democracy on a political level. But having enough time and money is a good recipe although you need enough money to have lots of time. I certainly don't feel like I have enough of each at the moment but then the grass is always greener. My perfect day would be spending time with my friends and family. People don't always appreciate their family but they should do more.

James Acheson-Gray

37, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF A PUBLIC RELATIONS COMPANY

I think it's the thought that my family are happy. They have just moved back to Hampshire having been in Singapore for the past nine years, and it makes me feel good knowing they're at home enjoying the beautiful weather. That makes me feel better than anything in the world. Also, I do think that if you exercise regularly, it gives you a spring in your step.

Polly Sweet

25, PERSONAL SHOPPER

I think fuchsia pink is the key. That is the colour of happiness. I think it has something to do with Indian chakras or something - it's supposed to ignite your pleasure zones. I don't know anyone who doesn't feel happy when they are around fuchsia pink which is why I'm wearing it on my toenails today. It's just life's simple pleasures. I enjoy nature - that makes me happy.

Yuki Sato

29, FASHION DESIGNER

Music makes me happy. I just bought this album for example by Yellow Magic Orchestra. This is an eclectic mix of Japanese dance music. I love to listen to it on my own or to dance to. Music is the perfect thing to accompany meeting your friends and chatting about what you've been up to. I also like having a good spirit, spreading my mood if it's a good one. I like to make my friends feel happy through my mood and we can do that through the music we listen to.

Barry Hearn

BOXING PROMOTER AND CHAIRMAN OF LEYTON ORIENT FOOTBALL CLUB

I've got a million reasons to be cheerful, starting with tomorrow being another day. We've got Hereford at home for our first league game and Ipswich away in the first round of the Carling Cup - that's two more. People are such bloody babies these days. We've never been richer or safer in all our lives. Sometimes you've got to just shut up, knuckle down and get through the crap. Always remember that one day you'll be dead, and you can't smile when you're six feet under.

Byron Davies

64, COMPANY DIRECTOR OF A RETAIL FIRM

I love musicals and music of the 1960s which is why I'm going with my family to see Jersey Boys. These shows only come round every so often and whenever they do, I like to come down with my family. It makes me happy to visit London but I wouldn't want to live here. It's too fast. I live in the countryside which is very relaxing. That's happiness itself.

Jordan Young

24, PERFORMER

Life in general makes me happy as well as travelling, meeting new people and doing new things. I just got back from Amsterdam and that made me very happy. But it's not as good as London, which is very vibrant and full of opportunities. It is one of the most frenetic cities in the world. It is much more exciting than New Zealand, which is where I come from. There are so many opportunities here, although I do miss my family back home.

Jenny Meade

38, PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Combining sunshine with great music is one of my great loves. I'm hoping that when I go to the V Festival this year I will get to enjoy it as much as possible and then after that I'm going to Italy. I can't wait. I love everything about it from the food to the art and the architecture, and, of course, the weather. I wish I had more time to enjoy it here and I would definitely like more holiday time to do it.