Happiness is not all money in the bank, fast cars and designer clothes, but family, friends and the beauty of nature, a study has found. A new survey has revealed the things which bring a smile to our faces are in fact lifes simple pleasures - available to all, for free, every single day. When people were asked what their most important pleasures were, 22 per cent of the 2,000 people quizzed picked laughing, swiftly followed by eating good food with great friends, in second place with 21 per cent. A hug was in third place with 19 per cent. The research suggests that despite the worlds focus on materialistic possessions, people still find pleasure in pastimes which do not cost a penny. Among the other top 10 pleasures listed was the feel of the sun on your face, reading a good book, walking along the beach and getting into bed with clean sheets. Also popular was watching sunsets, leafing through old photographs and memories and smelling freshly cut grass. Ralph Walker, head of marketing for Apples from New Zealand, which organised the survey to mark the start of the import season. 'It seems that in an overly complicated and stressful world were looking for ways to reconnect with what really matters. DM