Sydney has lots to be happy about this week, after being rated second happiest city in the world by Forbes Magazine. Its "balmy weather" and "friendly people" ranked it just below the ultimate Carnaval city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil with its "starry-eyed youngsters dancing into the dusk".
Despite our own misgivings about the efficacy of our tourist advertising, it seems Australia has quite a reputation overseas as being full of happy, sunny people sitting round enjoying barbecues. Melbourne rode into 5th place in the list on the back of this reputation, apparently, and Australia was the only country to have more than one city in the top ten.
"People know it's in Australia and that it's full of Australians," reports Forbes magazine.
"Therefore, it must be fun."
Barcelona came 3rd in the list, for its warm weather, lively culture and "the best soccer team in the world", followed by Amsterdam because "everybody is stoned all the time. It's sex, drugs and rock and roll"! Happy indeed.
Madrid, San Francisco, Rome, Paris and Buenos Aires completed the list, in that order.