How important is money?

[violet]

Not very for most of us, at least with regard to happiness:

www.mutualimprovement.com/2006/09/cultivating_hap.html

[braided-rug]

I like the first part of the commentary at the bottom.

[violet]

In another wonderful book about money, they talk about the fulfillment curve. Beyond the basics + a little extra for the occasional luxury, there's no real increase in happiness from having more money.

Thinking back to your comment about enjoying a magazine and a chocolate in another thread, Br, I'd imagine that the experience wouldn't be ten times nicer if you had ten chocolates and ten magazines.

There's something to be said for giving up excess worldly goods, isn't there?

[linda]

Jul 31, 2008 20:45:49 GMT 10 violet said:

In another wonderful book about money, they talk about the fulfillment curve. Beyond the basics + a little extra for the occasional luxury, there's no real increase in happiness from having more money.

There's something to be said for giving up excess worldly goods, isn't there?

I've heard this too, Violet.

I also heard a pastor talk one time. He really liked fishing and had a small fishing boat. He said he'd like to have a bigger fishing boat but knew if he did, he'd have to spend more time looking after it (whether cleaning it or working at his job to earn more money to pay for more insurance etc.). Then with spending more time in order to look after it, he'd have less time to actually enjoy it.....so having the smaller boat didn't bother him that much after all.

I've always remembered that as it's so true. We've recently downsized our house for exactly these reasons.

Linda

[braided-rug]

I like basics plus a little extra. I suppose comfortable is the word for that, though I think it is used for more, not sure.

Today I heard an interesting irl conversation. It was a lady who moved from the city. She missed coffee, no surprise there. This is the part I found interesting. Cake. She liked to buy a special treat.

So I am wondering, what is going on in the city in the wonderful world of cakes these days?

I know that the original Beechworth Bakery catered to tourists and I guess their cake expectancies. They of course, now are in Albury and Bendigo I think. The only cake of theirs I remember are Bee Stings. We have them here now. Not sure what the bakery where she lives is like.

So, the question is, if you go out for coffee what cake do you buy, if any?

On the other hand, if I lived in the city and saw baklava or a French cake or another type my uncle buys, I wouldn't say no! Did I just answer my own question? I wonder if it the multicultural cakes she misses?

[linda]

I like that too, BR...the basics plus a little extra....to be comfortable.

We go out for coffee....usually go through the drive through to have one while on the road. Our favourite was a coffee shop chain called Country Style www.countrystyle.com/ but they are located in Ontario and I think Quebec only. Our second favourite is Tim Hortons (or Timmies as everyone calls it) www.timhortons.com/en/index.html



We very seldom get cakes or donuts though....just the coffee ;D

Linda

[violet]

There are even differences between suburbs with regard to the type of food that's available. There is such an array of wonderful coffee shops that we are very spoilt for choice, should one care to spend much of one's time and money in a cake shop. Of course, if one has coffee and cake all the time, it ceases to be a treat.

Anyway, there are some pretty sophisticated cakes around, many of which aren't heavy; of course nothing but lemon tart comes to mind now that I'm trying to think of something!

Here are some of the places I go to (not very often though!):

www.xocolatl.com.au/ (I have a cup of tea plus one of their wonderful hand made chocolates here)

www.caffemoravia.com.au/menu.asp

www.brunetti.com.au/CoffeeAndDelicacies.aspx

www.italy1.com.au/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?id=209&nav_cat_id=147&nav_top_id=60&dsb=175

I could list heaps if I could remember their names - also many of those I can remember don't have websites.

There are A LOT of restaurants and cafes around Camberwell, which equates to a lot of variety, which is perhaps the woman's complaint.

[violet]

Just came to mind: lots of places do tiny things too. So with your coffee you could have a mini lemon tart, or a tiny fruit tart, or a melting moment biscuit, an orange and poppyseed muffin, a tiny piece of flourless chocolate cake, a slice of rhubarb tart, a savory muffin (like feta and chargrilled veg), an almond croissant, an escargot (flat twirl of pastry with plump sultanas), a blondie, a luscious-looking square of brownie, lots of almond-based things....the list is endless.

Not a lot of cream-type stuff, though, and you don't see things like Neenish tarts in many cafes around here. (A Neenish tart is a small tart contaning mock cream (and possibly jam), covered with icing of two colors. Usually the color scheme is brown and pink.)

I don't drink coffee, but remember that they hold regular competitions in Melbourne for baristas!

[braided-rug]

I remember years ago my sil in St Kilda bought flans and things.

[linda]

Oh no..... this was the wrong thread to click on.... ;D All those links BR.....mmmmm.....they all look sooo delicious

......and your list of treats Violet....mmmm....

.....I was hungry before coming here.....now it's worse lol

They all sound so wonderful!!

Linda

[violet]

Food is just so good, isn't it? ;D