Today happiness is shaped like a little leather bag ... →[More:]
For about ten years I've had a favourite shoulder bag - a brown cross-body bag that's exactly the right size to hold my purse/wallet, my kindle, phone, keys, camera, a small hairbrush and my ever-present lip balm.

But it's starting to look its age and has got a bit tatty, particularly on the corners. I've tried renovating it with leather cream, and although that's helped, there are still spots where it's worn that I can do nothing to fix. It's getting a bit too scruffy to take to work.

So, over the last few months I've been looking, looking, looking everywhere to see if I can find another. The original manufacturers are out of business, so no joy there. But every time I've seen a similar bag, I've tested it out for size, fit, quality, price, and every bag I found was lacking. I'd almost given up on ever finding another bag I liked as much.

Until today. I went into a luggage store I've been in many times, but not for a few months, so they had both new stock and a sale going on. I saw the perfect bag - exactly the right size, shape, quality ... but it was the colour of baby diarrhea.

"Do you have this in black or dark brown?" I asked, hoping against hope. I'd already looked all round the sections where the black and brown bags were (they arranged them by colour palette in this store) with no luck. "If it's not on display we probably don't have it, but let me check the stock room".

And, oh joy! There was a black one in stock. Even better, it was reduced from £85 to £25. It's the most beautiful soft, buttery leather, lighter than my old one, with a slightly wider strap that's also adjustable to a longer length if I want it. It has pockets for all the things I need pockets for, my Kindle fits perfectly - O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

I know just a bag shouldn't make me so happy, but damn, I'd nearly given up hope of finding the perfect one. Old bag, new bag.

What recent purchase or find has made you happy beyond all reason?