In which case I am going to live forever...

The Times of India reports that:

'Grumpy aged people now have a good reason to cheer up - they'll outlive optimists, says a new study.

Researchers have found that being cantankerous is the key to reaching old age - this is because happier characters are likely to take more risks through their lives including eating unhealthy foods, drinking and smoking. The findings, part of a 90-year study, cast doubt on reports that loving marriages, active social lives, raising children or owning a pet help people to live longer, the Daily Express reported.

Researcher Leslie Martin said, "We came to a new understanding about happiness and health. One of the findings that astounded us was that participants who were the most cheerful and had the best sense of humour as children lived shorter lives, on average, than those who were less cheerful.'

Finally some good news, except if the news makes me less grumpy then I won't live as long - is that a Catch-22?

Told you so

The BBC report

"An Australian psychology expert who has been studying emotions has found being grumpy makes us think more clearly.

In contrast to those annoying happy types, miserable people are better at decision-making and less gullible, his experiments showed.

While cheerfulness fosters creativity, gloominess breeds attentiveness and careful thinking, Professor Joe Forgas told Australian Science Magazine. "

Finally my grumpy nature has been vindicated.