I am forever trying to get my kids into the garden to play, “But Dad I have nearly completed the next level ” that’s all I hear as he sits in front of the TV glued as he tries to complete the latest level, what is it with kids?

I remember, as a kid, I couldn’t wait to go outside and play with my toys. As a lad I used to have toy soldiers, hundreds of them, and I would spend hours upon hours setting them up, row after row, infantry first then the men on horses (not even from the same battle) mortar men, men with flame throwers – I had it all.

The men would be spread all over the garden. Then the battle would begin, I would throw a small stone and knock down some men – they were now dead. My mate would then do the same, but mine were only injured as they ‘wobbled’ not a clean kill.

‘Cheat’, he would shout, as he drops a large stone, that was from my plane he told me. Boys being boys I would run through his army kicking some over (well most of them) Spitfire!! It was always a good laugh, not at the time I suppose, as it always ended as an argument about who won. One person who didn’t win was my mum who used to stand on them whilst hanging out the washing.