You stupid Norbett...

Over the past ten years, the number of tree related accidents resulting in youngsters visiting hospital have reduced by 36%, whilst repetitive strain injuries (or xbox wrangling admissions), have risen by 35%.

This comes as no surprise, as I see so much evidence of our risk averse culture limiting what our children can do. Rather than allowing the inevitable fall from a tree, in doing so helping our kids learn to take calculated risks, we cosset them in soft play emporiums where they run unfettered with little risk at all. We sit them safely in front of their consoles back at home.

See, I grew up in the 70's, when every piece of playground equipment was surrounded by a sturdy concrete apron, so you had to be really careful when you rode your bicycle down the slide.

Even now my parents shudder when I disclose the calamities I got into in the fields behind the estate. I was free to get into them however and I shall try my best to give the same opportunities to my kids.

One should know one's limits. Swinging like a monkey from the tree you see above, to encourage your son to climb higher is perhaps a risk too far for a 36 year old. Particularly if you had a game of squash later on in the evening.

I got no sleep last night as the pain in my right shoulder was unbearable. I think I've done something nasty as I can't lift my elbow more than six inches without crying like a baby.

I'm numbed with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and Pino Grigio, so if you'll excuse me, I'm off to bed.