Dear Baya,

I love games, as you know? But I don’t really understand why they are so great – both to play and, sometimes, to watch.

        I can remember a few answers that we are told at school. That games bind us together. That there is the excitement of success. That for a time we forget all our worries. That we like to outwit and outsmart people. Is this all there is? And how does it explain why so many people go to watch games, or sit in front of their TVs for ages doing so?

      I know you went to a very keen games playing school and we’ve played many games together from the early days. Can you explain why humans love to play to such an extent that more time is spent on games – playing and watching – them almost anything else? I’d also like to know why most team games seem to have been developed in England – but perhaps that is another letter?

     Are games helpful for us, or a distraction? Should we ration ourselves or allow our instincts to take over? I’ve heard us described as ‘the playful species’. Is that really a defining feature of humans?

     It would really be good to hear from you about this. I’ve enjoyed our games together over the years almost more than anything else in our relationship. Why?

Lots of love,

P.S. Don’t forget to come to my hockey match on Saturday!