A semi-autobiographical retrospective of the childhood games typically played at school in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s, times much different than today...

As I produce this book, I find myself quickly approaching my 50th birthday. With that milestone on the horizon, it has made me rather nostalgic about the "old days" as I took my formative steps into this world during the 1970s and 1980s in the UK.

Life was simpler back then in many ways: there was no Internet, no smartphones, no Twitter, no Facebook, no social media, no games consoles. At home and at school, you made your own fun using your imagination.

There were all sorts of games we would play to entertain ourselves and learn about life and relationships while we were at it - real life relationships and friendships. I find myself looking back on those times more and more today. And that's why I wrote this book. I wanted to reflect back on those times so you can reminisce with me, or perhaps discover childhood games for the first time.

Minor injuries were not uncommon. Skinned knees and elbows often suffered from a fall playing soccer, or perhaps finger, thumb, or rusty bum. So that's where my title comes from.

Here are a few of the innocent (or perhaps some not so innocent) games from my childhood you will hear about:

• Marbles
• Hide and Seek
• British Bulldogs
• Hopscotch
• Hoop and Stick