Why is it that all pleasurable pursuits turn out to be bad for you? Or is this only my experience? I do something once, it gives me a tingling buzz and I want to do again. Then, in a few instances, and if time allows, it can become obsessive.

I am sure that I am not the only one.

My new obsession ( breathe a sigh of relief it is nothing worse) is word and numbering puzzles : Wordle, Spelling Bee and Sudoku.

My day can only start once I have completed these things, and, so that they don’t compete with the more important things in my day, I wake up at 7am, scan the horrible headlines of the New York Times and then get down to its popular games page. Some games are won from the warmth of my bed, until the coffee craving kicks in and I will finish on the sofa.

As I say, bad for me. I am forfeiting sleep. The cats are pacing around me to be fed, the dog is trying to snatch the phone out of my hand, and the poultry are squabbling with each other to escape the hen house.

This all started 12 months ago. With less structured days I started to do Wordle. I did it because…I could. A thrill, similar to not setting an alarm after 40 years of a disciplined life. Soon this habit expanded in time and scope, working around, and in-between, my studies, travels, guests and daily responsibilities.

It was in the New Year that I restricted myself to one hour in the mornings.

There are protestations about how good these things are for your cognitive capacity and keeping your brain cells working, but to be honest I want to stop. Even one hour seems too much.

I only take value from learning new words, but then American vocabulary can be different. Like this :

The other day I got up and out of my pajamas to drive to the center of town. On my way I fueled up the car at the gas station with 10 liters, paying by check. Once in town I went to the theater. It was marvelous, full of color and humor.

10 differences to spot. Your challenge for the day but not something you will find addictive.