COMPUTER games are for teenagers, right?

Wrong. I have become hooked – along with the other 15 million addicts – on bursting sweeties to annihilate rows of jellies in the Candy Crush Saga.

Like most junkies, I blame my mother, who introduced me to the game several weeks ago after she was given an iPad for her birthday.

I am still playing it. I am on level 52. There are 362. More are added every day – it may never end.

Mother and stepfather have been travelling across Europe in their camper van for the last few weeks and are in Croatia right now. She FaceTimed me yesterday - she is on level 87. And when I arrived at my BF’s yesterday, she hollered from the kitchen: “Sorry Karen, I will be with you in a minute, I have become addicted to this game.” No prizes for guessing which one.

Candy Crush Saga is the most popular application on facebook and the most lucrative app for Apple and Google.

At first, I thought the game was easy. I cleared the early levels without any trouble. And then I got stuck.

I tried to play my way out, but I used up my five lives for the day. And that’s when Candy Crush Saga pulled a fast one – I could buy new lives for 69p or ask my friends to share lives with me. Well played, Candy Crush Saga. Well played.

I didn’t buy more lives. But I bet there are thousands of children running up huge bills for their parents.

There are three rules that I now enforce on myself for this gaming.

Do not pay for any lives or special weapons. Ever.

Make dinner, do ironing, nag Teen about revision and walk dog before playing. And never buy a special gem to pass a tough level – it will give you a bigger thrill passing it with your own brain power.

How long I can hold out against the dark forces of confectionary cracking is another matter.

But at least the distraction sweetens my mood. Appy days.

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Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here