h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have come across this entry which I have read with difficulty because I have expanded it so much I can only read part of the beginning and end of each sentence. They are cut off due to the size of the screen. !! Idiote!!

Anyway, sufficient of it is there to remind me that my Papa used to have red wine on the table at every family meal . It was my task, as the eldest to go around and serve everyone at table with their glass of wine. Woe betide me if I dropped a single drop on the tablecloth. !! I soon learnt how to twist the bottle round after pouring the glass.

What was more significant for me was the fact that as children each one of us was entitled to have about half an inch of wine poured into the glass and the glass was then filled up with water. I believe that this was started when I was about five years iold.

We were five children children and none of us have ever become "overexcited" about alchohol. By this I mean none of the five - now four - are either addicted to alchohol or over indulge. I am sure that it is because as children we were taught that it was just part of the general way of life.

I believe that most French children of my generation used to be served a soupcon of wine at meal times.

CME
AR80
Thursday 3rd September 2009 5.25 BST