It is this sort of thing which constantly reminds me how fortunate I was to be born in a good family, a family which practiced sobriety and self-control and set an example for its children. My heart goes out to those poor souls who are drawn into a life of license and drunken folly, destroying themselves and those whom they love dearly. It is utterly tragic.

My dear husband, Winston, has some tendency to rely overmuch on alcohol, and I lecture him daily on the evils of drink, so as to steer him in the right direction. Still, he vanishes off to his silly club or to the Vicar's Inn (which we are now owners of), and sits there with his "mates" into the wee hours, consuming FAR too much strong drink. I am going to keep at him until I get this behaviour of his entirely under control, because I feel that the survival of our marriage depends on it.

Besides which, he must set a proper example for my niece, Veronica. She is approaching the "dangerous" age.