I think it was the first meal I cooked that made me pay attention.  I guess I was about 16 and visiting friends and there were some vegetables in the fridge and we were going out but we were a bit hungry and nobody knew how to cook them.  Oh I can make a sweet and sour sauce and cook them in that, I said enthusiastically.  And it was going well, it looked good but it didn't taste right and so I'd add a bit more vinegar and then I'd add a bit more sugar and finally it was well pretty inedible.  we all got a few spoonfuls down and went out but I kept thinking about it and finally it dawned I hadn't put any salt in.

when I first started writing in my 40's, writing my journey, a piece of verse popped out, I can still remember this line - if it tastes too sweet and it tastes too sour then put in some salt until it tastes swour.  Damn.  I still wish I hadn't forgotten the salt!