Dear Diary .....

[Ann]

I have religiously kept a daily diary since 1987 - it's just something I enjoy doing as a little hobby. In the back of each 5 year diary I list things down like when I bought big items of furniture and the cost, when we decorated each room (how much paint or rolls paper needed) or had dentist appointments, mammograms etc.

I really enjoy reading through all the detailed daily entries from time to time, looking back - getting comfort and often amusement from family memories and being thankful for all the blessings in life.

My family are quite amused by this strange "quirk" of mine ... but are quick to ask me to look back to see when world events and family dates occurred - sometimes my trusty diary has even come in handy when doing quizzes! I write down everything about my garden, when I planted the seeds and gathered the harvest! I can also tell you what the weather was like on most days as it's all recorded in there!

Anyone else share my hobby? :)

[Arksided]

I had one when I was twelve years old and kept it up to date for the year.... I'm not sure whether I binned it or got lost somewhere... but would like to see what I jotted down back in 1984.

[Ann]

It's brilliant to read them Arky, I kept a diaily diary one while at school in the early 60s, but honestly it's so embarrassing to read! I was boy mad and changed my mind from one week to another which one I fancied!

I then stopped recording after getting married in 1968 but took up the daily hobby again in the mid 80s. How I regret not recording the 20 years between .... would have made even more interesting reading!

[Arksided]

Ooo how I wish I kept it, I can remember all the girls I had a crush on etc... but so much more I jotted down. I think it would be embarrassing reading it now.

[Cloverjo]

I don't keep one now. I did in my teenage and early twenties years like many of us, but it's excruciating to read in later life.

I do wish I'd kept brief details of holidays etc though.

[Ann]

Yes Clover I have all the details of our holidays and days out - makes lovely memories.

[ummmm]

I have a diary...and it's funny to read because it makes no sense whatsoever to anyone else reading it.

[Ann]

Yes Ummmm - mine is the same, some is written in "code" as I'm aware the family may read them all one day! ;)

[Ann]

I have six five-year diaries at the moment.

[Peter Pedant]

they are called diarists ! and seem not be genetic - My father kept a diary for most of his life and none of his children ( us ) have . I kept a copy every letter I wrote instead

a lot of people kept diaries whilst they were hiding from the germans in amsterdam ( all kept in the war museum now ) but only one was really worth reading - I mean whaddya write about if you are locked in a room for three years ?

My father kept a war diary in the POW camp for erm five years.....

Diarists apparenty can spend up to 30% of their time recording their diary wow ! Crossman was one ...

I was advised to stop keeping a diary..... o dear but that was a different story

[sandyRoe]

Poor advice. :-)
Who was it said: keep a diary and one day it will keep you?

[jennyjoan]

I never had one until the year of 1969 - when the troubles really broke out here - my house (my mother's) windows were broken and the next street burned to the ground.

My brother fell from the top of the stairs earlier that year (July) to a wee window hall and smashed into the glass and lost the power of his arm that day.

He bummed that he was around to fight off the arsonists that day but he no more fought off anything as he was in hospital.

Some girlfriends told me this and I do have proof that the man was too ill.

[Ann]

//My father kept a war diary in the POW camp for erm five years.....//

That must have been very moving to read PP ............