My mum kept a diary. She wrote things like doctor’s appointments or reminders of things she needed to do. In 1972, I got my first diary and copied my mum’s entries — the ones relevant to me, such as going to the pictures or when school finished. All very basic.
By 1974, I was writing more about what I did. That was the year I had my first proper boyfriend, so the entries became more detailed.
Unfortunately, I stopped writing for a few years — those were my nightclub days, which is a shame in hindsight. Instead, I wrote in notebooks, usually chronicling something like a holiday or a day out — and they make humorous reading now.
I kept a diary during the year we moved house and when I started dating the boy from next door. Then I stopped again for a few more years.
The other day, while I was looking for something in my wardrobe, a diary fell out. It covered the years 2001–2006. I put it on my windowsill and each morning I read a little. It’s like travelling back in time.
We were living in our previous house with our teenage children then, and life was busy as we were both working. It’s fascinating to see what life was like back then — so much I had forgotten. My eldest daughter was a typical moody teenager. She and her dad were either not speaking or arguing. It’s funny to read about those clashes now, as she’s the mother of four. She has the loveliest nature, works hard, and is a wonderful mum.
It’s never too late to keep a journal. What seems like an ordinary, mundane life will become very interesting a few years down the line.
World of Stories 
I’ve kept journals for years, as did my mom. I love reading back and recalling what life was like a few years ago. I’m currently reading my mom’s 5 year diary from when she was 14 to 18. Very insightful and often quite funny.
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