The spelling is unimportant. One is English, the other American English, and I’m blowed if I can remember which is which. What works is that we come to an understanding of what journaling actually means… although there is always the problem of getting it right for a foreign market. That’s what editors are for, I hear you say, and you’d be right if an editor meant someone other than yourself.

Recently — as in 30+ years ago — I began writing what I called a ‘holiday diary’. In other words I did a few drawings interspersed with comment into a sketchbook, and detailing in an ‘I did this, then that, and we both watched a sunset over that hill, beach, sea.’ It has taken me many years to break away from the listing of events to a more stream of consciousness comment not necessarily based on the accompanying sketches.

This later option is much preferred, at least by me, because of the freedom it affords. Often inspired by a drawing or memory, but not necessarily related to either, there is a release or freedom afforded by this approach which has great appeal to me.

What I once called a ‘holiday diary’ has now become a ‘travel journal’. Is there a difference? Perhaps only in content, which is twofold. The writing has improved as mentioned, and the drawing and sketches have evolved. The drawing has changed in a different way to the writing. It is not necessarily improved but become another form.

In my early journals I was very much taken with the use of aquarelle pencils. Ideal for a watercolour technique when outdoors on a walk or travelling, allowing for the application of water when more convenient. These images illustrated the words.

Now, I prefer to take notes photographically which can then be worked up into ink drawings with watercolour wash applied afterwards — words then woven through the images, whether relevant or not.

There is no doubt that practise, if it does not make perfect, does make for growth in confidence, and a ready fluidity in the progress of the work — in the drawing at least.

Journaling for me is an illustrative process, trying to capture a personal view of experience — more often than not, of land and sea. In recent times, journaling has become a ‘thing’, a pastime, a self-expressive hobby involving cutting and pasting, or a creative endeavour in any media to hand. Many that I have seen are truly inventive and a joy to handle and experience. But for me, I shall stick to the ‘old school’ approach of a few words and some pictures.

So journalling of journaling? “Of the blessings set before you make your choice, and be content.” Samuel Johnson.