Journal

Back in December 2019 I wrote about my requirements for a pocket notebook or journal. They are very specific. This is the link: Overhearing.

I was lucky enough to have found a small firm that supplied them but they have now gone out of business. One of those key requirements was space in the spine to slip in a pen.

If it wasn’t for the fact that Moleskine notebooks or journals do not have that space then they would be my favourite notebook or journal.

Moleskine and mine

That’s twice I’ve used notebook or journal. Is there a difference? According to one definition I found a journal is actually a form of notebook. Another is that journals are typically lined with a strap, whereas notebooks can be spiral-bound. Moleskines have a strap.

I got the following from Tanner Bates, a British company that sells them:

Behind the Cover: The Fascinating Historical Tale of Moleskine Journals
"Who doesn't love the sensation of opening a fresh, untouched Moleskine notebook? For dreamers, thinkers, planners, and creators, it's one of life's simple pleasures. This iconic brand's hallmark black notebook has played a vital role in its history, contributing significantly to its legendary status. However, the story of Moleskine goes far beyond its staple product, weaving an intricate tale of heritage, creativity, and global appeal.

Origins: From Parisian Studios to the Hands of Legends
The history of Moleskine journals begins in the 19th-century streets of Paris, known for their artistic vibrancy and intellectual prowess. Pocket-sized notebooks or 'carnets', bound with leather or oilskin, were sold by local stationers. These notebooks found their way into the hands of legendary artists and authors like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Hemingway, becoming their trusted companions for jotting down thoughts, sketches, and ideas.

The genesis of the Moleskine name can be attributed to British writer and notebook aficionado Bruce Chatwin. In his 1987 book, 'The Songlines', Chatwin fondly described his 'Paris' notebooks as 'carnets Moleskines', with 'Moleskine' referring to the black oilcloth binding.

In 1994, Maria Sebregondi, working with the Italian design company Modo & Modo, was tasked with creating products for a new generation of travellers eager to explore the post-Cold War era's newfound freedom. She proposed recreating the beloved notebooks she had bought in Paris in the early '80s. Thus, the Moleskine we know today was born. The name 'Moleskine', with its French origins and associations with heritage, utility and urban poetry, was a perfect fit. It was trademarked in 1996, with the first notebooks produced the following year."

And if that wasn’t enough, here is the Moleskine Manifesto:
"At Moleskine we believe in the timeless power of handwriting as an essential expression of human civilization, a powerful act to unleash human genius and foster the development and sharing of literacy and knowledge. In a fast-paced technological era, we proudly celebrate the artistry of the human touch; the enduring pleasure of putting pen to paper to unleash your unique voice. 

We celebrate the solemn, thoughtful and meditative gesture of the pen gliding across a blank page; the romance of crafting a personal story to record a lifelong memory and leave a distinguishing mark in all its unique beauty. Handwriting is both universal and deeply personal. It’s a thoughtful way to express your true self and connect to others in a very intimate yet universally accessible way. Put pen to paper, and unleash your unique voice."

the Moleskine range

If only they had that space for a pen.

Ages ago I wrote this poem directly onto the pages of my Moleskine. Very rare for that to happen.

Benches (Llandudno)

Strolling through the gardens
It was easy to pick these words
Pressing them into my journal
While no one was looking

“In memory of my husband
Sit and enjoy the view
As John and I did for fifty years”
Every bench forcing me to stop

“Leslie John Hadlington”
Jealous of them and those they knew
“Rest awhile, enjoy the view
As we always used to do”

Though some haven’t made it back
“In quiet thoughts I live again
The days that used to be”
The letters crumbling in my hand

First published in Borderlines in January, 2003

Thanks for reading, Terry Q.

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Journal - Dear Kitty

I was gifted a five year diary when I was about fourteen. Someone, an adult, made unkind remarks about me and diary keeping. I was a sensitive soul and the book remained untouched in a drawer for a year.

I started to write a diary, or journal when I was fifteen. From age seventeen, I missed a lot of years when recording my life on paper wasn’t a priority. I wish it had been, then I could look back on events, see the person I was and compare myself with who I am now. Life is what makes us who we are. Life throws things at us and how we deal with those ups and downs shapes us. Ideally, we learn from life’s experiences, good and bad, and avoid repeating mistakes. No need to beat ourselves up if we don’t get it right. It’s a shame I don’t have the missing bits written down, but there was a time when keeping a diary got me into a spot of bother and another time when it caused me great embarrassment, so perhaps it is a good thing. Why, then, I wonder, do I bother to write a journal now, most days? I see it as therapeutic rather than self-indulgent and hopefully it’s a therapy that does me good and creates memories to read back on. For me, that is. I can’t imagine anyone else being interested.

When Anne Frank began writing to Kitty, she had no idea of the impact those two years of her recorded life would eventually have on the rest of the world. She received a diary for her 13th birthday in June, 1942. A month later, she and her family were in hiding. Her ‘Dear Kitty’ diary entries tell of her hopes and dreams and her adolescent awareness as she developed an attraction for Peter van Pels, who shared the hiding place with his family. She wrote of personal relationships with her family and Peter’s family, her fear of discovery and worries about the disappearance of Jews. Anne died in Belsen concentration camp in 1944. She was fifteen years old. Her diary, discovered by her father, was first published in the UK in 1952, as ‘Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl’. I have laughed and cried my way through that book. It is more than special.

There are many novels written in the epistolary form. I’ll mention a few favourites. ‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’ by Anne Bronte is framed round letters from the character Gilbert Markham to his friend about events connected with his meeting with the character Helen Graham, the tenant. ‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 and Three Quarters’, by Sue Townsend, is written as a diary. ‘Dracula’ by Bram Stoker, based on letters and newspaper articles is a Gothic horror story which has done a lot for Whitby tourism.

My Haiku,

Secrets coded in
Fountain pen and turquoise ink,
When I was fifteen.

In difficult times,
Between neatly written lines
Are tears of despair.

Cutting my own path,
Italics with flourishes
Speak of confidence.

Scribbled in biro,
Telling of the days events
With love and laughter.

“Look how far you’ve come!”
I remind myself to take
The best from each day.

PMW 2025

Thanks for reading, Pam x

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