For many, keeping a diary is a way to reflect on ones thoughts, feelings and events. I started this site to keep my family informed of where we were on our sailing trips. It started out in Finnish, but evolved to English because we noticed that some friends were using google translate to check on us.

I’ve never kept a diary. Well, not successfully anyway. During an exchange year in my late teens, I was given a paper diary, but the pages are quite empty. Of the 365 days, only a handful have something scribbled on them. The first blog I ever started was mainly a documentation of speeches I had given during special events. They were mainly philosophical thoughts and reflections that aimed at inspiring friends and colleagues.

This blog has mainly concentrated on travels and sailing, and some of the wonderful dinners we sometimes have. After each trip and season, we’ve had printed picture books made, and the blog has been of great help when trying to remember where we were and what we did. One of my main goals was trying to keep the posts as current as possible, so that especially our mothers wouldn’t be worried.

Posting every, or even every other day, was quite stressful. After long days of sailing, you had to find the energy to export and edit photos, upload them and then write something clever. A skipper has several other duties, like cooking and walking the dogs, even taking the occasional shower as not to get thrown overboard or facing mutiny.

Last fall, I found my motivation for photography again. With that, also came some kind of yearning for writing. I’ve never thought of myself as a good writer, in any language. Spelling, grammar, punctuation and word order keeps getting muddled up. The sentences are too long and complicated. For the past six months, I’ve had a wonderful English coach. Even though she is a Kiwi. The right amount of pushing and demanding, has had the effect that I actually do most of the homework that I’m given. During our sessions we talk and do all kinds of exercises that I hated in school. Now I find them quite fascinating. It all has to do with the amount of private tutoring and interaction we have.

So, has there been any point with all this rambling? Well, first of all, the title. I have documented the past couple of years. The posts might not be that comprehensive, but as my journey has continued, I feel that the texts have become just a teeny tiny bit longer and informative. I hope I can improve on that.

Secondly, I have noticed that I don’t have the same stress for not being totally current. A few days or weeks behind the actual events really isn’t that big of a deal. I hope. With that came the realisation that I actually don’t have to post tens of pictures in one post. I can pick some, and maybe even do two or three posts for the same thing. That will make it possible to schedule posts and give me more time for the next one.

The third issue I’ve been pondering, is how to incorporate more mundane texts and photographs. Life is not all wonderful sailing highlights and trips to museums. Since I don’t have any special goals of expanding followers and readers, it really doesn’t matter if I stray from or expand the main theme of the site. This might actually become a diary. Who knows.