I think Stephen has hit the nail on the head. I posed the question about recording observations here:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=50694
Some of the comments on that thread are very pertinent. The dictaphone idea suggested by Les and Rod, and the improvements that simple device made to the quality of observations relates to the problem. I know my own posts only record simple impressions and I would like to improve them. Sketching is fine if one has the skills, but it makes dark adaptation difficult and slows things down. Making notes and sketches also helps, but I think the dictaphone idea is best.