Digging Notion

Our seedlings are sprouting up and it’s satisfying to see. It does mean however that we’ve had to crack on with preparing beds so we have somewhere to plant out.

We’ve had a flat pack raised bed kit lying around for years so it was time to put it to use. I was surprised to see it wasn’t in terrible condition.

We chose a sunny spot and cleared a bit of turf. As the bed will straddle the patio and open soil we cut a whole in the plastic lining. Our hope is the worms will get in and do their thing!

Check out my YouTube video to see more of this project.

In the video you will see we used peat free compost to fill our bed – or rather half fill, more bags on order! As avid watchers of Gardener’s World we’ve had it drilled into us by Monty to try and use peat free compost where we can.

I’ve been looking at updating how I use Notion in the garden. In the video you will see I discovered the timeline view. I think this could be pretty cool so I’m going to have a play around and see what I can come up with. I’m also using Notion to help me keep track of the plants and shrubs I already have in my garden and a video on this is in the pipeline too.

Finding time to make videos is the ongoing challenge, but I’m enjoying it so I’ll keep trying my best to make the time. The videos will get better, they have to, right?!

A happy accident

A few weeks ago I built the start of a DIY coldframe. I’ve been told they come in rather handy in the garden and we had some wood left over from other projects, so why not? All the wood is recycled – purchased from a local wood recycling project. They receive their stock from local builders and you can pick up some great bargains!

Check out my video on YouTube as I tackle the task of building a hinged lid.

I thought I would try and pay homage to Shawn James and My Self Reliance and so I limited the talking and cracked on. I find it relaxing watching people work – perhaps it’s an ASMR thing, who knows!

The next task is to come up with a secure and functional system for keeping the lid set in an open position. I’m worried using a stick will only puncture the plastic.

Our first seeds are sown and as I type there are some green shoots poking up through the compost. Fingers crossed for a productive growing season. And if it’s not, we’ll live and learn for next time.

I get headaches… a lot. Notion helps.

For over twenty years headache and migraine have been a persistent and joy sapping burden. Painkillers, dark rooms, nausea – all too familiar.

A neurologist recently diagnosed chronic headache & migraine. Great for me to have this recognised, but also a stark reminder that these things are not going away and I have to manage the condition for the rest of my days.

This is where Notion comes in (not sponsored). The free app for creating data systems for note taking, projects, and wikis has got me hooked! Easy to use and strangely satisfying to behold. I’m using Notion everyday for a variety of uses but it was my headache and migraine log that became invaluable when it came to my diagnosis.

I complete a daily log. This helps me track headaches and keep an eye on my triggers. Notion allows you to add filters and searches to your database which were really useful features in helping me quantify and summarise my headaches. The result; I was able to articulate my headache and migraine experience in a concise yet detailed way to my doctor. I’ve never been clearer in communicating about my headaches, or in my own understanding of my pain. This has been a revelation.

I’ve made a couple of videos on my YouTube channel about how you can create your own headache log in Notion. You can also download a free copy of my log to duplicate and use in your Notion app.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Keeping a log is one way to help you stay on top of your symptoms and articulate them with clarity. If you suffer from headaches and or migraine then please seek appropriate medical advice from a trained professional.