The Bipolar Lock keeper

Mood 7. Hours undisturbed sleep 3.5.

What a wonderful word ❤️

This is what those with BD strive for – 5 on the mood scale, balance in The Force or in simple terms CALM

I’m not there at the moment 😢

There are 4 things that bring calm to my life.

• Quality time with family & friends
• Music
• Cooking/Baking
• Water

Music

I love live music and take every opportunity (budget allowing) to attend a gig or music festival. I try and get to at least one a month.

My musical tastes are eclectic. My first concert was PIL with John Lydon and latest, The Lottery Winners in Manchester.

I have tickets to see The Killers, Green Day, Bruce Springsteen, James, The Cult and Richard Hawley later this year.

I also collect vinyl. I invested in some high quality hi-fi equipment when I moved in to the house.

I have created a disco/listening space in my basement. It is my happy place.

Todmorden, Hebden Bridge & Rochdale all have record shops so my collection has swelled since I arrived. Music connects you with memories of good time past and I buy vinyl on an emotional connection rather than a want list. It can get expensive if I find records that I want in my collection. 😱💰

Cooking/Baking

I have always enjoying cooking. I remember making pancakes on Saturday’s & Yorkshire Puddings on Sunday. Something therapeutic about whisking a batter!

I’m a good cook, even if I say so myself. Sadly not the best in the family. That honour goes to my sister but she has had formal training, which I haven’t.

My specialities are curries, chillis (vegan option available), chocolate treats, bread & pizzas and I can make a great roast – Christmas Dinner being the piece de resistance as my eldest son can testify

During lockdown, I learnt how to make dough using Richard Bertinet’s method.

I also bought an Ooni pizza oven and KitchenAid food mixer with dough hook. They’ve been used a lot.

Water

Water in all it’s forms is joyful

Whether it’s snow days that close school (yay!) or waterfalls you can’t fail to find it relaxing. Maybe not, when you are driving home on the M62 and the snow is coming sideways 😱

I have been lucky to live close to water most of my life. When down South, I was within walking distance of River Thames and I completed The Thames Path a few years ago.

Now I have water directly outside in the form of The Rochdale Canal. This is literally “on my doorstep”