The Bipolar Lock keeper

The daily adventures of living by the beautiful Rochdale Canal whilst dealing with the highs & lows of Bipolar Disorder

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about

I’ve been a secondary school data manager for the past 10 years. It definitely has been an interesting time to be in the constant evolving world that is education! During that time, I have held data manager positions in 2 secondary school academies. My current school has more than 1700 pupils with a large 6th Form provision. Experienced at developing & maintaining school data management systems including the school MIS, whole school timetable, admissions, student target setting, progress reporting, exam administration and course management. I am skilled in many school software/systems and government websites and am passionate about improving data management with schools and putting your data to work for you. Before joining the education sector, I was a senior IT manager at IBM responsible for reducing cost and business risk in IT operations. I am certified in Project Management (PMP) and IT/data security (CISSP). Please check out my LinkedIn profile. Would love to connect so please do send me a request https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamjons

  • Lockhousebakes hits 1000

    Wow 1000 views, thanks for visiting

    Need to work out how to add a Subscribe button 😎

    1000 wow. just wow!

  • Been a while! The Count is back!

    Sat in my home office looking out on a gorgeous day on the Rochdale Canal.

    View from home office

    Streaming Spotify to my Denon Bluetooth speaker. Current listening to

    Found a first pressing and it is still sealed 😱

    Other current listening choices are 2025 album releases

    – Wolf Alice upcoming new one is great. Only 3 tracks dropped so far but 3 bangers.

    • The Lottery Winners – KOKO
    • Pulp – More
    • Wolf Alice – upcoming release 3 tracks & they are all bangers. Check out The Sofa

    What have I been up to?

    Got a new full-time job at Cardinal Newman College in Preston. Started at end of April so completed 3 months. It is going well I think.

    My garden is a jungle. Didn’t realise dandelions could grow that tall. Job for the weekend.

    Luke has left his job at Shade School

    Trying to get fit as my days are spent in a chair. Plan is morning shuffling along the canal towpath. I started Couch 2 5k it is so long since I ran. I have finished both The Great North (13.1 miles half-marathon 02:17:28) and Great South (10 miles 01:42:30). See proof

    My Great Run Finisher medals

    Trying to get involved in the local community & make some new friends

    Start up bakes again. I will post about those on my other site http://lockhousebakes.com

    Pop-up cafe pushed into next year. Got some work to do on house & garden.

    💯 Las Vegas less than 100 days

    I will re-start up the fun stuff like Photo of the day & current listening too so expect a flurry

    Mood scale today is 6. #slowTiggerdown

  • The Bridestones

    On my 4th attempt, I finally made it to The Bridestones

    Windy moors

  • Bipolar awareness month

    March is bipolar awareness month culminating on World Bipolar Day on 27th March.

    Theme is Let’s End Bipolar Stigma

    The legendary chef Heston Blumenthal (of The Fat Duck in Bray) is a patron of Bipolar Uk and he has given Tv interviews about his journey

    This Morning

  • Oh, Manchester, So Much To Answer For

    Spent the day in my favourite city. My home city. MANCHESTER 🐝

    Lunch with Sam, always a joyous occasion and great to hear his news and plans. Sounds amazing, very proud 😍

    Then to one of my happy places – Afflecks Palace or just Afflecks now. Plenty a day spent kicking around the 2nd hand/vintage clothes stores, the go-to venue for posters on student house wall and ofc The Vinyl Frontier.

    I love being “between jobs” 💪

  • 60 miles in March

    I have signed up to a Teenage Cancer Trust fundraiser, 60 miles in March.

    Running Total = 19.04 miles

    4th

    Along the canal towards Walsden & Gordon Rigg, then up Ramsden Wood Road and the moor towards the Wind Farm.

    Photos from walk

    2nd

    Just a walk into Tod market & back. 4635 steps = 2.24 miles

    1st

    Luke & I set off to find The Bridestones near Blackshaw Ridge but Google Maps get directions completely wrong so we headed along The Rochdale Canal to Hebden Bridge.

    Step count over 22k = 10.9 miles

    Photos from the walk

    Ian’s garden shed?

  • Beautiful day in Tod

    Woke to a clear blue sky so ventured into Tod

  • Lovely weekend in London town

    Stayed with my Uni mate Miles over the weekend & what a weekend.

    Saturday

    The Face exhibition at National Portrait Gallery. What great covers they had! Captured some examples

    Then to BFI Imax at Southbank for Becoming Led Zeppelin. The large screen and Dolby Atmos made for an immersive experience. Best documentary I have ever seen!

    Epic! – true rock Gods!

    Then off to Ally Pally for Frank Turner’s 3000th show. Truly amazing gig

  • Nice to be home

    Been away for a couple of weeks. More on that later!

    The sun broke through the clouds this morning & it stopped raining. Made for a new walk home from Tod.

  • I’m fine

    So true