The Bipolar Lock keeper

This song is quite apt as it literally was a “Once In a Lifetime” opportunity, except THIS IS MY BEAUTIFUL HOUSE 😎

I was born in Radcliffe, Lancashire & spent my childhood in Bury. I’m a BGS Old Boy, I even got a “Free-place” scholarship having blitzed the 11+ exam. Class of 1977-1984 if anyone is interested.

From there, I went to The University of Nottingham to study Maths with Engineering. I say study, I spent more time in the variousmusic venue & clubs. Rock City & The Garage particular favourites. It was “Party Central”. I made some of my closest friends, who are still my friends today. We all share a passion for music & live music in particular.

It was at Uni, that I earned my nicknames – The Count & Greybags. My friend’s still use them today.

Unsure of what to do when I graduated, I went to work for my dad who was writing software programmes for the manufacturing sector using Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet. Pre Windows & Excel. Good old MS-DOS.

I lucked out when my mum found an advert for an English Editor at Lotus Development UK in Windsor (software – not cars). After a 9 month initial contract, I moved into Customer Support (we called it the Hotline) then IT. Absolutely loved working at Lotus, it was a fantastic place to work.

Things started to go awry when IBM acquired us in 1995. Initially leaving us alone for a few years, the inevitable integration to “Big Blue” meant we became IBMers. Over the next few years, the bits of my job that I enjoyed got eroded and I ended up stressed, depressed and unable to work. I was signed off sick for 2 weeks by my GP in 2011. 2 weeks became 4 and then 8 and I never returned to IBM full-time taking redundancy in 2012 (24 years)

After trying to find a similar role, I decided I wasn’t feeling the passion and took a complete different direction to move into the State – Education system as a School Data Manager, which is what I still do today. Lots of Excel spreadsheets. I’ve been doing it for almost 12 years and an on my third school.

After my divorce, I always wanted to return to The North West and it was my retirement plan. It was brought forward when I found the house I wanted. I got my house down South valued.

You get so much more for your money up North. I had a 4 bedroom semi in Berkshire and bought a 3 bed detached old Lock-keepers cottage besides The Rochdale Canal at Lock 24 and pocketed some change.

I asked my school at the time if they would support me working full-time from home. They said NO, but a former manager offered me a data role at his school in Reading. The Head signed off on the full-time work from home.

If anyone is interested in my work journey, my Linked.In profile is https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamjons

So I end up working from home in an office which overlooks Gauxholme Highest Lock (Lock 24). Happy Days 😎

My name is Graham Jons & I have a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder (BD) Type 2.

It is not as severe as Type 1 but I have to deal with low & high moods. I do not like the word “sufferer” as sometimes BD is a blessing. I have never been ashamed of the condition and actively share with work colleagues.

For those of a certain age, BD used to be known as manic depression. Perhaps more accurate as the highs are manic & the lows are depression.

It is perhaps best explained by the bipolar mood chart.

https://www.bipolaruk.org/faqs/track-your-mood-scale

The scale is from 0 (Severe depression) to 10 (Mania). I generally fluctuate between 2 and 8. I have never had hallucinations or been sectioned but I have contemplated ending my life in my worst episode.

I first started to have depression that impacted my life in 2011, when I worked in IBM Software Group. I had worked for them for 24 years having joined Lotus Development after Uni in 1988. IBM acquired Lotus in 1995 at which point I became an IBMer. Lotus I loved and some of my best friends were met though working there. IBM was less enjoyable. I ended up working full-time from home, which I hated. This led to me being signed off sick in 2011 and I never went back full-time, taking voluntary redundancy in 2012.

After a year or so of being treated for depression and being given anti-depression tablets, I was referred to a psychiatrist in CAMHS Maidenhead l, who diagnosed Bipolar Disorder Type 2. She prescribed meds (Lamotrigine & Quetiapine), which I will have to do for the rest of my life.

With the medication, I can function in day-to-day life but some days are better than others. I obviously prefer highs to lows (who would’nt!). Highs, I get loads done but they often lead to insomnia & I get prescribed sleeping tablets to rebalance my sleep hygiene.

I have recently moved to West Yorkshire (more about that on future posts) along The Rochdale Canal. I will be journaling about my adventures & the highs & lows

I hope you enjoy reading

Graham