Tired Eyes's blog

Hi everybody,

Well the Tired Eyes initiative has taken many twists and turns. It started out intended as a fringe comedy show which never happened, veered towards a booklet and ended up as a website. What an interesting journey.

One hour to go to the start of the conference and I am sitting in my 14th floor, rather swish, hotel room getting a little bit of quiet time.

Thought I'd post the image from up here, taken from the webcam of my netbook. The real view is a lot nicer than the image, despite being a grey morning.

It has been six weeks since my last blog. For someone claiming benefits I feel like I've been doing loads and yet I have little or nothing tangible to show for those weeks. I've done so little for my initiative since it started and I feel guilty. It is such a good opportunity and yet it feels like it is slipping through my fingers.

I am both anxious and excited about the Open-Up gathering in Birmingham on Friday and anxious about the travelling up and back, especially the bit through London. I've done a little bit of writing for the Tired Eyes project, which is a start and I am pleased with it. Not much, just a little but I have broken through a psychological barrier that had been building. So phew!!!!

Tired Eyes is an initiative looking at attitudes to work that cause prejudice towards people with mental health issues.

One thing that seems to be a familiar theme for all of us who suffer mental distress is the inconsistencies of what we are able to do at different times . Some times we are coping really well and others not coping at all. Some times we are feeling well and able to do much, other days we'll be lucky to get out of bed.

Tired Eyes is an initiative looking at attitudes to work that cause prejudice towards people with mental health issues.

Today my post is about the concept of capability. I've met many intelligent people with mental health problems who, despite their potential, are either not in paid work or are in low-skilled work. This is not due to lack of skill but an inability to cope with work pressures.

Here is an update on the Tired Eyes project. In brief everything is good!

Hi again guys.

My last blog in early December was rather panicky and I never actually got to write about my project. I am happy to say January was a good month for me and I am feeling really optimistic.

1-0 up, the Robbie All-stars confidently run out on to the pitch for the second half.

The 26th November was a game of two halves Gary. Birmingham was the venue for the Open Up induction, where we all met up from our regions, the lovely Open Up staff and the inspired participants and their wonderful project machines.