All Good Things...

... must sadly come to an end.
But that's life. Last night, the Magdalene Players put on our final performance of A Tomb With A View. It's a strange feeling - more than 4 months of preparation and rehearsals are suddenly over after 3 nights. I feel like we should have done a longer run, but perhaps it's better that we went out on the high that we did. What a thrill - it's been such a fun summer being with these guys and rehearsing this play.

Hand on my heart, out of all the various plays, musicals and operas I've been involved with over the years (in various capacities), this is the one I'm probably most proud of. It's my first show in 2 and a half years, my first show in London, and the first show I've done since pulling myself out of the black hole I was in.

I was wonderfully supported by many friends and family, for which I'm very grateful. It was nice to have them there, almost so that I could say "This is what I've been doing for the last 4 months!" (I'll find some pictures to put up - there are plenty!)

A short break and catching up with friends, but then onto the next production!

The show must go on!

A Good News Story (for a change!)

Amongst all the crap and depressing news you read in the papers these days, some good (nay, great and long-overdue!) news: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11481906
Finally, a step in the right direction for the very brave men and women serving abroad to help them re-habilitate when they return. It is despicable and wrong that so little care is currently available - the suicide rate shocking. What a lot of people don't seem to realise is that unless these measures (and further action) is undertaken now, over the next 5-20 years we're going to witness the tragic suicides of many of these dedicated people (just as following the Falklands conflict almost 30 years ago). Mental health service access for the average Joe Bloggs on the street is pretty poor as it is, and so I'm very glad that at least the armed forces have recognised that change is needed.

The biggest killer of young men in the UK?

Drugs? Drink-driving? Gang-related murder? Nope. Suicide.

That's right. Suicide. When you think of it like that, it makes you wonder why so much emphasis is placed on making kids aware of the dangers of, say, drink-driving, when the biggest killer is left unspoken about. Well, there are many social, historical and political reasons why, but it's not good enough.

I can't wait for the day when mental health is viewed in the same light as physical health - when we can talk openly about these issues in society without brushing them under the carpet. For years I've been planning to do some kind of volunteer work for a charity like Mind... Once A Tomb With A View is done (scarily, in a week's time! How did that creep up on me?!) I plan to do so...

I can only hope that these new measures actually do come into effect, and that they make a difference to those that need them so badly.

Onwards to a brighter future!