About us:

Launchpad Writing Group is a relaxed and informal group. We meet every Wednesday (11am-1pm) to discuss and write about a wide range of topics. We all (including the tutor) have experience of mental illness and the group caters specifically for this. The atmosphere is friendly, guidelines are agreed, confidentiality is respected, and whilst everyone takes part, there is never any pressure to share your writing unless you want to. There’s plenty of variety – something different every week – and since the group is ongoing you can attend on a regular basis or just drop in when you feel like it.

If you’d like to come along and find out more, please contact Janice or Alisdair on   0191 2330382

P.S There’s no fee charged and biscuits are free!

Opinions of the group so far:

‘a friendly place to go’

‘encourages your creative side’

‘it helps me with my writing’

‘it’s helped me to overcome depression’

‘everyone gets on with each other’

‘it’s got me into the habit of writing on a regular basis’

‘mint’

Depression

It’s like being in a dark tunnel. You don’t know how you got there and you don’t know the way out. There is nothing in this tunnel. Only the blackness around you and the only sound is the sound of your voice. So you keep walking through this tunnel in the hope you’re going to see a light. Then one day you see the light and you know you’re coming out of this tunnel. Let’s hope there is not another tunnel ahead.

DLK

My view of Newcastle

When I go to Sunderland, I always come back on the bus to Gateshead. I get off at Gateshead and walk down to the Tyne Bridge, then I walk over the bridge to Newcastle. Whenever I do cross the Tyne Bridge, I always stop and look down towards the Swing Bridge and across towards Newcastle. Whenever I look out at the view, my thoughts are always how glad I am to be back home again because I am not a Geordie or have the accent. I consider myself an half a Geordie because I love it up here and this is where I belong.

DLK

Confused. com

I don’t know what’s going on,

I’m confused.com,

to hope I cling on

that I will know what’s going on,

I know I’m not the only one

but a clue I’ve got none,

‘cos I’m confused.com

so I sing a little song,

it’s only one verse long

but I’m so confused.com

that from my mind it has now gone.

Pear shaped Pete Tong,

something has gone wrong,

I don’t know where I come from

or where I belong,

to figure that one out I long,

all I know is that I shouldn’t wear a thong,

‘cos apparently that is wrong,

but who says? Who dictates that one?

So if you’re confused.com

you should join in this song,

if ye naa the words, please sing along

and together we will try

to find out what’s going on.

What is Pete Tong?

Why is it wrong?

How much, how long?

And together we’re strong,

so join in this song,

throw out your bong,

put on your thong,

ring the bells, ding dong,

raging like King Kong

in a pink lace thong

WHO CARES.COM

Andy

Back Street Days

Days that barely open,

days that crouch and wait,

days you don’t see into

or out of,

days that dress

themelves

in tatters,

days that sit about,

days that echo

days that echo

Janice

I Like

I like to listen to Radio 2,

I like to watch ‘The Bill’,

I like to play on the play station,

I like the smell of cut grass.

I like to hear dawn bird call, slicing through stillness,

I like to watch the wind, dancing through trees in blossom,

I like the sight of hollyhocks against a grey stone wall

And the scent of the sea when expecting something worse.

I like the feel of freshly washed, clean bed sheets

And the view of the countryside below me from the top of a hill,

I like the touch of a cool breeze on a hot day

And the taste of my own pancakes.

Launchpad Writing Group

To be sung to the tune of ‘Vindaloo’

La-la, fish and chips, la-la.

We play at James’s Park and we play in black and white stripes

And we are going to score one more than you – Blackpool

Fish and chips

Fish and chips la-la

You had Sir Stanley Matthews; we had Hughie Gallagher,

Jackie Milburn, Kevin Keegan, Bob Moncur, Andy Cole and Alan Shearer,

Andy Shearer la-la

We play at James’s Park and we play in black and white stripes

And we are going to score one more than you – Blackpool

Fish and chips

Fish and chips la-la

We are off to Whitley Bay

And heading down towards the arcade

For a bag of fish and chips

With plenty of salt and vinegar please la-la

Fish and chips

Fish and chips la-la

We are Newcastle United

And we’re going to score one more than you –Blackpool,

La-la, Fish and Chips

La la la fish and chips la-la.

We are going to stay in the Premier League

Longer than you – BLACKPOOL

DLK

Ballad of lifts and life

by David Coombes

Waiting for my friends; waiting for the lift

Hoping it won’t stay on the floor above; hoping it will shift

But now it’s going up again, so I wonder: shall I walk?

But it seems so much effort, at which I always balk

And if the lift should come, it’s such a waste of time

And effort; did I mention it’s such an awful climb?

It isn’t really; they’ve got escalators here in the Gate

But I always take the lift to avoid the teasing of a mate

Less than friendly, that, really, especially against effort

To hurry to meet him; but woe betide you if you’re caught

To do more than you need to nowadays is thought a deadly sin

Almost as much as not being ridiculously thin

Here comes the lift; no it doesn’t; it’s stopped again

And gone the other way; oh God it’s nearly ten!

I’ll have to walk; I can’t be late

Seems to me to be worse than death that oh so awful fate

Although I know they’ll just go “meh” if they have to wait an hour

To be honest these friends of mine are such an awful shower

I’ll try the lift on the other side of me

I should have done that before, but I can only see

One at a time, so I would have to turn

From side to side; but I’m sure I won’t burn

For this that even in the eyes of today is just a venial sin

At last it’s here! Finally – but there’s no room to get in!

David Coombes

Novel for sale on www.lulu.com/davidcoombes