About Repair Street

Dear friends,

A rare and privileged opportunity was presented to me by invitation from a local ‘All Shades Community Group’ to prepare a youth development project with the specific charge to “Help them enjoy their lives”. This charge was daunting. I immediately recognised the seriousness of the assignment though endless questions and doubts raced through my mind. I was overwhelmed. To my regret, I allowed negativity take over and put the assignment on the long finger.

Soon feelings of guilt rested over my mind. I knew deep in my heart there was a serious need, perhaps I might say urgent need for this work and that nothing happens if I do nothing. I also well knew that no matter what I did I could not give my happy to someone else, individuals make their own happy, or unhappy according to the choices they make.

To help lighten the load and bring the great challenge into more manageable proportions I reduced all of ‘Them’ to just Two, in my mind I imagined I was corresponding to just one young man and one young woman of International Citizenship each with great potential and of tremendous worth.

The next concern was which age group, this caused a lot of consideration. When does a boat become a ship, or a van become a truck, so I struck an excellent balance. Instead of limiting the book for just one age group I decided to address all age groups, youth and adults alike, teenagers and parents and produce the same script in different formats. For example there are many young and more mature people who have difficulty reading, so a good solution is to produce a talking book and also a very basic CD with twelve essential beginning exercise that only those who need intensive learning may require. A particular advantage of this CD is that lessons can be presented in any location by a good teacher.

It worked, I determined to go for it and nurtured a sincere desire in my heart that somehow I could write so every reader who would spend time reflecting upon the work would feel this was a private correspondence and it would meet, or give some sound guidance and direction on how best they could satisfy their particular needs, however serious or painful those needs might be.

I set three firm measuring rods,

(A) It would be necessary to dig deep to the roots, no quick fix could deliver any worthwhile success.

(B) The challenges facing youth were in many instances similar to the challenges facing adults, as were
the solutions.

(C) This project was deserving of my best effort.

‘Repair Street’ is a more comprehensive work than I ever dreamed it might be, addressing issues from the cradle right through to the grave. Successful repairs for problems of neglect and the consequences, poor perceptions, lack of confidence, no vision or ambition, no self esteem, shattered dreams, broken hearts, family breakdown, crime, horrific violence that often leads to death can not be solved overnight. Yet on the other hand meaningful solutions do not necessarily require marathon or super human efforts, prevention is so much wiser and easier than trying to pick up the pieces.

‘Class Seven’ in the appendix is truly a ‘Class Act’ that promotes excellent ideas on drawing people of different religious persuasions together in greater harmony. ‘Strawberry Days’, also in the appendix, gives a true and wonderful report of a very simple occasion when Three Class Seven Disciples enjoyed a very pleasant time munching on a large punett of delicious fresh strawberries in a situation that was at first fraught with risk.

With great sensitivity, no fudge, frills or fear, ‘Repair Street’ brings comfort even to those situations when grief is at its highest point, including those sad occasions when death bed literature is agonising for those that mourn. Profound truths are profound truths and lend a great influence to establishing peace to every disturbed situation.

I hope you enjoy Repair Street and the ongoing conversation with my two International Citizens on the Blog.

Sincere best wishes,

Charles J Ayling