Dear Inner Circle,

“Hey, Papa, one of my friends got into a lot of trouble today,” said my 8-year-old granddaughter as I met her at the school gate.

“Really,” I said, “Why did she get into trouble?”

“She was accidentally talking,” she said.

“‘Accidentally’ talking? Baby, you should consider a career in the law.”

“What?” she asked!

“Darling, please say these words for me, ‘Accidentally, Your Honour’”

She repeated the words and I said, “That’s it, I’m saving for a wig and gown”.

My girl looked at me like she recognised this as one of those grandfather moments for which there isn’t an explanation and that it wouldn’t be worth her energy to try and help her old grandfather make any sense.

“Can we get an ice cream?” she asked.

It was my turn to pull a facial expression, waiting for the ‘magic word’ that unlocks the heart and wallet of all grandfathers.

A beautiful little face looked into mine and after pause she said, “Your honour”.

There’s been lots of talk around the SBS program Struggle Street this past week or so. I’m probably not the greatest authority on this subject because most of the people we work with at Wayside, aspire to Struggle Street. The thought of having a roof over your head and the struggle to pay rent and find food and clothing, sounds like luxury to most around here. I saw the program and warmed quickly to each of the characters whom I thought were revealed in their vulnerable but wonderful humanity. I thought SBS made a pretty good job of it however some who had some serious misgivings are far better placed than I to make a judgement and I differ to them. Jon Owen and his wife Lisa choose to live in Mount Druitt where they raise their young family. Jon and Lisa run something that is akin to Wayside but it all happens in their family home. They are inspiring and probably a little crazy. I’m sure they are crazy in the same way that Ghandi or Mandella were crazy. They are proof that angels walk among us. Jon has more courage in his little finger than I have in my whole body and his voice is worthy of our respect. You can read his view on the matter here.

Keep reading here.