The Prism – Christopher Hughes SC

What is your motto?

Life is not a dress rehearsal

What is your idea of earthly happiness?

Rather than troubling the editor of this publication or the Australian Censor, perhaps I could just say that some things are best left to the imagination

What could you not live without?

In the words of Hilaire Belloc “…laughter and the love of friends” (oh, and red wine!)

What is your greatest fear?

Ennui

What is your greatest indulgence?

Annual trips to Paris with stopovers at the Oriental Hotel in Bangkok

Which skill or talent would you most like to have?

To play the saxophone like Stan Getz; or the piano like Oscar Petersen

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Selfishness

What  are  the qualities  you most admire in a person?

A warm personality and an ability to converse freely and openly about all manner of topics

On what occasion do you lie?

When my two beautiful children ask me if I will be home from work in time to take them to the park

What is your greatest regret?

Not spending enough time in the park with my children

What words or expressions do you most over-use?

“Moreover” and “let alone”

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

The work related anxiety I feel everyday driving into chambers along Coronation Drive

To what do you aspire?

Having passed through that stage of life when one seeks to achieve grand goals like peace in the Middle East or sufficient food for the starving millions in Africa; and having resigned myself to not achieving certain personal goals such as the mastery of several romantic languages and a full comprehension of the complete works of Shakespeare; I am happily resigned to the slightly more prosaic aspiration of endeavouring to enrich the lives of my family and those I love or care for by regularly filling their mouths with laughter, their hearts with happiness, and their bellies with good food and wine.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a loyal friend, a generous host, a competent barrister, an enthusiastic farmer, a good son, a fair husband and a reasonable father.