The Prism – Peter Ambrose SC

What is your idea of earthly happiness?

To have a large close knit family of in-laws living in another city who do not like to travel.

What could you not live without?

South African humour. For example:- “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.”

What has been your greatest fear?

Appearing before a Head Mistress or Head Master to answer a charge of which I was innocent.  

What is your greatest indulgence?

Having secrets such as my greatest indulgence.

Which skill or talent would you most like to have?

To be able to dissemble.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Intolerance. I cannot understand how an intelligent and rational person could be intolerant of another person because of his or her race, colour, sex, or religion, except for scientology.  

What is the quality you most admire in a person?

Humility. If more people were humble, the world would be a better place for others not so inclined.  

What is your most marked characteristic?

Tolerance. Although amongst many other complaints, such as teenage mobile phone sales persons, travel agents who don’t keep their promises, taxi drivers who do not know directions, waiters who constantly refold your napkin into bird shapes, journalists and sub-editors who pun badly, parents who claim their children are gifted and talented and English teachers who admire Hugh Lunn, I keep my strong feelings largely to myself.   

On what occasion do you lie?

See above. And below.

What is your great regret?

That I wasn’t cast as Max opposite Charlotte Rampling in “The Night Porter.”

Which words or expressions do you most over-use?

“Yes Dear.” Although when I ran this by my dear,  she scoffed and said I had forgotten my passion for her “incunabula”.

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

I am satisfied with myself. I guess if there was one thing, it might be the way I project myself, and by that I mean how I am perceived by others. Some people think I am too gentle and trusting and even slightly naïve and urge me to be more demonstrative.

To what do you aspire?

To see in print my response to a Courier Mail journalist asking “Do you think the Broncos can win this week without Darren Lockyer?”

How would you like to be remembered?

As a good citizen, who, given the chance to fight for his country would have been the first to go.