We’ve pondered this before: where does Perth QC Tom Percy get all his energy? You see him on the telly, striding beside clients on trial, popping up on Facebook, at the track urging on a fast-finishing filly, or cheering a six at the WACA. Then he’s off to the pub, not just for a quiet ale: no, up on stage, performing with his rollicking folk band.
When court adjourns for morning tea, is that when he dreams up creative stories? Yes, Tom’s a prolific fiction writer, to boot. With the ink barely dry on his popular page-turner novel The Curate’s Egg, he’s just hammered out a new short story. Postcards from a Friend is a terrific read, with a surprise twist at the end nobody will see coming! The story debuts here in The Starfish. Play your favourite Beatles album while you read.
The legal team battling to save Wikileaks founder Julian Assange from a hellish life sentence in the US, could probably do with a hand from Tom. Though the team includes top lawyers Geoffrey Robertson and Jennifer Robinson, clearly Julian needs all the help he can get against the leviathan US government, which has charged him with multiple counts of espionage.
This week we went to Luna to see a screening of Ithaka, about Julian’s dad John, doing his utmost to support his beleaguered son, who has now been locked away for 11 years. Jennifer Robinson, who’s been living in Perth for much of the pandemic, was there to talk to us after the screening at a fascinating Q and A session hosted by Mark Naglazas. Pete covers this in The Starfish.
We also have a film review by Ros covering the latest film starring the very accomplished and versatile Spanish firebrand, Javier Bardem. The Good Boss should resonate with many, as bosses (good and bad) are a subject of water cooler banter the world over.
And if you like the sound of warm duck breast and fig salad with cauliflower cream, you’re in for a treat! We have a delicious recipe from foodie Sophie Hansen, whose last cookbook, In Good Company, was a bestseller.
Now Sophie, who lives in rural NSW, has teamed up with her mum Annie, an artist and sculptor, to produce new book Around The Kitchen Table: Good things to cook, create and do, the whole year through. If you’re looking for inspiration, open the book. You could find yourself painting a watercolour, making a jar of jam or preparing a tasty morsel.
In case you haven’t noticed, the old town looks to be in election mode. Posters of rival faces are popping up across the suburbs, some almost within sledging distance of each other, like these ones of Curtin candidates Kate Chaney and Celia Hammond, down the street from Starfish HQ. Will their race end up being as close as their placards? Time will tell!
Meantime, enjoy The Starfish
Jacqui and Peter
