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Well, here they (we) all are: the Species of Origin...
L. to R.(Standing):Kerry, Chris, Leonie, Terry, Andy, Lance, Elvis, Dad
(Seated):Mum, Tony, my goodself, Stephanie
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After fruitlessly pleading, threatening, whimpering and playing the guilt card for three years or so, Mum finally took matters into her own hands. She booked a sitting for 1 February 2003 and announced that we would all be there at 11am for an Official Family Portrait...no sick notes, no exceptions, no excuses, broken knuckles all round if anyone was late. And so it came to pass.
Mum and Dad
My father, Vic Parslow, is a retired mechanical engineer: Mum Gillian (nee Greet) is a former teacher aide, also now retired. They live live a quiet life, at least as far as heading up a family like ours can ever be quiet. Main interests are family, a bit of gardening, going to the gym, reading, and hitching up the caravan and heading off into the sunset four or five times a year. 2004 will see in their golden wedding anniversary: plans for a suitably punitive celebration of the occasion TBA.
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Chris and Kerry
Chris, my big brother, is an interesting bloke (note the euphemism): hyperactive, rather eccentric, amazingly knowledgable (he reads eclectically and seems to know a bit about nearly everything); volatile, keen on gardening, DIY, home brewing, motorbikes, rugby league, swimming, surfing and kayaking. He has an evil sense of humour and enjoys torturing small children (well, just a bit). In his Other Life (the "W" word), he does economic analysis-type stuff in the mines, energy and natural resources area of government. Kerry Talbot, his endlessly tolerant and good-humoured spouse, is an early primary school teacher, and also a keen gardener; excellent cook; haunter of markets, antique and second-hand shops and import delis; and capable DIY-er. Chris kicked off the third generation of the clan when he and his former wife produced the lovely Belinda (27, roaming around the UK somewhere). Chris and Kerry are now fully occupied with Dominic (13, tall, reserved, enigmatic and pretty cool, really) and Lily (9, energetic, social and gurlie).
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Stephanie and Lance
For Steph and husband Lance Pearce, the '70s never really ended. Stephanie is 18 months younger than me, and suffers from Middle Child Syndrome. In her heart of hearts, she still believes she was adopted. Her favourite pastimes are worrying, making lists, worrying, obsessing, worrying, reading, gardening, worrying, making lists of lists, movies, worrying about her boys, delving into the lives of friends and family and worrying...you get the picture. Oh, and she works as a support worker/personal care assistant for people with disabilities. Lance comes from a large and rather eccentric family himself, so feels quite at home with the Parslows (just don't ask him why his own family call him "Bricks"). He's a hard-working civil design and drafting consultant, who spends his leisure hours working in the garden and around the house. Steph and Lance share a fondness for good wine and good company, and tend to get excited about current affairs, social issues and the environment. They are the somewhat exhausted parents of three boys -- the much-travelled Marcus (24), a dancer and absolute doll: Lachlan (23, graduate in information environments and hoping for a job -- any job!): and Brodie (13), high school student and keen SES cadet.
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Leonie and Terry
After a couple of false starts, Leonie finally settled down to domesticity when she married Terry Harris after a whirlwind 6-week romance. Once the venerable parents recovered from the shock of abruptly acquiring a saturnine, ponytailed Harley rider as a son-in-law, they happily welcomed another Jolly Nice Bloke into the family fold. (Another one from a large, complicated family -- do you detect a pattern here?) Leonie is a child psychologist, and is usually first noticed because of her outrageously colourful op-shop wardrobe. (Her idea of a shopping spree is trolling Endo's and St Vinnie's). Terry works in telecommunications. They, too, enjoy a good time, generally of the beer-and-a-barbie kind, although mostly it's cheap champagne rather than Fourex, these days. Terry likes to get into the garden, too, generally in the form of what's called "hard landscaping" -- you never quite know where a fence or retaining wall is going to pop up next. Leonie has a passionate fondness for animals: she's moved from house-dwelling pigeons and toast-eating cats to free-range guineapigs, obese dogs, an assortment of cage birds, a brace of neurotic geese and a cow called Turtle who can't understand why she's not allowed in the kitchen any more. Parents of Lucas (16, answer to a maiden's prayer), Kerry James (15, stud muffin) and Isabella (11, dancer, extrovert, baby-stalker and a Nana's best friend).
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| Lucas |
Kerry James |
Isabella |
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Andy and Elvis
Andy (actually Anthony Anders) is the youngest. There's always a sense with Andy that he's a bit out of step with the rest of us, probably attributable to the six-year gap between him and next-eldest Leonie. Andy does his own creative thing, in the way of composing, producing and recording his own music, as well as doing some web-design kind of stuff. (He even earns some money occasionally). Partner Elvis 'Bobby' Fischer is an animator and student. They have absolutely, resolutely no plans whatsoever for adding to the next generation, and are inclined to blench if the possibility is even hinted at.
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Notice anyone missing?
There's more than enough about me already in these pages (where it says "All About Me! Me! Me!", funnily enough). Tony, my girls Frances and Cecily, and gorgeous grandson Corbin all have their own page as well.
However, if you REALLY want to see more of the Parslows, you could go and take a look at my family albums at Webshots. See the whole ghastly family history unravel before your disbelieving eyes!
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