Friday 28 December, 2007

Christmas family marathon

I have a complicated family, and I thought I would set it out for you with the aid of photos taken over the 3 days of Christmas family events - 4 days if you count my birthday on Boxing Day.

Each particular event was pleasurable, though the cumulative effect was, ahem, exhausting. I got a wonderful lense from Virginia for Christmas which I think will improve my people photography. (It's a 50mm prime lens.) Anyway, sit back, relax, and try and come to grips with this iconic example of modern family life. It's going to take a while.

On Sunday, December 23rd Virginia and I went to my Mum's house in the country. You might notice that in the photo I have used of Virginia, she is looking at me somewhat resentfully. I have no idea why that would be.

My Mum, Sari, is married to Bernie. He has two daughters, my step-sisters Chrissie and Katie. Chrissie has two daughters Evie, and Ayda. Her partner is Phil (he has a son, Sam, from another relationship but Sam couldn't join us on Sunday).

Katie has two daughters, Clancy and Hannah. Her husband is Simon. We were joined by my brother Saul, his two daughters (often seen on this blog) Pia and Cassia and his wife Adrienne.

(In this picture Kate's husband Simon is standing at the back, with his daughter Clancy, and Chrissie's daughter Evie is sitting at the front. We've been playing hide & seek.)

On Christmas Eve we had a very relaxed meal with Virginia's parents, Helen and Peter .

and her brother Huw. On Christmas morning Virginia's grandfather, David Ryrie, joined us. Bird and Wilsons' siblings Zadie and Percy live there also.

Then we went to the house of my first father, Peter Nicholls. He is now married to Clare Coney. He and Clare have two sons, my half-brothers Jack and Luke. He also has a son who lives in England called Tom , who joined us from London for the week. Both Peter's sisters, my aunts Meg and Helen were there, as was my second cousin Carole - who I know particularly well because we used to work together at McPhee Gribble.

(From left to right and anti-clockwise: Second cousin Carole, holding Toby the dog, Adrienne (sister-in-law), Pia & Cassia (nieces), Peter (father), Clare(stepmother), Jack (half-brother), Tom (half-brother), Saul (brother), me, Mum, Aunt Meg, Aunt Helen )

When I got home that evening I called John Cunningham, my second father, who now lives in Bermagui. He is getting married in March, in Bali, to Mala (expect lots of photos of that wedding).

I hope you have followed all that. There will be exam questions set early in the New Year. The prize shall be spending next Christmas with us all.

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