From the point of view of anyone trying to write a website account of a family, children are troublesome. They keep growing and changing and the chronicler has to keep revising and updating. So new entries are added periodically to the existing text. The only things that are bang up to date about the kids on this page are their ages.
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Categories of subject in ascending order of hassle:- 1) The Safely Dead. Ideal subjects. Say what you like about them and never have to change it. Any surviving acquaintances are gaga and don't contradict. 2) Babies. No real problem. Change rapidly; may double their weight in weeks; but can be ignored as only mothers and babyfood suppliers interested. 3) The Settled. Often in middle life, job for life such as bed-linen buyer for department store. Spouse similar. Kids grown up and settled. Keen on TV. Main problem finding something interesting to say about them. |
4) The Unsettled.
Multiple marriages and liaisons, children of varying origin, occupational volatility, drink, drugs, prison. Any of these should make the writer uneasy. May need frequent tactful updates. 5) The Unsafely Dead. The "sadly missed" leaving many fond admirers. May just get away with nickname "Freckles"; but "Baldy", "Fatty" or "Moo-cow" are out. Be prepared for revisions to keep survivors happy, and judicious omissions. 6) Children. The worst. Change constantly and need continual updating. Can take ages before passing into a less troublesome category. Some still achieving things and being unpredictable at age 30-plus! A long-term hassle. Avoid if possible. |
Latest descendants. Olai begat Rolf who begat Paul and David and Alan who themselves begat a few. So far, the fourth generation after Olai is represented by the offspring of Paul's daughters, Lucy and Sarah; and of Alan's son Paul.
First-born were twins Alice and Tom, then Hattie, three years later. In the shot of the twins as babies Tom (on the left, I'm told) 
is held by his paternal Grandma Pam, herself a twin, and Alice by her maternal Great-Great-Aunt Ruth, also a twin. The other pic shows the three of them at Christmas 1994. 1998-vintage pictures can be seen on another page and another here plus a few below. There is always a shortage of up-to-date pictures and new ones are welcome at any time.
Alice and her brother Tom are now in their early twenties. Won the best girl student award on completion of primary school in 1998. She plays the flute and in August 2003 got a distinction in 
her Level 7 flute examination. Went on to get her Level 8, a 'B' in Music in AS level exam mid-2005, and finally passed her full A levels in 2006 and will take up her offered place to study Music at Sheffield University in October 2007. Has played in a county-wide Leicestershire schools band for wind instruments (I think I've got that right) in major public venues in Leicester. (She must get her musical ear from Mark or Liz; certainly not from this side of the family who mostly don't know
their brass from their oboe.)
Other accomplishments include being generally good academically with typical grades of A or B, and featuring variously in school dance and drama events. Has appeared at the Haymarket Theatre Leicester in a combined schools dance performance. Also shines in gymnastics and sport. Once filled in for someone who dropped out of the javelin event and broke the school record. An accomplished lass. Saturday work in shops while at school. Used 2006/7 as a gap year before University, working at a wild animal sanctuary in South Africa where she also spent some time with her exotic South African relatives. Later made an extended trip to New Zealand visiting her aunt and family, seeing the sights, and indulging her penchant for bungee jumping and other dangerous athletic activities while she was there. Studying Music at Sheffield University.
Tom is just as much an all-rounder as his twin sister. Got the best boy student award in junior school. 
Though probably not as musical he has been a key dancer in his school's contribution to a dance and drama performance at the Haymarket (similar to the one Alice was in). Also voted "May King" at junior school (I'm not quite sure what that is.) Has played in the school football team for his age-group. 
Also rugby in junior school, but prefers soccer. Was long-jump champion for age group. No problems with schoolwork.
Like Alice got 'A's and 'B's in 2005 AS Levels and in his finals in 2006. One of his great talents is in the visual arts; some of his drawing and painting remarkably good. Photography ditto; pics of Alice above by Tom. Some of his work is displayed on his web-site, so click to see it. He and Alice have been skiing in the French Alps with a school party and in 2005 to Greek island of Zakynthos with school friends. Part-time work as waiter, and joiner's assistant to his paternal grandfather. Took 2006/7 as a gap year: worked as reporter on newspaper in India where he toured and photographed extensively. Like Alice visited New Zealand and also Canada. Studying History at Sheffield University since October 2007.
Harriet, sometimes called Hatty, shows every sign of following in the footsteps of her siblings. She is 
now in her late teens. Learnt to read young and has played the cello almost since starting school. Back in 2000 she was good enough to do the Haymarket dancing thing that Tom and Alice did at that age. Also done gigs with her cello in a Leicestershire schools string ensemble at De Montfort Hall, the local concert hall. Now in secondary school. Passed her Grade 3 in her cello exams. And in summer 2003 graduated from the Junior to the Intermediate Schools Orchestra. Is now part of the Leicestershire School Symphony Orchestra which puts on various public performances over the year including one in Prague. Belongs to her school Cello Ensemble. A good swimmer as well. Currently completing her silver Duke of Edinburgh award. Passed her GCSE examinations in 2007 getting mostly A and B grades; ready for two years of Advanced Level studies. Like her sibs she is really nice to have around.
Sarah's first is a boy called Oliver, known as Ollie. He weighed in at 6lb 7oz (2.92kg) in May 2000. He is now heavier at age and bigger even than the pictures below show. For a while attended a play group in England, and then a "kindie" in New Zealand. Now he has started at proper school where, it appears, he is considered advanced for his age. All in all, appears to be a lively, intelligent, normal boy. Seems very fond of his little sister. Here are some pictures.
Sarah and Paul's 
second child is a girl called Sophie Maria 
(Sophie after her aunt of that name). Born 28 April 2003. Birth weight 7lb 8oz (3.4 kg). Age: and some days. Currently the second latest manifestation of the family genes. On first seeing her when new, Granny Liz pronounced her "a sweetie". More recent assessments confirm this view. Agile baby, talked and walked without delay, now a proper little girl. Pic shows her aged two years, going on three. Yes a sweetie; a charmer, and she knows it. Attends a kindergarten which she seems to enjoy and where she has acquired a strong New Zealand accent. Has always been very articulate for her age. Watch here for further news and pictures.
The first child of Alan' son Paul and 
Juliette is the third most recent addition to the family line, a girl called Lara. (Follow the link if you are getting the Pauls mixed up). Lara tipped the scales at a healthy 3.5kg (7lb 12oz) 
and is now old (plus maybe a few days) and is said to look like her mother and to be the sensible one. Her mother also says she is "strong-minded (stubborn)" like her father and rather bossy. Is already attending "Big School". She is shown on the left.
On the right is second daughter Amy born in December 2004. She is now old. No longer a baby and obviously very much a little girl with a bit of a personality. She is the latest-born in the family. Her mother says that at present she is "the wild child who likes climbing, jumping and all things dangerous". Will start school in 2008.
Here, on the left the two girls are shown with their father Paul looking justifiably pleased with them (and himself?). On the right, mother Juliette poses with her youngest, Amy. Both girls are fond of books. Their grandparents Ricky and Alan show every sign of being besotted by them.
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