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My Family in Photobooths

Sisters Reunited

October 27, 2011
My Family in Photobooths, Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
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2 April 1994, London

It had been many months since I had seen my Susie. She was visiting from Dublin where she was working as a nanny and taking advantage of the wild 90s club scene there.  Up until yesterday, I would have described her as a “party girl” but having only just learned this has pejorative connotations, courtesy of an episode of Madmen, I had better not. She has always loved people, fun and up until recent years, big eyebrows. Stop the plucking and bring ’em back, Sue-poo, I miss them.

This is the first of many occasions when I have been photographed in a photobooth with my darling baby sister.  We were at the post office at Charing Cross on our way to meet our parents, who were visiting London for the first time together. We each took two of the strip of four pics.

Della Time Machine

October 26, 2011
My Family in Photobooths, Photobooth Time Machines
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Del was my landlady in London.  She is also Rosie’s mum.  Del took in boarders for many years.  I think I was the only one they were never quite able to get rid of. Living with the Holbrooks meant fraternising with diverse people through a succession of boarders of many nationalities and with their friends from all over the world. Del and her spouse, Lindsey, were the epitome of hospitality and generosity, often, with patience and humour, putting up with the foibles and troubles of, mainly female, under 25 year old strangers.

I cannot list how many times Del collected me or dropped me at train stations or airports and offered me other kindnesses and support.  In 1989, I contracted hepatitis from another boarder who had just returned from Africa. I was admitted to a distant hospital, yet with all Del had on her plate as a mother of two young kids, I received regular visits from her. I was at Hither Green in the infectious diseases isolation ward. One day she brought the kids, Ros and Rich, with her. They were only allowed to stand outside the door and wave as I was still in quarantine. It was such a lovely gesture and a massive boost to my morale. Also, due to her thoughtfulness, I did not die of starvation on the ghastly NHS rations and was also saved from 10 days of boredom due to her lending me a tiny portable TV. All that love, along with magical Christmasses, birthdays and many other fun experiences plus their continuing friendship, makes me count all the Holbrooks as a very special part of my extended family.

Rosie Time Machine

October 22, 2011
My Family in Photobooths, Photobooth Time Machines
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I first met Rosie in London, when she was 7 years old. I was one of the many boarders from around the world that her mum took in. Although none of the above photos are dated, the second pic is how I remember her looking at that age.  Ros came to visit me in Australia when she was 16, for a one month stay and we catch up via email and whenever I visit London. I think of her as my second little sister and love her dearly. When she was ten or eleven she gave me a new nick name, Kitty. Ros was the first person to call me that, which I found delightful!  She more often calls me Kit-Kat these days.

Now in her early thirties, Ros is newly married and a successful academic. She still has the same cheeky sparkle in her eyes that she did when she was little.

Photobooth Phamily

October 21, 2011
Digital Photobooth Images, My Family in Photobooths
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October 2011

October 2011

There are now many different types of photobooth offering a huge array of options for your pics.  My brother and sister-in-law, niece and nephew brought this one back for me from their first trip to Europe. I love the way the whole family squeezed in. They were somewhere in France, I think. I am thrilled they thought of me while there and remembered my photobooth addiction. They also gave me a luxurious, pink, heart-shaped gift-tin of delicious Fauchon chocolates. How spoilt am I?

I love the sepia toning of the colours, possibly produced due to blocked lights from so many people squishing in. What a wonderful effect the repetition has on the image, though we couldn’t figure out why it would come without the removable sticker feature you normally get with this format.

My Dad

October 12, 2011
My Family in Photobooths
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David, 1994

This is my Dad, David.  As with my Mum’s photo, this was taken for an international drivers license in 1994.  Neither of my parents are all that fond of getting their photos taken but Dad is definitely the most reluctant.  He is a voracious reader and keen gardener, producing vegies and other comestibles year round.

Earlier this year I coaxed both Mum and Dad into a digital booth at Chadstone shopping centre.  I wouldn’t say there was a lot of moaning, but their reluctance was verging on outright refusal, until a deal was struck to make sure the visit included coffee and cakes.  It was a major victory for me to get them into a booth after a 17 year gap.  I will be posting the results one day soon.

My Mum

October 12, 2011
My Family in Photobooths
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Margaret 1994

This is my Mum, Margaret.  The photo was taken in 1994 for an international drivers license for her first trip overseas.  Sue was living in Dublin and I was just back from France when we met up with Mum and Dad in London.  Now 82, Mum is still a working violinist, teaching four afternoons per week.  She is also involved in many local musical projects and concerts, along with my Dad, David.

Shaky Sue

October 12, 2011
My Family in Photobooths
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14 January 1999

January 1999, Cheltenham, Victoria

This is my favourite strip of photos of my sister Sue and probably my all time favourite photobooth photos.  There is something about the movement in them all and the pixie-like impishness of the last photo that really appeals to me.  It was taken in an old black and white photobooth at Southland shopping centre when Sue was 5 months pregnant with her son Calvin Patrick.  It was our third outing to find me a bridesmaid dress for her forthcoming wedding to Tim Meaghan. I am not sure who was being fussy, Sue or me, (or both of us) but we still hadn’t found one at the end of this trip.

My Teddy, Fred

September 27, 2011
My Family in Photobooths
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81 Year Old Fred Bear

Please meet my teddy Fred, who currently lives on a bed in the spare room in Melbourne.  He is a very old English bear who (not “which” – he is definitely a person) was given to my mother for her first birthday in May 1930.

Fred was made by Farnell in the UK.  He was in fine condition when he was given to me. He had a growl that worked, soft padded paws of pale felt, with decorative stitching and a full coat of fur. He had his original eyes and snout.  By the time I had finished loving him to death he was almost bald, had no nose and badly mangled pads.  His eyes had been replaced numerous times.  He was taken for some TLC to the “doll’s hospital” in the Block Arcade in Melbourne about 10 years ago.  He is the fine specimen of bear-hood that you see above, thanks to their help.

I named Fred after Fredd Bear from a children’s TV show, the Magic Circle Club (1965-67) on Melbourne’s ATV Channel O.  Fredd (Tedd Dunn) was a silent, big, cuddly bear, who I loved dearly.  Mum took me to see the cast doing a live show at the Myer store at Chadstone.  I was so thrilled to see him but too terrified to go on stage when they asked for children from the audience to participate.  All the kids who went up received prizes.  I have remembered and regretted my shyness of that day, ever since!

Fred came with me on an outing to the Jam Factory this year.  We had gone for a morning treat but as the cafe didn’t have any pots of honey we decided to skip the Teddy Bear picnic and grab a few booth snaps instead.

It may be noted that I have written a good deal more about this loved creature than I have about my sister and brother.  This is definitely due to the fact that teddy bears do not have good computer skills and thus he is unlikely to reprimand me for the quality of the pictures or for saying anything which may embarrass him.

Introducing My Sister

September 27, 2011
My Family in Photobooths
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Sue Griffiths (Top) and Fran

Please meet my sister Sue, who currently lives in Dublin, Ireland.  This is the earliest photobooth photo that I have of my darling sister.  I have many, many in my collection, including one which is probably my all-time favourite photobooth pic.  More photos of Sue will be posted over time, if I can get away with it!

Sue, (alone in the top photo), is seen here with school friend Fran Doherty.  According to Sue, they were both around 18 years old at the time this was taken, making the date of this picture 1986. I love the graffiti on the back screen of the booth.

My Brother, Andrew.

September 27, 2011
My Family in Photobooths
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Andrew Griffiths 1977

Please meet my brother Andrew, who currently lives in Christchurch, New Zealand. The above photo was taken in Melbourne when he was in fourth form in 1977.  It is probably the only photobooth photo I have of him, but as there are still places to look for lurking remnants of my collection, there may be one or two more to discover.

This photo was on his bedroom pinboard for many a long year, so long in fact, that the felt-tip pen he had used to transform his visage, has mostly faded away.  It is a testament to the quality of these old booth photos that after 34 years the only thing that faded was the additional “artwork”. From memory he was experimenting with future images and hair styles he might (and would) eventually adopt.