Exactly the same as Fiona, I too hate having my picture taken, and if I was holding the camera, I wasn't going to be in the family snapshots. I did get quite good (in a family snapshot way) over various family summer holidays and school trips, but nothing too serious.
Things being cheaper in the US, I bought a Canon Rebel 2000 on a university-inspired stay in the US in '99, both for the price, and to take "good" pictures of Boston. (Classic newbie mistake, assuming an expensive camera means your taking good pictures
) I kept it up for a few years, moving to Swansea and then Southampton, but between work and not loving the film experience, I basically gave up.
Then I found a by-this-time old Canon D30 for sale at work, really cheaply, just in time for Chirstmas. I took the plunge, bought it, and haven't looked back since.