def parse_email(self):
        """Email address parsing is done in several stages.
        First the name of the email use is determined.
        Then it looks for a '@' as a delimiter between the name and the site.
        Lastly the email site is matched.

        Each part's string is stored, combined and returned.
        """
        email = []
        # Match from current char until a non lower cased alpha
        name = self.match_string_pattern(spat.alphal)
        if not name:
            raise PartpyError(self, 'Expected a valid name')

        email.append(name)  # Store the name
        self.eat_string(name)  # Eat the name

        nextchar = self.get_char()
        if not nextchar == '@':
            raise PartpyError(self, 'Expecting @, found: ' + nextchar)

        email.append(nextchar)
        self.eat_length(1)  # Eat the '@' symbol

        # Use string pattern matching to match all lower cased alphas or '.'s.
        site = self.match_string_pattern(spat.alphal + '.')
        if not site:
            raise PartpyError(self, 'Expecting a site, found: ' + site)

        email.append(site)
        self.eat_string(site)  # Eat the site
        return ''.join(email)