Iris Barnes Reunion ‘Everyone deserves the chance to dance’ If dancing is in your veins and still holds a big place in your heart what better way to reminisce than arrange a dance school reunion. That is exactly what Maria Fallon, 35 did. A dance and singing teacher from Fratton Portsmouth. After working for 10 years in Manchester as a dancer herself she couldn’t believe just how many old dancing friends she bumped into once she returned to her hometown in Portsmouth. Maria said: ‘Having spent around 14 years of my life training at the Iris Barnes school of dance, it has a very special place in my heart, as does its teachers.’ An evening at The Stamshaw Angling Club was arranged to celebrate the reunion with the ex-pupils and some current dancers and share the memories of the dance school’s many years of dancing. The ex-pupil joined the dance school in 1983 at the tender age of 2 years old and was taught by Iris Barnes herself until the age of 8 years old. Maria added: ‘My lasting memory was of Karen Ainsley, my teacher along with her sister Bobbie Ainsley. ‘ I have been lucky enough to work continuously in the performing world including holiday parks, cruise ships and throughout Europe and I really owe most of those happy memories to my fabulous training at Iris Barnes school of dance. Maria said: ‘I am now teaching dance myself and fully appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes to be a dance teacher.’ ‘The reunion was great and so fantastic to see so many old friends back together again and sharing happy memories. For most that attended, their dance days were a big chunk of their childhood including mine.’ One former pupil and half of the X Factor duo ‘Same Difference’ Sean Smith 31 now a solo singer, was also at the reunion he said: ‘ I was not lucky enough to meet Iris Barnes herself but I can honestly say that I can give Karen Ainsley who took over the dance school 100% credit of who I am today’. He also thanked Auntie M ( Auntie Mavis ) who was Iris Barnes’s assistant and chaperone to The Kings Theatre and also present at the reunion by saying: ‘ She taught us the theatre etiquette which has helped shaped me in my professional career too.’ Auntie Mavis, Mavis Mackay 84, described Iris Barnes as: ‘Firm yet friendly.’ and said about the dance school that its strong points were building confidence and eradicating bullying. On the reunion itself, Mavis said: ‘It has been great remembering the good old days and seeing so many faces from the past.’ Current Iris Barnes proprietor Karen Ainsley, 44, based at Charles Dickens Centre, Lake Road said: ‘The thing that made being an Iris Barnes pupil so special was that you always had a sense of belonging. ‘It didn’t matter about your ability or disability you were part of this second family with such fantastic friendships.’ Karen continued: ‘This is still a very big part of the schools’ ethos today which I feel was evident at the reunion and one I still encourage. ‘Our slogan is: ‘Everyone deserves the chance to dance’, regardless of their ability or disability.’ The current Iris Barnes principal took over the dance school in 1991 after the sad passing of Iris Barnes in 1984 with a long career of dance teaching since 1948. She added: ‘It was great to see so many of the ex-pupils​ at the reunion and to hear that their happy times were always at Iris Barnes and the lasting memories and friendships forged by being part of the school.’ Another ex-pupil Rosey Mills, 41, Southsea, Portsmouth said about the chance to meet up with Iris Barnes’s ex-pupils: ‘ I absolutely loved it, It’s been a walk down memory lane.’ The Iris Barnes dance school is still going strong today and will shortly be adding to their curriculum by introducing acrobatic arts & contemporary dance. For further details of classes available contact Karen on 07940287861 http://www.irisbarnes.com

Starting school blues ….

It’s official my boy has a school place!
It’s official my son now has a big school place
I don’t feel happy, I’m wearing a sad face
I’m not really sure how I feel about this
To think he’ll be full time – this could be bliss?
This little man has filled me with joy
( ever since he was born, such a placid little boy)
For those who know him will understand my case
of sending this little dink in uniform along with his
chubby and happy little face!
For he has taught me lots of great things;
like to be fun, and strong and enjoy EVERYTHING !
I will miss this chappie more than he will know
Even though he is ready for this and will continue to grow
The days of chatting to him about many-a-thing
Will soon become more of a ‘holiday thing’
Doing activities together will be a rarity
( lessons and homework and school things for the ! )
Time with his brothers and time with me
Will be so sacred – ( but we will squeeze it in easily ! )
It will be sad missing the days so care-free
Also missing his teachers at his lovely nursery
As one son begins to start school and another’s end is near
School days go fst you know before you know it Summer’s here!
Time is precious and for that it’s clear ~
Hold your little ones closer before September is here !!!
PS Can we defer 4 year olds again !!!

By a Mother to five with her youngest about to start school !!

The Grinch who stole Christmas !

 

An alternative to a nativity was the intention for a local infant school.

Year Twos from College Park Infant school decided to present the Grinch that stole Christmas as this year’s performance.

The Grinch is a children’s story by Dr. Seuss and is written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author.

It follows the Grinch, a grouchy, solitary creature who attempts to put an end to Christmas by stealing Christmas-themed items from the homes of the nearby town Whoville on Christmas Eve.
.
Taylor   aged 6 3/4  ( I will send this over soon ) who played the Grinch said he was very nervous at first but after doing the performances he said: ‘I enjoyed it very much and I liked being painted with green face paint too.’

During the show, Taylor said the infamous Grinch lines: ‘Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas, perhaps means a little bit more.’

Miss Emma Bannister a year two teacher and the organiser of the show said: ‘We like to further develop the performance skills and singing ability of our children. We have high expectations and as such the children rise to them each year.’

‘We try to give the children a different experience in year two as year R and year one usually do a nativity play and by year two they work hard towards putting on a performance of a higher level.’

The teacher felt Grinch was a great alternative and was so much fun for all the children who took part she said they loved dressing up as the who’s characters and the sleepy who’s too.

click to see video here;

Oldest but not always wisest

Hello ,

I know it’s been a while but life has been on official whirlwind mode .

At the end of summer i enquired on a course , a course that i realised i’d shown an interest in for the last two years with news clippings saved in my very large ‘paper stash’  but obviously work commitments and baby rearing took presidence.

The course is a NCTJ in Journalism at a local college , Highbury and in partnership with the local daily paper also , The Portsmouth News.

After a brave email to the tutor i received a phone call from him whilst having a cuppa with a friend ( ladies who do lunch type a thingy !! )

As i’m being all ‘serious and interested’ she was making funny hand gestures and body language which had me starting to giggle so i explained to him that my friend was making me laugh like he knew who my friend was and where i was and what i was doing !!

After gaining composure in the verbal sense i was invited for an interview for the course.

The interview went well and the course sounded really great ; something right up my street and definitely a step in the right direction.

I got an email later that day that i had been offered a place , how exciting a new phase for me , something positive , something to aim towards and thus put me in a better position in the job market and ultimately doing something i WANT to do.

On starting the course there were two older types of students on the course but due to circumstances the other lady left , so it is official i am the oldest on my course.

I am proud of my age and all the experience the years have given me , i am young at heart and love the atmosphere and learning surrounded by the young ones , some the same age as my oldest son. ( or some that act it aka G-E-O-R-G-E !!!)

I buzz to get to college , for a long time i haven’t had this kind of feeling – completely feeling happy and at ease knowing that i have made a RIGHT decision for a change and love love love learning lot’s of new things ( even shorthand Pauline !! ) .

I am also looking forward to what the future holds , i love writing  i always have and seeing it published is quite an exciting thing when just a year ago my future looked so bleak ( or at least the way i viewed it was  )

One thing i’ve always known :’Todays News Is Tomorrows Fish N Chip Paper’

welcome back to ‘me’

keep reading !!!

Sophia xxx

Play On The Edge

love this xx

I never thought of being a goalkeeper, it just soo happened to be that I became one . i was a winger when i started playing football. Occasionally at the end of the training sessions, when we had a free game with no ‘keeper, where the deepest player acted as a goalkeeper, sometimes i went into goal because i wanted to see the difference between a player that was on the pitch & a player that was a goal keeper.

It all started when one day our goalkeeper wasn’t present in school  and we had a football match. We had no ‘keeper and somebody had to take up that position , but nobody really wanted to. So i volunteered to take the place . I said i would do it for only one match and we ended up having  a good game, making some cool saves. And that is how…

View original post 559 more words

Easter fun !!!

Well it’s the Easter holidays and so far they’ve seen two baby lambs be born at the same time , collect 57 small chocolate eggs in an Easter egg hunt and witness the post storm Kate aftermath ….

When i say they , i’m referring to my 2 , 5 & 6 year old sons ( my 14 year old assured me that teenagers DO NOT spend time with their Mothers unless they are going clothes shopping – designer of course !! )

In the exciting process i have continued to snap away with my passion for photography particularly in black and white and capturing memorable moments that will be so special to look back on when my son’s are older.

I’ve captured the laughter , the tears , the muddy puddles , the ice cream and chocolate sticky faces but most of all my beautiful sons in action , having fun and being totally frivalous !!

About

I am Sophia , A mother of 5 boys ….yes 5 boys hence the name to my blog !!!

My son’s are Rex 2 1/2 , Kit 5 , Beau 7 , Brent 14 & Michael 18 they are my life and i’m completely proud of who they are as each one brings their own individuality and specialness as you will duly find out in time !!

I am a single ( and currently unemployed ) parent to these boys , so as you can imagine life can be pretty hectic and there are usually some fun things happening in between all this craziness of which i hope to capture and share with you all.

This is something i have wanted to do for a long time as a lot of people comment on my life and the phrase i hear a lot is “i don’t know how you do it” so i suppose by setting up my own blog page will undoubtedly answer those many people.

Please bear with me as this is all new to me and sit down comfortably with a nice cuppa and enjoy ,

Sophia xxx

About

I am Sophia , A mother of 5 boys ….yes 5 boys hence the name to my blog !!!

My son’s are Rex 2 1/2 , Kit 5 , Beau 7 , Brent 14 & Michael 18 they are my life and i’m completely proud of who they are as each one brings their own individuality and specialness as you will duly find out in time !!

I am a single ( and currently unemployed ) parent to these boys , so as you can imagine life can be pretty hectic and there are usually some fun things happening in between all this craziness of which i hope to capture and share with you all.

This is something i have wanted to do for a long time as a lot of people comment on my life and the phrase i hear a lot is “i don’t know how you do it” so i suppose by setting up my own blog page will undoubtedly answer those many people.

Please bear with me as this is all new to me and sit down comfortably with a nice cuppa and enjoy ,

Sophia xxx

Mother oh Mother !!

So today I was given a cup of tea in bed by my 14 year old ( Mothers Day Treat don’t you know !! )

Some anaemic toast cooked by my 7 year old.

A snotty kiss from my five-year-old and 2 year old .

A couple of bunches of flowers , some Bath Bombs and a Polaroid camera.

Spent the morning watching football (as the dedicated Mother I am !! ) watched the other siblings get caked in mud and my son’s team won 3~1.

Watched a couple of easy watching films ; the diary of a wimpy kid & Home alone 2 whilst I , my ex and my 7 year old took a dose and the youngest ones trashed the living room as they do !!

The plan was to go for some nice restaurant food let’s hope the plan happens and the large glass of wine finally clears this blooming Mother of 5’s headache !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s official i have a headache !!

So it’s Saturday and i absolutely love weekends as i don’t have the boring school runs to contend with and can be slightly more relaxed about life …..however ,

living in a household full of boys they constantly want to play with a football banging it around so my fuzzy head get’s an even worse headache !!

Kit my 5 year old has been out for yes you’ve guessed it football training this morning but yet he still has the desire to kick a sphere around the living room , why oh why does football give so much joy ??

After 18 years of being a mother to my first son Michael you think by now i would know the answer and definitely after fully embracing everything football related ( bedrooms , kits, training sessions , haircuts , pierced ears – thanks Beckham !! )

well off for a hot shower to get rid of this pounding headache before the second half and extra time starts ……

PENALTY !!!