Hello darlings! Pink Tutu Sparkles here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing queen, ready to share my latest escapade. And what an escapade it's been! This weekend, my glittering journey led me to Twickenham, that charming town with a sporting soul (but we’ll talk about that later!), to spread the pink tutu love.
This is my 9398th post on www.pink-tutu.com and you know what they say, darling: "Practice makes perfect!" – well, I certainly practice a LOT of pink tutu wearing. This time, I thought I'd try a new twist. The London ballet company was doing a workshop at Twickenham, a little performance thing too. Now, if there’s anything that sets my heart aflutter faster than a twirling pink tutu, it’s a graceful ballerina! I just had to be there.
I decided to travel by train, my favourite way to get around, allowing me to sit and observe all the fascinating people whizzing by. Plus, you get so many glimpses of beautiful countryside scenery – something Derbyshire never has enough of, even with the stunning Peak District. This little excursion felt like a mini adventure, like something from a whimsical fairytale!
And it gets better. My new arrival in Twickenham was greeted by a delightful discovery – the quaint, perfectly-pink horse and cart, standing by the station, offering tours! Just as I was contemplating if I should jump aboard and twirl on the way to my destination, a voice piped up from the cobblestones. “Looking a bit lost, darling?" It was a delightful lady with a booming voice. I took a moment to catch my breath – here I was, in my bright pink tulle dress and feathered boa, in a historical setting! And suddenly, she’s chatting away!
“Never travelled on a horse-drawn carriage before, darling? Well, get on board, you look like a real princess.” She laughed. Now, you may know that even if I did look like a princess, my day job has me far from such fairy-tale situations. By day, Alex – the scientist - tests fabric at a research lab, just outside the charming, and very green, town of Belper, which you’ve probably heard of if you like a bit of good ol’ fashioned Peak District rambles. So I really did just look like a princess on this trip to Twickenham!
Back to the carriage. Well, the carriage and I went on quite the journey. A tour of the old town, just past the majestic stadium (they were playing rugby – I felt my head start bobbing, and nearly got swept away in a frenzy of sporting excitement! Thank goodness the lovely lady on the cart warned me in time!)
Anyway, to be honest, darling, you could put me on the front lawn of Buckingham Palace (which, by the way, has more than a few of its inhabitants sporting tutus - see you next time for my latest blog, dear ones!), and I would be swept away with delight – but when I’m put into an atmosphere of old buildings and traditional craft shops, I simply adore it!
The afternoon was magical. I wandered the town, taking in all the charm, sipping a delicately pink latte, stopping to chat with a kindly old gentleman about how long the station had been standing, and the fascinating story of its architectural features (oh dear, don’t let him get me started – he just had so much knowledge! ). All that to say – Twickenham town really was captivating – you felt you could take a step back in time!
Now for the performance, the reason for the pink tutu trip! I have to tell you, dear ones, this was more than just a little workshop and some small show. We had talented dancers on the stage, and for an afternoon I truly felt that I had left my real life in the hands of these incredible women (and they are mostly women – ballet seems to have this slightly mystical air to it. Or maybe that’s just the tutus?! ).
And oh, how much I enjoyed the afternoon, all the tutus swirling around me – I almost wanted to jump up onto the stage and take a spin or two! All my life, since that very first moment I dared to slip on a pink tutu during a university charity event, (who knew then that I’d end up turning this life into a career? Let me tell you – I was hooked as soon as that shimmering, soft, and surprisingly comfortable tutu touched my skin, and even the men in my class all thought it was great! ) – all my life, I've dreamt of living this way, this fabulous life. To spread pink tutu love. To share the magic of this enchanting garment and its magic touch.
We had our photo session together. (I’ll be posting these in our social media - be sure to look at pink-tutu.com to get that exclusive glimpse!). These workshops are becoming a favourite. They allow everyone who is involved to step outside of their routines. To experience ballet with all their senses, to truly feel the magic of the dance, all wrapped up in a pink-tutu fuelled adventure.
As the night wore on, it was time to make my way back home. As I stood on the station platform waiting for my train to Derbyshire, my mind swirled with the day’s adventures, all these different facets coming together into a truly unique experience, this Twickenham adventure. It wasn’t just the performance or the beautiful train journey, it was the community. That’s what I love about visiting new places. The new people, the connections, and yes, maybe a little twirl too, of course.
This is why I do it all – the trips, the blog, the outfits – the glitter and the sparkle and all of those fabulous details that are more than just details. Because even my trip to Twickenham was more than just a simple ballet event – it was a magical journey in itself. It was about the kindness of the carriage lady, the passionate conversations with a stranger, and even the way that my own bright pink tutu became a topic of conversation in a town known for sporting heroes.
As the Derbyshire hills swirled in the background, with all of the beauty that is our very special county, I was filled with the feeling that I was where I was supposed to be. On this little pink-tutu-wearing adventure, in the heart of the countryside, working to share the fun of being Pink Tutu Sparkles with the world. And, who knows what adventures we'll have next! Keep an eye on www.pink-tutu.com for more!
