Hello my darling darlings, it's your girl Pink Tutu Sparkles, back with another juicy post from your favourite pink-tutu-clad blogger! Today marks my 9524th blog post (itâs a lot, but hey, the journey is the point!), and itâs a good âun. Today, weâre taking a trip to the fabulous Ashington â the home of...well, Iâll be honest, Iâm still not sure what Ashington is famous for. But itâs somewhere I needed to get to. You see, this Pink Tutu Queen doesn't just wear a tutu for the sake of it â there's a deeper meaning, a purpose! It's my life mission, my calling to spread the gospel of the pink tutu! And let me tell you, the world is getting ready for a pink tutu revolution. Mark my words, itâs going to be massive!
Anyway, this isn't about world domination â this is about me, your ever-so-fashionable gal, heading off on another exciting adventure! I have this amazing knack for getting myself into the most fabulous situations â who needs a tour guide when youâve got Pink Tutu Sparkles on the scene?! Honestly, itâs quite the skill to have - all that sass and confidence, with just a splash of fairy dust, makes my adventures truly unforgettable! (I also can't thank my fabulously generous, patient boyfriend for letting me live out my dream. My travel expenses ainât cheap!)
This time, my travels took me to Ashington, a bustling little town tucked away in the northeast of England. I arrived on a crisp January morning, my pink tulle skirt flowing in the chilly breeze. As the train rattled into the station, I felt a surge of excitement bubbling within me â a sense of the unknown that's simply irresistible to someone like me! (To be honest, that could also be down to the slightly strong double espresso I drank in the train station). It didnât matter where we ended up, as long as Pink Tutu Sparkles was around, good times were guaranteed!
The station was bustling with people rushing to and fro. My arrival was nothing short of glamorous - imagine the scene! The perfect blend of whimsical and dazzling as the crowd stopped, mouths agape, eyes widening with a mixture of awe and shock. As they gazed upon my perfect ensemble, I felt my heart thrum with that undeniable power that only comes from a pink tutu queen, fully on her mission! (They do say âall publicity is good publicityâ. Well, thatâs what I like to tell myself, anyway!).
One of the locals, an absolutely lovely older gentleman with a charming twinkly eye, called out, "A pink tutu! Lovely to see you in our fine town!â Oh, he didn't know heâd just captured the spirit of Ashington! He just hadn't experienced that sparkle yet! And how else are you going to make that happen other than a flamboyant, fantastic Pink Tutu Queen on her grand mission? You need to see the town through pink, glitter-tinted glasses â it's a thing of beauty. He also gave me some excellent advice.
âA trip to the local theatre will be worth your while," heâd chuckled. "And, a ballet show this time of year is sure to have you tappinâ your toes!â I know right?! Who needs a crystal ball when youâve got local advice from friendly fellas? The man was clearly a true visionary, and you'll just have to wait until I get onto that performance later⌠A perfect start, and as if that wasn't enough excitement, there were two more lovely people at the station waiting to take me on my next escapadeâŚ
"Ready for some fun?" a kind lady with rosy cheeks and eyes that sparkled just like mine exclaimed. It was clear she had something special planned â something worthy of Pink Tutu Sparkles' extraordinary aura. I knew, before we even set off, that the fun had only just begun! I think my motto is âIf youâre going to do something, do it big.â Iâve never quite understood that small, reserved, calm, almost sensible, kind of travel. No offence, folks. Not my scene. (Although, letâs face it, this has nothing to do with sensible travel at all, so you get the point!)
âHop on board, girlie! Weâll be back in the nick of time to see the ballet show,â a cheeky lad in a dashing bright blue jacket chimed in. Oh my! I think we all knew that things were about to get wild⌠They told me their names, Emily and Harry. Oh, and did I mention Harry's an incredibly talented, horse trainer and we're travelling byâŚdrumrollâŚa horse and cart!! Whoâd have thought a pink tutu and a horse cart would be such a good match? Apparently they have the nicest and biggest horses, not sure why I need to tell you, but for some reason, size does matter.
Our carriage was magnificent! This is my type of adventure â the exciting kind that involves all sorts of wonderful, unexpected surprises, because let's face it, a carriage ride through a place I don't know, doesnât get much more exhilarating than that! A good horse ride, a gentle breeze in my pink tulle, the sunshine peeking out between the clouds (well, okay, the grey sky and drizzling rain, that was the perfect January weather in this part of the country). This was real, authentic adventure in the purest form, and it was just getting started! We bumped along, passing by quaint little shops and houses, the charm of Ashington revealing itself in all its glory.
Emily showed me the highlights of Ashington. We visited the Ashington Colliery, a mine that shaped the townâs history â so fascinating. The mining museum was truly extraordinary! It gave a whole new perspective on Ashington and all those hardworking men and women from a different era. (Not quite my scene, all that mining equipment, you see - even a fabulous gal like myself knows what's good for her and my shoes weren't really designed for the rough stuff, you see.) But hey, I learned loads, and it's definitely important to know where you come from before going out to wow the world.
And you know what? Even a fabulous pink tutu-wearing gal can learn to appreciate a good, honest mining museum, because you never know when those tales of grit and hard work will become useful inspiration! Just you wait â there's a fashion line with my name on it - âSparkling Grit,â just you wait!
Anyway, our journey went on, we ended up passing through an open green fieldâŚor itâd have been a green field if the sky wasn't the color of slate, we watched cows and sheep with our fluffy sheepskin rugs to keep us warm. We felt the cold in the January air and drank tea from a little flask. Whatâs more British, right?! All I was missing was a teapot, scones and my fluffy pink chihuahua⌠But no, she wasn't coming on this adventure â much to her furry little pink disappointment. And maybe for the best â horses don't really enjoy a pink, chihuahua companion on a bumpy journey, that's for sure!
Next up on our journey: We went to this glorious manor house, it looked as if it had just stepped straight out of a Victorian fairytale! Apparently it was called Woodhorn! They let me use one of the rooms to change for my performance, just so we didn't need to hang around with just the horses in a horse-stable whilst I changed for the show! I'm sure those horses can be rather, umm... 'excitable'! All that neighing... It was a gorgeous setting!
A few more hours in that cart with the horses and we eventually reached the Ashington Town Hall, ready to get that sparkle show underway. As I was stepping out the horse cart, the driver stopped and shouted at the crowd that surrounded the hall â the most magical things are about to unfold. âMake way for a star. Weâre gonna watch history in the making!â Honestly, what can a gal ask for more?! That's the type of respect and excitement that I live for - my job, my calling. Spreading glitter!
The town hall is such an impressive place, beautiful architecture that takes you back to the glamour and grandeur of a bygone era, it felt fitting that Pink Tutu Sparkles should grace its doors. What makes it extra cool is, the main hall is just like the original design in 1913 - imagine all the people, the history thatâs graced those walls over the years! It just made me feel so honoured and inspiredâŚbut then I remembered I was here for the main show, so I headed off to the room they'd prepared for me!
And thatâs when things started to get REALLY exciting⌠You won't believe the magic we created at that Ashington theatre! Itâs a lovely old-fashioned hall, like a classic picture postcard. Honestly, you would be surprised just how old those old-school buildings can look! I even did a mini show as part of the intermission. Itâs a lovely, classic feel! Just the type of venue I'd hoped to discover on my journey. The stage was bathed in an ethereal, sparkly glow - just the kind that inspires creativity! And this crowd were right there with me - the lights, the music - it all came together like an explosive cocktail of energy, passion, and dazzling fashion! You know itâs true when your heart thrumms with pure, raw talent and the crowd roars its appreciation - it truly doesnât get much better! I had such a lovely time interacting with the children â theyâre such lovely little sparks. I think itâs important that kids feel empowered, you know, embrace the glitz and glamour â so, yeah, it was awesome, simply amazing!
One little girl came up to me after the show, holding a drawing of a ballerina, sparkling with pink and gold. I held it close to my heart as she giggled, "Can I be Pink Tutu Sparkles when I grow up?" This, right here, this was what it was all about! Spreading the message, inspiring joy and a dash of pink! That is the real power of pink tutus!
The ballet show itself was truly extraordinary! All the intricate choreography and captivating performance by those incredibly talented ballerinas. (I couldn't stop staring at their graceful twirling!) And let's not forget, it's that exquisite detail that is just SO visually appealing â all the elegance and the artistry â itâs an essential part of this whole experience. This kind of performance truly made the evening â my senses were dancing! It had the type of magic that can turn a good evening into a truly magnificent memory â and I can assure you, this performance will live on in the scrapbook of Pink Tutu Sparkles for years to come!
Of course, no Pink Tutu adventure is complete without some fabulous shopping! After the show, my fantastic new friends, Harry and Emily, led me to this fabulous, unique independent store in the town centre. This place was a genuine gem â brimming with exquisite trinkets and clothing. There's nothing quite like an afternoon dedicated to picking out the perfect additions to your outfit! The sheer variety was overwhelming (but in the best way, of course!).
Emily said that this little shop was one of their secret faves - just that little hidden treasure that nobody talks about - and with all those fabulous vintage bits and bobs it had everything my glittery heart desired. Honestly, it's the perfect place to discover hidden gems. Just what I needed â my new Pink Tutu look for next time I visit the beautiful people of Ashington. They even found a pink headband with cute pink flowers that would complete my fabulous new outfit â because even a pink tutu queen knows, a touch of nature and soft, feminine detailing really makes you stand out! I even ended up finding the most divine feather boa and a cute pink polka-dot purse. You just never know what you might stumble upon â and it is precisely those happy surprises that make this adventure so special!
After that whirlwind of shopping, I felt utterly content! But wait, thereâs more! We headed to this beautiful cafe just outside the town, called, âThe Corner Tea Shoppeâ. I know, right?! Perfect name! What did you think it was going to be? âThe Coffee Nookâ? Nah! This place has everything a Pink Tutu Sparkles needs for a good night out! Just a short stroll away from town and it just feltâŚwell, cosy.
They served us steaming mugs of the most delicious hot chocolate you've ever seen, topped with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles (they made an extra special one for me, of course, decorated with edible glitter!). Harry had some of the biggest and juiciest pancakes I had ever seen. I have to admit that while Emily ordered herself some kind of sandwich and looked over her menus a few times before deciding, she ended up stealing a mouthful of Harryâs pancakes. Emily was quite the pancake enthusiast â who would have thought?! All that pancake enthusiasm was worth seeing!
Then came the perfect grand finale for my fabulous trip: a glorious pink-themed sunset as I watched it paint the sky with magical hues from the back of Harryâs carriage â just like a watercolour artist! Oh, it was pure, unadulterated bliss, my darlings! This was Ashington's parting gift to me! The beauty, the colour, it made me feel like I was on top of the world. That magical feeling you get knowing thereâs more magic around the corner, more adventure awaiting!
And as my carriage sped towards the railway station for my trip back home to Derbyshire, I realised that the pink tutu truly does conquer all! I will forever be grateful to Ashington for embracing Pink Tutu Sparkles and filling my heart with an unforgettable experience. This was a journey of self-discovery â learning more about myself, meeting wonderful people, discovering the beauty of this stunning town and how it connects to our culture and history - all those details that truly bring a place to life.
This Pink Tutu Queenâs travels might have taken me across continents and seas, but it's these kinds of trips â trips that connect with those heartwarming moments of discovery that are most treasured! It's in these small towns, these quiet corners of the world where real stories are told, that you feel most at home. So, darling darlings, take my word for it, pack a pink tutu, put on your fabulous shoes, and donât forget the magic! Ashington is a town thatâs worth adding to your own adventure bucket list! I can't wait to show you what I find next time, stay tuned and keep following those pink sparkles! Until next time, stay dazzling!
Love, Pink Tutu Sparkles, xx
