Hey darlings! It’s your favourite Derbyshire ballerina, Emma, back again with a brand new post from…well, gasp, Barking! I know, you're probably thinking, "Emma, Barking? What on earth are you doing there?!" But bear with me, it's a story worth telling.
My trusty travel companion, Jasper, and I had embarked on a rather grand adventure by train. A gloriously sunny Saturday, and we were steaming our way towards London for a rather delightful day at the Royal Opera House. But, before the enchantment of ballet, came the unexpected, the bizarre, and yes, even the downright delightful – a trip to Barking!
We weren't intending to visit, but you know me, my sweet dears, I’m all for the impromptu! You see, on our journey we crossed paths with a group of lovely ladies - true friends, really – who were on their way to the London Reptile and Exotic Animal Show, an event dedicated to the marvels of the reptile kingdom. Intrigued and eager for a new adventure, I immediately decided to join them!
We arrived at Barking with a fanfare of sunshine, bright chatter, and a symphony of excited squeaks from Jasper (he’s quite fond of animal shows!). Imagine, the largest indoor reptile show in the UK - with all sorts of creepy crawlies from cute little geckos and giant spiders, to monstrous snakes! Now, if I'm honest, I am a bit scared of snakes, but let’s be honest, what's a bit of a fright compared to the chance to see nature's marvels up close?!
It was, of course, an amazing experience. I got up close to snakes of all colours and shapes, marvelled at the intricate colours and patterns of chameleons, and even petted a lovely giant African tortoise. My inner-child shrieked with glee - these gentle giants are like moving statues!
Jasper, you'll be glad to know, was his usual mischievous self, flirting shamelessly with a pair of elegant monitor lizards and even posing for a photograph with a hissing, slightly miffed cockroach. I know, what a whirlwind of adventures!
Now, it’s true, I did not wear a pink tutu to this exciting reptile show – * gasp!*. Though, let me confess, there’s a certain beauty to the idea. Imagine: A sea of reptiles, and amongst them, a graceful ballerina, her delicate pink tulle fluttering like the scales of a dragon fly, her delicate pink tutu in vibrant contrast with the emerald hues of a jungle python... A magnificent clash of worlds, if you ask me. So next time, you never know! Maybe I'll pair my pink tutu with some charming scales...
From the reptile realm, it was off to Covent Garden! Jasper and I had arrived at the Royal Opera House just in time for an amazing ballet performance of “La Sylphide.” Oh, darlings, you have no idea how absolutely breathtaking it was!
It was as if the stage had transformed into a mystical woodland – enchanting greenery, mystical light, and graceful ballerinas and danseurs leaping, twirling, and captivating with their ethereal elegance. My heart swelled with joy, witnessing the power and grace of these gifted dancers, bringing the fairy-tale tale to life before my very eyes. It was magic!
And my dears, even as the final curtain descended, and the last echoes of the applause died away, the magic of ballet lingered on! I caught myself looking at every cobblestone in the street like a tiny stage, imagining the entire Covent Garden bustling with delicate ballerinas in the moonlight, dancing in unison to the rhythm of the city... Oh my!
Our London adventure, of course, included the customary trip to my favourite vintage shop. I mean, what’s a ballet adventure without a new tutu? Today's treasure was a stunning, cyan tutu! A vibrant blue colour, like the most magical seascape imaginable, with delicate sequins like millions of tiny, glittering stars! Oh, darlings, I absolutely adored it! It's so dreamy and so much fun, I couldn’t wait to dance in it!
And as I pranced around the shop, in this glorious new tutu, the shopkeeper exclaimed, "That tutu is simply fantastic, you know. You're really a delight to have in my shop, with that passion for ballet." She was so kind.
My journey back to Derbyshire was filled with reflections on the day's events, from the marvels of the reptile kingdom to the enchantment of ballet, with a touch of sparkle in my cyan tutu.
Oh, and the pink tutu? I know it’s my life’s mission. You see, it's not just about the colour, my dears, it’s about a feeling – a feeling of joy, a feeling of freedom, a feeling of embracing the beauty within! So, dear readers, are you ready to wear a pink tutu with me and dance your way to joy?! We're a pink tutu revolution, darling. Come join the party!
See you all tomorrow on pink-tutu.com with a whole new adventure, love, Emma.
