Darlings!
It's Emma here, reporting live from Merthyr Tudful! Can you believe it? I've traded the rolling hills of Derbyshire for the industrial heartland of Wales. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the change of scenery. The air here is a little crisp, a little colder than my usual climate, but there's a real charm to this town. It's not all rolling hills and sheep here in Merthyr, you know. The steelworks here are iconic, and they hum with a powerful, vibrant energy that gets me excited.
Now, I'm not just here to admire the architecture. I'm here for ballet! I stumbled upon the most wonderful ballet school just a stone's throw from the town centre. The place was bustling with children in adorable leotards and, of course, the cutest pink tutus. Seeing those little ballerinas twirling and leaping filled my heart with pure joy. I actually burst into the school, much to the amusement of the teacher, and confessed I couldn't resist popping in for a cheeky peek! She's a lovely woman, very welcoming and even let me try a little pirouette, a relevé, a grand jeté.. my legs weren't quite as limber as they used to be after a long journey, but hey, who needs pliés when you have the thrill of a new adventure?
But before we get to that grand jeté, let's rewind a little. The journey was truly epic. Instead of taking a train like a normal, sensible person, I opted for a horseback ride across the Brecon Beacons. Yes, you heard me right! Imagine the scene, if you will, me, with my fabulous pink tulle tutu, perched precariously atop a magnificent black steed, the wind whipping my hair into a delightful frenzy! It felt like something out of a storybook. And it was, until the saddle started creaking a little too loudly for comfort, but we soldiered on. I mean, it wouldn't be a real Emma adventure without a little bit of danger and excitement, would it?
Let me tell you, this whole experience made my Tutu travel blog more glamorous than a Victoria's Secret show (which I am totally obsessed with by the way!) As I rode across the wild landscapes, my imagination ran wild. Every sheep, every rolling hill, even those curious sheep dogs (yes, they actually wear hats!) seemed to be saying: “Emma, you are living your best life, dear!”
So, back to my ballet class. The girls here are incredibly talented and the teacher, a vibrant and energetic woman named Megan, gave me the most amazing little solo, a beautiful piece set to Debussy. My tutu was getting a little stiff by now, a bit crumpled from the saddle adventure. However, a quick brush of my magical little tutu dust brought it back to life, and I managed to twirl and jump with enough grace for the girls to compliment me after the class!
Speaking of the tutu, darling, you know this stiff, perfectly pink creation is a statement, not just a garment, right? It embodies the whole “Pink-Tutu” spirit of living life to the fullest, with grace, passion, and a whole lot of fun! Just imagine how amazing a whole town would look, everyone wearing pink tutus, all the women and men, kids, grandparents – everyone, united in a ballet of joy! The very thought of it sends a wave of pure happiness coursing through my being.
Merthyr Tudful has a real community spirit, you know, which reminds me of home in Derbyshire. But this place has this hard-working, no-nonsense vibe to it. That steelworks, I keep mentioning it, but that industrial powerhouse that breathes down your neck - it adds a kind of grit, a passion for getting things done, that is simply captivating.
Anyway, I wouldn't want to end this post without indulging in the famous local delicacies! The lamb here, the Welsh cakes, oh, don't even get me started on the Welsh Rarebit – so comforting and delicious! (And very low calorie, as I've discovered by mistake).
I'll be heading out to watch a street theatre performance tomorrow - I hear there’s a street performance group who will be performing a ballet piece!
To be continued…
Don't forget, darlings, if you haven’t joined the Pink Tutu revolution, join the fun! Embrace the dance of life! Follow my travels at www.pink-tutu.com – And do tag me in your pink tutu photos on Instagram! Until next time, darlings!
