Hello, darlings! It's Emma here, and guess what? I'm in Fleet, Hampshire! Now, I know what you're thinking ā "Fleet? Emma, why are you in Fleet? It doesn't sound very glamorous."
Oh, my lovelies, you'd be surprised. Itās charming. You know, quaint little shops with vintage teacups, a library brimming with dusty tomes (my inner bookworm squeals with delight!), and a pub with the most adorable name ā the āCock & Magpie.ā
But, Fleet holds a secret treasure for this little pink-tutu-wearing ballerina. Itās home to a magical, whimsical ballet school called "The Dance Academy." Now, Iāve seen some fabulous schools in my travels (Edinburghās Dance Base was pretty divine!), but this one, oh this one, is something else.
Imagine a Victorian-era building adorned with fairy lights, and inside, the smell of freshly polished wooden floors mingled with the sweetest scent of jasmine from a tiny courtyard. Oh, it's a fairytale! And as soon as I stepped inside, my feet were tingling.
Today was all about āFood Tutu.ā Yes, you heard me right! The headmistress, the darling Miss Prim, has a delightful scheme to bring a little extra fun and movement to the class. Weāre incorporating food-related movements. Can you picture it, dears? "Cider with Rosie" movements! Flourishing āballet-esqueā bread making! Whimsical cheese wheel dances! I even wore a Tutu I had created inspired by a delicious strawberry cake (you can find the picture on my Instagram, dear friends! š ) It was an absolute delight, the other ballerinas were giggling the whole time, and you should have seen our "churning butter" sequence!
I am so utterly thrilled to be surrounded by such inspiring dancers, the beautiful ballet community feels like a lovely hug from the inside.
Ballet Breaks & More
Speaking of delicious things, my adventure didn't end with the ballet class. This lovely little town had a scrumptious treat for my tastebuds. The "Sweet Surrender" tea shop! Oh, my dears, it's the most charming place you could imagine. Everything's painted a lovely pink and the teacups have little swans on them. You haven't tasted a slice of Victoria sponge until you've tried theirs, I tell you!
This town is just bubbling with inspiration! And my mind is bursting with ideas! Iāve already written several blog entries in my notebook about this delightful day! Itās an amazing inspiration for āThe Pink Tutuā ballet school ā something my sister and I have been thinking about setting up, using my grandadās beautiful garden as the perfect place. Just imagine, dear reader, ballet in the rose garden! giggles
But speaking of ballet, did you hear the news? The Royal Ballet are touring, with "Swan Lake," of course! My heart fluttered with anticipation when I heard this. The swan-like graceful movements of the dancers are a joy to watch. Do you ever wish we had a theatre here, a big beautiful space where you could watch the magical unfolding stories of the world through the elegance of dance? The whole experience from the smell of the theatre, to the twinkling lights on the ceiling ā it makes you feel truly magical!
Anyway, enough dreaming. Itās getting dark and time to head back to my sweet hotel room in a tiny, ancient village a little outside of Fleet. The managerās name is Mary and she is an absolute delight! Such a good sense of humour ā reminded me of the kind of laughter you hear in pantomimes with a twinkle in her eye.
And, yes, the room is charming, all frills and floral prints! Itās like a dollās house, complete with fluffy pink towels! Now, isn't that perfect? squeals with delight
Pinks, Horses & Travel
Talking of fluffy towels and frills, did you see that stunning dress I bought? The most adorable pink lace with a hint of lavender, it practically dances when you walk in it. Iām already dreaming of a photo shoot. I found the most beautiful little meadow near Fleet, brimming with wild daisies. You could almost imagine fairies dancing there. Itās the perfect backdrop for my next "Pink Tutu" photoshoot! I must take a lovely stroll tomorrow in my brand new outfit, snapping pictures of course. Iām feeling incredibly inspired. Perhaps Iāll use this gorgeous countryside for an entire new photo shoot, embracing the beauty of rural life and dance!
And I do have another grand plan! You know how I adore horses. Itās like the ballet dancers, beautiful animals who move so gracefully and take flight! squeals And well, Fleetās also home to some magnificent horse stables, called āFleet Riding School.ā Do you want to hear a little secret? They even have a āPink Tutuā day every Wednesday where all the riders can dress up in their most extravagant pink tutus! Oh, my darling readers, isn't that simply divine? I might even join them next Wednesday. Just imagine ā ballet steps and graceful galloping on the green fields, my heart skips a beat! Perhaps I should plan a mini āhorse-themedā āPink Tutuā photo shoot, that's a definite idea for a future blog entry, wouldn't it be lovely?
It's already evening here in Fleet. The birds have stopped their afternoon chatter, and the air has that crisp feel of a beautiful Autumnal night. It's almost time to indulge in a cup of lavender tea and prepare for a good night's sleep. But before I go, let me leave you with a little challenge, my loves! Do try out the āFood Tutu" at your next ballet class ā youāll have a laugh! And donāt forget, let's get the world twirling! Everyone deserves to feel like they're wearing a Pink Tutu! beams
Love and pink-tutu kisses, Emma xxx
