Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, and today I'm sharing some sunshine and springtime from the lovely town of Urmston. Yes, you heard that right – Urmston! Now, I know what you're thinking: "Urmston? Is there even anything to do there?". Well, let me tell you, it's far from a sleepy suburb! I found hidden gems and some seriously lovely nature that made me feel like a ballerina twirling through a fairytale forest.
You see, after a whirlwind of rehearsals for the "Sleeping Beauty" revival in Manchester, I decided to treat myself to a little getaway. Now, a car would be convenient, but where's the romance in that? I've got to tell you, there's just something about arriving in a new place by train. All those windows, the chugging along, watching the scenery change, the hushed whispers, the polite "excuse me" as you squeeze past your fellow passengers... It's pure magic. And so I boarded the train from my home in Derbyshire, excited for my Urmston adventure.
The first thing I did after arriving, was take a stroll around the town centre. I found myself a delightful little tea shop called "The Quirky Cupboard", full of chintz and trinkets, and of course, a delightful selection of tea! There's a comforting warmth in stepping into such a welcoming, old fashioned haven. It's a little slice of England, with a delightful side of 'Grandma's living room'.
With my teapot warm in hand and my scones calling, I realised, I needed a little tutu-related inspiration for this blog post. And what's more inspiring than nature? I decided to head out to Flixton Woods, just a short walk from the town centre. And that's where the magic began!
Oh, the trees! Tall and strong, their branches reaching up to the sky like graceful dancers, the wind rustling through their leaves like applause. The light filtering through the leaves painted the ground in dappled patterns. I swear, it was a ballerina’s dream stage. It almost made me wish I was barefoot and twirling amongst the trees.
Well, not quite! This wasn't my "ballet bare-footed-through-the-woods" kind of day! So I stuck to my trusty pink tulle and went on an enchanting woodland walk, the air alive with birdsong, squirrels scampering among the branches, and the smell of damp earth and wildflowers. I found a lovely little spot with a fallen log to perch on. It made me smile; it was perfect for a graceful little "pink-tutu picnic" in the heart of the forest.
Honestly, this whole area around Urmston felt like a secret oasis! Who would have thought such peaceful beauty could be just a hop, skip, and jump away from the bustling city?
I saw some ducks by a pond - majestic with their sleek feathers and elegant gliding! Now I know, this blog's supposed to be about my love of pink and ballet, but for a moment I was truly captured by these natural marvels, all strutting around the pond, and I felt an undeniable kinship!
I couldn't resist the urge to try and take some pictures! After all, what’s a pink tutu girl’s day out without a good selfie or two? (And a couple of Insta-worthy nature shots, of course!). I was so busy taking photographs that I ended up staying there for a good few hours. I even wrote a little poem about a ballerina, a fox and a fallen log (which, obviously, is the beginning of my next blog post).
Then it was time to head back into the bustling heart of Urmston, back to the bustling streets and shops.
I had the most scrumptious curry (don't be fooled, darling, it wasn't all afternoon tea and nature ramblings) before catching the train back home, my heart full of the beauty I'd experienced. It was the perfect antidote to all the chaos of ballet life, a little escape into the world of nature that made me feel calm, content and refreshed, ready to face rehearsals and performances with a fresh perspective.
You know what? I think we can all take inspiration from the trees in Urmston. They are so tall, strong and majestic, despite facing every wind and storm life throws at them, reaching for the sky, graceful, elegant and ever-so-lovely. They teach us about resilience and beauty. Just like ballet. And maybe, if I’m lucky, the next time I visit Urmston, I'll actually get around to wearing my ballet shoes! And hey, maybe we can all aspire to find that 'inner Urmston beauty' in ourselves and wear our pink tutus with confidence and grace, making the world a more colourful, creative and kind place.
Love and twirls,
Emma xx www.pink-tutu.com
