Hey darlings! Emma here, reporting live from sunny (well, mostly sunny!) Shenley Brook End! It's me, your favourite tutu-loving, pink-obsessed, ballet-mad blogger! Today is Post #3599 on my little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com. If you're new, welcome! And if you're an old friend, well, you know the drill. š
This week, I traded my usual Derbyshire countryside for a train journey to this little gem of a town. The countryside whizzing past my window is always so inspiring, and you canāt beat a train journey for people-watching. (Did you know, that the person I was sitting opposite was reading a book about Russian history?! So intrigued! Maybe I should read it myself. If I wasnāt so obsessed with balletā¦.) But, alas, this journey wasn't for sightseeing alone. I'm a huge fan of the ballet, and youāll never believe who was performing here: the Shenley Brook End Ballet Company! It felt a little like a secret gem - tucked away in this quiet town. They have an absolutely stunning theater, with so much Victorian charm and exquisite detail - it almost felt like a real-life storybook.
And how about the ballet itself? Oh, the grace! Oh, the talent! The sheer power of every pirouette and jetĆ© left me completely spellbound. The final scene - where they did a series of breathtaking, soaring grand jetĆ©s across the stage? I practically cried tears of joy. If I hadn't been worried about looking a complete mess with all the tears and my face full of mascara, I would've! Oh, it was absolutely sublime. My heart is still fluttering with excitement and inspiration. Maybe I should make this trip a yearly ritual? Hmmā¦
Before heading to the show, I popped into one of the most quaint little vintage shops I've ever seen - imagine the inside of an antique jewellery box and you've got the picture. A tiny but absolutely jam-packed wonderland! Itās fair to say I emerged clutching a magnificent piece of vintage costume jewellery ā a pearl necklace that just screamed āballerina!ā
Speaking of balletā¦ This wouldn't be a true Emma-style blog post without a little tutu action! This time, I felt drawn to a more dramatic look, so I donned my gorgeous purple tutu for the day. Imagine a ballerina dancing under the lilac glow of twilight, surrounded by fireflies and butterflies, thatās the feeling this tutu evokes. You've just got to admit, it's hard to resist a little splash of purple when it makes you feel this good. (And besides, everyone needs a purple tutu in their lives, am I right?)
But wait, thereās more! Shenley Brook End isn't just a hub for culture; itās also home to the most stunning wildlife sanctuary. As soon as I saw those magnificent red kites circling overhead, I was practically bursting with excitement! Watching them soar over the ancient woodland was truly mesmerising. And the deer - so elegant, so majestic, I couldāve spent hours watching them graze! Itās little wonder I came back with hundreds of photos (though honestly, my camera couldnāt possibly do them justice - the place itself was picture-perfect, full of a serene beauty that you just canāt capture on film).
My stay here was pretty idyllic. And while the temptation to head home on horseback, was very real (just imagine, galloping through the country fields on a gorgeous horse!) I decided to return on the train, and enjoy those beautiful landscapes one more time. The rolling hills, the charming countryside cottages, all swathed in the golden hues of the setting sunā¦ Itās all a bit too lovely! I really should consider getting my horse riding licence - perhaps I'll use my savings from that ballet book.
Right, my dear readers, this has to be one of the most magical places Iāve ever visited - just as enchanting and whimsical as the stories I grew up with. This place definitely deserves its name: Brook End. For a place of such serene beauty, of art, of wildlife, and magicā¦well, it certainly felt like the very end of a perfect adventure.
But that's not all. This is Emmaās Pink-Tutu world - the world where every day is an adventure and everyone is a potential ballerina. Now, Iām off to plan my next adventure (hopefully involving more ballet and maybe a little pink!) What are you up to today, lovely readers? And remember: put on your best smile and try a little pirouetteā¦ maybe even in a pink tutu, if youāre feeling bold! ššø
