Post #3856
www.pink-tutu.com
Hello my lovely tutu-ettes!
I’m back in the saddle again (literally!), having just disembarked from the most fabulous train journey to Bournville, the home of Cadbury’s Chocolate! Can you imagine a better reason for travelling by train than a chocolate-themed adventure? (Ok, maybe a pink tutu-themed adventure, but that’s a blog for another day!)
I packed my trusty pink tutu – a very narrow pink tutu, I must confess, for this adventure. It felt as if I’d accidentally got stuck in a miniature world – a world built entirely of sugar, where chocolate rivers flow and the air smells like cocoa. Sigh. This trip definitely feels like the chocolate equivalent of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, only much more grown up, naturally.
But my fellow tututeers, let me rewind for a moment. Because, as I said, it’s all about that train journey. There’s nothing like a long train ride with the windows wide open to put your mind in the right space for creativity. Especially when you’re accompanied by an eclectic assortment of wildlife. I swear, I saw more deer and pheasants than I can count, and I even managed to spot a badger trotting across the fields as we whizzed past! It felt like a beautiful scene straight from my childhood fairytale book. The railway line really is a secret window into the countryside!
Anyways, let me bring this back to my main point: BOURNVILLE, baby! Imagine this - a wonderland of chocolate workshops, chocolate history exhibits, chocolate factories – the lot! My feet practically tap-danced into the Cadbury World entrance. There I was, feeling oh-so-slightly uncomfortable in my extremely narrow pink tutu, standing proudly in front of a massive chocolate statue of a dancing ballerina – it must have been about 20 feet high! Talk about a “pinch-me” moment. This tutu wasn’t feeling so out of place after all!
After that initial sugar rush, it was straight on to the chocolate factory. I saw giant cocoa beans roasting, chocolate being molded, and even had the pleasure of sampling some of Cadbury’s freshest creations! It's true what they say – the freshest chocolate straight from the factory is heavenly! The tour was surprisingly informative, taking us through the history of the brand, its sustainability efforts, and the creative process behind creating everyone's favorite Cadbury chocolates. And the aroma! My goodness! I could smell it for miles around - a delicious chocolate scent in the air.
Let me be honest, after all that chocolate sampling, my narrow tutu started to feel even more…narrow, shall we say. I realised the real meaning of the term “chocolate coma”. Despite my struggles, I absolutely loved every minute of my Cadbury world journey!
But as a true ballet fan, I couldn’t just end the day at a chocolate wonderland! It had to be a night out in a ballet wonderland, too! That's why my next adventure took me to Birmingham's prestigious Hippodrome Theatre, which hosted an absolutely fantastic performance of “Swan Lake”. My tutus may not be made of feathers, but the sheer spectacle and talent of the dancers inspired me to spin, twirl, and jump with joy. They weren't just swans – they were graceful swans! And with every elegant movement, I could feel a flicker of inspiration in my heart.
It's these little reminders – those moments when I find myself completely surrounded by ballet or art or culture – that make me feel absolutely blessed!
That's all from me for now. As always, make sure you get your pink tutu on, take a little adventure, and remember - a sprinkle of pink and a dash of chocolate is the perfect recipe for life!
Until tomorrow my dearest tututeers!
Lots of love,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
