Hello, darlings! It's your favourite pink-loving ballerina, Emma, reporting live from the enchanting city of Nottingham! 🩰 This weekend has been absolutely magical, and I'm practically bursting at the seams with excitement to tell you all about it!
As you know, I adore exploring the UK, and there's no better way to travel than by train. This time, though, I took a trip back to my roots - Derbyshire! My darling grandma had a hankering for a visit, so I surprised her with a weekend stay in Nottingham, my childhood haunt.
Speaking of childhood, wouldn't you know it, Nottingham is where my love affair with ballet first began! My little six-year-old self was completely mesmerized by a performance of Swan Lake at the Royal Concert Hall. From that moment on, it was a life sentence of pink tutus and pirouettes.
Of course, I had to make a pilgrimage back to the Royal Concert Hall during this trip! Imagine my joy when I found out the National Ballet was performing there this very weekend! Oh, the excitement was enough to send me spinning in circles - even if I was sporting a fabulously pink, slightly worn, and totally random tutu.
Let me tell you, it was a spectacular performance! The sheer athleticism of the dancers, the story woven through every step, and the pure beauty of it all – my heart practically exploded with joy. I think I've mentioned it before, but I simply adore how ballet manages to weave together drama, athleticism, and artistry. It’s almost like a perfectly choreographed dream, and the Royal Concert Hall just enhanced the experience. They really should put ballet on prescription, it's just so good for the soul.
Onward to The Arboretum and the 'Fabulous' Beasts!
After the breathtaking performance, Grandma and I had a delightful wander around the Arboretum, just around the corner from the concert hall. We discovered the cutest little café nestled amongst the trees. We had the most delicious afternoon tea with warm, gooey scones and the perfect pot of tea. A very English experience, don't you think?
The highlight of our afternoon was spotting a fox cub snoozing near the duck pond. It was so unbelievably adorable – just curled up and fluffy! Grandma, ever the sentimental type, kept going on about the “cute little critter” and how “we’ve got to protect our wildlife!” She even had a quick word with the nearby swan who looked rather surprised to have an unexpected, albeit friendly, conversation with a Derbyshire Grandma. I'm sure we gave them both a fright!
Dress-Up Fun with Grandma!
On our last day in Nottingham, Grandma insisted I bring out my very special Tutu! She said, "It's your blog post, you must get those followers hooked!" You can imagine my glee, and Grandma's was pretty contagious, too.
We twirled around in the hotel corridor, Grandma sporting a pink silk scarf as her makeshift tutu. You wouldn't believe it, but she's a natural! Turns out the woman has secret dreams of pirouetting on stage!
That’s where I realised why my grandmother, and actually all grandmothers, are my idols! Their youthful hearts are still so lively! And if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that we should never be afraid to embrace our inner ballerina. It’s about finding joy in movement, in creativity, in simply having a good laugh.
You know what they say, darling! Tutu much? I'd say Grandma and I had a great weekend!
Follow the Pink Tutu Trail!
Now, my lovely readers, what about you? Where does your tutu journey lead? Do you have a favourite ballet, a special ballerina you adore? Maybe you’ve just recently discovered the joy of dance, or perhaps you're like Grandma, with a hidden ballerina deep inside!
Tell me all about it! Leave a comment on the website.
And remember, you never need a fancy studio or a fancy tutu, just an open heart and the willingness to twirl! I truly believe that everyone can find joy in movement, and every day is a new opportunity to tap into your inner ballerina. So put on a bright colour, grab your trusty tutu (borrow your Grandma's if you must!) and dance your heart out!
Keep twirling and keep smiling! And until next time, stay pink and beautiful, my dears! 💕
