Hello my dearest Tutu Tribe! It’s Emma here, back from another fabulously pink escapade. I'm still buzzing after my weekend trip to Burton upon Trent! It was a whirlwind of tutus, trains, and (of course) the sheer delight of getting people in this lovely town to wear a bit of pink and give ballet a go.
As you all know, I adore train journeys, and this trip was no different. I took the slow train – the kind that gives you time to contemplate life, catch up on my blog reading, and watch the world flit past the window. This time, my 'lucky' travel companion was a charming, fluffy white bunny rabbit that hopped aboard at a small station a few miles from Derbyshire. He had the most adorable pink nose! He had quite the journey to embark on, with lots of wide-eyed staring from other passengers. They didn’t know what they were missing, eh? The rabbit seemed very relaxed – probably more relaxed than the guy sitting next to me, trying desperately to explain to his companion that a "tutu" wasn’t the name of a "fluffy cat". giggles
Speaking of "tutus", I was ready for action the minute I stepped off the train. My beautiful, pink tulle masterpiece (designed by yours truly!) was tucked safely in my tote bag – I always make sure I travel prepared for anything. In Burton, my plans were pretty ambitious, and a little, dare I say, bold. You see, this time around I was on a mission: I wanted to convince everyone I met to embrace their inner tutu queen (and maybe do a pirouette or two).
It all started at a vintage tea shop on a quaint cobbled street. "Tutu Tea Time" it was called, no joke! My pink tutus always get a warm reception, so I decided to up the ante. I donned my tutu right there in the shop, while the staff and patrons looked on in amusement and bewilderment. To their utter shock (and my delight), I proceeded to gracefully spin, my tutu a swirling kaleidoscope of pink and tulle.
My confidence spread, and soon the tea shop owner was happily twirling in a pink tulle skirt I brought with me. By the end of "Tutu Tea Time", several women were sporting tulle bows in their hair and had even tried a couple of ballet poses with me, much to everyone's amusement! The air was abuzz with excitement. It’s all about having fun!
Next stop was Burton Market. I was like a pink-tinted tornado! The friendly stall owners (I swear, people in Burton are so lovely, almost as lovely as Derbyshire folk) welcomed me with open arms, or rather, with a laugh.
I soon discovered they loved animals! It turned out the Burton upon Trent Market has the most incredible pet corner – I was completely surrounded by cuddly cats, wagging dog tails and a magnificent budgie with a feather-light pink feather! I have to say, the parrot’s colour really complimented my tutu.
The most amazing encounter was with a group of little kids! We were chatting about tutus, naturally, and one brave soul volunteered to try on my extra tutu, just a tiny bit big, of course. You've never seen so much pure joy. The look of wonder on her face was magical! That's when it hit me, tutus aren't just about grace and poise – they're about freedom of expression, bringing joy and making people feel beautiful!
After conquering the market, I headed towards the beautiful Burton Arboretum. I didn’t just want to be in Burton for a visit; I wanted to be in Burton, you know? And what better way to do that than to stroll among the magnificent trees in this breathtaking park? The sunshine was warm on my face, the birds were chirping melodies, and a light breeze twirled my tulle like a fairy tale.
Of course, I couldn’t resist doing a little "pink tutu performance". With a grand pirouette and a flourish, I launched into my ballet routine, adapted from a ballet class I had at my favourite ballet school in Derbyshire.
A family of ducklings and a graceful swan joined the show! Who needs an audience anyway, when the wildlife is cheering you on? It was perfect! And, you're never too old to take inspiration from animals! The grace of a swan, the energy of a butterfly... you never know where your next inspiration for a move might come from!
To round off the day, I went for a romantic candlelit dinner in one of Burton’s lovely restaurants. But even as the evening sun went down, the tutu stayed on! You see, I think pink tutus are the perfect accessory for any occasion – from tea time to sunset strolls. The people I met in Burton all seemed to agree – their smiles were evidence enough!
Before I set off home, I thought it was time to spread the tutu-love one more time. On the train platform, I got talking to a group of teenage girls and told them all about the amazing adventures I had had. Then, I pulled out my tutu, just like a magician! We all had a laugh and they couldn't believe how comfortable and fun a tutu can be. As the train pulled away from the platform, I was happy to hear them all talking about "doing ballet tomorrow".
And that, my dearest tutu tribe, is how you spend a perfect weekend in Burton upon Trent! It wasn’t just about the tutue; it was about the joy, the laugher, the shared moments, and spreading the love for ballet. I have a feeling my adventures in Burton upon Trent are just the beginning of my tutu travel journey. You know me and my pink tutu… we'll be taking over the world one swirl of tulle at a time!
Stay tuned for more tutu travels on pink-tutu.com! And, don't forget to wear a pink tutu and have a dance today!
Yours in tulle and pink,
Emma
xx
