#TutuBlog Post Number 4302 - 13th April 2008
Hello my lovelies! It's Emma here, ready to share another fabulous adventure with you all on www.pink-tutu.com! Today, I'm bringing you the pinkest, most twirly, most exhilarating journey ever, all the way to the seaside town of Cleethorpes, nestled right on the glorious Lincolnshire coast!
As you all know, I'm a massive advocate for travel, especially by train, because it’s just so much more civilised and relaxing. Plus, the scenery! Especially when you're going from a rolling, green Derbyshire landscape towards the blue yonder of the sea, there’s just nothing quite like it! I think we can all agree on that, yes? So I packed my trusty pink duffel bag, full of pink tulle and sparkly tutus (a girl can't travel light!) and off I popped, feeling the excitement tingling right through me.
Cleethorpes always reminds me of my childhood. Growing up, my Nan and Grandad would pack up their caravan, with its floral curtains and checkered rug (my Nana is such a homebody!), and off they'd go for a seaside adventure, dragging the rest of the family with them! I was tiny back then, just barely out of my tiny tutu phase. I distinctly remember seeing the majestic Red Arrows display above the sea. It’s so incredible, those colours in the sky, red, white and blue! I'm definitely trying to time my trip to coincide with another performance this time around. I have a feeling this blog needs some seriously dramatic visuals, especially in a wide pink tutu. Think about it - windblown tulle, salty sea air, and a stunning airshow display? That's pure photo-shoot gold, I’m telling you!
And speaking of tutus, I've brought the perfect one for the seaside. It's this absolutely dreamy pink tulle creation, complete with layers of fluffy fabric and an abundance of delicate ribbons. You see, I like my tutus with a bit of "extra". Just like life! Why settle for boring old cotton when you can be twirling in the wind, like a vision in candy floss?! (Don't worry, I've brought some trusty bobby pins - last thing I need is a literal hair-raising experience in a whirlwind of tulle.) I'll definitely be capturing it all on film, you guys. Imagine, dancing along the sandy shores, feeling the fresh air in my face, wearing my "Cleethorpes" pink tutu... pure bliss, if you ask me!
On my way down, I met this amazing fellow on the train. His name was Richard (though I believe he said he preferred "Dick" for short, lol! So very 1980s rock-n-roll!), and he was also heading for a weekend in Cleethorpes. He was this charismatic fellow in a bright red Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts, with a pair of funky sunglasses perched on his head, ready to catch some rays! Now, he was definitely not the ballet type - I think the most dance he'd done recently involved a rather vigorous "headbanging" session! He actually ended up trying a "tutu spin" and even though it wasn't particularly graceful, it was hilarious! (Let's face it, the whole point is to have fun!).
But Dick was lovely, genuinely curious about why I was travelling with so many tutus in a pink bag. And he even suggested visiting Cleethorpes "pleasure beach"! Now, I'm not sure I can pull off the full ballerina look in a carnival, I wouldn’t want to knock over a fairground stall in a fit of twirling fury, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be there with bells on, and a tutu on, snapping those Insta-worthy moments! (And if there's a carousel or a Ferris wheel that's vaguely ballerina-themed... I might just be compelled to put on a little show for the masses! Let’s see what kind of Tutu-fied performance I can whip up.)
Once I arrive in Cleethorpes, the real adventure starts! It's like stepping into a vintage postcard – pastel-coloured cafes, candy-striped beach huts, the smell of seaweed and fish & chips mingling in the salty air. Pure seaside joy! I can already imagine myself having fish and chips with a dash of malt vinegar (it is a classic, isn’t it?) and taking long, twirly strolls along the Promenade in my pink tutu. It'll be the ultimate tutu-ing photo opportunity!
But it's not just about the gorgeous scenery, even if it is pretty special to have the sea at your doorstep, and breathe in the fresh sea air. You can smell the history in Cleethorpes, its links to the shipping industry, the WW2 past and the holidaymakers, from a bygone era. Cleethorpes is rich with history, but I don’t think anyone in those historic times ever saw tutu-ed twirling seaside fashion. It will be a pleasure to bring the colour pink and ballet to this seaside town! I'll be posting regular updates throughout the weekend with pictures, stories, and possibly even a dance performance or two. You never know! Who knows what pinktastic things Cleethorpes will hold for me this time around?
Oh! and one more thing - I may be dipping into the nearby nature reserve, looking for wildlife inspiration. A swan with a tutu?! An otter on pointe shoes?! Now wouldn’t that be a show! You just know that I’m not going to miss the opportunity to capture such a beautiful ballet performance in nature.
Follow my Cleethorpes adventures with me - you know I’ll be snapping away with my phone camera - and I can’t wait to share it all with you!
Keep it pink and tutu-tiful!
Emma x
