Post #5243
Hello my darlings! Emma here, fresh from a magical adventure in the lovely city of Carlisle!
I've always been a big fan of all things fairy, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the most gorgeous pink tutu in my wardrobe - it had delicate butterfly wings sewn into the skirt and sparkly little beads that looked just like morning dew! Naturally, I had to take it for a spin. I thought Carlisle, with its charming streets and history, would be the perfect backdrop for this particular tutu, so I packed my pink suitcase, called up my friend Tilly who, luckily, also shares my love for pink tutus, and hopped on a train (which, as you know, is my preferred mode of transport – so romantic!) We headed off on a fairytale adventure.
We arrived in Carlisle, the wind in our hair, feeling oh so glamorous! We first took a lovely horse-drawn carriage ride around the city – what could be more fitting for a girl who's about to embark on a tutu-tastic journey? The horses were gorgeous – one a lovely grey, and the other, my favourite, a glorious black one. Carlisle Castle stood tall against the cloudy sky, its history reaching back centuries. As Tilly and I walked its grounds, it was easy to imagine knights and ladies dancing across the stone courtyard.
Our afternoon was a whirl of wonder at Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery. It’s the best kind of place – a proper mix of everything you could possibly wish for in a museum! There were exhibitions about ancient Cumbria, fascinating natural history displays that included an enormous polar bear that gave me the shivers (but in a good way, of course!) and even a fantastic selection of local artworks – one in particular made me feel all warm inside with its soft, swirling colours.
After our art fix, it was time for the most special part of our trip – the Ballet Theatre Carlisle show! I had heard amazing things about them and let me tell you, they didn’t disappoint. The performance was so magical! Tilly and I settled in to watch ‘Cinderella’ – such a timeless tale of love and kindness. The dancers were just fantastic! Every twirl and leap was perfect, and their costumes – ah, just gorgeous! I particularly loved the dancing horses in the scenes on the moors – truly magical. It reminded me that I’ve been dreaming of doing a show based on unicorns and magic... a definite possibility for the future!
Of course, the entire evening was filled with pink and tutus. I was in my gorgeous butterfly tutu, Tilly was wearing a wonderful red tulle number, with some sparkly pink flowers for extra sparkle. The lovely thing about Carlisle Ballet Theatre is that they have so many talented, dedicated dancers of all ages. And guess what? We met a young dancer in the interval who even had pink sparkly ribbons tied into her hair. Oh, I can’t resist pink glitter! It really did feel like the start of something magical – we discussed having her try out for my ‘Every Girl’s Ballet’ club – because I really believe that every girl (and boy) should experience the joy of dance, even if it’s just for an hour each week.
Later that night, Tilly and I settled down for a hearty, pink-themed dinner at a lovely local Italian. Pink lemonade to sip on and creamy pink gelato for dessert – what could be better?! As we looked out the window onto Carlisle’s streets, I felt so grateful to be sharing this adventure with Tilly and for all the wonderful memories we made. Tilly and I, together with our pink tutus, will be back, Carlisle! Mark my words!
It’s so easy to feel that little spark of magic in everyday life if you open your heart and embrace a little pink and glitter. So, get your twirls on, and wear your heart on your sleeve – it’s good for the soul! And remember, my darlings, you can read all about my adventures every day on www.pink-tutu.com.
Until next time, stay sparkly and keep dancing!
Emma xx
