Hello my darling tutu-lovers! Emma here, fresh from a whirlwind trip to Coulsdon, and I have to say, it was absolutely divine! You see, darling, sometimes even a girl as addicted to the stage as I am needs to escape the hustle and bustle of London and head for greener pastures (or rather, even greener suburbs). 😉
Coulsdon is a sweet little town in Surrey, and for a change, I took the train! Not that my horse, Sprinkles, doesn't adore a good countryside gallop, but sometimes the romance of the railway wins. Imagine: a comfy carriage, a good book (currently reading "The Ballet Secret" - quite gripping!), and the beautiful views of the English countryside rushing past. Oh, and a sprinkle of pink, naturally! I mean, who doesn't love a pink scarf on a chilly November day? 💖
As always, I wore my signature pink tutu for the trip. A cyan one this time, to match the blue sky. You know, a little bit of sparkle and twirl is never out of place, even on the most mundane journey. And guess what? A delightful fellow passenger actually asked me about it! Imagine my glee - a total stranger initiating a conversation about tutus and the wonder of ballet. We talked for ages - about the best place to buy tutus (my little secret, it's "Whimsical Wear" on Portobello Road - absolute treasures!), her daughter's ballet classes, and the joy of pirouetting in the morning sunshine! It was just lovely. ✨
Now, darling, Coulsdon is just begging to be explored, don't you think? The whole place has such a lovely vintage charm. It was almost like stepping out of a romantic period drama, all ivy-clad cottages and cosy tea shops. I had the most heavenly afternoon tea in a place called "The Tea Rose" - pink china cups, dainty sandwiches, and the most delicious scones I've ever tasted. They even had a special pink rose petal infused tea! Absolutely delightful!
But here's the thing - Coulsdon, despite its charming old-world feel, is also surprisingly trendy. The High Street has a collection of cool independent boutiques - I snagged the most gorgeous pink cashmere cardigan (absolutely necessary for a November day!) and a pair of delicate ballet shoes with delicate pink ribbons. Just a touch of pink to remind myself of the joy of a ballerina's life, even when away from the stage.
Then, I took a wander to the stunning Coulsdon Manor House. Imagine, my dears! A Tudor manor house set within sprawling gardens and parkland. It's even more magnificent in person, and I couldn't resist having my photo taken in front of it - the pink tutu just had to be included, of course! Imagine, a modern day princess exploring a historic home - now that's a story! You know, sometimes, all a girl needs is a little dose of fairytale magic to inspire her.
Don't think I was solely indulging in fashion and fancy tea, darling! Coulsdon has a secret charm - its wildlife! The manor grounds are home to an amazing array of birds and I managed to catch sight of a rather impressive grey squirrel - I think he was quite charmed by my pink tutu too. He came so close, I even managed to sneak a selfie with the little darling. He was posing! 😂 Who says a girl can't enjoy the outdoors as much as a graceful pirouette?
As the evening approached, I bid farewell to this sweet Surrey gem. Back to London, a world of glittering stage lights and elegant tutus - but not before enjoying a glass of pink champagne at the "The Rose Garden," a rather chic little wine bar with the most gorgeous flower displays.
Now, my darlings, let's all embrace a little pink in our lives, shall we? Be bold, be fearless, be twirly! Who knows, maybe we can even convince everyone to wear pink tutus and try a ballet class - imagine the joy that would spread! Stay twirly and beautiful, darling!
Love, Emma xx
