Hello lovelies! 💖
It's your girl, Emma, here, bringing you post number 7885 from the sunny - well, almost sunny! - streets of Sutton in Ashfield! ☀️
After a whirlwind week of rehearsals for our big Spring production of 'Giselle' at the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, I was itching to escape the city and breathe some fresh air. So, naturally, what better way than to hop on a train, a gorgeous scarlet vintage train, naturally, to explore a new spot, surrounded by stunning Derbyshire countryside! 🚂
I always find a new town feels a lot more exciting if you embrace it head-on. And what better way than to show your true colours – and what colour could be more true than PINK?! 😉💖 So, I packed my bright red tutu (I can't tell you how excited I was to get to wear it again!), a fabulous pair of pink ballet flats, my go-to pink floral tote, and of course, my trusty ballet shoes. 👠
Now, Sutton in Ashfield is known for a few things - it's a beautiful market town with a strong history, it's where a legendary football manager called Brian Clough grew up, and, it's the perfect little town to explore in a day!
And that's exactly what I did! 🤩 First things first, after hopping off the train and breathing in that gorgeous crisp Derbyshire air, I knew the first stop had to be the market. It was bursting with local crafts, fresh produce, and some delicious smelling local fudge – I might have accidentally purchased more than I had space for! 🍫😁
Feeling energised by the smells and the buzz, it was time for a dance – literally! 🩰 The Market Square in Sutton is beautiful, it really does have that charming old town vibe and the perfect backdrop for a ballet sequence, right? So, that's exactly what I did! It was great to be able to stretch my legs, work through some simple steps, and feel my energy growing with each turn. 🤸🏻♀️
Later in the day, it was time for the main event! The New Cross Hospital! Now, you may think, a hospital? What's exciting about that?! Well, it turns out New Cross is a real gem! A Victorian Grade II listed building, now turned into a beautiful community hospital. And best of all? A magnificent Victorian Orangery that houses the "Clough Heritage" Museum! 🏥📚
As a huge fan of Brian Clough's management skills, and a woman who never shies away from a history lesson, I spent a good hour browsing through the exhibits, getting to know his legendary story. There were even some very cool photos of the grounds of New Cross as a whole, including some very lovely looking parkland areas that had clearly been a pleasure to walk around! 😉🌿
Speaking of parks! Just around the corner was Sutton's beautiful Idlewells Park. A beautiful green space, just perfect for my final dose of serenity after a full day of exploring. 🌳
This little park has the perfect mix of beautiful greenery and local history. With an impressive bandstand and the remains of the historic Sherwood Colliery, Idlewells was the perfect place to reflect on my adventure in Sutton in Ashfield, sit back on the soft grass, enjoy some sunshine and dream about my next tutu-tastic trip! 💖✨
Now, I want to know, lovely readers, where's the best place to go for a pink tutu adventure? Tell me in the comments below, and don't forget to follow along with all my ballerina antics on www.pink-tutu.com !
Until next time,
Stay strong, stay vibrant, and wear your heart on your tutu! 💖
Love,
Emma xx
