Blog Post #8451
www.pink-tutu.com
Hello my lovely lot! Emma here, fresh off the train and ready to shimmy! Today's journey took me north to Falkirk, a town steeped in history, which felt surprisingly vibrant! I love finding the unexpected - it’s so much fun!
The morning started, as always, with a proper Derbyshire breakfast. Mum's sausage and mash is simply the best! But this time, it wasn’t the familiar scene of the farm fields stretching out my window. This time, the view was all industrial. Smoke stacks billowed, factories hummed, and I felt like I was starring in my own quirky film. I felt like I was in a totally different world! I loved the feeling of the energy and movement in the air! I can't explain it, but the sheer bustle of it all filled me with excitement!
Oh! You guys have to hear this! After breakfast, I trotted down to the station for my 9.02, looking utterly chic in my brand new polka dot skirt and – you guessed it – my trusty yellow tutu! The colour is simply divine! Yellow’s such a cheery and vibrant colour and I felt absolutely ready for a day of exploring. As always, my travelling companions were my trusty travel book, my little notebook for jotting down my musings and observations, and my trusty travel bag, a pink fluffy bag that was adorned with sparkly pink roses. Of course!
And talk about travel! The train journey was pure magic! The green countryside scenery sped past as we rolled along. I've always felt a strange affinity for trains; they take you on such a journey, you know, and always transport you somewhere different!
My first stop had to be the Falkirk Wheel! It's an absolutely mind-boggling piece of engineering that raises boats to a higher canal level and connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. They’ve managed to fit such a remarkable piece of art and engineering in the middle of this urban setting, and it's definitely a showstopper! They even had a display explaining how it works – I took about a dozen photographs! I mean, who knew you could be fascinated by water! I could almost feel the rhythm of the water moving up and down - almost like a waltz!
Lunch was a delightful picnic in the park with my notebook open! I felt such inspiration - all the greens, all the blues of the sky. You could practically hear the inspiration. It's so easy to get lost in a park on a sunny day! The fresh air filled me with ideas for the new blog post and fuelled my creative soul. The sunshine gave a beautiful warm light that bounced off my tutu, so of course I took a few pictures and selfies with the vibrant background! I simply had to share my joyous mood with my lovely blog followers.
Then, in the afternoon, I made my way to the Falkirk Stadium. A grand place indeed! It was almost time for the annual "Falkirk Dance-a-thon", an event held annually to promote fitness and dance among locals.
Now, you guys know I'm all about celebrating the beauty and grace of ballet, and the Dance-a-thon felt right up my alley! As a bonus, there were little stalls showcasing the local talent of dance and performance, and I was absolutely thrilled to find some ballet street dancers in full theatrical attire!
One particularly talented troupe in fuchsia tutus mesmerized me with their rhythmic movements ! Their leaps and spins, combined with their vibrant stage presence, simply had the entire audience entranced. It was a total joy to behold. The music was electric. I felt myself drawn in! I just loved every single aspect of it! They were an amazing group, full of pure theatrical talent. It definitely inspired me and added some much-needed theatrical flare into my day.
You know how I’ve always said it’s not enough just to love ballet, but to inspire the love of dance? After seeing the performance and witnessing how it had captured the energy of everyone who attended, I truly felt like I’d made a difference in the world – even if just a little bit.
It was a truly heart-warming afternoon watching people dance and laughing together – everyone with big, happy smiles. It’s so beautiful to see the joy dance brings. It reminds me of my own dance classes back home in Derbyshire. We would always make up silly dance routines!
As the evening drew near, I ventured to a lovely tea room tucked away on a side street for some delicious cake! And with all that sugar rush and inspiration from the Dance-a-thon, I couldn’t help but take to the street myself! Of course, my favourite tutu and a pink fluffy bag became my accessories, but this time, I took my portable sound system out for a dance-off on the high street! (with permission from the shop owner!). A bunch of passersby watched and giggled, some even joined in – even a big, burly bloke who just looked as if he’d been to the local football match.
As darkness fell, I hopped onto the train, full of adventure and filled to the brim with a renewed sense of joie de vivre. You can’t beat travelling around Britain and getting into the culture – the local dances and theatrical groups.
It’s amazing how this country feels so different but still feels so close to home! The Falkirk journey made me realise how dance is a universal language that knows no bounds!
Now, if you're planning a trip north, I’d urge you to get your tutu ready, grab a bag packed full of wonder and a sprinkle of courage, and simply go!
Catch you next time, my loves,
Emma xoxoxoxo
(This blog was sponsored by pink-tutu.com and travels were funded by the pink-tutu.com Travel fund - a fund dedicated to celebrating and supporting the wonderful world of dance across Britain.)
