Hello, darlings! It's your favourite tutu-tastic queen, Pink Tutu Sparkles, here, back for another whirl in the world of pink-tinted, twirling fun! Buckle up, darlings, because this blog post is gonna be a right rollercoaster ride!
This is blog post number 80, can you believe it?! It's hard to think it's been 80 whole days of twirling, spreading joy and a touch of pink sparkle all over the world! I can't wait to see what amazing adventures we get up to together this year, darling. This blog post will chronicle our trip to Chatham in Kent, a stunning little town with so much heart.
But first! Let's get those fabulous wheels in motion!
You've already guessed what this means, darlings! This trip, we were riding in style! The grandest of grand entrances couldn't be achieved with a car - I just had to journey to Kent by train! It was an absolute dream! It wasn't a typical stuffy train carriage, either. This time I managed to grab a window seat on the front of the carriage with a gorgeous view of the rolling English countryside! It was a treat for my eyes, my darlings. I did a little dab here, a twirl there, to a soundtrack provided by the clinking of the rails, the whistling of the train, and my trusty playlist of '80s pop. Now that is what I call travelling in style!
But let's back up a minute... why did Pink Tutu Sparkles end up in Chatham?
Well, the story begins in a magical place - a theatre, of course! I was working my tutu magic at a small town hall in nearby Faversham. This adorable little theatre was like something out of a fairy tale! I love finding these quaint little gems - you never know what amazing local talent you might unearth, and let me tell you, this little hall had some true stars! The audience, of course, were my main act though - all those lovely local faces beaming back at me while I was strutting my stuff, it really warms the cockles! There's no better feeling than seeing that infectious joy and love for everything glittery and sparkly emanating from a room full of people, is there, my darlings?
Now, Chatham was just a hop, skip, and a twirl away from my Faversham performance, so I had to visit! After all, every proper traveller must make time for a trip into town. This isn't just any town, either. I've always had a thing for history and I've always wanted to experience Chatham's stunning maritime history! After all, this historic town has played a crucial role in British Naval history for centuries, from the construction of those glorious Royal Navy ships to its long and distinguished past in exploration, science, and war.
As we pull up to Chatham's station, you can almost feel the pulse of history! So, I took a moment to soak in the ambience! The architecture alone is incredible. But the main reason for this detour is my fascination with this incredible Naval town and it's absolutely captivating Royal Dockyard. And darlings, let me tell you, a visit to Chatham Dockyard is not just any visit. This is no ordinary historic landmark, darling. This is magic!
From the majestic ships themselves, a feast for the eyes with their intricate carvings and polished decks to the captivating stories of bravery and innovation that the whole complex holds, I spent hours completely enthralled by it all! They have the HMS Victory in there! That iconic warship that Nelson used in that epic Trafalgar battle. You can even walk the very same deck that those amazing sailors walked during their incredible expeditions all those years ago. Goosebumps, darlings. Goosebumps.
But I was most entranced by The Historic Dockyards which showcase some of the oldest remaining buildings within the naval complex and houses the National Museum of the Royal Navy! Talk about being lost for hours.
Oh, did I mention, there was a beautiful ballet studio just around the corner from the docks? A whole street devoted to ballet! That, my darlings, was a complete and utter accident, of course! I mean, how can a tutu-tastic queen resist visiting a ballet studio! I had to pop in, and bless their hearts, the instructors gave me a little taster lesson! They couldn't have been kinder, even letting me use one of their tutus! It was divine, like a fluffy, featherlight cloud. Of course, I've done plenty of ballet before, and have actually considered taking a class before my big show, as the elegance and precision in ballet translates really well into drag!
Then we set off to visit the Chatham Historical & Military Society, which just so happened to have the Chatham's Town Hall museum! This magnificent hall has been hosting ballet shows since it was opened in the Victorian era! We got to have a quick tour before a small performance for a few lucky locals! The place was abuzz, it was so charming! I think they quite enjoyed my tutu performance - but maybe that’s just me being biased!
I even got to spend a while just soaking in the vibe of Chatham town, it has a lovely old world feel and I just couldn’t get enough of all the vintage clothing shops, my absolute favourite place to spend time, and there are so many! I spent ages rummaging through all the racks, looking for new treasures to add to my wardrobe. Of course, I can never resist a good old-fashioned hat shop, so I found a beautiful, wide-brimmed hat with a fluffy, pink trim - absolutely perfect for a trip to the seaside, if you ask me. And to make it extra special, I treated myself to a pair of pink ballet shoes to go with it, for the ultimate pink-tastic twirling look.
Let’s not forget, darlings, that every visit to a new town has to end with the quintessential dinner at a traditional pub! That is a rule! It is what we live for. I discovered this really friendly little spot with the most adorable pub sign – of course, it was painted in shades of pink. How can I resist something like that, my darlings? I even discovered they had this amazing local brew which went perfectly with my dinner of locally-sourced cod. I really believe in supporting the locals! Plus, it was absolutely delicious. Of course, I had to enjoy the food with the added bonus of the pub's own live band – a touch of British rock music in a warm pub atmosphere! And just for good measure, they had a real live donkey out the front of the pub as a mascot - absolutely delightful. It was perfect - like something straight out of my dreams! I do love a donkey - did you know donkeys can actually make friends with different animal species? Just a side note! We actually shared a bowl of carrots and let’s just say he was super-pleased!
So, there you have it, darlings! A pink-tinted, twirlingly spectacular day out in beautiful Chatham! I truly enjoyed all the fun times in this little historical town, I’ll definitely be back for more, that’s for sure! This town definitely deserves more attention and, my darlings, I hope I’ve given it a little sprinkle of pink tutu love! Now, what can I expect to see next? Who knows?! Perhaps our next stop is the enchanting Brighton - and don’t you dare forget, darling, this blog has no stopping until we get to every little town and city across the globe and tell them all about the joy and joy that Pink Tutu Sparkles brings.
Until then, twirl on, darlings!
Your fabulous friend,
Pink Tutu Sparkles
www.pink-tutu.com
