Hello darlings! It's your favourite tutu-toting queen, Pink Tutu Sparkles, and I'm positively thrilled to be bringing you a fresh blog post from the charming market town of Abingdon, nestled in the beautiful Cotswolds.
Now, you know I love to travel. And while I adore jetting off to glamorous far-flung destinations, sometimes a good old-fashioned train journey is just what the doctor ordered. This time, I decided to hop aboard a scenic train, with its quaint compartments and charming staff, to experience the beauty of England's countryside. It’s been far too long since I've indulged in the classic British rail adventure, and the countryside views of fields bathed in sunshine certainly did not disappoint. It’s such a refreshing change from the endless gridlock of the M25 – I'm telling you, if you’ve never experienced a train ride, it’s a must.
Once I arrived in Abingdon, it was time to find a proper cuppa and some crumpets! And I wouldn't settle for just any place, oh no! This time, I went full vintage at the quaint, quirky "Teacups & Tulips". Imagine walls adorned with vintage china, handmade crocheted tea cosies, and cakes that looked almost too good to eat (almost, mind you!). Oh, and did I mention the delightful lavender scent that infused the whole place? Pure bliss! I'm already plotting my next visit and trying to decide which vintage china teacup to pick up next - the decision is proving to be a difficult one.
A Royal Stroll & Theatre Treats
Once my tummy was full, it was time to take a walk around Abingdon's historic streets. The cobbled lanes, the historic pubs, the charming boutiques – this place was practically a postcard come to life! I’ve got to be honest, though, the highlight of my walk was discovering a local art gallery hidden on a tiny cobblestone street. They had this absolutely incredible exhibition of modern glass sculpture. And I'm not even talking about your ordinary flower vase sculptures. This artist had truly redefined glass! It was all edgy shapes and swirling colour. I had to pick up a little handblown figurine for my collection, which of course is on display in my living room, surrounded by pink flowers (of course!).
Later that night, I headed to the historic Abingdon Town Hall to watch the Abingdon Theatre Company’s production of "Romeo & Juliet". This, darling, was true theatre. It felt so raw and authentic, and it transported me straight back to Shakespearean times. Now, it’s no secret that I love all things romantic and dramatic, and I must confess, even though this was a classical play, it tugged at my heartstrings and brought out the Shakespearean nerd in me (I’m sure you know that my bookshelf is bursting with all sorts of classic literature, right?). There's something truly magical about seeing such powerful emotions being portrayed on stage - and that magical feeling just stays with you long after the curtains close. Of course, it was hard to resist slipping into my "Hamlet" themed pink tutu for the occasion – after all, one can never wear too much pink!
Cotswold Fun & Adventures
Abingdon isn’t only charming but is also conveniently close to some beautiful Cotswold destinations that were just begging to be explored. One sunny afternoon, I hiked up to the top of White Horse Hill. As the name suggests, there's a huge chalk figure of a white horse carved into the hillside – just another piece of this region’s incredible history! The views from the top, with the surrounding countryside spread out in a breathtaking panorama, were divine. It felt so peaceful and liberating, the perfect place for a good old-fashioned heart-to-heart chat with my dearest bestie, Brenda, (my fabulous Chihuahua, she’s my constant companion, especially when I’m travelling) who was happily trotting around, sniffing every blade of grass she could find. It goes without saying that Brenda and I got to pose in my custom-made Pink Tutu with the beautiful White Horse sculpture – what a photo-opportunity, darling!
Now, when in the Cotswolds, one simply has to experience a country pub lunch. And that's exactly what I did! I discovered this picture-perfect pub called “The Old Vicarage" nestled in a quiet village, with thatched roofs, twinkling fairy lights, and a fireplace crackling away. Naturally, I indulged in their classic Sunday roast, with all the trimmings, all washed down with a good pint of their local ale. I’ll let you into a secret – the ale was actually a perfect colour of pink! Don’t worry, though, no animals were harmed in the making – it just happens to be brewed with raspberry flavourings. Let’s be honest, you all know pink is my ultimate colour. It was perfect.
Speaking of pink…did I tell you I popped into a little local craft shop, the sort that are always crammed full of exciting goodies? Well, I struck gold, darling! They had these exquisite hand-painted ceramic piglets and each one was a different shade of pink! Well, obviously I bought one – it's on display in my little vintage bedroom on my bedside table! I think my other pig collection is starting to get jealous – I'll have to get some more pink pieces for it.
Tutus, Twirls, & the Magical Dance
No trip of mine would be complete without a bit of ballet. I had a lovely, long conversation with some local dancers at Abingdon’s ballet school, who were delighted to let me peek at their training classes. You know how much I love tutus! And honestly, the elegance and grace of these young dancers were truly inspirational! The entire room vibrated with energy as the ballerinas executed pirouettes, jetés, and fouettés with astonishing precision and control – truly a delight! They were just as fascinated to hear about my tutu-loving travels and drag adventures as I was to watch them twirling with such precision! Seeing their love for dance made me remember how my own passion for ballet started – it was, as you may already know, all thanks to that first time I donned a tutu at a university fundraiser. Now I just can’t imagine life without them!
Of course, I couldn't leave Abingdon without a spot of ballet performance myself, could I? The community centre put on this fabulous ballet recital, and my fellow drag artist, Diva Sparkle, who had kindly travelled with me for this little excursion, suggested I should treat them all to my own impromptu performance! As the crowd watched in amazement (as well as some bewilderment!), I twirled, I stomped, I sassily sashayd in my dazzling pink tutu. And as you already know, my performance has always been about inclusivity and positivity - and, of course, getting as many people as possible to embrace the wonder that is a pink tutu!
As I wave goodbye to Abingdon, I know that the charm of this little market town, along with the warm hospitality and vibrant community spirit, will stay with me forever. I may be a pink tutu wearing, dance-loving drag queen, but I am still, at heart, a simple girl from Derbyshire, always searching for that next little bit of wonder and magic. But more than anything, I’m on a mission to make everyone embrace the magical world of pink tutus.
Until next time darlings, stay fabulous!
XOXO
Pink Tutu Sparkles
