Hello, darlings! Pink Tutu Sparkles here, reporting live from the fabulous town of Eltham! This trip's all about discovering new corners of this lovely old town, catching a breathtaking ballet performance at the Eltham Palace, and, of course, sharing the joy of the pink tutu with every fabulous soul I encounter.
Now, don't be fooled by the lovely countryside air – Eltham's a real treasure trove of historical and cultural delights, just waiting to be uncovered. Just picture this: me, in my best blush-pink tutu, swirling and twirling through the manicured gardens of the Eltham Palace, the golden sunshine shimmering on the stonework, a fairytale setting made for a pink-tutu-wearing diva!
As you know, darlings, my journey started right here in Derbyshire, in the heart of the Peak District. You’d be surprised how many folk there love their pink tutus too, even if they wouldn't admit it publicly! It's a bit of a secret – just us fashion-forward folks, making our mark on the world one twirl at a time. And how did this fabulous obsession begin? Well, I was just a little science student, stuck in the lab all day, surrounded by beakers and flasks, yearning for something glamorous. You see, I was already a passionate ballet dancer then – twirling through the University Ballet Club in my trusty black leotard and pink pointe shoes (did I mention that my pointe shoes match my tutus?).
Then came that charity fundraising day… and one magical moment that changed my life forever! They let me try on a tutu… a vibrant, oh-so-sparkly pink tutu, my darlings. The rest, as they say, is history! I had my very own Pink Tutu Sparkles coming out of those silken layers!
And you know what? My life has become one giant pink tutu parade since!
Anyway, back to my trip! I simply had to take a trip to Eltham – I’ve been eyeing it on the map ever since I found out the Eltham Palace is home to the majestic Courtroom and the incredible Hall of Kings – I was in awe at how those kings must have sashayed their way around those rooms in their finest frocks – well, in my dreams anyway! As if that’s not enough, Eltham has a real-life storybook manor, the grounds were fit for a queen (or a drag queen)!
Before we dive into all the fabulous fashion and exciting performance highlights, let me tell you about my journey! I hopped aboard a sleek crimson train at Derby, windows gleaming like my pink eyeshadow, and just whizzed past the countryside, with a steaming hot cup of tea and a fabulous gossip magazine in hand (did you see that outfit on the cover? A total fashion crime! But at least I looked the part!)
The ride to Eltham was a true adventure in itself. You can tell me about fancy electric cars and bullet trains if you wish, but there is something so magical about a journey by steam train. They were practically designed for fabulous creatures in flamboyant pink tutus like me! Imagine – windows open, the breeze whipping up a little dance in the layers of my pink tutu, and those little floral details in my fabulous frock, oh my! A vision, I tell you!
But this is not a trip I’m doing alone, darlings. I always pack the cutest pink teddy to come along on my journeys with me! His name is Barnaby and, like my darling audience, he always wants to know what a Pink Tutu Sparkles is doing out on her adventures!
Speaking of Barnaby, he did get into a little mishap on my first day in Eltham. The little cutie did some 'accidentally' try to munch on the most gorgeous raspberry and buttercream cake we’d found in a charming little bakery called 'Whimsy and Cake', I knew there was something extra fabulous about the name of that cake place! It’s funny how you can sense fabulous things from names, isn't it? I should mention that Barnaby loves cupcakes too, but as he's rather small, his cupcakes need to be very small and the little rascal does make a mess... a real mess! I guess his mother always warned him to eat with his mouth closed. I tried, I really did! The little fellow seems to think pink is his colour too! (Now, where did that lipstick stain go?)
By the time we reached the Eltham Palace, I felt like royalty! A beautiful building, bathed in golden sunshine. And my goodness, that entrance hall! It was just begging to be swirled through! Of course, a fabulous pink tutu like mine simply wouldn't have allowed any other behaviour than a magnificent waltz into the majestic entrance hall. It's almost like walking into a painting – you expect to find a king and queen waltzing around any moment. Now wouldn’t that be a spectacle for my darling blog readers?
That night, we went to watch a ballet show – you just cannot have a trip to a town with a glorious palace without watching ballet, especially for this Tutu Queen! I sat in my tiered box in my magnificent gown – an exquisitely hand-sewn creation in baby pink lace that matched my tiara. As soon as I walked through the door in my tulle beauty, heads were turning (those folks must know the power of the pink tutu!).
That performance... simply breathtaking, a graceful flow of motion and emotion, the delicate elegance of the dancers swirling through the theatre, their pointe shoes clicking on the wooden floor. Ballet is truly an art form that speaks to my very soul! The ballet at the Eltham Palace theatre was amazing, even better, the audience was in for a surprise: Pink Tutu Sparkles joined them, and of course I chose my favorite – The Nutcracker – oh my, it simply mesmerizes! All those dazzling tutus, twirling with their magical precision – ballet was almost invented for pink tutus. It made me so excited, that I was practically bouncing in my seat with glee!
I just had to buy myself some ballet classes, so the next morning, my gorgeous tulle creation packed safely in my travel case (it would not have done to squash my amazing pink tulle!) I made my way to the best dance academy in Eltham for my very first class with them. And, darling, just you wait and see how fabulously I did in my little pink leotard and my lovely matching pink ballerina shoes (of course, it's not just any old ballet shoe - it's hand stitched, satin pink ballerina shoes)! Let’s just say they gave Pink Tutu Sparkles a standing ovation – of course!
You know, I'm all about being fabulous, being confident and shining my brightest! Just like a pink tutu sparkles with thousands of sparkling, silver crystals, I aim to add that same dazzling sparkle to every soul I meet! Pink tutus just bring so much fun and laughter, you simply can't help but smile. It's my own personal mission: I just have to inspire every single person to discover their inner sparkle and twirl out there!
And I’m going to need a fabulous wardrobe for the occasion – you don’t need me to tell you how amazing Eltham is, for beautiful clothes shopping that is. After all, shopping in my most glorious pink tutus makes the journey much more exciting. You know I always pick out something fabulous for my wardrobe. This time I picked up the cutest pair of pink knee high boots and the most sparkling, sequin dress – think glitter with a pink ombre colour gradient. So divine! My new wardrobe's making it oh-so-easy to add that touch of sparkle to every town I visit. I'm planning a few more little outings this trip. Watch this space for more fun!
Speaking of my trips, I do enjoy riding to places too – and if you think about it, this was really the best way to travel through Eltham with all of its quaint alleys and the lovely open spaces. Why just take the bus when you can ride a majestic steed through these picturesque country lanes? You know what they say – travel in style! Luckily, we came across a delightful stable owner on our travels, a man called Bob. Well, if it wasn’t for Bob's lovely and beautifully mannered white horse, Prince, it would have taken forever to get to our destination, that is – if I had even been able to find my way through the Eltham maze! Well, with Prince as a majestic steed, the trip was effortless – and we looked incredible too, in matching outfits – pink tulle on my dress with Prince's lovely saddle! Bob does make sure that Prince has a pretty pink and white bridle, and let’s face it, he is a truly majestic steed. If there’s a horse that has got style it’s this one. It is quite a good job he's as calm as he is – sometimes he’ll get a bit carried away when he spots a beautiful, blooming rose bush, that has delicate little flowers in the most perfect pink shade (how fabulous is that!)
On the other hand, if there's an animal that loves a bit of attention (and pink) – it's my lovely cat, Clementine! If you’ve ever read any of my posts, you’ll know about the 'fabulous felines' who come into my life. Every time I travel, it would not be complete without Clementine. Let me tell you, this pink cat looks divine on the go and gets lots of attentions when she travels. Clementine’s got this really fabulous pink sparkly cat carrier, and a lovely sparkly pink fluffy toy to make the trip all that much more amazing! Well, let’s be honest, it does not really matter where she travels – that cat loves to dress up. This cat loves a bit of drama! I should give her own blog, it's really something special seeing a cat dressed in pink!
I’ll leave you with one last fabulous secret of Eltham that we’ve found – it's not actually a secret - just a delicious gem I stumbled on during my search for a pink and silver coffee cup: the best scones ever! Yes, darlings, I found them! We walked into a beautiful café, just a few blocks from the station, called ‘Whimsy and Beans’ (the fabulous owner tells me it’s meant to be the opposite of "Grim and Gloomy". I love how she sees the world with pink-tinted glasses! ), and these little delicacies (my very own little scones) tasted so divine – a scrumptious blend of vanilla and cinnamon – oh, darling, it made me want to twirl around the table in my pink tutu! They were absolutely divine. I was ready to devour the lot of them – but I have to pace myself, even Pink Tutu Sparkles knows that! I mean, even in a dream world, no one should eat the entire menu of scones!
As I gaze out my window at the breathtaking view of the Eltham landscape, I realise how lucky I am to experience the joy of travelling. Every new city is a chance to explore, meet fascinating people, and of course, share the love of the pink tutu! Stay fabulous my darlings! We’ll be back with more tales of fabulous adventures from Pink Tutu Sparkles tomorrow, from my new glamorous home in …well, let's just say “Where dreams meet the pink tutu”.
Don’t forget to drop by my little online world - www.pink-tutu.com - to find out more about all things Pink Tutu! Until next time, my lovely followers! Stay pink and sparkly!
