#TutuQueen Post #989
Hey gorgeous girlies and fellas,
It's your favourite Pink Tutu Sparkles here, writing to you live from the beautiful town of Darwen, in Lancashire, UK! The air is crisp, the sky is a glorious cerulean blue (oh how I wish my tutus could match it!) and my heart is brimming with the excitement of a new adventure.
As you know, this fabulous Pink Tutu Sparkles travels far and wide, spreading the love and joy of pink tutus to every corner of the globe. (Well, maybe not the globe yet, but I'm working on it!). This week, I packed my suitcase with a tutu-tastic wardrobe (naturally!), my trusty feather boa (you never know when a touch of drama is needed) and my trusty travel journal ā you never know when inspiration will strike.
Now, I wouldnāt normally travel to a town as small as Darwen. But thereās something about a town with a strong industrial history that makes me wanna twirl! I was drawn to Darwen like a moth to a lamp ā in fact, it was the prospect of a little performance in a cosy pub with an enthusiastic audience and the rumour of a fantastic second-hand vintage shop.
As Iām writing this, I can smell the delicious aroma of Lancashire hotpot wafting in from a nearby restaurant. It reminds me so much of the warm comfort food my mum used to make after a day of ballet rehearsals. Yes, my mum was a dancer, which is where my love of graceful twirls first sparked! She tells me I was actually born wearing a tiny pink tutu (donāt judge my mum, she was a young and fashionable single mum!).
Anyway, letās get back to my journey. Arriving at Darwen railway station was like stepping into a time capsule. Red brick walls, Victorian architecture and charming floral displays all around ā it felt like stepping onto the set of a vintage movie.
As I dragged my (rather large) suitcase through the charmingly quaint high street, I caught a glimpse of āThat Little Vintage Shopā which I'd heard whisperings about. Itās tucked away on a side street, looking so innocent youād hardly know what treasures lie within.
Now, as you can imagine, I went straight in, the scent of old lace, musky perfume and vintage silk washing over me as if it was welcoming me home. As I navigated through racks piled high with beautiful frocks, hats, shoes and more ā it was like stepping back into my favourite vintage movie scenes. Imagine, dancing through a scene in āSinginā in the Rainā while sporting a magnificent 1950s cocktail dress with matching vintage heels, adorned in sequins. And guess what? I actually found the perfect vintage pink tutu! A 1960s masterpiece. Just the right shade of baby pink with a delicate net frill that would send any self-respecting tutu aficionado into a frenzy of joy. ( Iāll be writing a full post about the fabulous finds I discovered in That Little Vintage Shop next week, keep an eye out!).
Later on, I performed my one-woman show to a rowdy bunch at āThe Jolly Sailorā pub, where the atmosphere was electric, everyoneās energy charged up after the local football match! The performance was pure fun - think tap dancing, quick costume changes, a few naughty jokes and lots of sassy, twirling tutus! They even gave me a free pint of their home-brewed beer, I must say, itās as good as the beer they serve at the London pub, The Prince Albert. But donāt get me wrong, my heart still belongs to Derbyshire, which is home to some of the finest pubs in the world ā all cosy with crackling fireplaces and the best pint of real ale this side of the Pennines! Oh, and did I mention the delicious home-made pies?! My favourite pub back home is the āRed Lionā in Ashbourne, with the most delicious āBeef & Stilton Pieā with gravy you could dream of! But thatās another story for another blog post!
I have to say, Darwen has absolutely won me over. Itās full of those friendly faces, the type that makes you feel welcome in every corner you turn, just like Iām always saying about the little town in Derbyshire where I grew up. This little gem of a place has heart, a beautiful historic centre and a charming, friendly spirit. I left feeling inspired and I think thatās all I need, to return, hopefully next year to the town to perform at their yearly town show, The Darwen Carnival - if youāre looking for fun, live music and traditional street theatre, this is a must-visit in Lancashire, but keep an eye out for my travel blog posts closer to the event ā Iāll keep you updated.
The world, I know you are a place of vast and exciting possibilities! But donāt forget to pause, look around and appreciate the simple beauty in everyday moments!
Catch you later girlies!
*Pink Tutu Sparkles signing out! * (aka Alex, still trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life! LOL, how about wearing tutus?! )
Pink Tutu Sparkles
www.pink-tutu.com
XOXO!
