Helloooo, lovelies! It's your girl, Pink Tutu Sparkles, back with another sizzling post for your reading pleasure! Today's post is extra special, because you know how much I love travelling, and I'm finally hitting the road again! 🎉 This is post number 1976, and I'm off to Kingswood, a quaint and delightful little town just a hop and a skip from my beloved Derbyshire!
Now, I know some of you might be thinking, "Kingswood? Really, Pink Tutu? Isn't that a bit... humdrum?" But oh, my darlings, you're so wrong! Kingswood is just brimming with charm and surprises! The streets are lined with little independent shops selling all sorts of delightful trinkets and treasures. They've even got a lovely antique market that's perfect for picking up a little something for your boudoir. And just you wait, because later I'm going to tell you all about the absolute bargain of a feather boa I scored! 💖
Now, let's be honest, there's nothing quite like travelling by train. You get to relax, read a fabulous magazine (the one with the fab new lipstick review!), people watch and dream up fabulous new dance routines. But before we get to the travelling, let me tell you about the most fantastic little ballet school I found just down the road from my lodgings. Can you believe it? I mean, Kingswood might not sound like the kind of place you'd find a ballet school, but there it was! It even has its own costume department! Talk about finding your calling! They were doing a workshop on contemporary dance, and my, it was divine! So much elegance, fluidity and precision... the movement just captivated me! ✨
You know, it's funny because ever since I took up this whole Pink Tutu Sparkles persona, the ballet world seems to have opened its arms to me! It's like it’s just waiting for someone like me, a girl who isn’t afraid to make a splash. You can bet that I'll be attending as many dance classes as I can when I’m in this town! Now I'm dreaming about a beautiful, romantic pas de deux, dressed in a fluffy pink tutu with the whole town as our audience. Oh my, isn't it all just too glamorous to think about? 💖 (And no, I won’t be attempting the Grand Jeté until my next dance class - safety first!) 🩰
So, let's get to the juicy details of the journey, my lovelies. I booked a comfy carriage for my trip on the Midland Main Line from Derby to Kingswood. It was all so magical - watching the green fields glide by, the houses dotted along the track... and a friendly elderly lady giving me the most curious looks every time I sashayed to the tea trolley. It's like she’s never seen a pink tutu on a train before! (Well, in fairness, has anyone?) 😄
Now, when I’m on a train, the temptation to wear my pink tutu, as extravagant as it is, just overpowers me! And that's what happened today. This train journey was an absolute riot, because once I realised there wasn't a fellow traveller in sight, I pulled out the grand, flowing pink tutu. I spun and twirled. Oh, how the people must have wondered as I made my way down the aisle towards the tea trolley in full tutu regalia! 💖 "Just going to make sure the lovely staff have enough tea, darlings!" I thought to myself, giving them a gracious smile.
Speaking of tea, did I mention the delightful vintage tea room I stumbled upon just minutes after arriving? The charming little café called "The Queen’s Tea Cup" had everything I needed to revive me from my journey - cakes, pastries and a whole selection of delicate china cups to choose from! I opted for the most extravagant teapot – with floral decorations of course! The tea room owner seemed to have the biggest grin as she said, "Ooh darling, we do love our colour pink here at The Queen's Tea Cup!" - a phrase that is quickly becoming my new favourite!
Once I had fuelled my creative energy, it was time to embrace Kingswood's culture. My heart already had a plan - "We’re going to have a fabulous night tonight," I whispered to myself, feeling a wave of anticipation rush over me. But before you find out all about it, I'm going to reveal my amazing outfit! Well, my dears, my outfit was simply DIVINE. You’ve got to trust me on this!
It was a daring combination of vibrant coral, lemon and pink! It’s almost impossible to describe it to you… the way the lemon hues peeked through, reflecting the sunshine on the beautiful pink dress, made it all the more mesmerizing. My dears, you’ve gotta be ready for anything on the streets of Kingswood, and with the outfit, I had an air of fabulousness, I think. You know, the kind of outfit that can go from day to night.
So, for my first night in Kingswood, I headed towards the Town Hall for their grand evening event - a theatrical performance in their amazing community theatre! Kingswood truly knows how to treat its audience and its stage, they’ve done up the entire space in an amazing and glamorous theme! I can't tell you how many sequins and twinkling lights they had! There was a palpable buzz in the air, and my fellow audience members all seemed excited! You know how I love seeing audiences ready to enjoy a show! The evening began with a fabulous group of dancers performing "Dancing with the Stars" style pieces. There was everything from ballet, jazz, salsa, contemporary dance, and tap. There was one dancer in a stunning emerald green leotard that just stole the show – her performance had so much dynamism and incredible emotion, it nearly brought a tear to my eye! (I'm such a sucker for talent and emotion - but who can resist, really?)
However, Kingswood saved the best till last – and brought out an exceptional theatre performance! My, oh my, it was amazing! The cast had so much energy and brought out some great laughs in the crowd. They told such an exciting and wonderful story, too. The themes of courage and self-expression truly resonated with me, which made it a poignant and beautiful experience for all. It was simply amazing – a must-see performance if you ever find yourself in Kingswood.
Afterwards, I decided to celebrate my evening at Kingswood's iconic pub - The Red Lion. I decided on an "extraordinary pint" as I'd discovered they brewed their own beer! (A bit of local colour is what I love most!) The locals were a funny bunch and gave me an earful about all the goings on around the area! Now you know how to get the latest gossip, don’t you? 😉 And just wait until I tell you all about my conversation with a man named Mr. Reginald Smithwick, a man who is obsessed with Victorian lacework and who, at one point, proclaimed “I simply adore the charm of the Victorians”. My darling, I really cannot tell you how entertaining he was. He made it all worth my while.
The end of my trip arrived quickly, and you know, I wouldn't change a single moment of it! Kingswood gave me something special and unique - a blend of warmth, community and charm that left me buzzing. Now I have this huge list of shops, eateries, events and places to visit next time I make my way down this road! Kingswood truly is a hidden gem, and I hope my blog post inspires all of you to step outside of your comfort zones and take a trip, be it on the train, in your car, or on horseback! Who knows what magical and incredible places and moments await you? 💖
Now I’m just off to put together a pink tutu outfit ready for tomorrow's travels, because let’s be honest - the most beautiful thing about life is living in a way that feels like you're twirling in a giant, pink, fabulous, feather boa-filled cloud. 😉
Catch you tomorrow, lovelies, and remember: stay sassy, stay sparkly and stay fabulous! 💕
