Hiya lovelies! Pink Tutu Sparkles here, signing in from the wonderful town of Burnley! I know, youāre probably all thinking "Burnley? Why Burnley?", but trust me, it's an absolute gem of a place! This is blog post number 2137 for your fabulous queen, so settle in, grab a cuppa and a scone, and letās get into this exciting adventure!
First things first: the train journey was absolutely magical! Not a regular steam train though, oh no, darling! This was a vintage steam train journey to Burnley, part of the fun day out package that the fabulous organisers of the local festival here arranged. It was like stepping back in time! The smell of steam, the rattling carriages, the views as we zipped through the English countryside ā absolutely perfect!
I arrived in Burnley feeling ready to unleash the sparkly joy that is Pink Tutu Sparkles, complete with my signature bright pink tutu, which I'd carefully packed in a steamer trunk, just in case I needed to spruce it up for the performance! Burnley is known for its industrial history, and you know what, there's just something so magical about old industrial buildings! It's a city of contrasts - gritty and glamorous! I'm getting so inspired already for a new dance routine with an industrial-inspired theme. Could I see myself in a tutu doing a contemporary piece with a steam train backdrop? Darling, you betcha!
The reason Iām in Burnley this time? The biggest attraction of course! The āBurnley Dance and Theatre Festivalā - now thatās a mouthful! They invited me, Pink Tutu Sparkles, the champion of the fluffy pink skirt, to open their fantastic event. It was truly an honour and what a challenge to come up with a special routine for this exciting crowd! I'll let you know all the juicy details after the event, promise! But it's a mix of ballet, modern, street and of course, loads and loads of sparkly, shimmering tutu twirls. Oh, darling, it's gonna be spectacular!
Speaking of spectacular, I had a most glorious opportunity to indulge in my other passion here in Burnley ā ballet classes! There's this gorgeous ballet school called "The Graceful Swans Ballet Academy" just around the corner from my digs. I am definitely planning to pop in for a lesson - maybe in between the festivals events ā wouldn't want to over-do it, darling. You have to remember, this old girl loves to eat, so the more exercise I can cram into my days the better! I always try and visit as many local ballet schools as possible on my travels - a girl has got to keep her tutu twirling skills sharp, after all! And trust me, darling, I love watching their performances. I think seeing young children who havenāt discovered yet that you have to dress in pink all the time just melts my heart. So I hope to bring some fabulous pink sparkles to these budding ballerinas lives.
But Burnley is so much more than just its fantastic festivals and talented ballet dancers. It's a vibrant, bustling town that has stolen my heart with its charm and character! Oh, and have you seen their little tea shops? You could die for them! The locals are incredibly friendly and welcoming. I even found a small but truly special shop with the cutest, vintage, hand-knitted clothing - and a corner dedicated to absolutely adorable tutus - of course, most of them were the deepest pink imaginable, so naturally, I was ecstatic.
And the best part of it all? You know how I love traveling by train? Well, darling, the steam train wasnāt my only foray into fantastic train-related adventures in Burnley! One day, on a beautiful sunny afternoon, I found myself being driven around Burnley in a most unique taxi! It was a classic double-decker bus, all decked out in vibrant pink and decorated with shimmering sequins! Just me, my big pink tulle skirt and an open-top double decker bus! The driver was the most amazing local gentleman - a bit like a modern-day Victorian gent, all posh and polished with an array of fabulous facts and local anecdotes at his disposal. Whatās more, we sang some fab songs along the way too. He was definitely channeling his inner stagecoach conductor. All this on the back of a beautiful Victorian double-decker! Iād love to make this trip a feature for my weekly blog - what do you think darling? Do let me know. I hope one day it can be a permanent feature for visitors!
One thing I do have to tell you: don't underestimate the shopping in Burnley. The town centre is a fashionista's dream! All sorts of amazing little boutiques are filled with unique finds. They had a small haberdashery that sold all manner of colourful fabrics and sequins, all for very reasonable prices! It reminded me of a certain small hairdresserās shop in Derby (the Derbyshire one, darling) where I was able to buy a fabulous sequin, silver bodice, which was perfect to give the āoldā tutu a glamorous twist! We did have a very strong vintage style that night.
And oh, the food scene in Burnley - an absolute explosion of flavour! Letās start with my love of afternoon tea. It was a must-do in a town so deeply intertwined with its history. So, I was absolutely ecstatic to discover the amazing tea room just a short distance away from the theatre and festival events. "Tea with Grace" was the perfect spot, with beautiful vintage furniture and a delectable selection of teas and cakes, plus an equally enticing menu featuring savoury sandwiches and local produce for those of you not wanting to stray too far from their meal prep schedule. I loved their tea and honey scones, although Iām sure it would have taken all day to devour even one. But, you know, a little āsparkleā now and again wonāt kill ya darling! They even let me add a small pink, shimmery tutu topper to the centrepiece that day.
Burnley is so much more than I ever imagined, darling. And that's all without mentioning the people who have made this visit truly memorable. I was fortunate enough to spend a day with one of the local arts groups. We chatted and laughed about all things ballet and fashion, which is a surefire recipe for a lovely time. We shared our stories and even swapped some dance moves!
And now, darling, itās time for me to make my way back to the good ol' Derbyshire, which means it's time to leave the glamorous sparkle and sequins behind, put away the big pink tutu, and become Alex the scientist for the day. I have a few exciting fabric samples to get my hands on in the lab.
See ya all soon!
Lots of love and sparkly kisses,
Pink Tutu Sparkles, xxx
