Post Number 3095
Hello, darlings! It's your girl, Pink Tutu Sparkles, back with another fabulous update from my whirlwind travels. Today, I'm bursting with excitement, because I'm in Westhoughton, a charming little town nestled in Greater Manchester, and it's just brimming with potential for tutu-licious fun!
This, my loves, is post number 3095 on the ever-growing www.pink-tutu.com archive. Do you think it's possible for me to reach 5000 before the year is out? If you have any pink tutu-themed ideas, or things you'd love to see me do, please get in touch, and who knows, you could become part of my glorious pink-tutu world!
This trip to Westhoughton started with a magical train ride. The windows were steamed up from the tea I’d drunk in the station buffet and the sun was sparkling in a sea of golden rays. I just felt utterly, incredibly happy. Of course, my lucky pink sequined rucksack was crammed full of performance gear, including a selection of glittery tiaras, three pairs of diamante stilettos (for comfort, you see!), a shimmery feather boa in the signature pink colour of course, a pink sequin tutu for the performance, plus another one for just general twirling and fun.
Reaching Westhoughton station, I knew, right away, it would be perfect for my Pink Tutu Sparkles magic! It has all the charming features I love in a place – an ancient clock tower in the main square, a quaint old library (which is where my show will be held!), and the biggest pink flower bed I have EVER seen! I swear, darlings, it had over a thousand blooming geraniums, and all in the most exquisite shade of pink, of course.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Pink Tutu Sparkles adventure without some drama! I arrived at the venue - the library - an hour earlier than needed, which, to be fair, is how it usually goes. As you all know, my motto is: “Arrive Early, Never Be Late”! So, imagine my horror when I discovered there were only about twelve people sitting in the lecture hall where I was meant to be performing!
My heart sank, and my usual confidence started to falter. For a minute, I seriously contemplated taking off the huge feather boa I had around my neck and chucking it in the overflowing bin by the entrance! The last thing I wanted to do was face this small group, feeling like they had just watched a film that promised pink tutus and sparkles, and all they got was a dusty old lecture room, and some half-hearted twirls!
Luckily, as is the nature of the theatre (and I'm counting a library lecture hall as theatre on this occasion!) it worked out in my favor. I was halfway through a mental meltdown, fretting that this was the time I had completely misunderstood my audience. The librarians were utterly wonderful.
“I knew there was going to be a problem,” said the chief librarian (who reminded me of Margaret Rutherford's Miss Marple) as I confided my predicament. “That local school is all coming at lunchtime for a reading lesson,” she smiled.
And right on time, around midday, the library entrance became flooded with small children! Now, we're talking full-scale ballet fans here, right? This place was hopping! It felt as if I'd landed in a story by Roald Dahl, where, just like magic, there were dozens of new fans wanting to wear pink tutus, just like me! The little ones were so excited by my twirling (I can’t really do anything else when I wear a tutu!) and my sparkles, that there were so many excited voices and screams it almost brought the library roof down. It's fair to say, darlings, it was a real performance to remember!
Of course, being the total professional that I am, I got on with the show! The library has quite a high ceiling so the dramatic, flowing movements of my pink sequined tutu were really noticeable, especially in the dimly-lit lecture room. All those girls watching me gave me that ‘girl power’ feeling I used to get when my dad used to take me to see the American Psycho’ ballet, and then after, I would go out for fish and chips in his car. It was all very posh, just like Westhoughton.
I didn't expect much in terms of costume, darling, when I first decided to make this place my destination. All those small-town locations always felt so plain to me when I was starting out as Pink Tutu Sparkles. But Westhoughton actually lived up to its reputation as being a lovely and lively town – my performance in the lecture hall was well received!
And to add to the loveliness, I received an unexpected and very generous gift from my new Westhoughton friends. You know that pink glittery tutu I mentioned I’d packed in my rucksack? That was given to me when I started doing drag. It’s got some great memories attached to it - it's the first pink tutu I ever owned. After the show, the kids asked if they could put money in a bucket, so I could buy another one! All the boys and girls said it should be a pink one just like mine, but with more sparkly sequins! This town, darling, is just too wonderful.
In case you’re wondering about my favourite shops in Westhoughton (I must admit, my initial focus was the big flower bed, but then I discovered there’s quite a few more wonders!), my favourite by far is “Pink Palace.” I know, what a fantastic name, right?! But this was not just any old shop. Pink Palace, as its name suggests, sells almost everything in pink, even tutus. Yes, darlings, you are reading this correctly: I saw a huge pink tutu in the window, hanging outside Pink Palace! What’s more, I managed to bag myself some of the most beautiful sequined pink dresses, a glittery hair clip with a big pink feather in it (very chic!), and some really fab, pink sparkly, satin gloves. My evening was certainly complete.
To say that I am truly enjoying myself in Westhoughton would be an understatement, my dears! It’s everything you’d imagine for a perfect, sparklingly glamorous escape!
If you’re looking for an adventurous experience and a magical place where anything’s possible – and that includes getting everyone wearing a pink tutu, don't forget that the pink sequined magic begins with a click on www.pink-tutu.com. See you on the dance floor!
