Hello darlings! It's your girl, Pink Tutu Sparkles, signing in from the wondrous world of Bournville, ready to share all the latest pink-tastic happenings! Today's post marks a whopping #6436 in my pink-tutu journey, and trust me, the glitter and the tulle are only getting thicker!
Now, let's rewind a bit. Bournville – I hear that name and a vision of fluffy chocolate dreams floods my mind. And boy, did it deliver! I spent the past week indulging in some seriously delightful treats and sights in this charming place, but before I get to the full scoop on my Bournville adventure, let me spill the tea on how I got there.
As you lovely lot know, I'm all about train travel. Nothing quite compares to the thrill of gliding through the English countryside, especially with my trusty little travel steamer trunk, overflowing with my best frocks and, of course, my pinkest tutus. I think I must've taken at least seven outfits for my weekend trip – just because you can, doesn't mean you shouldn't right? And after a wonderfully scenic train journey, I found myself stepping into Bournville, feeling like the biggest ballerina princess ever!
Speaking of ballerinas, this Bournville escapade actually began in my home county of Derbyshire – oh, the thrill of those beautiful rolling hills, it's enough to make even the most cynical soul (or scientist) twirl with joy! I was in the midst of my usual pre-performance routine – meticulously selecting a feather boa from my extensive collection for a glamorous charity ball later that night. (By the way, don't forget your local charity events - let's all show those worthy causes some glitter and twirling!) Suddenly, my phone buzzed, and a very important email appeared in my inbox. It was an invitation – an offer I simply couldn't refuse – a performance in the heart of Bournville itself!
How could I resist? This was not just a town known for chocolate and Cadbury's, this was history! Cadbury's had been around since my gran's day! And what better way to celebrate the town than with a little Pink Tutu Sparkles magic?
So, there I was, packing up my glitziest pink ensemble, meticulously choosing a tiara that could rival the grandeur of a royal wedding, and humming my signature “Tutu Tango” with a sparkle in my eye, before hopping aboard the train with dreams of chocolates and chocolate bars dancing in my head.
After a breathtaking journey through the English countryside, the sights and smells of Bournville began to enchant my senses. It was just like something out of a fairytale. There was the famous Bournville clock tower - the tallest in Birmingham, if I remember right! (If you ever need a reminder about where to get a decent cuppa in Bournville, keep your eye out for the clock, and you’ll never be far from the aroma of something delicious!). The whole place has such an air of Victorian-era grandeur to it. So romantic! Imagine all the fabulous balls they must've held in their heyday!
This all happened, of course, between bouts of intense shopping sprees. The shops of Bournville were positively bursting with sparkly delights! And trust me, Pink Tutu Sparkles always makes time for a bit of retail therapy. You have to be on top of your game when it comes to your fashion, don't you agree? After all, if you want to inspire everyone to wear a pink tutu, you've got to lead by example!
But you can't go to a place as fabulous as Bournville without visiting the legendary Cadbury World! Now, a trip to a place with chocolate, history and so much yummy treats simply must be followed by a scrumptious afternoon tea!
As you all know, Pink Tutu Sparkles can't resist a good bit of afternoon tea! Especially with those delicious clotted cream scones - mmmm! But before my afternoon tea, I did venture into the enchanting Cadbury World itself – I had to, darling, for research purposes! What are a queen's priorities, you ask? (Let's be honest, mine's almost always food, or a little fashion!)
So I twirled, and sashayed my way around the museum, soaking up the rich history of Cadbury and its iconic treats. Let's face it - it's hard not to smile when you’re surrounded by the magic of the iconic purple wrapping, the sight of delicious chocolates in all shapes and sizes, and those delightful chocolate bunnies! This place, darlings, is truly a temple for the senses. It was everything and more I could have dreamed of, plus I learnt so much! Imagine – the story of how John Cadbury and his brother Benjamin started off as Quaker families! They are real entrepreneurs, who just knew the power of cocoa and the taste of milk! Their little story took off to be the giant chocolate maker of the day - I can't help but love those Bournville bars!
My inner child absolutely lost it! My feet practically skipped with delight. And as if that wasn’t enough, my eyes twinkled when I came across the charming ‘Bournville Story’. They told tales of how a beautiful community sprouted up right there. The community, known for their cocoa factory, was really innovative and set a benchmark in worker welfare at the time. Even had their own cocoa bar that became ‘a thing'! Just wow! I felt like I had travelled through time, and landed in an era of innovation, invention and magic – much like a certain pink tutu-wearing queen's world!
Let's be honest, Bournville is more than just a town with chocolate in its heart - it has its own spirit of optimism and creativity - so fitting with a fabulous pink-loving queen like me. The very idea of sharing yummy treats and building a lovely community right there is as charming as those chocolates! And I had to take home a bag of the ‘special edition’ bournville chocolates - I mean, they’re simply too yummy! I plan on giving some of them to my science pals at my lab. After all, it’s always a great excuse for an afternoon of fun, even if it's only to try my latest fashion designs on those fabulous chemists (and perhaps give them some inspiration too!)
Of course, a Pink Tutu Sparkles adventure would be incomplete without a dose of theatricality, so you bet I delivered! It wouldn't be a proper Pink Tutu Sparkles experience without sharing the love of dance with the whole town. The local town hall was our venue - oh, the gorgeous building with its beautiful grandeur - what a place for a truly unique theatrical experience!
Let me tell you, Bournville is a place with some very lovely and passionate people who absolutely adore the dance! My first act involved a brand-new routine I created for a fundraising dance party – a fusion of jazz, tango and some traditional ballet movements - with the most amazing, sparkly, pink tutu and headpiece to complete my performance. The whole crowd went wild! I got so many lovely comments from audience members; I can't believe so many people shared my love for tutus! They even asked for more - but my evening was filled with performances and a fabulous ‘dance-off’ with one very talented, handsome gentleman ( I do love gentlemen with style and grace, after all!). My whole pink-tutu-infused performance just seemed to connect with everyone. We really embraced the community spirit of Bournville - from a charity ball for a local dog shelter (who needs cuddles from a very beautiful Labrador?) to a special fundraising performance for an opera troupe that puts on a show every single summer. My mission - and you already know this - is to get everyone to wear pink tutus! You can't imagine how many smiles and laughs I saw, from those amazing locals! It’s the little things that bring people together.
In my next blog post, I’ll tell you about all my favorite spots, my pink tutu collection and share with you some truly fabulous recipes – all from Bournville - because every Pink Tutu Sparkles post is not complete without some fun and delicious discoveries, and oh my gosh! Those local Bournville chefs know a thing or two about their cocoa and a good recipe! So join me on Pink-Tutu.com – until my next travel diary, stay sparkling, be bold and get your sparkle on!
