Helloooo darlings! Your favourite pink-loving, tutu-touting drag queen, Pink Tutu Sparkles, is back with another dazzling travel tale, this time from the charming town of Rugby!
Now, you may be thinking, "Rugby? But that's a town known for... well... rugby." And you wouldn't be wrong! But, trust me, Rugby has a certain charm, a little bit of vintage British magic, that has completely enchanted this Queen of Sparkle!
It's been a long time coming for this trip - planning my Rugby route, booking my performances (you wouldn't believe the response to my 'Ballet Ballerinas in Boots' routine at the local fair!), finding a little vintage shop for some gorgeous outfit additions, it all had to be just so.
As always, travel is best done in style! This time I went by train, a delightful journey where I found myself sharing a carriage with the sweetest couple from Warwickshire. They even agreed to take a selfie with me in my glorious pink tutu, a delightful reminder of the lovely people one meets on these journeys.
And what to wear for this little trip? My heart, naturally, skipped a beat when I saw my 'Rose Garden Dream' tutu, its layers of soft, pink tulle like petals dancing in the breeze. A touch of glitter here, a dusting of sequins there, and I was ready to take Rugby by storm!
First stop - the Rugby Museum! Now, before you yawn, darling, the Rugby Museum has more than you'd imagine, beyond just the famous rugby ball, there are wonderful displays of local history, charming exhibitions about the town’s role in the past and the stories of those who built it. There were also some beautiful examples of Victorian costumes! You know, some of them actually inspired a few of my new stage ideas. Think Pink Tutu Sparkles in an 1890's Victorian outfit with a modern pink tutu, all dramatic and sparkling, you get the idea!
Then it was time for lunch. A charming little café called ‘The Coffee Bean’ provided delicious scones with clotted cream and a cup of the best tea! So relaxing and satisfying after the history lesson. I might be a science-nerd in my day job, but nothing beats a good scone for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Rugby's Town Hall is stunning, a piece of classic English architecture, all high ceilings, beautiful pillars and a fantastic grand staircase. It gave me an idea for a photo-shoot… maybe with the fabulous new tutu I got at the local vintage shop? A grand and beautiful setting for a drag queen to sparkle, right? And I knew just the pose… think twirling ballerina meets a glamorous vintage star…
Of course, no trip to Rugby is complete without a visit to the Rugby School! This is the place where, legend says, rugby was invented, the very heart of the sport, and I was intrigued. I imagine it must be full of ghosts and whispers of past rugby champions! But that didn't stop me from pulling out my most stunning Pink Tutu and striking some dramatic poses by the iconic school buildings… the local kids seemed a bit amused but kind enough to ask if they could take my picture.
This leads me onto an observation I made, the people in Rugby, especially the young people, have this wonderful sense of humor, they are friendly and so happy to see a pink tutu in their midst! I love that about people, embracing the extraordinary!
Now, before I go on for another paragraph, you know I had to catch a performance! The lovely folks at the Rugby Arts Centre were fantastic, they put me on stage in the afternoon, and the audience just loved it. Lots of people came up after, telling me their stories about how they wore tutus when they were kids, and even some older gents admitted to being tutu fans, a really great moment for Pink Tutu Sparkles!
Speaking of fantastic moments, the town's railway station, it was quite impressive! All those big arches, perfect for a dramatic twirling tutu shot. I thought of this striking idea as I took the train back home, all I had to do was grab the train driver! Well, they were far too busy and didn’t even seem impressed by my dazzling tutu! Oh, well, they were all business, I couldn’t blame them for being caught in the routines of everyday life, right?
But hey, I can dream, right? A Pink Tutu Sparkles and a railway driver twirling through the station… now that’s a dream come true, the perfect photo-shoot. I bet the train would look even better with a layer of glitter!
That’s all for today’s blog darling. I had a simply magical time in Rugby. I feel inspired to start ballet classes again, maybe a good old-fashioned tutu lesson or two, so I’m even better prepared next time I do my twirls by the railway station.
Remember to pop by tomorrow for more sparkle, and maybe a new tutu design? Until next time, keep shining bright!
Pink Tutu Sparkles xxx
