Friday 21 August 2009

Tara-Brigitte Bhavnani interviewed for "Cupcakes & Conversation ... "


Cupcakes & conversation with Tara-Brigitte Bhavnani, First Artist, The Royal Ballet



What motivates you at 8am on a Monday morning ?
Knowing that I'm able to be a part of one of the best companies in the world, performing to the most incredible audiences, surrounded by such nice people...

Who would you most like to dance with ?
Carlos Acosta (sorry Charlotte), Federico Bonelli (sorry Hikaru)

How do you prepare your pointe shoes ?
I sew on ribbons and elastics, then I begin a ritual of ....haha, just joking...


Tara in Sylvia

What is your daily routine at the moment ?
At the moment anything goes! We are presently on holiday, but there's usually a swim at some point during the day.

You can ask six famous people to dinner - who would you invite ?
Unfortunately a couple of them are no longer with us, but I think I'd invite Mahatma Gandhi, Michael Jackson, Karen Kain, Barack Obama, my boyfriend and someone funny like Jack Black. I think that's a good mix, eh?

What would surprise people about you ?
I've been doing an annual 5km swimathon for the past eight years, raising money for charity. It always falls in March or April, in the thick of our season, so there's no training involved. In fact I usually haven't swum since August of the year before!


Tara in Mayerling

Who inspired you to dance ?
Initially it was simply the joy of dance from when I was very young (and still is of course). Then when I began to learn a bit more about ballet and all throughout my training, it was Karen Kain who inspired me to dance. Now I think Sorella Englund is such an inspiration to so many dancers including myself - she's an incredibly beautiful artist and person, inside and out, and has so much to give.

How would someone else describe you ?
The way someone else would describe me is probably very different from the way I would describe myself, so you better ask someone else!

What is your best piece of advice ?
Many people take so much for granted nowadays. I wish that they/we could learn from people who have so little... They manage to do so much and be so happy.

Which role has tested you the most & how ?
I was only understudying it, but I'd have to say the Queen of the Wilis (from Giselle). An adagio solo with millions of bourrées, back to back with several allegro solos of all types - all the while looking poised, elegant but evil, and in complete command of the forest and Wilis...

What is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you ?
I don't know actually...I laugh too much everyday to be able to narrow it down to one thing.



If you designed your own stage costume, what would you create ?
I'm afraid that's top secret right now...

What are you most proud of ?
At the moment, I'd have to say my boyfriend. He's helped thousands of Africans have better lives, amongst many other incredible things...

Who would play you in the film of your life ?
When the time is right, I think you better ask the casting director and then I'll 'okay' her (or not)...


Photo : Roger Stayte

What is your favourite quote ?
I've got many, but here's one of my favourites, by Mother Teresa:
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."

Do you have a secret skill which no-one knows about ?
I do have a secret balletic skill which I do on pointe, but I wouldn't be doing it justice if I described here - you have to see it for yourself ;)

69 comments:

  1. WOW im so happy that you like my blog! :)
    i didnt thought that someone would actually read it, haha!!
    your blog is really interesting as well and i will read some things as soon as i can because i dont really have time atm.
    thank you for writing to me !!
    xx.denise

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  2. wow this girl pictured is absoloutly beautifull and when she dances I can only imagine what she looks like . I love your blog I learn so much about ballet .

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  3. Thank you for your kind comments again! Am honored that you like my blog =) Your blog is great too and so nice to learn about dancers from interviews and with a lovely selection of photos. Know nothing about dancing but my sister takes ballet lessons though!

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  4. Hi, I've just tag you for an award on my blog!! :-) i really like your blog!

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  5. Those photos are simply stunning and what a great interview!

    And thank you, Elise, for leaving such a kind comment on my blog. I haven't been very motivated to write lately and wondered if anyone would even notice. Thank you for renewing my blogging spirit. :o)

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  6. Beautiful is all i can say .. the elegance in the piks took my heart away ... loved ur blog ...
    n thank you so much for droppin by ... it gave me the opportunity to visit ur blog ... thank u :)

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  7. The world is a better place with someone like you in it

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  8. Well, thank you for stopping by- I'm glad you enjoyed it! What a uniques angle this is for a blog! Nice...Have a great weekend!

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  9. WOW- what wonderful pictures and piece. I am so glad you stopped by my blog and left me a message or I would have never have found your blog! I danced through college the in Dance Theatre which I love to this day. ow following you :) Have a fab weekend!

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  10. It was so much fun reading your blog. I used to be a ballet dancer with the "Honolulu Dance Theater" and I miss it a lot...your post brought back lots of memories.

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  11. I love the pictures! Ballet is so incredible.

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  12. how inspiring! i'm happy that i discovered your blog :) i always have been interested in ballet and this interview was great. she is very beautiful! <3

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  13. Are you the photographer as well as the writer? I enjoy your blog, always a pleasure to see such a beautiful blog. Have a great weekend!

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  14. lovely post and great pics-thanks for stopping by my blog

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  15. Thanks for visiting my blog & leaving me a comment! :) How funny that are blogs are "related" in a cupcake sort of way yet soooo very different!!! :) Absolutely gorgeous pictures & interesting stories! Have a great weekend! :)

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  16. Amazing side for ballet lovers like us. Lots of greetings from the Midnight Couture Bloggers Jana and Vany.

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  17. Thank you so much for leaving such a kind comment in my blog, I am very flattered to know that you like my blog and the things I make as well.
    Have a great weekend!
    xxx
    Alessandra

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  18. Ballet is beautiful. Very nice interview!

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  19. What a wonderful interview and such awesome photos.

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  20. Ok I have to fess up here. I visited your blog from a post you made on my blog. So I come over and see you blog about Ballet? I'm thinking do I want to read this since I have no clue about anything in the Ballet world. So I'm curious.. start to read (and I'm really not a big reader), but I became 'locked'. I love the interviewing and point form writing. The photos are beautiful and easy on the eyes.I just want to say I WILL be back, I guess I'm going to learn more on Ballet now and to never turn away from the unknown; it was a little wake up call for my ignorant mind. Thank you for sharing.
    Rachel

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  21. Very interesting interview. Thank you for
    sharing, Elise.

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  22. denise - welcome and thank you for your comment

    phonelady - thank you for the compliment !

    lemonshortbread - thank you

    Nefertari - welcome and thanks

    Winklepots - thank you very much and welcome

    Whyso.... thank you for your lovely comment and welcome

    Brian - humbled !

    Sweet CuddleCakes - thankyou

    62 Cards Sammye-Jo - welcome and thank you

    SleightGirl - welcome and thank you; always great to hear that dancers are reading these interviews too

    Amelia - welcome and thank you

    Eliza - welcome and I'm really glad to hear that you are inspired - that's the whole point !

    Sue Farrow - no! I'd never get any work done if I did - though I do from time to time and some of mine are on here - thank you and welcome !

    georgie - thank you and welcome

    mona - I knwo what you mean ! What's not to love ?

    Wishwithme - thank you and welcome

    JV. Mademoiselle - welcome and thank you

    Just be happy - welcome and thank you

    Christina - welcome and thank you

    Kathy - welcome and thank you

    Rachel - well - that's really great to hear. You are very welcome and I look forward to hearing what you have to say about future posts. I hope you'll be inspired to see live performances now - there is nothing like it ! Thank you so much for your comment because it's exactly comments such as yours which are the whole point of this site.

    Cynthia - welcome and thank you for all your lovely comments

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  23. the second photo is delightful! and I used to be a dancer.....and appreciate your support for the artists dancing........

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  24. i especially like the quote by Mother Theresa about always spreading good cheer around, even as simple as in a smile... Such profound wisdom. If everyone practices that, the world would be so much nicer to be in..

    ;)

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  25. Elise,

    Your blog is very fascinating and beautiful! I really enjoyed visiting it.

    Ballet. I have always admired ballet dancers and other people who dance well. I wish I had their choreographic skills. :)

    Take care.

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  26. What a wonderful blog site! These beautiful women are amazing artists! What dedication it must take to reach such heights in the field of ballet. The photos are just gorgeous.

    I really enjoyed reading about what the ballerinas do to get their slippers prepared! Tearing off silk, shellacing, sanding...... Goodness!

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  27. Great Interview! Thanks for stopping by my blog, I very much appreciate the compliments :) cheers!

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  28. Great interview and thank you for stopping by my blog : ) Yours is so unique!

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  29. dear elise
    Thank you so much for your lovely comment on my blog , You welcome to visit in my blog , follow any time you would like .
    And I invite you come and pick in my shop at etsy

    www.naomikimhi.etsy.com

    If i can do somthing for you im here :)
    I really like your blog :)
    Kind regards
    Naomi.k

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  30. Hi Elise,

    Another amazing post. I love reading your interviews. What a beautiful and interesting (and definately inspiring) blog!

    Michelle :)

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  31. Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog. I've just joined your blog and really enjoyed the interview you did!

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  32. Wow, Elise! I love your blog, such beautiful subjects too! Thank you for stopping by my blog! It looks like you have such a full and creative life.

    Hugs,
    Sheila

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  33. Your blog is truly beautiful and you have taken time and put so much effort into it. The photographs are amazing. It is good to think that ballet has at last been brought to the masses so that we can all appreciate it.
    Not so long ago the majority of the population only had steely glances at it when particular pieces were performed at the Royal Variety Performance. At least we have moved on from that now.

    Whilst I am here I would like to thank you for your visit and kind comments on one of my posts.
    It is appreciated that you have taken the time and read a little of my blog.

    I hope that you will take this recommendation in the spirit that it is meant. I think your blog is too lovely not to be registered in one of the blogging communities. Of course, you may well be but I cannot see any evidence that you are and with the effort you put in it would be nice to make it available to a wider audience. With that in mind I would like to suggest that you join Blogcatalog - http://www.blogcatalog.com/
    and perhaps
    Entrecard -
    http://entrecard.com/

    There are many other blog directories and communities that you could also register your blog into. These two in particular, I have found help to get regular as well as occasional readership which is always a good thing. Even if you do not get time to reciprocate it opens your blog to a world wide audience. When I first started blogging no-one advised me of this and I so do wish they had.

    Good luck with this wonderful blog of yours but please don't hide it and join a few of the blogging communities so that more people can appreciate it.

    I'll be back for anothe visit soon.

    My best regards to you.

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  34. Hey
    yours is a really nice blog! Quite different to mine, but I love it!
    Thank you for visiting me and your wonderful comment.
    Dulce

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  35. The world you live in is one that most of us can only dream of and a language that so few ever really learn to speak fluently. Thank you for sharing it with us..
    Warmly,
    Mona

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  36. I wanted to say thanks for leaving a comment on my blog. ladybugmamaof2.blogspot.com. This was a beautiful interview of a beautiful dancer. I use to dance a long time ago. I'm hoping that one of my daughter's will want to dance when they get older. My 5 year old has shown some interest but not enough for us to shell out that kind of money yet. Love the blog.

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  37. Thanks so much for the lovely comments on my blog. You are so talented too! I have really been enjoying reading your blog. Very elegant!

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  38. Thanks so much for the compliments! It's good to know someone is actually reading, so thanks! Your blog is so put together. Good Job! I always wanted to be in ballet, it's so beautiful!

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  39. Reading the conversations with ballerinas here has been a treat. To be a ballerina must be a dream come true. I love the form of a ballerina and her dancing. Thank you so much for commenting on White Linen Lavender Field! I covet your remark and would like to permantly place it in my sidebar with your permission. I am following your blog now. What a clever idea to promote your conversations with these beautiful ladies. It's my dream to see 'Swan Lake' someday. It is very possible here in the Phoenix area. Thank you again for stopping by.

    Linda ~

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  40. wow this is great!

    i always wanted to be a ballerina. That's why my skirts are tutus inspired. hihii.

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  41. thanks for your comment.i really appreciate comments from you..

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  42. You have a gorgeous site! And I soooooo wanted to be a ballerina when I was little. I took ballet for 6 years. Obviously I wasn't THAT good at it! I was on pointe though.... Are you impressed yet??? ;)

    I love your site and your quote!!!

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  43. Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog. Your blog is so cool....a ballet dancer - who has NEVER wanted to be one. Great post.

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  44. Thank you so much for the very nice comment on my blog. I enjoyed visiting your blog, as well. Both of my daughters danced from age 4 to 14. Here is the post I wrote last June http://tinsandtreasures.blogspot.com/2009/06/dancelike-no-one-is-watching.html

    I love reading your interviews with the professional ballerinas. I will be back! Have a lovely Sunday. ~Natalie

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  45. Hi, thanks for visiting my blog, you are only the third person to do so and leave a comment, so I appreciate feedback greatly!

    I am so glad you love my blog, I will try and post more often, with pictures!

    xx

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  46. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I have read your wonderful post about ballet and never even dreamed, (though I don't know why) there would be such a beautiful blog about ballet! I am so glad you stopped by and wanted to thank you for the lovely compliments!

    Have a Pinkalicious Week!
    Debra

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  47. Elise, thank you so much for coming for a visit and the sweet comment. Wonderful the diversity of the blogworld. Your blog is lovely!
    Debra

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  48. What a lovely blog, Elise!...its so nice to meet you.. i love your banner pic!..
    Great shots too..thanks for sharing!
    gypsy

    thanks for stopping in to see me!

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  49. You have a beautiful way with words and a fabulous blog!

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  50. Elise, thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I love your blog, you and your interests seem quite fascinating. Your photos are wonderful. I hope you will stop by often. Thanks again, Susan.

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  51. thank you so much for visiting me, my daughter loves your blog, she loves ballet, next year she gets to start point, she is so excited. we will definitly be back to visit.

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  52. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog You Sure Do Have Your Hands Full. I have another noteasilyoffendedmoms@blogspot.com if you can find the time to check it out. I loved your blog, very beautiful I did ballet as a little girl but by 3rd grade I was already wearing a bra, I am just not built like a ballerina, that's for sure!

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  53. Thanks for the wonderful comment on ym blog...I have never met a real ballet dancer...I love reading about your dancing and the pictures are wonderful...do you travel with a group or stay in one city..

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  54. thanks so much for the lovely comment you left on my blog - yours is beautiful :D

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  55. Hello, Elise,
    I enjoyed the interview with Tara-Brigitte Bhavnani so much. Isn't she beautiful! Her interview was so down-to-earth. Her quote from Mother Teresa was wonderful, and I am sure Tara lives by it, too. Thank you for stopping by Bunny Cottage. I love visitors. Have a great week ahead. Vicki

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  56. Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love to watch ballet performances, but haven't done so in years! Now you're making me want to find one and get tickets:). I imagine you get to see quite a few. Stop back by my blog soon, and I will post some printable BALLET bookplates just for you:)

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  57. Hello!
    Thank you so much for stopped by today. This is my first time here and what a find your blog is! Wasn't it almost every little girl's dream to become a ballerina? What lovely work you do. I'll be dropping by again.
    Many thanks,
    Peggy

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  58. What beautiful pictures, thanks for stopping by my blog nice to meet someone new. Hugs, Diane

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  59. Hello, I'm leaving you a comment because you have the most lovely blog. Fantastic writing and I love your pics as well. Best wishes !

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  60. Hi, thank you for commenting on my blog. This was a fantastic interview and i love the pictures. x

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  61. Fantastic Photos.
    Ballerinas have such a Mystical awe to them don't they?

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  62. hi..thank you so much for the comment you left on my blog..that was really sweet. I love ballet so much. I put my daughter in it as soon as she was old enough and she did it for 4 years. I was so happy! Until she told me it was not her passion. A part of me just cried inside because it was so my dream, but I never had parents that put me in anything or supported anything I did so I wanted to give it to my daughter...but life goes on. I enjoy watching others. I also see you are a journalist...another passion of mine. Writing and radio which I once did....I will be back to your blog for sure!

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  63. Simply fascinating...Thanks so much for sharing!

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  64. Blessings...
    wow wonderful pictures, congratulations on loving what you do, in these times its difficult to attain a work one loves to do and look forward to.

    Take care and thanks for sharing.

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  65. Hello there, elise! (I love your name btw)

    What a lovely blog, about ballet, ballerinas and such:) Your job really sounds like a very fun, interesting one!

    I was lucky enough to watch the Ondine Ballet at the Royal Opera House in London last June. It was my first ballet experience and so wonderful too!

    Thank you so much for the sweet comment you left on my blog:) Have a great week ahead!

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  66. Anne Marie - thank you so much for your coments & welcome

    Silver - it's a good quote isn't it ?

    Jenny - thank you and welcome

    2 Raven Chicks - thank you and welcome ! Preparation of pointe shoes can be a lengthy business !

    Jenni - thank you and welcome

    Indy Grrrl - I hope so !

    Naomi K - welcome & thanks

    Michelle - thank you ! Good to hear

    jammatun - welcome and thank you

    Halo Hill - thank you and welcome

    Kloggers/Polly - I'm very grateful for your comments, thank you and welcome. Thanks also for the tips - you will see I have taken note !

    Sweeter - thank you and welcome

    Wsprsweetly - thank you for your covely comments and I hope you continue to enjoy

    Ladybug Mama - Welcome and thank you for your comments. Best wishes to your daughter - keep us posted !

    jacque4u2c - glad you enjoyed it - elegant - a supreme compliment ! thank you

    dinkinflicka - welcome and thank you

    Linda K - thank you so much for your comments. I have emailed you seperately. I hope you get to see Swan Lake - you will be mesmerised !

    Denise - didn't we all ?! Welcome and thanks

    sri - thanks

    Jules - thank you for your comments and welcome. You got on pointe - that's worth celebrating !

    sassyglassdesigns - welcome and thanks

    Tins and Treasures - welcome and thank you for the link - great post !

    Jenny - welcome and thanks

    Shabby Cottage Roses - welcome and thank you for your lovely comments. Here it is !

    common ground - welcome and thanks

    gypsylulu - thank you - and welcome

    Kelly Reins - thank you very much and welcome

    Susan - welcome and thanks

    stefanie - good to hear - welcome both of you and thank you for your comments

    Charlotte - thank you and welcome

    MommaB - welcome and to answer your question - in Tara's case, the Royal Ballet are based in Covent Garden, London, at the Royal Opera House. So for most of the year she is dancing in London. But in the summer the company tours all over the world - this summer they were in Washington, Cuba and Granada for example.

    laterg8r - welcome and thanks

    Vicki - I know, the quote is lovely - as is Tara of course ! Welcome and thank you for your comment

    Bentley Boutique - good to hear - I hope you get to see more ballet and let us know all about it ! Welcome and thank you for your lovely comments.

    So Shabby Pink - welcome and thank you

    Diane - welcome and thanks

    Em x - welcome & thanks

    A Bite of Country Cupcakes - they do ! thank you and welcome

    Tamstyles - welcome and thank you for your lovely comment.

    Melissa B - welcome and thanks

    Rhapsody B - thank you - and welcome

    Sher - I hope you'll be seeing more ballet in future - Ondine is a good start ! First time at the Opera House is a good way to begin - welcome and thanks for your comments

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  67. Hello, even though I am on holiday, I couldn’t help logging on into my blog and that’s when I noticed that you had visited my cottage and had left a sweet comment for me. I just had to stop over your blog to thank you personally and to let you know how much kind comments like yours inspire me. You have a fascinating blog, full of interesting posts and lovely photos you also have a new follower…me. I will stop by your blog upon my return.

    ♥ Hugs & Cupcakes ♥

    Duchess

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  68. Duchess - Hello M'Lady ! Thank you so much for leaving a comment while you are on hols. You are very welcome !

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If you've got this far and would like to leave a comment, well, YES YOU CAN.

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Please don't post spam, and constructive critique is the way to go if you want to post a comment which is anything less than nice ! Thanks.