Monday 31 October 2016

Are you ready for an evening of mischief and fun ? … Meooow !!

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Happy HALLOWEEN Everyone !
Love from,


Ella x
(AKA Catwoman, hehehe   ).
You can check out my blog about my life as a Disney doll, including many many photos of my adventures, on my facebook page here … https://www.facebook.com/EllaDisneyDoll/

Sunday 30 October 2016

** A fond farewell to Loch Ness & the Highlands – Guidbye, and hae a guid journey ! **

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The “McRocky” Family’s Scottish Highland Holiday 2016.
It seems that the final day of our Scotland vacation was upon us in no time at all, and it was a day filled with both joy and sadness at that. Mostly from knowing that our holiday was drawing to a close … Awwww. But we still took full advantage of the time we had left none the less, by visiting the ever so fairytale-esque Cawdor Castle (Unfortunately we were unable to get a photo of us there to show you all, but we certainly enjoyed the excursion a great deal all the same). If you’re inclined though, you can check it out for yourselves on their website here … www.cawdorcastle.com.
Anyway …
Having finished our little expedition, upon our return to Lochend, we were suddenly overcome with the slightly melancholy realisation that THIS was our last chance to enjoy the fantastic view of Loch Ness, which we’d found SO captivating during the course of our stay. You see, we were planning to start our journey home at 4am the following morning. So in all honesty, we wouldn’t get another opportunity to see the loch again once the sun had set on this very day … Awwww, so sad.
We therefore quietly parked on the shoreline for a short while, taking in the sight, sounds, and sheer wonder, of this world famous marvel of nature before us … Mmmmmm !
Sadly however, all too soon it was time to return to the holiday cottage, to start packing for that impending big long drive ahead of us … As we watched the light continuing to fade on our Highland holiday though, whilst it was undoubtedly a somewhat sad atmosphere, I think each and every one of us felt incredibly lucky to have been given the experience of this amazing week away in Scotland none the less.
Whilst we have no idea if we’ll ever return here, who knows what the future holds, hey ? But for now, it seems all good things must come to an end after all.
So with a heavy heart, it’s high time that I signed off from our Scottish vacation, bringing these holiday updates to a close at last. I hope you’ve enjoyed following my daft dolly experiences up here, however it’s now time to return home …
Guidbye, and hae a guid journey !
Love from,
Ella x
You can check out my blog about my life as a Disney doll, including many many photos of my adventures, on my facebook page here … https://www.facebook.com/EllaDisneyDoll/

Friday 28 October 2016

** Bags of Fun ? Must mean it’s time for some girly shopping in tantalising tartan – Apparently the human overlord had the same idea as well ! **

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The “McRocky” Family’s Scottish Highland Holiday 2016.
As our Scotland vacation was now drawing to a close, there was certainly a sense of melancholy starting to build … It’s almost over, how sad. But, it seems there was still a wee bit of time left for somewhat of an indulgent splurge on last-minute holiday souvenirs none the less … Oh GOODY !!
Something GIRLY at last !! … And it’s not like Rocky could complain after he dragged me onto another steam train yesterday.
I could almost HEAR all the retail outlets calling to me. This was most definitely my chance for something frivolous, feminine, and just for me. But what would I buy ?
Well …
Much to my surprise, as you can see here, the lord and master had a similar idea in the end … Because after hitting the shops, it seems we BOTH came home with lovely new tartan handbags to show for our retail therapy efforts. What a funny coincidence, hey ?
But aren’t they FABULOUS ?! … Mmmmmmm.
What lovely souvenirs for us both to remember this amazing Highland adventure of ours with … Speaking of which, my next instalment will sadly be the final update charting our Scotland exploits … Awwwww.
For now however, I’ll simply say … See you next time.
Love from,
Ella x
You can check out my blog about my life as a Disney doll, including many many photos of my adventures, on my facebook page here … https://www.facebook.com/EllaDisneyDoll/

Thursday 27 October 2016

** All aboard !! – As we take a bonnie train ride through the Scottish Highlands ! **

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The “McRocky” Family’s Scottish Highland Holiday 2016.
Considering the fact that my handsome hubby is a HUGE train lover, I guess it will come as NO shock to you all that Rocky suggested an outing on yet another steam train during this vacation of ours … Groan !! Not again ?!
But anyway …
The Strathspey Railway was the first line to come to the heart of the Scottish Highlands, back in the mid 1800s, and they’re still running steam trains through the stunning surroundings of the Cairngorms National Park even today ! … So how could my dearly beloved possibly pass up an opportunity like that ?
He couldn’t of course … So bright and early one morning we set off from our Loch Ness base-camp, heading out towards the picturesque mountainous surroundings of Aviemore.
I’m not sure how it happened, but somehow through the course of our journey, time had gotten away from us. In fact, when we arrived at the station we literally only had a few MINUTES before the train was departing … QUICK !!
It was all a bit of a blurry rush, what with getting tickets sorted, trying to board the train and whatnot. But we were still somewhat taken aback none the less, when we climbed into the last carriage in haste, only to discover that it was completely empty … Ooooh-errrr, hey !!
So in essence, we had a carriage all to ourselves, AND the pick of any seat we wanted during the 90 minute round trip. Which stopped at the stations of ‘Boat of Garten’ (Seen here), and ‘Broomhill’, before returning back to our starting point at ‘Aviemore’.
It was lovely watching the scenery pass us by, in a bit of a blur, as the engine chuffed up and down the line, hauling its many carriages. But from my own point of view, my favourite moment of the day was seeing the smiles this outing had brought to the faces of my husband and daughters … Awwww.
That alone made the whole thing worthwhile … But I still couldn’t help but HOPE that perhaps we might manage at least ONE thing that was a wee bit girlier, and more MY style, before the holiday was through.
Did I manage that though ? … Sorry, but you’ll have to wait until another day to find out the answer to that one, wont you …
Until my next holiday update then, my lovelies.
Love from,
Ella x
You can check out my blog about my life as a Disney doll, including many many photos of my adventures, on my facebook page here … https://www.facebook.com/EllaDisneyDoll/

Wednesday 26 October 2016

** Out for a quiet stroll, and making friends with a wee native beastie – Mooooo !! **

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The “McRocky” Family’s Scottish Highland Holiday 2016.
As much as I enjoyed spending time with my family during the course of our Scotland vacation, we still all need a little time to ourselves every now and again, don’t we. To clear the head, recharge and whatnot.
So, whilst Rocky was busy with the girls in the holiday cottage garden, playing a made-up game he called ‘Hunt-the-Thistle’, I decided to take advantage of this rare opportunity, and have a little stroll around the surrounding area by myself … I wasn’t a great distance from the house in all honesty, but it was far enough to give me a much needed breather all the same.
It was wonderful stretching the old legs, and absorbing all that lovely peace and tranquillity. I even found a thistle too, as it happens. So I made sure to pick it, to take back for Ruby and Emma … Most of all though, I loved the quiet solitude. It was just me and nature. I could actually HEAR my own thoughts again … It was such a relief. There was no squealing or droning chatter from my daughters and husband to distract me. There was just the gentle sound of the grass swishing past my shoes, the twittering birds in the tree’s, and a … Moooooooooooo !!
Ummmm, hello ? … What was THAT ?? I thought to myself rather worriedly.
When I turned however, I was somewhat surprised by the sight of a Highland Cow (Or as the Scots call them, ‘Hairy Coo’) standing right behind me …. Ooooh-errr !! Where did HE come from ??
Highland cattle are a breed which originated in the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland, they were first mentioned in the 6th century AD. They have long horns and long wavy coats. They’re a hardy breed, due to their native environment, and have been described as almost as cold-tolerant as the arctic-dwelling reindeer. It seems they’re somewhat of a Scottish treasure … But somehow I wasn’t expecting a close encounter with one during our holiday.
O–kay … What now ??
As it happens, the wee coo was a friendly little beastie. He even let me stroke him … But to be frank, he seemed more than a little interested in the thistle which I’d picked for the girls during the course of my stroll. “Mooooooooo !!” he kept telling me as he reached for it … Right !
I tried to suggest that he didn’t want to eat it REALLY. But considering the fact that I don’t actually speak cow, in the end it was no use … He gobbled the whole thing down, and was apparently quite happy about it an’all.
I guess THAT’S the end of that then.
So, I had nothing to show for my adventure when I returned to my family at last. But, it seems that the tale of my encounter with the friendly ‘Hairy Coo’ was much more exciting for Ruby and Emma anyway … Kids, hey !!
But moving along again … That’s all for now folks. However there’s more to come from our Scottish adventures another day … See ye soon.
Love from,
Ella x
You can check out my blog about my life as a Disney doll, including many many photos of my adventures, on my facebook page here … https://www.facebook.com/EllaDisneyDoll/

Tuesday 25 October 2016

** The car’s fixed, so it’s time for a wee exploration – But maybe NOT in that boat, sheesh !! **

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The “McRocky” Family’s Scottish Highland Holiday 2016.
After the minor ‘incident’ on our travelling up day, in which our poor Jeep (Big Red) lost a wheel (Whoops, ahem !!), Rocky didn’t even look into fixing the poor thing until a few days later … I suspect he was still trying to calm down from the whole embarrassing episode though.
Thankfully when he did finally decide to have a proper gander at the damage however, it wasn’t half as bad as we’d initially feared. In truth, the wheel had only just popped off, and there was NO other damage beyond that … Phew, what a relief !! So, with a quick whack of the hammer, the wheel was back on again. Meaning we were now free to explore the area on our own at last … Yippee !!
Not that I was happy about it or anything … Ahem !! But moving along now …
The sun was shining, it was a lovely day, so we decided to go for a drive and tour around the tiny hamlet of Lochend, where we were staying.
Lochend is a small settlement that lies at the start of the Caledonian Canal, at the head of Loch Ness, only a few miles south of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. It’s a lovely quiet tranquil place to stay, and of course the highlight being the CLOSE proximity to Loch Ness itself.
Lochend has a lovely little gravelly shoreline, and a small lighthouse as well, marking the end of this world famous loch. It’s almost like a little beach to tell the truth, but even so, we were still somewhat surprised to discover the wreckage of a BOAT hidden in the bushed during the course of our explorations … Ooooh-errrr, hey !
There was admittedly a little teasing about our discovery from my handsome hubby, who almost made my little plastic heart STOP when he suggested that we should take the shabby sailboat out on the loch for a cruise …My jaw virtually hit the floor after that one, I tell ya !!
No-way, no, and NEVER … In that order !!
Thankfully after seeing my petrified reaction, Rocky finally conceded that he was kidding after all … Phew !! Thank heavens for that. When you see the close-up piccy of the boat you’ll understand why, trust me.
But anyway … It was nice getting out and about on our own again, and I couldn’t help but wonder what other interesting discoveries this lovely Highland adventure of ours might have in store ?
There’ll be more on all that another time though.
Until then my lovelies,
Love from,
Ella x
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P.S. Here’s the piccy of when we had a close up inspection of that questionable ‘BOAT’ which my daft fella wanted to try and sail on the loch.
Yep, that’s right, it had NO bottom to it !! Could get kinda dampish on the water as a result methinks … Deary me, what is he like, hey. But anyway …
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You can check out my blog about my life as a Disney doll, including many many photos of my adventures, on my facebook page here … https://www.facebook.com/EllaDisneyDoll/

Monday 24 October 2016

** Finding Nessie – Well sort-of, A-HEM !! **

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The “McRocky” Family’s Scottish Highland Holiday 2016.
We were all having a wonderful time during our family vacation in northern Scotland. However, by the middle of our week away, it seems that the girls were somewhat downcast about the fact that, to date, we hadn’t managed a single sighting of the famous Loch Ness Monster …. Awwww, bless !!
At 23 miles (37km) in length, and 755 ft (230m) at it’s deepest point, Loch Ness is the largest volume of freshwater in the British Isles. So if there’s ANY place where a prehistoric sea monster might be hiding on our fair island, it’d be HERE, that’s for sure !
Despite our best efforts though, it’s not as easy as you’d think to catch a glimpse of this infamous Highland beastie. I mean, apart from the fact that the water visibility in the loch is exceptionally low, due to the high peat content in the surrounding soil. Making it very difficult indeed to see anything lurking below those mysterious blackened ripples. If the creature itself was easy to find, then there’d be 100% proof of its existence by now, wouldn’t there. So that realisation alone, left Rocky and I with a couple of rather disappointed wee bairns, I tell ya … Hmmmmm ??
Oh dear, hey !!
BUT … All was not lost after it seems …
Seeing as their father is ever the resourceful chappy, after a quick little sneaky solo trip to one of the local gift ships, my keen fella once again suggested we embark upon yet another Monster-Hunting expedition … Hmmm ?? I was naturally curious what my mischievous man was up-to, but I decided to play along regardless. So in no time as all the four of us were making our way down to the loch’s shoreline. Where low and behold … An adorable green and yellow plush “Nessie” toy was waiting for the girls to find … Awwwww !!
How clever !!
To say that Ruby and Emma were pleased by their discovery would be putting it mildly … In their eyes they’d found Nessie at last, so thankfully that meant there were smiles all round from here on in … Phew !!
We’d found Nessie after all, it seem … Well, sort-of. Ahem !!
But anyway … There’s still more of my bonnie wee Scottish exploits to come. However, I’ll tell you about all of that another day …
Bye for noo then,
Love,
Ella x
P.S. Here’s a piccy of Ruby and Emma looking VERY proud about their “Nessie” find. Awwwww, bless🙂 …
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You can check out my blog about my life as a Disney doll, including many many photos of my adventures, on my facebook page here … https://www.facebook.com/EllaDisneyDoll/

Wednesday 19 October 2016

** A Wee Drap o’ Whisky ! – Or should that be 2 or 3 ?! **

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The “McRocky” Family’s Scottish Highland Holiday 2016.
It seems that my keen, whisky drinking, husband was preparing for somewhat of a knees up and hootenanny, with his particular choice of holiday souvenir, hey. But then, as the cheeky chappy himself pointed out … How can you possibly visit the Scottish Highlands without enjoying a wee nip or two (or perhaps three in this case … Ahem !!) !
Well … It’s not like I could argue with logic like THAT, is it.
Even MORE surprising however, is that THIS isn’t all of it either !! … There’s still a whole big barrel of single malt scotch as well, which Rocky is planning to take home as a holiday souvenir for all our dolly pals to enjoy … That’s if it lasts that long, hey.
Hmmmm ?? … But anyway …
If you cant beat ’em, then I guess it’s time to just raise a glass and join ’em.
And whilst I do just that, I’m somewhat reminded of a traditional Scottish song, titled ‘Wee Drap o’ Whisky’, which I’ll relay to you now …
♪♪♪ “A wee drap o’ whisky I tak’ when I’m weary, 
My blood for to warm and my spirits to cheer, 
And when I sit doon I intend to be merry,
So fill up a bumper and bring it round here.
I can scarce get a hauf oor when I am weary, 
To tell you the truth I am wrocht very sore, 
My ploo and my lassie are a’ my whole pleasure, 
We’ll baith tak’ a kiss an’ hae a drap mair.
Contented I sit and contented I labour, 
Contented I drink and contented I sing, 
I never dispute nor fa’ oot wi’ my neebors, 
For that is a mean and contentious thing.
Oh few, very few ever hear me compleenin’, 
Though oftimes the load of oppression I bear, 
Oh fat is the use o’ a man aye compleenin,’ 
For aye fan he tastes, he maun hae a drap mair.
Come noble waiter, bring in a large measure, 
I mean hauf a mutchkin, the best o’ the toon, 
An’ when it is drunken, it’s time to be joggin, 
Wi’ the lightest o’ care we’ll gang toddlin’ hame.
So good night to you all, I think it’s nae treason, 
Altho’ that the whisky speaks saft in my ear, 
Good night and safe home, till further occasion,
We’ll a’ meet in friendship and hae a drap mair.” ♪♪♪.
Until my next holiday update then, my lovelies. In the meantime though, drink up and be merry, or as they say up here in the Highlands … Slàinte!
Love from,
Ella x
You can check out my blog about my life as a Disney doll, including many many photos of my adventures, on my facebook page here … https://www.facebook.com/EllaDisneyDoll/

Monday 17 October 2016

** A bonnie view from on top ay th’ world – Or as close as we could get !! **

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The “McRocky” Family’s Scottish Highland Holiday 2016.
Check out this stunning vista from up at 3,600 feet … You can almost see clear across the Highlands from up here. Wow, what an outlook !
One of our exciting day trips during our week away, was an excursion across to the CairnGorm Mountains, which is the home of Scotland’s only funicular railway. For those of you not in the know, a funicular railway is essentially a cable railway, where two tram-like vehicles move up and down a steep incline using a counterbalance system. Basically when one car goes down, the other is pulled up as a result.
With it’s top station nestled high up the CairnGorm Mountain, at an impressive 3,600 feet (or 1097m above level), how could we possibly miss this amazing opportunity to view the Highlands from such a great height !
How small everything seemed from up here though. Like that loch over in the distance, which looks almost as though it could be a puddle. It is however, Loch Morlich, which is a freshwater body near Aviemore, and is approx 1 mile long (And over 3 miles in circumference). At this great height however, it was a strange sensation indeed to look DOWN on the world in such a manner. Everything appears so wee … This must be what it’s like for you humans looking down on us dolls, hey. No wonder to us you sometimes seem to have a God-like complex, in the way you manoeuvre our little plastic lives.
Looking down on the world like this certainly gives you a sense of feeling ABOVE everything. It was a VERY odd sensation indeed.
The view was stunning, and rather inspiring in all honesty. Even if it was a wee bit blustery, and the temperature only reached 4 degrees at it’s highest … Brrrrrr, somewhat BRISK !! But it was still worth a look none the less. If only to have the opportunity to look down from this great height and admire the wonderful world we all inhabit.
Wow, what an amazing experience it was … To be here on top ay th’ world (Almost !!).
That’s all for the time-being though folks. However there’ll be more to come from our Scottish adventures another day … See ye soon.
Love from,
Ella x
You can check out my blog about my life as a Disney doll, including many many photos of my adventures, on my facebook page here … https://www.facebook.com/EllaDisneyDoll/

Wednesday 12 October 2016

**Let’s begin with a wee bit of Nessie spotting !!**.

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The “McRocky” Family’s Scottish Highland Holiday 2016.
Following a good nights sleep, for the most part, we had recovered fairly well from the exhausting, and somewhat embarrassing, events of the previous day. Meaning, when we awoke for our first full day here in the Highlands of Scotland, we’d put our little travel-day mishap to rest for the time being, and were now ready to properly start enjoying our Scottish vacation at last … Thank heavens !!
I was SO excited upon drawing the curtains, because THERE it was … Loch Ness in all its glory, filling our field of vision. The sun was shining, and there was a strange feeling in the air, almost as though these mysterious waters were calling to us … So how could we possibly refuse such an open and enticing invitation, I ask you ?
The answer of course is … We didn’t !! …
Therefore, in no time at all we were up, dressed in our tartan best … And ‘yes’ in case you were wondering, I DID make Rocky’s trews, and my own skirt. With the assistance of my sister in the end of course (due to a somewhat disconcerting oversight during my first attempt, which left my poor fella’s britches not only an inch too short in the legs, but also an inch too long in the crotch too. Whoops !! But thankfully Iris helped me amend the problem and saved my efforts after all. Phew !!). Ahem, but that’s another story. So anyway, where was I ? Oh yes that’s it …. It didn’t take long before we were ready to go and on our way down to the loch once more … Granted we had to walk this time, seeing as Rocky hadn’t yet found a suitable opportunity to look at our poor old ‘Big Red’ Jeep. But none of us were the least bit bothered about enjoying a pleasant stroll on such a lovely autumn morning.
The wind was somewhat brisk as we made our way down to the waters edge, and for a moment or two I did wonder if we’d dressed warm enough as well … It seems the girls had NO such concerns though, because as soon as the water was in sight the wee bairns faces lit up with anticipation, as our search began for the famous Loch Ness Monster !
We scoured the water, and wandered along the shoreline for many a happy hour in pursuit of this seemingly impossible quest. There were MANY incidences of Ruby and Emma pointing and shouting out “Look Mummy/Daddy, its Nessie !”, but in the end most discoveries turned out to be buoys, boats, or even the odd branch poking out of the water … Bless ’em !
Despite the fact that we never actually spotted the famous local inhabitant, it seems the pursuit itself was an adventure just as fun for Rocky and the girls. So even in failure, and the face of the inevitable questioning about the truth of the legends, we all went home wearing smiles regardless. Most especially when my clever fella reminded the little-lassies that we can always try again another day … That cheered the wee bairns up no end an’all !
For myself however, I must admit that I didn’t view the day as such a disappointment or let-down at all, as it happens. There IS something undeniably magical about these waters, you see. And standing here watching the sun glisten on those blackened rippling waves, as they lapped against the shore before us, was something almost otherworldly in it’s serene majesty. In all honesty, it was an experience of reflection and deep contemplation, which left me feeling calm, peaceful, and completely at one with these mystical surroundings as a result.
So monster or no monster, to my mind there’s most definitely something far more mystifying hidden beneath the surface … But for now, it appears that the secrets of Loch Ness will remain shrouded in wonderment by the peaty black ripples of these strange and ancient waters.
As for the rest of our Highland holiday adventures though …They will continue another day.
Until then my lovelies,
Love from,
Ella x
You can check out my blog about my life as a Disney doll, including many many photos of my adventures, on my facebook page here … https://www.facebook.com/EllaDisneyDoll/