And now for something completely different...

OK, the title of this post is totally misleading, because I am going to share with you another fantastic Scottish castle, which isn't very different at all from my regular programming... but there is something unique about this particular castle

I mentioned in a previous post that on our weekend out of Edinburgh we visited a castle named Doune. Back in 1975, Doune was a film location for a certain funny little movie. One that I am sure many of you have seen...

but maybe you'd recognize it better if we approached from the side...

just like the noble knights of the round table.

Or, maybe best if we "run away!"

Need another hint? Here, watch this: my directorial skills are nearly as good as Matt's delivery-

What...? You didn't get it from that reenactment?? Fine... here's the real deal-

Surely you know what movie it is by now! Unfortunately for us, that exact wall was the only part of the castle that was closed to visitors (they are taking away concrete bits so that water can escape the stone instead of causing the wall to crumble from the inside out, so I guess that's more important than us climbing on top and yelling poorly memorized taunts at one another in horrible french accents). We did get this wee view from an upstairs window!

Good thing there were other parts of the castle used in the film where we could play about! Like this stone staircase leading from the courtyard into the kitchen tower...

the same one stormed by brave Sir Lancelot as he massacres a wedding party rescues a captured bride-to-be...

Which has been fabulously recreated with Legos!

lego source

But if you insist, have a watch of the real scene (but don't blame me if it takes you 15 minutes to read this blog post!)

I took a photo of this view...

...out of this window.

We played about the great hall (one of the best preserved in Scotland for its age) but it looked different without myriad dancing knights,

And the kitchen, while amazing, was sadly (for Matt) temptress-free!

And according to the very funny and informative audio tour (narrated by Terry Jones) the huge stone oven, large enough to roast an ox on a spit,

was where the ladies made a bed for young Sir Galahad.

But just like there are lots of great scenes from the movie that are not filmed at Doune (like when King Arthur fights the Black Knight!), there are tons of interesting historical bits to the castle that have nothing to do with Monty Python.

\This stone, part of the frame to the huge window in the kitchen, shows the marks of where the cooks sharpened their knives nearly 800 years ago.

And the chamber where we found this fireplace was used to entertain and house the fanciest of guests (I wish the fire had been going that day, as it was a bit drafty in the castle. And sitting on stone, fireplae or not, is a quick way to get even colder!)

We broke a few rules, but only a tiny bit... cheeky naughty tourists! 

We checked out the loo- a most comfotable room, really. It had a window for ventillation and a vent to allow in heat from the adjacent room. It even had a little nook in the wall that would have had strips of linen or bits of moss to use to ... you know. 

And from the loo, you have this view- That is the river Teith, and one local said that when soldiers were called to protect the region, they were to come 'armed to the Teith'.

Of course we climbed stairs. Lots and lots of circular stone stairs! If I had a shilling for every old stair I've climbed in the last few months I'd have... well, nothing really, since nobody uses shillings anymore. But you get what I mean. Exploring historic sites = stairs!

So there you have it. Doune Castle... really quite magical.

After our visit, we rode off into the sunset,

and had ourselves a pint!

And just in case it's not utterly clear, the movie filmed at Doune Castle was Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Go rent it, you know you want to see it again!

Fair thee well... and Happy Christmas Eve!!!!

You can take the girl out of Hollywood...

Just a few posts ago, I boasted that Matthew and I don't have a TV here in Scotland, thus freeing up loads of free time in which to be creative and productive. But, I forgot to mention that we've been watching movies. Some out in theaters and some by using his computer like a dvd player. Lucky for us though, every one we've watched has been really great in its own way. Here are all the flicks we've seen on this side of the pond accompanied with  my own little quips and a few fun clips. Happy Friday!

Maltese Falcon (1941)

Bogey at his prime- tough, smart and totally cool. If you don't like this movie, then you're none of those things ;)

The Wicker Man (1973)

Campy, creepy and fun, The Wicker Man might just be my new favorite cult classic! I think a lot of folks in the theatre appreciated Willow's Song... you know, because her voice is so pretty!

The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978)

A silly spoof on the fab four with amazingly Beetle-esque tunes, and there's this too!

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Wait... did I already say The Wicker Man is my new favorite cult classic? Because this one was fantastic as well.  I realize that the only horror movies I actually enjoy are the ones that aren't scary... although this trailer seems pretty frightening!

Blue Velvet (1986)

Scarier than any of the horror movies I've seen lately. Best line ever... "WHY ARE THERE PEOPLE LIKE FRANK?"

A Little Princess (1995)

Saw this remix on a blog and had to see the movie...

Toy Story (1995)

I see why Pixar became instantly loved by everyone. So fresh and innovative, was it really made 17 years ago? Jeebus.

Layer Cake (2004)

Drugs. Violence. Dumbledore?? Layer Cake was one of those capers you really had to pay attention to, and even then it was all screwy. But fun. For Potter fans it's a real trip, as the beloved Head Master isn't so beloved.

I'm Not There (2007)

Cate Blanchett is out of this world. Seriously, I think she is from another planet. 

Eagle vs. Shark (2007)

Sooo awkward and kinda mean feeling for the majority of the film. But ultimately sweet. And there are many many many quotable lines. 

Your Highness (2011)

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Best movie of 2011. I could watch it daily. (And now I can, because right here is the full movie.)  But if this doesn't make you laugh, it might not be for you.

Skyfall (2012)

It's Bond. And its in Scotland. Go see it.

the chaos of moving

Much of our house looks like this these days... well, maybe not most. In fact, given the fact that we have just over a week left in Los Angeles I'd say that not enough of our house looks like this! It's sad to pack. And it's a pain in the arse. But it's finally hitting us, for real. We are leaving! I mean, our apartment is already rented out to another couple! (Who, but the way, happen to seem super awesome and used to live in Edinburgh, what are the odds?) But it's strange. In a matter of days, someone else is going to be calling my home... home. And there's a little part of me that pouts about that.

But, in between the packing and the pouting, there is a lot of fun to be had. We are trying our best to see our people before we go. I enjoyed a wonderful girls night out with my BFF, and a farewell lunch with my Lillikins (who is moving out of LA the same day we are to start her PhD program, whoot!). And we also enjoyed a beautiful balmy day in the park last weekend with our favorite peeps.

And, we couldn't miss watching The Lost Boys in the park...

And who can see the lost boys without wearing fangs?!

And this happened too! Yep, that's Corey Feldman's armpit, for your viewing pleasure! His band, Truth Movement, rocked out before the movie started. It was...unforgettable!

But when we are not partying with child stars of the 80s, and when we're not hanging with our favorite people... and when we're not freaking out over picking up and heading on out of the country... it's business as usual.

I am reading The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox. I've never read a book that I enjoy this much so slowly. I think I started it back in May! It is really interesting, but I think I am too tired each night (from the aforementioned packing and Corey Feldman concerts) to read more than a couple of pages. I am dying to talk to someone who has read it, but I don't know of anyone who has!

Alright... enough with the blogging. I have to go sort through more of my stuff. I have so much of it! Way too much! And sometimes the whole concept of having all this stuff weirds me out a little, but I blame (thank?) George Carlin for that!

PS- Happy Birthday Papa!!

The Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles

The Orpheum Theatre is Los Angeles at its finest! We had a wonderful night celebrating our anniversary here. We wandered around the place, oooohing and aaaaahing at all the ornamentation. Everything, even functional things like "exit" signs, were designed to be beautiful. These photos don't do it justice! It is so... GRAND!

The silent movie we saw, Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood, was a lot of fun. Before the show began, we were treated to a short cartoon called Koko's Earth Control (which you can see here). And then Leonard Maltin took the stage and told us about the theater, the movie and the era in which they were both made.

But classic movies and famous critics were not the star of the evening's performance... the Wurlitzer organ masterfully played by Robert Israel was pure magic. I was impressed that he played throughout the 5 minute cartoon... I was floored that he played throughout the entire length of the feature film. And then, when I thought I could not be any more dazzled... I realized that Mr. Israel actually composed the whole score, ensuring that the music matched the action perfectly. It was truly an amazing thing to see and hear!

Afterwards, Matthew and I got to check out the organ and talk to the musician and the technician. We also climbed up to the projection room and had a snoop around. We really took in the whole place.

Going to a modern day movie is great fun, but it is nothing compared to this movie-going experience. This felt special... Special in a way that is uniquely LA.