ADMIN: More Halloween Fun!

[Ali]

> * Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?

Yes. For years after my Great Grandad died, my sister and I had to 
share his old room when we stayed at our grandparents. It got to the 
stage when my parents decided I was too big to sleep on the campbed 
and I had to sleep in the bed in which he died. That night I woke up 
and was sure I saw him at the foot of my bed - I was terrified.

I know that could have just been because I was so scared. But, about 
10 years ago when I was stressed at work, I did think I saw my 
grandad. It was just a fleeting sighting, but somehow left me 
feeling very positive. This was several years after his death, so I 
don't think it could have been a kind of grief induced vision. When 
I told my Mum, she told me that both my sister and my cousin had 
told her that they thought they had seen my grandad. When my cousin 
died, my sister and my aunt both experienced several "sightings" of 
her - although I can see why people would say that this was grief 
induced.
>  
> * What things about you often come as a surprise to others?

That I'm a Harry Potter erm fan (read for that fanatical!). I think 
it also surprises people that I write like an upside down spider and 
my writing is actually very neat - I never learned to join up and am 
left-handed.
>  
> * Provide the etymology of your signature/handle/email address. In 
> other words, how and why did you choose the name you use on the 
> HPfGU lists.

Very boring, it didn't occur to me to choose a handle on Yahoo. I 
couldn't have "Ali" as that had gone, so I took "Al" which I'm also 
called a lot. "Zymurgy" is my brother-in-laws server. He choose it 
as he thought it would be right at the end of the alphabet. He 
hadn't thought that people would choose ZZZ! Zymurgy is the 
fermentation process- says she sipping a glass of wine.
>  
> * Whose signature/handle/email address on the HPfGU boards {a} 
would you like to steal or {b} intrigues you?

I wouldn't like to steal any. Several intrigue me and I miss seeing 
loads of them. Come back Flying Ford Anglia!
>  
> * Describe your ultimate Halloween costume.


I'm a real party pooper. I'm too self conscious to enjoy dressing 
up. I would love to have a dark red ball gown - and have an 
opportunity to wear it. But, I've only ever worn a couple of 
costumes - black bin liners for a Rocky Horror evening and 50's 
clothes.
>  
> * If you lived in the Potterverse, who would you be, and what 
would you do for a living?

Dunno. I do live there already and I don't have a living at the 
moment - do wizards have HR consultants?
>  
> * What would you see in the Mirror of Erised?

Again, I don't know. It would change according to my mood. I have a 
load of Utopian ideals, so no starvation, no wars, no global warming 
etc etc. In terms of myself, it would be not having to move to 
Exeter and staying happily where we live now with good jobs, happy 
kids and enough money so that we haven't run out by about the 20th 
of every month!
>  
> * What shape would a boggart take, if you chance upon one?

Probably a rapist/ Jack the Ripper sort of character, or Maggie 
Thatcher. I also really hate snakes and wasps so it could keep 
changing and have be terrified.
>  
> * What happy memory will you rely upon, if you are to conjure up a 
> Patronus?

This might sound sad, but it would either be the feeling immediately 
after I'd had my kids (ie before I realised I was still in pain) or 
the euphoria I felt in the days after I got married.
>  
> * What form might your Patronus take?

My favourite animal is the elephant, so perhaps that.
>  
> * What might your animagus form be?

A cat, I think.
  

> * What's your scariest moment from a film or television show? Or, 
> tell us which horror movie is your all-time favourite, and why. 
> ["Scariest"
> question originally posted by June]

I hate horror films. I can remember loads of disgusting details of 
the ones that I watched and opened my eyes in the wrong section. 
But, as a Brit growing up in the 1970s, I share with my generation 
the childhood habit of hiding behind the sofa when Doctor Who was on 
the tele. I think that the "Green Death" was probably one of the 
scariest, but the Sea Monsters, Cyber Men and Darleks were also 
pretty bad.
  
  
> * Ever wonder into which Hogwarts House the Sorting Hat would put 
> you? If you're not sure, here are a couple of sites where you can 
> get sorted:

I normally get sorted into Gryffindor. That could be because I 
anticipate the questions. If I wasn't so lazy though, I'd say I have 
some Hufflepuff traits as well. I did a pyschological test which 
also assessed my character as Gryffindor, perhaps that was a fix as 
well!
> 
> * Is your interest in Harry Potter just good, harmless fun . . . 
or are you bordering on obsessive? Find out here:
> 
> The Harry Potter Obsession Test: http://www.fuuko.com/hpquiz.html 

I only got 57% which I found very reassuring. I think it would have 
been much higher, but I'm saved from total embarassment by the fact 
that I'm not into Fanfic. Everyone who knows about my HP obsession, 
knows how bad it is! I've finished my 8th read of OoP to give a 
little indication.

>> * Finally, just how well do you know the canon? Take the quiz 
here and let us know if you are savvy or sorry:
>  
> Scholastic's Harry Potter Wizard Challenge:
> http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/challenge/index.htm 

I only got 62. The last one I got wrong I knew, but was a bit 
trigger happy. I didn't know what colour the Merpeople were though. 
Shame on me!
>  
> We hope you have fun with this, and we wish everyone a very Happy 
> and Hauntingly Harry Potter Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Ali