news in OOTP

[littleleahstill]

No: HPFGUIDX 104200

Karen wrote:

>The news in the first chapter of OoP seems to me like it's hidding a 
>clue. The following were included in the news:

>"Record numbers of stranded holidaymakers fill airports as the
>Spanish baggage-handlers' strike reaches it's second week-"

>helicopter almost crashed in a field in Surrey

>famous actress'divorce from her famous husband

>"Bungy the budgie has found a novel way of keeping cool this
>summer. Bungy, who lives at the Five Feathers in Barnsley, has
>learned to water-ski! Mary Dorkins went to find out more..."

>The first one really strikes my interest, but I just don't see
>anything important in it though I have this weird feeling about it.
>What does everyone else think?

Leah:

I agree with Fridwulfa's earlier reply; the first item seems a 
commonplace of European summer news and also enables Uncle Vernon to 
make unpleasant comments.  I also think there may be something in the 
budgie item, but can't get anywhere with it. Most interesting, I 
think, is the almost crash in Surrey. Why a report on a disaster that 
didn't actually happen? It's not like a near miss on a crowded 
passenger plane. IIRC, in PS/SS, Draco shows off about near misses 
with aircraft when he's on his broomstick and helicopters fly low 
enough to make that feasible.  Given that Little Whinging is in 
Surrey, and we later encounter Mundungus and Dementors, perhaps there 
was more wizarding activity about in the skies of Surrey that day 
than we and the MOM know about.

Back to the budgie- there are a lot of feathers on JKR's website- any 
ideas as to what they signify?

Leah