Roger’s Magical, Mystical Questions:

1. Many local regions, especially rural areas where I live, have haunted houses. Have you ever spent the night in a house that was supposedly haunted? Anything ‘strange” happen?

As I’ve mentioned before our mother often told us about her encounters with spirits. For a while in the 1950s her family ran a guest house in Bexhill in England where she said she had seen something. I went there years later myself to spend a night but I did not have any unusual experiences there. 

• The Quidditch Cup (riding broomsticks while chasing a small ball) was a huge sporting event in the land of Hogwarts. What is the largest sporting event (or concert, etc.) that you have ever attended?

I’ve only lived in small cities with small sporting and concert venues. I think that the biggest concerts I attended in Adelaide probably had 8-10,000 people there. I’ve only been to cricket matches in Tasmania and I think a capacity crowd at Bellerive Oval in Hobart would be about 18,000 which we’ve had at a few Hurricane’s matches and International T20’s and One Day Internationals.I have visited the MCG in Melbourne and although it is an impressive stadium I prefer the more homely size of the smaller venues.

• When you go for a swim, do you prefer an ocean, the seaside lakes, or a pool?

I can’t swim and haven’t been in a pool or the ocean for many years. Each have advantages and disadvantages. The sea here is usually a comfortable temperature but I don’t enjoy walking on burning hot sand to get to it, nor do I like the lack of changing facilities on many beaches. Pools have the facilities but they smell of chlorine and are often crowded. I think my choice if I were to go back in the water would be a private pool.

• Ron Weasley received a horrid robe to wear as formal wear to the Christmas dance at Hogwarts. Tell about the most ‘ghastly’ fashion statement that you have ever made.

I’m sure I have made a few but I’m not a follower of fashion.I was a teenager in the 1970s and I was on the plump side so I probably should not have worn bright red pants for one thing.

Muggle Questions (from Melanie):

What is the last song you sang along to?

I honestly cannot remember. I used to sing along to songs a lot when I was younger but these days I find my voice cracks up when I try. I still at least join in a chorus of a catchy song though.

What was your scariest nightmare about?

I must have had some scary ones when I was a teenager because I used to wake up in tears sometimes. I have half memories of very intense dreams but I couldn’t tell you what they were about. I used to dream about being at school a lot which wasn’t scary but it was unpleasant. As the years went by I became more assertive in my dreams and eventually they went away.

What food do you crave most often?

Raisin bread.

What’s your grossest bug story?

Bugs are gross but I don’t have a story. I see them, I kill them. Except spiders. That’s bad luck.