“Spiders so large they appear to be wearing the pelts of small mammals.”
~ Dave Barry“No one knows, incidentally, why Australia’s spiders are so extravagantly toxic; capturing small insects and injecting them with enough poison to drop a horse would appear to be the most literal case of overkill. Still, it does mean that everyone gives them lots of space.”
~ Bill Bryson, In a Sunburned Country
An ENORMOUS Grey Huntsman spider has decided to take up residence in our farm’s small bathroom. No matter how many times Ben shoos her out she comes back. If I had been brave I would have put my hand beside her in the picture to show you how much bigger than my hand she is.
But I was not that brave.
We’re loath to squash her, and evidently she is very happy in her new home. I don’t mind so much when she hides between the sliding toilet door and the wall. I am quite happy to leave that door open and give her some privacy, even at the expense of mine. The thing that freaks me out is when she naps on my towel, which of course I then grab for as I get out of the shower.
Girly screams are so not cool, upset the neighbours, and apparently don’t bother spiders at all.
It must be spiders-freaking-out-Nicole season. I’ve also had two recent separate incidents of big huntsman spiders in the ute, showing themselves as we roar along at 80kph. Luckily Ben has been with me and driving both times. Also, the spiders chose to run on me!!! That makes me sound a bit pathetic I know, but spiders running along windscreens or onto people are a common cause for vehicle accidents and roll-overs in our neck of the woods.
A few years ago I was on my own, driving home up the highway to the farm and another large spider ran up my arm and onto my face. I managed not to crash, and pulled into a lookout popular with tourists and backpackers, where I carefully fell out of the car, spider still attached.
“Holy #@*$”, said two thrilled German Backpackers. “That is sooooo freakin’ awesome.” Of course they took photos before helping shoo it off my face.
They then offered me a joint, chocolate and sliced deli meat. Life is just weird sometimes.
Yesterday morning we were up in Brisbane, seeing doctors and doing last minute things. Ben found a huge remote-control tarantula, and was as gleeful as a child.
Be very afraid!
