So - whats your spider story?

[Guest beth]

People keep saying that you dont really see them or your learn to live with them.

 

Whats your spider story then? When i went to oz one came out the air vent in my car, gruesome!

[Guest Ryan T. Lion]

The only gruesome thing I've seen with 8 legs recently was the 4 boganettes stood on Oaklands platform on the way home tonight.

[stringfellows]

I have been here 8 months and not seen one yet.Pretty sure I will pass out when I do though!!!!

[xzibit]

The only gruesome thing I've seen with 8 legs recently was the 4 boganettes stood on Oaklands platform on the way home tonight.

 

Think I was on the same train lol!!

 

Most of the spiders crawl over you at night as they're attracted by the co2 in your breath. So you'll never know.

[Guest loopylisa]

When I was a kid I nagged and nagged and NAAAGGED my mum for a valance. No not Holly from neighbours but those things that go around the bottom of your bed to cover the pattern and make it look pretty. She explained to me that creepy crawlies would make there way up them but I wasnt having any of it! I got my valance and the next night woke up with a very large spider under my chin. Valance was off. Mother said I told you so.

[demewoods]

I am petrified of spiders and in my first week of being here a red back crawled past on it's thread a cm in front of my face.

 

I then bought a house in March and on the first day there was a huge wolf spider on the front door and then tonight a huge wolf spider on my out house window frame in camouflage against the frame. After much screaming and brooming I managed to get it.

 

Also when I visited Aus a few years ago I got off the plane at Sydney was too early to book in tp my room so went for a walk and a spider fell out of a tree on me and bit me....

 

Don't panic though, I'm sure this is not normal human spider connection ratio.....

[Guest essess]

Here in the UK my Aussie husband still can't get used to the idea of our spiders being "ok". Last week I spotted a big un (by British Standards) on the wall above our coat rack and called hubby to reach up and remove it. After trying to squish it with a shoe it fell down into the coats. Then we had to remove and shake each coat, and I heard an almight scream and hubby could have auditioned for the Morris Dancers. The spider had dropped onto his leg and was crawling up his shorts. No amount of telling him it was ok would do, and he just said "only good spider is a dead spider" LOL....I remember when we lived in Adelaide a huntsman was in my washing up glove and wrapped itself around my finger. Boy, did I move!

[HEAPS GOOD !!!]

I have been bitten a few times and hospitalised twice...the first time i was sent home with an IV in my arm had to take the week off work whilst the rdn came to top my drugs up morning and night...the other time i had to have a fix of drugs whilst i was in couldn't drive as was feeling a little high...lol...

 

apart from that its all good.....lol

 

HG

[Guest nickcoumbe]

I had a nightmare about spiders the other night which woke me up and I was unable to get back to sleep. It was 5am. I went downstairs to make a coffee and go to the loo and what should be in the bath but a big hairy spider the size of the palm of my hand. I nearly died of shock. I chucked him out of the window, but he was back by lunchtime. So I just keep throwing him out. He is getting better at hiding though.

 

A few months prior I found one crawling over my sons toys late one evening. This one was nearly the size of my hand and was definitely not scared of me in anyway. I got him in a tupperware container, put him into the toilet bowl and flushed. Unfortunately that didn't work and when I lifted the lid he was able standing with his legs on the side of the bowl with his belly over the water. When saw the light he sort of half jumped, half scrambled to get out. I slammed down the lid, got the brush and then quickly dealt with him, flushing several more times and then putting bleach down the loo.

 

BTW I live in Reading in the UK. You are just as likely to come into contact with them here. I know that they are bigger and scarier in Oz, but the thing is the spiders don't know it.

 

Anyway, aren't there those amazing bug bomb type things that you can use every few months?

[Guest Daisy Duke]

Lol!!!!! I came home from work this morning to be greeted by a Huntsman on my front door! Cheeky bugger. If it thought it was coming in, it had another thing coming. I've seen 4 of them over the space of a few months. One at work, one in the house, one on the house (yesterday) and one crawled out of wing mirror on car! They defo got shock factor, and I wouldn't kill them (despite the fact they are a like something out of Jurassic Park) as they do a good job eating all the other stuff. They can continue the good work outside my house though rather than in it.

[Guest tinkham_lee]

I had a huntsman get into the interior light of my car, didn't see it until i got home at night and the light was dimmer than usual, looked up and saw the shadow. Removed it from the car and put it in the reserve opposite my house, a week later driving down the express-way at 100k's saw it crawling across the passenger window, It also liked to live in our mail box. eventually my OH made me kill it.

 

I have been bitten on the leg by a white tip, big red mark, very swollen, antibiotics and a week off work, thank you Mr spider.

 

Also seen a huntsman attack a red-back in its web, that was good to watch, little red-back didn't stand a chance

[steveliane]

when i was painting an old garage in edwardstown i dusted the underneath of some trunking and seven red backs dropped out and all seven perished.

[soo_the_panda]

In nearly 4 years I've seen 5 redbacks (1 under filing cabinet at work, 2 under patio furniture in the shed in the hills, 2 in a shed near the beach) and 3 huntsmen (one crawling on the floor whilst walking in the hills, one on my wing mirror when getting out the car one day and one above my front door recently near the beach).

 

Not many encounters in that time I don't think - none have been too close for comfort and the red backs have all been in 'hidey' places so not threatening. I hate spiders and seriosuly, you don't see them often in my opinion!

[Guest Ryan T. Lion]

Just last night I went out to my car to get something, and found the engine already running.

 

Terrified, I approached the driver's door with caution. Sat behind the wheel was a HUGE wolf spider. It had sneaked into the house and stolen my keys.

 

2 of his mates were sat on the back seat, smoking a joint.

 

He started rev'ing the engine, really loudly - with a blank expression on his face that seemd to say "what are you gonna do about it, huh?!"

This was the first time I'd come face to face with a wolf spider, I knew they hunted in packs but never expected a bunch of them to be stealing my car.

 

Again, he rev'd the engine - hard enough to make the car rock.

 

I walked backwards, slowly - I didn't want to mess with these guys.

 

The 2 wolf spiders on the back seat looked at each other, smirking.

 

I carried on walking slowly backwards until I was back in the house. I heard a screech of rubber and with that my 4x4 was gone.

 

This morning - it was back - parked outside. The wolf spiders were long gone. The car was covered in mud, and inside I found empty beer bottles, pornography, and drug paraphernalia. I checked the odometer and they hadn't gone far - probably just far enough to pick up some female wolf spiders.

 

I know people say that you won't be bothered by spiders down here - but in my case that just wasn't true. I didn't go looking for trouble - but trouble found me - the eight legged kind.

 

I now keep my car keys well out of reach, but to be honest I still feel scared when going to my car.

 

The Police can't do much - with eight legs it's pretty hard to dust for prints, so they're just letting this one go.

 

Hopefully I've seen the last of them - but just watch yourselves people...........

[steveliane]

you should hire a huntsman for protection.

[Guest Daisy Duke]

I came home to find the one that was on my door a few days ago, had indeed prepared me a nice breakfast! Must have 'tapped' into my emails recently and got the hint that if it wants to reside at my property, it can pull it's bloody weight and earn it's keep! Lol.

Seriously, I would be more concerned about the 'quality' of driving here . It's some of the worse driving I have ever encounted (and I have been to a fair few countries renouned for bad driving). Driving up peoples a***e and putting your foot down hard on the pedal when the traffic light goes green (even though theres another set 50m down rd), seems to be a national sport here. Sorry I have gone off the 'theme', but seriously, I would be more concerned about this. Maybe they are all destracted by Hunstmans crawling out their wing mirrors? Yeah, right. Ha ha.

[Guest Ryan T. Lion]

......Seriously, I would be more concerned about the 'quality' of driving here . It's some of the worse driving I have ever encounted (and I have been to a fair few countries renouned for bad driving). Driving up peoples a***e and putting your foot down hard on the pedal when the traffic light goes green (even though theres another set 50m down rd), seems to be a national sport here. Sorry I have gone off the 'theme', but seriously, I would be more concerned about this. Maybe they are all destracted by Hunstmans crawling out their wing mirrors? Yeah, right. Ha ha.

 

It is pretty bad. I swore I'd never buy a big-a$$ 4x4 ever, but once you're here, with other 4x4's tearing around (complete with "roo bars" that would open up a normal car like a tin can) you can't help but want to get the kiddies as high as possible. I might start welding scaffolding poles along the side of mine.

 

With the streets laid out in a grid, the constant stopping/starting can drive you nuts - hence all the automatics I guess - endlessly changing from 1st to 2nd to 1st again would drive me insane!

 

My tip: buy a big automatic 4x4, take your time, and try not to go anywhere that requires you turning right.

[steveliane]

yeah, the oh had a daihatsu copen which is a tiny two seater convertable but we soon got rid of that one reason being because of some close encounters she had with morons not looking and her nearly getting crushed, she now drives a ford escape 4x4 auto.

[Guest Daisy Duke]

Lol - that's so funny! Only thing is, if you kp turning right, will cost you a fortune as you will end up with two bald tyres. Come to think of it though, bald tyres also appear to be part and parcel of 'big exhaust, rusty tin can beefed up old wreck' brigade. We brought our car over from UK and couldn't wait to drive it here (once customs had finished picking out 'dirt' with tooth pick from tyres - as they actually had tred on them), we can't ever get up to 6th gear cause of all the friggin traffic lights!! Arghhhhh. Of course one can always go on express way - just have to make sure it's right time of day though. Although wonder if anyone would notice? Ha ha. Apolpgies again for going off track, but this is quite an amusing topic. Am off to buy some bananas now that price has gone down (to stick up any big exhausts).

[Guest Ryan T. Lion]

yeah, the oh had a daihatsu copen which is a tiny two seater convertable but we soon got rid of that one reason being because of some close encounters she had with morons not looking and her nearly getting crushed, she now drives a ford escape 4x4 auto.

 

Exactly.

 

Glad it wasn't just me - all our mates back 'ome thought we were being really flashy and irresponsible buying a Chealsea Tractor.

[Guest Daisy Duke]

Lol - well better than buying an 'aussie retro monster'. Do they really think they look good. I have never in my life seen such a vast collection of vile looking cars. Am trying to think of appropriate name for collective group - an 'eyesore' maybe? I't got to point where when I hear a bib exhaust or revving, I can't even look!!!!

[steveliane]

Lol - well better than buying an 'aussie retro monster'. Do they really think they look good. I have never in my life seen such a vast collection of vile looking cars. Am trying to think of appropriate name for collective group - an 'eyesore' maybe? I't got to point where when I hear a bib exhaust or revving, I can't even look!!!!

what's the point in a V8 when there's a cop on every corner with a speed gun

[Guest Jane & Tony]

These posts have made me giggle.

Love the story about the spiders stealing a car!!!

When we were in Adelaide my OH was delicately picking everything up and looking underneath everything and I'm the one that hyperventilates upon meeting a spider!!!! His Dad (who has been an Adelide for 20 years said 'What the hell are you doing? If you look for them you'll find them!!' (makes sense, DOH!)

 

Also, we noticed quite quickly that a 'drag race' starts at the traffic lights. Made us titter!!! Especially when another set are 100 yards away!!

[Guest Ryan T. Lion]

what's the point in a V8 when there's a cop on every corner with a speed gun

 

They sound nice?

[steveliane]

They sound nice?

 

wrapped around a post?