Hi all'

Did anyone, still here in UK, see the programme about spiders last night? (I think it was on channel 5??)

I really shouldn't have watched it! I'm not worried about spiders normally but it seemed to be every one they showed that were "dangerous" was in oz, in fact the most deadly was the Sydney Funnel web. med 98

They even showed one going into someones shoe and then they put it on without knowing ahhhhhhhhh!!! Think we might give Sydney a miss.

Also those jumping ones realllllllly do jump a long way. :o

Terri.xxx

Don't worry Terri, I hate them too but you can squash most with your flip flops!
Or Thongs if you are clever! :o

Don't really fancy sitting on them to squish them with my thong!!! :clap:

Ooooh was that too personal?? :bouncy:

Terri.xxx

Hi Terri

I know it's easy to say, but I wouldn't worry too much about the spiders. Before we left we were worried about them and none of us is happy with spiders. When we were in the UK they would be hoovered up on sight.

However since we have been here we (2 months now) we don't give them much thought anymore.

When we were in our meet and greet accomodation we came home late on night and louise was just going to open the gate and she noticed 2 redbacks on the latch. They disappeared inside the metal gate tubes as soon as we moved the gate though.

Freaked us out a bit at the time (me more than I would like anyone to have witnessed) :ph43r: , so we went out next morning and bought a big can of spider killing spray, but never got round to spraying where they were. We just checked before we opened the gate.

We also saw our first Huntsman then. Came home one evening and Jessica our 7 year old screamed saying she had seen a huntsman. Were calmed her down, very sceptical, but when we looked on the window there it was. Hairy and ugly, but once we got over the initial eeuugh, we just kind of ignored it. As it happens Louise squashed it when opening the window next day, but not deliberately.

I suppose what I am saying in a rambling kind of way is that they will surprise you when you first encounter them, but you will quite quickly stop thinking about it. I don't even shake my boxers before putting them on anymore!!

Hope this helps.

Rick

P.S. We have more trouble with cockroaches and millipedes than spiders!!

:huh:

You're right it is just getting used to things.
I suppose spiders don't want to attack you they would much rather leg it.

I am in the process of teaching the children to leave them alone over here. They have always been terrible for finding creepie crawlies and carrying them around for a while before rehoming them in their bedroom or under a flower pot in the summer. Don't want them doing that once we are in oz!!

They are sweet angelic girls really :spin: although they still shock the rellies when they come in from the garden with a hand full of worms for the turtles tea!! :bouncing smiles:

Terri.xxx

Must admit my real phobia is birds hoping that won't be a problem over there.
Do you get magpies and things like that in the gardens?

Terri

Was the program by the Vet man from Vets in Practice? I remember seeing a one that he did about the most deadly creatures in the world and most of them were either from Australia or America so I also swore I would never move there to my husband!

Ahem! and now look at me!

I am worried about the kids picking things up once we get there. Can anyone tell me if there is some sort of course you can put kids on (and adults) once you get out to Oz to tell you about how to be careful?

Sasha :)

Hi Sasha,

No it wasn't by that one I know who you mean though. Not sure who it was to tell you the truth just spent most of the programme going uh ohh!! ;)

Best wishes
Terri.xxx

I'm not a panicker when it comes to bugs & beasties but we've found that very few come into the house because of the screens over windows and doors.

The spider talk I've mentioned before at the SA Museum seems to be held each school hols and should clear up for you which spiders to worry about - basically the only one that is 'dangerous' is the redback and even then it's a slow acting poison so plenty of time to get to the doc, and there's an antivenom if you do get bitten. Others can give you a 'nasty bite' however so best not to go picking them up!

Where we are in Marion there hasn't been a snake sighting in neighbours memory (at least 20 years???) though out in the country a bit more it's possible though still rare. Don't like the sound of those centipedes someone mentioned but I haven't seen those at all!

My main complaint is cockroaches (sort by spraying round the skirting boards) and mozzies (keep a good supply of roll-on repellant). Still we seem to have found ways to cope without letting them get the better of us.

Birds... (specially for Terri!) well I did hear stories from the rellies in Sydney of kids having to go to school with ice cream cartons jammed on their heads as the magpies kept divebombing them, but haven't heard the same here. We do get the Oz variety of magpie in the gardens, plus a variety of colourful parrots, blackbirds and sparrows, and we've had honey eaters and the odd wattle bird too. The little Oz mynah birds are funny and I eventually realised it was them making a sound just like a guinea pig's squeal, and the least likely to fly away seem to be the peewees which are black and white, blackbird size, and quite cute. Nothing scary birdwise from my point of view.

Elaine

I caught a huntsman trying to sneak into my car a couple of days back, where presumably it would hide on top of my sun visor and drop onto my lap when i pulled the visor down.
i used a stick to remove it from the vehicle, after which it just sat on the gravel sulking.
My 3yo boy was fasinated by it, and brought it a leaf, we tried to make it run away by gently poking it with leaves and small sticks but it wouldn't sprint, just sat there trying to make itself look bigger every now and then (it was about 6cm anyway).
we left before it decided to chase us off.

BTW i could be wrong, but i think the brazilian wandering spider has killed more folk than any other, its fast and super aggresive.

I guess that blows my theory of them rather legging it than eating you!!!! :clap:

Elaine,

The ice cream cartons as hats story has mad the children laugh anyway even if I have just gone a whiter shade of pale!!!!!!!! :(
When ever I go in the garden I will have to make sure to send the dogs first! :D

Terri.xxx

Hi Terri,

Do you have a phobia about birds?

My sister does, and went absolutley balistic when a Heron came and sat on her garden fence. She had a full blown panic attack, its a shame really cos we just laughed.

Its the beaks with her, the bigger the beak the louder the shreak!!!

Tracey :medium smiley:

Hi Tracey,

Yes you could say that.

I'm not too bad I only hide behind someone if there's a pigeon in the way I don't run a mile like some would. :huh:

I am worse with chickens, geese and don't even think about swans!!!
It hasn't helped that everybody says don't worry they won't hurt you just before they fly forward and have a go!!! med 98

Thats a point do they have chickens in Adelaide? I hope not.

Have a strong dislike of magpies too as they are always trying to attack the rabbits when the cover is off their run!!! Horrible critters :angry:

Having said that I don't let it stop me doing too much it's just the walks by the river or canal that get a bit hair raising at times and find it really difficult to try and stay calm so I don't pass it on to the children.

Now watching the bird of prey flying displays at zoo's etc that is where you will not see me for dust!!!

Terri.xxx

Just scared the s****t out of myself now.

The cat has just ran across the conservatory roof and I thought it might be the birds coming for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cry baby

Terri.xxx

I had two books turn up today

Dangerous Creatures of Australia - Martyn Robinson
Take Care poisonous Australian Animals - Dr Struan Sutherland

and I have to say that they have helped with my worries. I got them off Amazon total cost £18.72 inc p&p if anyone is interested!

They do show the various areas of where the little critetrs live around Australia and I'm so glad I'm not moving to Queensland, NSW or Nothern Territories!

After scaring myself with a picture of the mouse spider it turns out it is only 1 - 2.5 cm long and is a type of trap door spider so you don't see the female. the males only wander around looking for females during the warmer months. The house spider only makes a web and stays there until it catches something - that said they do attract the white tailed sort as they like to eat the house spiders - these tend to wander around the home but then they eat other spiders, the huntsman likes to eat on other spiders is a good one to have around the home (until they get too big!)

All of the creatures are inclined to get out of your way first and it is best just to not provide them with somewhere to hide like rubbish piles etc.

So I am alot calmer about the whole spider and nasty creature thing now.

Terri it does mention Magpies as they do tend to swoop at you ONLY if you go too near their nest so it just says take an alternative route during nesting time (spring time) usually this happens around parkland areas near trees. So just don't wandering around wooded areas during the Spring unless you really have to otherwise they do suggest wearing an ice cream tub on your head with eyes painted on the back!

Sasha :)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a bit hard for me to avoid wooded areas with two dogs to walk :unsure:

Can there not be a new campaign to make the magpies put up notices as to where their nests are and how long they will be residing at that address?? I'm suprised it's not law already. :rolleyes:

Terri.xxx cry baby

Terri I wondered how long it would take you......just think large open spaces and you'll be fine! They do have a really funky looking hat in the book that basically has eyes at the back of the head - may work!

I have to say Roy has on many times made me jump as he suddenly dives from his seat banging the window and shouting.... he hates magpies and whenever he sees them in the garden he does go a bit loopy! Maybe you can get together with him and organise a "Down with the Magpies" group!

Sasha :)

I'm starting my placards as we speak although if the girls help it will more likely end up as down with the madpies or something similar. :D

Terri.xxx :bouncy:

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!

I have been here 6 years, and never once seen anybody wearing such a garment..........
They would probably get arrested!!!!!!

:lol:

Podgy possum had a hat like that at the party last nite.Praps she knew summink we didnt? :o




DAZ

I'm gutted now as I've been feeding the kids ice cream all day just to try it out! :lol:

You should see the picture of the hats they wear - they actually make hats to warn off the magpies! Maybe I can scan it and put it up under the photos section or is that a bit naughty copywrite and all that??

Sasha :)

How funny. Great minds and all that!! :D

I've just come to say can I borrow PP's hat for magpie season at least then I won't look so ridiculous walking through the woods as I would with the ones with the eyes on the back :clap:

Terri.xxx :bouncy: