First Encounter!

Yesterday we went over to Capalaba for lunch at Will’s sister Wendy’s. Will’s brother, Danny picked us up. It took about 25/30 minutes to get there.

Wendy and her husband Jeff have a lovely house surrounded by a lot of land covered in tall gum  trees. Jeff used to be a Grounds Man working at Griffith University so he knows a lot about plants and trees. They have even grown their own rainforest.

After all the greetings we moved outside to sit at the table in the garden under a brick pillared pergola with a tiled roof.

“Seen any snakes recently Jeff?” I asked peering into the undergrowth all around us.

“Not this week,” he replied dryly.

I pulled my chair out to sit down and caught a glimpse of something that looked like a large spider dangling on a thread beneath it. I shook the chair but could see nothing more so gingerly sat down.

The forecast was for temperatures of 32 degrees but there was a lovely cool breeze blowing around us as Jeff talked about the ‘lovely’ carpet snake that he had seen last week!

I glanced down again at my chair and there, clinging to the wood beneath the arm rest was a large spider. I jumped slightly but not wanting to appear like a wimpy Pom at the family gathering I bravely held my breath and tried to sweep it off with a finger. The beast clung on and shifted around the arm. Jeff was listing all different types of snakes that could be found around their house. I decided to try again to dislodge it and this time chose the ‘flick’ method. I aimed a hefty flick at it and was sure I hit it but the flippin’ thing was still there! It must have had superglue on its feet.

I gave in.

“There appears to be a large spider on my chair. Do you think it might be a Redback?”  I spoke calmly.

Will jumped up and I got out of the chair. He carried it away from the table and shook the chair and swiped at the creature. Somehow he succeeded at the task I had been unable to accomplish and brought my chair back. It wasn’t a Redback apparently.

Jeff told of the time he had been bitten by a Redback and how they had not done anything at the hospital other than monitor him.

“They are just a danger  to young children.” He said.

Will’s mum, Dulcie piped up and told how a cousin of hers had been bitten by a Redback and lost his arm below the elbow!

Will rolled his eyes. “Ma! Nick wants to hear Jeff’s tale not stories like that!”

How right he was!

Jeff went on to say how he had spent much of the day before clearing cobwebs and spiders from the pergola and the table. He said there had been so many and he had used a blower to send them all packing.

“ They were a pain to get out of these bits,” he said indicating the gap between the fabric which formed the back of the chair and the upright wooden post to which they were attached.

I quickly checked that area on my chair and jumped again slightly. There lurking down the gap between the fabric on my chair was another of the beasts!

I said nothing but just made sure I did not lean on the fabric of my chair again.