Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

There was an article in a newspaper which I read today about a guy who climbed a tree in his girlfriend's garden to take a photo of a particularly fine spider's web. One of the neighbours reported him to the police as a paedophile - the girlfriend had three children - and the police came rushing round and examined his camera and found only nature pictures. He was warned to make sure in future that there were no children around before he used his camera! PC gone mad!

My daughter - happily married mother-of-2 - had to undergo a CRB check before she could run her local RSPB Kids Group! She doesn't have a problem with little spiders, but on reaching for her towel in the shower, leapt out when she saw the hairiest, most malevolent-looking black monstrosity sitting on it - and no, it wasn't her husband!

Not really a spider --- but today, on a white wall of the house, was a beautiful green beetle, subsequently identified as ----
and I had to get the book to spell it ! ---Pterostichus cupreus.
I know that Lonelymom, and others , will shudder, but it really was a stunning example of natural beauty !

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:pterostichus cupreus.
I know that Lonelymom, and others , will shudder, but it really was a stunning example of natural beauty !

Just googled it, Neill, and found some stunning photos! What a lovely bronze shimmer - and it eats aphids. Lucky old you!

Under the bedclothes lonelymom, according to the news today there are going to be many more spiders and craneflies about as the warm wet weather this year isthe ideal breeding condition.

Oh no! Why did you have to mention that? I hadn't heard anything like that on the news, and, as they say, ignorance is bliss!

sorry lonelymom but our area seems to be swarming with spiders......you cant walk up our garden withouth having to break through about 20 webs. And the ones in the house eeekkkkk they are massive, i picked up a shoe the other day and once climbed out so no i spend a good 5minutes checking shoes esp boots before putting them anywhere near my feet.

H2b had to last night remove 2 huge crane flies from living room before i would come and sit in there

Re Spiders and Shoes ----
Consider yourself lucky it is only spiders ----

Those of us who have -- and do--- live in other climes check shoes for Scorpions and venemous Spiders -- which ours ain't !

blondie95 wrote:sorry lonelymom but our area seems to be swarming with spiders......you cant walk up our garden withouth having to break through about 20 webs. And the ones in the house eeekkkkk they are massive, i picked up a shoe the other day and once climbed out so no i spend a good 5minutes checking shoes esp boots before putting them anywhere near my feet.

H2b had to last night remove 2 huge crane flies from living room before i would come and sit in there

I know , you're not sending all your's down the road to my house are you? I've had so many of those daddy-long-legs things in my house recently, even in my bedroom! And there is NO WAY I can sleep in there until I've inspected the room thorougly! And earwigs! Has anybody noticed how many of those there are this year? A few times now I've got washing off my line and taken it indoors, and out has crawled an earwig. Eeeurgh! Do they even have a purpose/role, or are they one of those useless insects?

I hadn't considered spiders in shoes, Amy - not until now that is. Thanks for that!

Fortunately, up to now, my two little feline friends manage to find, exterminate and de-limb any MAJOR spiders which have the temerity to come into my house (I often find deceased 'bits' in the morning, especially in the bath). But outside it is a different matter. There is a huge black/yellow striped spider (called 'Sydney') on a massive web which goes from the side of my front door right across my front window. Wonder how long he will last? And every morning, when I go out of the front or the back door, I am conscious that I am walking through/breaking the theads of spiders' webs which have gone across the space during the night. However, not had any |Crane Fly/Daddy LongLegs yet (keep my fingers crossed!), nor any earwigs (don't they live in people's ears.......?? Eeeurgh....).

Fallacy No1. ---- No they don't live in peoples's ears !

No.2 -----At this time of year, Sydney is probably Sylvia, --- the females usually EAT the males, after mating,---------! ---- few (Athletes) escape, but most males are born from the eggs hatching next year.

Does this make you feel better girls ? --------- I'm glad it has not devolved into our Species !

blondie95 wrote:i picked up a shoe the other day and once climbed out so no i spend a good 5minutes checking shoes esp boots before putting them anywhere near my feet.

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:Re Spiders and Shoes ----
Consider yourself lucky it is only spiders ----

Those of us who have -- and do--- live in other climes check shoes for Scorpions and venemous Spiders -- which ours ain't !

Some years ago in East London I cleaned out the greenhouse on New Year's day. I didn't check my gloves before I put them on (it was below freezing) and after 30 minutes discovered there was an unhappy wasp in the right thumb. 4 days hospital and other medical treatment followed - even my shoulder was swollen and it started getting difficult to even swallow.

When he visited his girlfriend (on a farm in Zululand) an acquaintance used to take a shotgun to the outside loo; snakes in the rafters were common.

Yes, check shoes, gloves, the loo, even your smalls (could be warmth-loving bugs in them)............ before you put them on.

The Sundat Times suggests that spiders don't like conkers! If you put small heaps of conkers in places where the little beasts congrgate, they will go away. (Where to?)

sejintenej wrote: Yes, check shoes, gloves, the loo, even your smalls (could be warmth-loving bugs in them)............ before you put them on.

I am soooo afraid now!