martynm

Hi,

I think we're just a couple of months from getting our visa now and my wife is concerned when I joke about huntsmen running amok when we get out there. (I shouldn't joke I now). She hates them all with a vengeance (I'm not too keen on them, thinking about it).

We were dicussing it last evening and she said that if it was really bad re spiders then "we'd just have to come home".

We've got two little girls and are selling our house now, it's a real issue for me as I don't want to uproot if it means my wife wants to return in a few months.

Can anyone help ? What's it really like ?

Issie

I cannot help you about what they are like but i am totally like your wife in fact maybe worse.

BUT and a big but !!!! i have got better as i have made myself get over this phobia by trying to pick up our harmless spiders that we have here in the UK, I know this sounds daft but i have been doing it for the last 3 months. There is no way i could pick them up with my bare hands but i put a little bit of tissue on them and pick them up and throw them out the window. You should have seen the size of the one i picked up on friday out the bath .....HUGE My son was soooo proud of me

Wendy

Not seen any in the 9 weeks I've been here. My Aunt has seen about 10 in the past 25 years.

Mel n Daz

I too am petrified of spiders, but i have been assured that my hubby is gonna get me the biggest swat ever made!

We have never been to Oz, so cannot comment, but i hate any kind of spider, so the thought of them being poisoness too makes me go off the wall.

Having said that, i too have been practising at home. (very sad i know ), with two little, well medium spiders in my laundry room. I've not touched them yet, but i know they are there and have not requested i.e. hubby or sons to remove them!

Sorry no help really am i!

I will say though, that we are going lock, stock and barrell to Oz and i WILL NOT let ickle spiders put me off. We are not coming back ever!

Melis

The Genie

See what happens, when you tease the wife, especially when they have those little niggles! There are quite a few threads on here about spiders and the reality seems to be that you don't encounter them that often (particularly snakes).

I guess you'll just have to keep a pair of marigolds handy and come to her rescue. I'm dreading it myself as I hate spiders :scared:

Issie

Don't mention the cockroach stories tho Wendy

christinabell

You wont see them all the time, but u have to accept the fact that sometimes u will. Ive had huntsmen in my house quite a few times and there is always a daddy long legs or two hanging around somewhere. Maybe when u get here, get ur house sprayed by a pest controller

TeresaG

I don't think it is really that bad. We aren't there yet but when we visited, we only saw a couple in the back garden of my husbands uncle. The only other creepie crawlies we saw were in the zoo.

Wendy

Noooooo :scared: :scared: :scared:

Tried to forget about that :scared:

ridds

Grossly over-exaggerated............. really!

I am Aussie, and dislike spiders as well. I've had my fair share of "encounters" but they're not that bad, and certainly not as numerous as most people seem to think. Many people get their houses sprayed and this keeps most creepy crawlies (yes, including the cockies!) at bay.

Keep in mind that huntsmen are really useful for keeping the local insect popoulation down, and although they are fast and can get a big leg span, most of them have bodies smaller than your little toe! A lot of my friends have young children - if they see a spider they try and name it (one friend currently has a Frank, Harry and Debbie in the garden) so as to make it less scary for the kids.

I should add as a word of caution that gardening gloves are a must-have, as you do get garden spiders. And good shoes when out bushwalking. All just sensible precautions really.

Don't let them put you or your family off, and good luck with the move.

annqldau

Have attached my growing collection all from houses where we have lived in the last year... .

Wendy

I was bitten last thursday by a spider :scared:


Don't know what it was cos it was washed down the sink But my hand is still there so I presume it was OK

Issie

OMG

was it big ? did it hurt ?...i just cannot imagine being bitten by one

wintersgills

its not the spiders u want to be worried about it john howard :scared:

Issie

pmsl