Usually when I write about spiders, it’s in relation to the search engine variety. On my last trip to the outback, a rather large example of the creepy crawlie variety took special interest in my notebook . Yes, it’s real, no Photoshop trickery :).

I spent at least 5 minutes trying to coax him away from my machine without harming him, the notebook screen or having him wind up on me. He wasn’t a very friendly fella - I could see the drops of venom on his fangs as we duked it out for ownership of the computer. This variety of spider is called a huntsman, not particularly venomous but can give you a nasty bite. They are most active at night which is probably the worst time for humans as their size can give you quite a shock. Having one run over your hand is an unforgettable experience.

Anyway, I managed to get him outside and I thought that would be the end of it. About an hour later, out the corner of my eye I picked up on movement in the doorway. He had returned for round two. They are an impressive spider, but not real smart. I hate killing creatures of the bush, but I had visions of him snuggling up to me that night, so unfortunately he is no more.