Spiders and me......

....just don't 'do it' for each other, they terrify me and I kill them! Well rather I get PG or any other available brave soul to kill them or at the very least dispatch them to some far off place.

Despite my love of things living, I just cannot tolerate the eight legged species. Snakes, cockroaches, in fact anything else that lives and breathes I have no problem with but spiders.............sorry, no way!

My life is dictated by this irrational fear, I have tried and tried to overcome it but to no avail. I never get into bed without checking that something untoward is not lurking, I check the shower curtain, the bath, I don't venture into the dark recesses of cupboards etc. without some trepidation and normally i don't consider using a towel without careful inspection.

And thereby hangs the tale. Last night, relaxed, fed and almost ready for sleep I decided a shower was in order, I duly showered and began drying myself off. I didn't check the towel for inhabitants, I was feeling quite chilled. At one point in the drying process I thought I saw 'something' but as is my way I told myself not to be silly!

Big mistake...........seconds later the most enormous, ekkkkk, I can't say the word but you know the creature I mean, jumped out of my nice warm, soft towel and into the bath!!!!!! This thing was like a bloody saucer, I kid you not.

Now despite my normal predilection for behaving in at least a reasonably 'seemly manner' my reaction was swift and very unseemly. I screamed, somewhat alarmingly and fled the wet bath naked, at such speed that enroute I of course slipped. I righted myself almost instantly, caring not for a now sore knee, my only goal to escape this monster!

So there I was, dripping, naked and shaking in the hallway with PG desperately trying to discover my woe.......probably not the most aesthetic of sights!!

He duly 'dealt with' my tormenter and proffered for my use a clean, well checked towel, I most certainly could not have used the one that had so recently been home to the you know what!

Don't tell me this is irrational, that they don't hurt etc.etc.etc.......I know that but it doesn't help. Don't recommend to me hypnosis or some form of aversion therapy, it has been considered and found wanting in my case! I can't even kill or deal with them myself, I can't look at one long enough without becoming incoherent!

The psychology of this fear is interesting I suppose, any other situation in life I am presented with I deal with at least with an appearance of calm.....but spiders, no way, no chance, no rational thought, just instantaneous panic that appears before I am able to get a grip of my wits!!!! Arghhhhhhhh.