SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND TERROR BYTES

On top of all the anxiety of late I hoped I would sleep like a baby last night and re-gather some energy, fat chance. Sleep eluded me and dreams prevailed, unpleasant dreams, ones that did not go away when I opened my eyes and got up and walked around. The kind that stick around like dog shit on your shoe, the variety that make you curse and gnash your teeth and then some more. Not very pleasant on a warm day or any day for that matter. Whichever and whatever that bit is done with and now it is daylight, it is blowing a gale outside and quite windy too, which is unsurprising as you cannot really have one without the other. It’s a bit like politicians, broken promises and lies, I was going to say like Spiders and webs, however not all Spiders build webs, some species chase after and catch their prey whilst others lie waiting to ambush their prey. it is almost pointless mentioning water spiders, but they are again amongst the 50% of spider species that have evolved to not make webs, whereas all spider species produce silk. That way they always have comfortable pyjamas when they go to bed at night, the females also like silk underclothes as it keeps them warm in cooler weather. Not all of the above is true.

For many years I was downright scared of spiders, thinking them to be beastly creatures, quite horrible, ghastly even. Then one day i a moment of revelation I developed a respect if not a small liking for them, they ate flies and keep fly populations down to manageable levels. Okay it is probably a nonsense to say that if the world’s population of fly eating spiders went on strike tomorrow, there would be a massive influx of flying shit eaters. Though one thing is for certain, there would certainly be lots more of them. (Probably) Many years ago I went to my kitchen sink which is nothing unusual, it was a warm evening and the sink was full of dirty plates. Again nothing unusual apart from the world’s biggest, blackest hairy legged’est Arachnid I have ever seen. That is barring that Tarantula at a friends place, anyway this Spider was wanting to get out and refused all help such as a cup or other receptacle and being picked up, which would have probably squashed it. Most Spiders are quite soft little things really! Anyway this blessed creature made it clear it was going to refuse all forms of rescue and I got this funny feeling that the only way to remove it would be to put my arm out for it and let it climb up my hand and onwards. This creature looked determined, regal even, it had dignity and gave me this image of Hitler walking up the podium steps at Nuremberg. It was almost saying to me: I am a Spider, a living creature and you SHALL treat me with the respect I deserve. Then I put the bastard outside. Now I scoop them up in a receptacle, its easier and after being bitten by one. (Which hurt) Infinitely safer. if you look around there is another item which features another Spider story, the one I found whilst re-felting the shed roof. That was a False Widow and more than likely the kind of thing that got me out in the garden and made the cat leap out of my arms in mortal fear os something that was blacker though not hairier than she was. This creature had a smooth body with a great big arse part and white/ red markings on its back. I do not know its gender, now did I squash it, but rather let it go about its Spidery business which is hopefully catching, killing and eating flies.

Away from Spiders I have to go and clear up a load of leaves today, the client thinks the leaf blower is needed. I think the weather will do the job for me and for free. last night I relaxed in the usual way painting and scolding the cat(s) for their persistent and errant behaviour. The boiler/ central heating has been misbehaving these last few days and has only added to the angst. happily it appears to be working again as of this morning.

J has a tattoo of a Spider on her tit, I won’t say which one as I have forgotten and she is not here to check.