One of my kids insists I made her scared of spiders 'cos when she was little she remembers me shrieking like a banshee and running out of rooms, whenever I saw one!! Eventually I could get close enough to put a heavy pudding plate over them, until someone braver could liberate them into the garden. But I do remember worrying that the dish might not fully accommodate them and sometimes I went for a mixing bowl. They had huge legs (honest!) and boy could they run! I called the extra huge ones charlies. I'm trying to be more sensible about them now. Well, I've had a few birthdays since then!

I ventured into my studio today. First thing I noticed was a few boxes of abandoned xmas decorations just inside the door (it's been 11 weeks since xmas...is that really the last time I was in there?); and then I noticed a few webs. That doesn't freak me out quite as much as it used to. However I know there is a charlie in there, 'cos I met him last year.

I had gone into my studio to do my springclean (I like to start art work in a tidy space) and he caught my eye. He was running at full pelt, like an Olympian, along a shelf just above my head. As soon as he saw me, he stopped, and looked at me. Just keep running so I can't see you, I pleaded. But no, he stayed motionless. Defiant. So I took a tissue from my sleeve and threw it at him to hurry him along. But to my surprise and horror, he didn't run. He leapt into the air and onto the tissue!! Did you know that spiders jumped? Well, I didn't! Exit (me) stage right!! Two hours later, when I returned, he'd gone. I need to springclean that studio soon. I hope that charlie hasn't grown any bigger. Now I have a dose of displacement verging on fear!