Spiders...

I like autumn. I like the cooling weather. I like the darker evenings when you can close the doors, make something wholesome and be all cosy inside. I like the days that start cold but, given a little sunshine, warm up. I love the colours. I like planting for spring and I like to see the mushrooms and toadstools that pop up on the lawn. I enjoy Halloween and Bonfire Night and I love the prospect of Christmas on the horizon.

But I don't like spiders. I'm not keen on them at any time of the year but at this time of year they are looking for a warm, dry cave to spend the winter. And a warm, centrally heated house is a more than adequate substitute. And they are big at this time of year. They've had all summer to get bigger and bigger eating goodness knows what.

I'm told this is a Common Garden Spider. I went into the bathroom this morning. The light wasn't on but my spider sense was tingling and I saw this dark shape out of the corner of my eye in the bath. Putting the light on I was greeted by this! I took a deep breath, scooped it up and it was out into the garden with it. Hopefully it will move into the cave next door next time.