Huntsman (Australian Wildlife Encounters No.4)

As we were about to turn the light off the other night we spotted this Huntsman spider on the edge of the wall/ceiling...

Amy: "Oh no, look at that!"

Me: "I'll fetch the hammer!"

After climbing onto a step ladder I attempt to whack the thing with a hammer.

Milliseconds before the point of impact the spider scampers away onto the inside of the window pane.

"{***#[}% it! I'll get a glass."

I fetch a piece of cardboard and glass from the kitchen.

"Here goes"

The spider runs from beneath the glass and sprints round two walls of the room.

We both scream like little girls.

The spider is now in the corner of the room making a hit with a hammer or catch under a glass impossible.

"What now?"

"Have we got any fly spray?"

"No."

"Hairspray?"

"Nope."

"Deodorant?"

We fetch the can of Gillette 3x Triple Protection deodorant from the bathroom and spray the spider. It falls like a stone to the floor and then runs frantically towards where we're standing.

We scream some more and both leap onto the bed.

The spider hides under a bag by the side of the bed.

"I'll give it some more deodorant!"

Pulling back the bag I make sure that if nothing else the spider is the freshest smelling arachnid in Canberra by unleashing about half a can of deo' on him.

The spider chases towards the safety of Audrey's bedroom but mum whacks him with her shoe before he's half way across the room (injuring her finger with the force of the impact).

We flush his squished remains down the toilet.