<![CDATA[New Zealand, we need a chat.]]>New Zealand, we need a chat.
If you decide to have a harmless spider (tunnel web) that looks EXACTLY like the world's most aggressive and poisonous spider (funnel web), please don't make fun of the hapless Australian who has a bit of a conniption on spotting one in their loo.

My neighbour is still laughing.
Spider has been yeeted and was last seen very alive, scuttling beneath our decking to search somewhere else for his future ladylove.
Meanwhile, I'm having a calm-down cup of tea and a biscuit.
I could HEAR ITS FOOTFALLS ON THE TOILET SEAT! (Before I sat down)

There will be no pictures. Just imagine. And then stop imagining and go look at some fluffy bunnies or some happy birds or something. A bunny cleanse. It's now a thing.

*Okay, I have been informed by my lovely partner that they don't look QUITE identical... But he was not the person about to have a spider unintentionally applied to their undercarriage, so my case still stands.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/abc84eb2-8759-4a14-94c0-041d90ef2bbe/new-zealand-we-need-a-chat.RSS for NodeFri, 01 May 2026 14:08:57 GMTMon, 27 Apr 2026 21:48:16 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:15:26 GMT]]>@grizolda @georgepenney I have a picture of a knobbled orbweaver from February but I'll keep it to myself...

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.nz/users/va2lam/statuses/116484638391573289https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.nz/users/va2lam/statuses/116484638391573289Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:15:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:34:22 GMT]]>@ForgottenHero18 @georgepenney Maybe not very unusual -- it all depends on the storyteller. You spin a great yarn, and so it might seem more unusual than if a boring person told the tale.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/nancylwayne/statuses/116484005091396879https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/nancylwayne/statuses/116484005091396879Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:34:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:57:36 GMT]]>@ForgottenHero18 @georgepenney Worth the experience to tell the tale for the remainder of your life?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/nancylwayne/statuses/116482208998360146https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/nancylwayne/statuses/116482208998360146Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:57:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:19:24 GMT]]>@ForgottenHero18 @georgepenney

LOL great story!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/jawarajabbi/statuses/116482058760103571https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/jawarajabbi/statuses/116482058760103571Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:19:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:17:51 GMT]]>@georgepenney

Poisonous or not, any spider you can hear walking towards you is worthy of a complete freakout. I applaud your ability to remove it rather than squash it. Very brave.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/jawarajabbi/statuses/116482052716429179https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/jawarajabbi/statuses/116482052716429179Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:17:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:26:32 GMT]]>@PeterMLittle @georgepenney

I read a similar anecdote somewhere about a survey team, but that involved a tarantula in the thunderbox. 3:O)>

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://wandering.shop/users/Cadbury_Moose/statuses/116481850882481833https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://wandering.shop/users/Cadbury_Moose/statuses/116481850882481833Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:26:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:43:45 GMT]]>@ygathgoch @georgepenney TIL the AU Huntsman is the same as the Avondale spider used in the Arachnophobia film. I always thought they were native to NZ but it turns out they were introduced.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://cloudisland.nz/users/irix/statuses/116481210815641964https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://cloudisland.nz/users/irix/statuses/116481210815641964Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:43:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:35:08 GMT]]>@georgepenney those are the ones that learned how to use our cat flap.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://cloudisland.nz/users/ygathgoch/statuses/116481176896276729https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://cloudisland.nz/users/ygathgoch/statuses/116481176896276729Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:35:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:00:42 GMT]]>@georgepenney

Yeah, sorry about that, but I'm from Germany and we don't have dangerous spiders.
Besides, I love spiders! If I encounter one in my home, they usually startle me a bit (something moving where I didn't expect it), but then I either gently evict them outside or, if house spider, move them somewhere safer if necessary.

Pretty sure my attitude would be different if I were an Aussie. 😉

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/ninedragons/statuses/116481041529065509https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/ninedragons/statuses/116481041529065509Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:00:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:24:42 GMT]]>@georgepenney Having looked at images of both, discretion definitely better than valour. Yeeting, I got from context. (But more violent than I thought) Conniption I guessed from context but I confess I had to look it up. But being bested in vocabulary by an author is no shame. I love learning new words.
When visiting NZ due to temperate climate, I didn't think to worry about spiders. Australia though, paranoid is too strong, let's say extremely cautious, wary... hostel dunnies...

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/PeterMLittle/statuses/116480899996613882https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/PeterMLittle/statuses/116480899996613882Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:24:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:08:59 GMT]]>@georgepenney I'm sorry George, that sounds horrifying!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tenforward.social/users/AnnaBaguenaude/statuses/116480602259123865https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tenforward.social/users/AnnaBaguenaude/statuses/116480602259123865Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:08:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:07:42 GMT]]>@georgepenney did you do the 'cat sees cucumber' jump?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.art/users/doublesandal/statuses/116480597197684619https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.art/users/doublesandal/statuses/116480597197684619Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:07:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:29:25 GMT]]>@georgepenney
I'm completely with you on not sharing my house with spiders, be it loo (noooo!) or bedroom (also absolutely noooo!) or any place else.*
And we don't even have spiders that are dangerous (or resemble dangerous ones by look or name).

*I've learned to be okay with them in the garden over the years as long as they keep their distance.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://kirche.social/users/jutta_wa/statuses/116480446662458246https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://kirche.social/users/jutta_wa/statuses/116480446662458246Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:29:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:51:54 GMT]]>@LadyNorris @vicarvernon Definitely in Oz, but here at this time of year the tunnel web males go hunting for females and tend to stick to damper places like bathrooms, loos and laundries. In Australia they just hang out in loos because they're vindictive hell beasts looking to maim the unsuspecting. (That's my story borne of a childhood of finding spiders in our loo in Outback Oz and I'm sticking to it.)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sunny.garden/users/georgepenney/statuses/116479827301898544https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sunny.garden/users/georgepenney/statuses/116479827301898544Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:51:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:52:06 GMT]]>@vicarvernon @georgepenney Spiders and toilets, is this a thing in New Zealand or Australia?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.art/users/LadyNorris/statuses/116479592117367859https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.art/users/LadyNorris/statuses/116479592117367859Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:52:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:34:08 GMT]]>@si_fuller This one was AT LEAST half Shelob's size. (My partner is disputing this but it's all a matter of perspective and I was the one who almost sat on it😂 )

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sunny.garden/users/georgepenney/statuses/116479521497288097https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sunny.garden/users/georgepenney/statuses/116479521497288097Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:34:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:47:19 GMT]]>@georgepenney And whose idea was it to give two such diametrically-opposed (in terms of dangerousness) spiders rhyming names?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/Kimota94/statuses/116479101458847295https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/Kimota94/statuses/116479101458847295Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:47:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:15:35 GMT]]>@georgepenney thank you for no pictures. But believe me I am picturing it!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sfba.social/users/grizolda/statuses/116478976661758927https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sfba.social/users/grizolda/statuses/116478976661758927Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:15:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:09:15 GMT]]>@georgepenney aah nononono not imagining lalalalalalaa

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sunny.garden/users/mees/statuses/116478951804370019https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sunny.garden/users/mees/statuses/116478951804370019Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:09:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:08:24 GMT]]>@vicarvernon @georgepenney a good friend those ones

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://floss.social/users/LovesTha/statuses/116478948472646793https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://floss.social/users/LovesTha/statuses/116478948472646793Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:08:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:07:41 GMT]]>@georgepenney Are NZ mini-fauna broadly as dangerous as Aussie mini-fauna?

I've encountered one of Maryland's two most dangerous spiders (the black widow), but their reputation exceeds their practical danger... We don't have much to fear spider-wise at this latitude.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://floss.social/users/serebit/statuses/116478945601713744https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://floss.social/users/serebit/statuses/116478945601713744Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:07:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:06:35 GMT]]>@georgepenney I hear you. While in Australia I met with the nation's most dangerous spider. Not from poison but dropping into hapless driver laps causing them to crash. He was big. No bigger than that.

Fortunately it was identified and dealt with by my host. At least I had eyes on it, across the room, the whole time I was sat on the toilet.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/vicarvernon/statuses/116478941278245630https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/vicarvernon/statuses/116478941278245630Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:06:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:54:29 GMT]]>@georgepenney Ohhhh noooo f*** that!

You burned down the house, right?!?!? Do we need to start a fundraiser to rehome you?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/NinjaNia/statuses/116478893748220502https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://beige.party/users/NinjaNia/statuses/116478893748220502Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:54:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Zealand, we need a chat. on Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:49:46 GMT]]>@georgepenney Thoughts and prayers! 🤭

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/ninedragons/statuses/116478875189735242https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/ninedragons/statuses/116478875189735242Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:49:46 GMT