A Day Out with Gloria!

Saturday for me is just a normal working day. This particular one was no different and I was booked by Elaine to attend the Samphire Centre Summer Fun Day for Sure Start Dover.

Elaine had organised the whole day herself and what a fantastic job she had done. There was mask making, bouncy castle, petting area with sheep, goats, calves, chickens and a baby lamb that needed feeding from a bottle, duck fishing, play your cards right, a dog display and much much more.

As I was getting set up for my contribution I noticed some cars nearby and the people, all dressed in maroon sweatshirts, removing what appeared to be glass tanks. "What did they contain?", I asked myself. As always, and despite my better judgement, curiosity got the better of me, so once I was set up and clear of my role for the day, I went inside to seek out the secrets of the mysterious tanks.
It didn't take me long to find out! As I entered the building, the first room I came to, aptly named the Sunshine Room, gave up the secrets I was seeking. CREEPY CRAWLIES!!.

It was a close encounters roadshow presented by the Invicta Arachnid Club. I gingerly entered. Those that know me will be aware that I am a creepy crawlie whimp, so going into the room was something of an achievement.
I gazed around in awe. There was a tank with scorpions, hardly moving. They were black and shiny and you could be forgiven for thinking they were made of plastic.
A tank with huge millipedes, some curled up and others stretched out to their full length. I watched as there multitudinous legs rippled as if performing some kind of Mexican wave. Becky was standing there with a beautiful golden yellow snake wrapped around her neck. She told me that it was a corn snake and a constrictor. I felt it's tail and it curled around my finger. I could feel the power for those few seconds, then it released.

There were so many tanks with so many different creatures. Then I saw it. The SPIDER!
I have had a major fear of spiders since I was about five or six years old. I was in bed one night and I felt something tickle my foot. I pulled the covers back to reveal a huge hairy black spider sharing my bed. I screamed and my parents removed it but it was sometime before I would lay down to sleep again. Such was the trauma of that experience that I still remember it clearly to this day. I am convinced that this was the point in my life when my extreme phobia of spiders began.

Chris was in charge of the desk with a selection of tanks, including one with a female Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula called Gloria. All of the creatures were there for people to hold under Chris's expertise and he would photograph you with them for a modest fee. I knew this was an opportunity to have a go.
I told Chris and Becky that I would return later to hold Gloria and went off to entertain the children that were now arriving.

In my mind I still didn't think I would actually go through with it, but as I continued my "mix 'n' mingle" I was somehow drawn back to the Sunshine Room. Becky and Chris kindly gave me some interesting information about the animal I feared which slowly began to ease my irrational fear.

Finally the moment came! I sat at the desk and told Chris I was ready. He carefully lifted Gloria from her tank. She immediately dashed across his hands and I instictively jumped from my seat and took a couple of hasty paces backwards. Gloria was calm. Chris reassured me and I sat back at the desk and placed my hands in position as instructed. He gently placed Gloria onto my hands. I felt no fear and no panic. Chris and Becky had given me such confidence.

Gloria sat in my hands, and as she slowly moved I could feel her gentle movement. This was not a creature to be afraid of but one to admire and wonder at.
After Chris had taken the photo he gently lifted Gloria from my hands and placed her with care back into her home. I did not feel relief but a great disappointment that my encounter was all over.

This was followed by a feeling of total and absolute exhilaration. I did it and what's more had photographic evidence. As I walked around I said to everyone, "Look at my picture! Look what I have just done!" Some were impressed, some thought I was brave and others that I was stark raving mad.

Anyway, I continued my day, still buzzing from the adrenaline rush until finally it was over.

Elaine had done a brilliant job organising such a wonderful day and the Dover Sure Start Team as ever supported the event with a 100% effort. I am so lucky to be, as Elaine said to me afterwards, "One of the Family". Thank you Elaine it was such a lovely comment to make and one I truly appreciate.

I also have to thank the Invicta Arachnid Club for helping me have the experience of a lifetime. If you have an event do consider booking them. With their knowledge and warm, friendly approach they are certain to be a hit. They were with me! (www.invicta-arachnid-club.org.uk)

As I finish I have one question to ask myself. "When the next spider appears in the bathroom will I run or will I pick it up and move it?"
I'll let you know