I have a sheet ready to print so that I can start preparing some soldered bits and pieces. I am going to make some little charms and pendants with a 'Halloween' Wild Things theme. Yesterday I started a painting of a spider... now, let me explain that I have a very stupid and irrational fear of spiders. I live in a country where spiders are not a threat, yet just the thought of one scuttling along makes me want to run for the hills. Ridiculous! So I am finding myself as normal, totally engrossed in the painting I am doing and then, every now and again... shuddering at the subject matter. I have no real fear of any other living thing. As a child I once sat on a wasps nest (long story) and was stung everywhere. Am I frightened of wasps / bees / stingy things? No. I once had the little finger of my right hand almost ripped off (no seriously - I have a cracking scar to prove it) by a rearing pony. Am I scared of all things equine? No. As a child I was bitten several times by dogs - once on the face (again small scar to prove it) - I'm not frightened of dogs, never have been, which is why I got myself into so many scrapes with them because I always threw my arms around any dog I saw as a child :0)
Being scared of spiders is silly. I have never been hurt by a spider, never had a spider trauma... apart from the time my friends child held the biggest one up under my nose saying 'Look what I found Lesley....'. I was horrified, my instinct was to leap over the fence into the neighbour's garden, or worse still chuck the child and her find into next door's garden. I told her I thought it was beautiful and she should put it back where she found it because it's family were missing it, which she dutyfully did. I think (hope) the rictus smile and my googling eyes passed her by. I would hate to be responsible for imprinting the same fear in another generation.
So, deep breaths, keep calm Lesley, and get that painting finished!
TTFN, xx
