Critters

When OH goes out into the wilderness I am always happier when he has a buddy.  When he's out on his own, I admit my mind goes into crazy lady mode.  Has a snake dropped from a tree and bitten him to death or has he run face first into the web of a man killing spider? Has he fallen and knocked himself unconscious on a rock? Is his lost in the depths of Ku-ring-Kai?! (It has happened).

Although getting lost or hurt from a fall are the most likely scenarios of disaster, I can't help but think about the critters.  I think it's because I'm from the UK where there are no insects or animals (except in the zoo) than can kill you.  This fascination with death by native animal isn't restricted to land.  The screen tracking the movements of bull sharks in the Harbour at the Sydney Aquarium holds particular morbid appeal (they literally come right up to Little Manly Beach by the way).  Reptiles freak me out too.  A couple of weeks ago I went jogging with OH up near West Head and he yelled "look crocodile!".  It wasn't a crocodile of course, he was just freaking me out, but it was a ridiculously over sized lace monitor. It was enough to make me run that little bit faster back to the car.

However, our closest encounter with natural wildlife happened this morning. OH grabs his running T Shirt of the drying rack, throws it on and swiftly removes it.  Hanging out in the seam was the delightfully furry creature pictured.  It looks like a caterpillar. But to me caterpillars are green, much like the very hungry caterpillar. This one was black and oddly hairy, but it must have been hungry as OH has a rash from a suspected bite.  So all the worrying about the next killer critter, and this and a few leeches, is really as bad as it has got.

I will continue to worry, but I guess what's the worst than could happen??  (Hmmm, I think these words could come back and haunt me..)