start times: 8.30pm Downunder, 9.30am UK

A5 The Web
What can I say about this one? The new crew member, Cally, makes a name for herself; Jenna has laryngitis (or something), Liberator proves to have some vulnerabilities after all, we learn that old cookers can be upcycled into power plants, and Blake makes some new friends. A lot of them, although they don't join him in fighting against the Federation, since they have a rebellion of their own to sort out. Oh, and it might be a good idea for you to wear ear defenders.

The Web… scary. I’ve just had my house fumigated so I’m overly heightened to the sight of webs right now and what they might contain. If a creepy crawly does appear, I can assure you, you WILL hear me in the UK.

Poor little house spiders. They don't need to be fumigated; they perform an important task around the house, keeping down other, nastier insects. Yes, their kids are running everywhere at present, but they'll be largely predated in turn. The local native geckos see to that. Just suck 'em (spiddies) up the vacuum cleaner if you must.😭

Don't think we've ever had our place fumigated, even last week when the neighbour thought there were termites in the fence. A totally benign species as it turns out. We did once use a flea bomb when the cats thought it might be a nice idea to bring home a few friends because my parents were visiting, but that's all.

Personally, I find Blake's new friends far more annoying.

Huntsmen are anything but little - they are massive. And without fumigation I would be living in a constant state of catatonic hysteria. So sorry, but they have to go.

They're safe as houses. If we don't want 'em inside, we just put a glass over and a postcard under and carry 'em out. And I don't think you can be catatonic and hysterical at the same time...

You obviously haven’t seen me around a Huntsman…….. LOL

Listening to all the spider talk, I'm glad I don't have quite the same worries here in the UK. Our spiders do sometimes give a bit of a nip if sufficiently provoked, and I'm assured there are false widow spiders about somewhere (which can mean anywhere and therefore one should assume everywhere: rather like the rebels) but our spiders are relatively small and largely inoffensive critters that do a great job catching some (but never all) the midges.
The worst things we have here are wasps. Definitely. The only venomous snake is the adder, rarely seen and unlikely to cause anyone a problem unless trodden on by an unwary hiker.
Spiders and fumigations aside, how are you all down there?

Great a photo of a spider now I’m gonna have nightmares for a week, thanks Obsidian. :-(

Listening to all the spider talk, I'm glad I don't have quite the same worries here in the UK. Our spiders do sometimes give a bit of a nip if sufficiently provoked, and I'm assured there are false widow spiders about somewhere (which can mean anywhere and therefore one should assume everywhere: rather like the rebels) but our spiders are relatively small and largely inoffensive critters that do a great job catching some (but never all) the midges.
The worst things we have here are wasps. Definitely. The only venomous snake is the adder, rarely seen and unlikely to cause anyone a problem unless trodden on by an unwary hiker.
Spiders and fumigations aside, how are you all down there?

Everything is good thanks Vern If you don’t count the fact that the choir that I gave my heart and soul to and not to mention a gazillion hours of my time and a hell of a lot of money too has now got a bunch of a**holes on the committee who are absolutely and totally doing their best to ruin my reputation throughout all of Canberra. :-(

How about you? How are things up there?

Hi MsVirn. Midges are not a good thing. Give me an adder or spider any time. Ask Travisina about the kind we used to get in the Middle East. We've compared notes. Nasty.
Feeling a bit better this week as I sold some earrings (Hooray!) though I've been in agony with a hip thing that gets me every now and again. In the past it has involved emergency hospital visits and very nice drugs. Need a return trip to get some more. How are you?

Oh charming. There's always someone wants to turn things into their little empire.

(...continued) Plus of course the infamous clegg (horse fly) which sneaks up on you without any noise and can bite through jeans. And the blood-sucking mutoid, aka the (sheep) tick, which carries Lyme disease and lurks in the grass to catch hold of passing legs. And although known for their affinity to sheep, they also like the blood of deer, badger, fox, cat, dog, human...anything really. All these animals we have in abundance where I live, here in the jolly English countryside.

OK here, thanks, except for our car being declared deceased and so we're on the hunt for another.

If I knew another 20 ABBA fans in Canberra, I’d get them to join up and vote the little buggers out.

If I knew another 20 ABBA fans in Canberra, I’d get them to join up and vote the little buggers out.

Hello everyone!

Sorry, complete forgot about this.

When I was a kid, we used to have huntsmen run across the living room floor when we watched TV of an evening. They'd always pause momentarily halfway, as if stopping to watch the telly with us.

Hello everyone!

Sorry, complete forgot about this.

When I was a kid, we used to have huntsmen run across the living room floor when we watched TV of an evening. They'd always pause momentarily halfway, as if stopping to watch the telly with us.

Cally hasn't lost much time getting taken over by aliens.

Of course, it's the random kangaroo muggers that you have to real be wary of. (Sound off for this one.)

Of course, it's the random kangaroo muggers that you have to real be wary of. (Sound off for this one.)

Hi, about 5 minutes in. Cally is just telling Avon that she is interested in his work, and he is acting all bemused. Is she doing something to him, telepathically, or is he just unused to interest from attractive women?

Hi, about 5 minutes in. Cally is just telling Avon that she is interested in his work, and he is acting all bemused. Is she doing something to him, telepathically, or is he just unused to interest from attractive women?

Can we become overnight ABBA fans?

I'm glad to hear things are going a bit better, Obsdian. I have gone down with a bad cold - I think I'll go back to bed for a couple of hours after this, and see if some rest can help.