Spiderwoman gets out of a jam

People who say, 'There's nothing to fear from spiders' have clearly never been to Australia.

Cate Blanchett

The price of "free" homemade jam this week included a trip to the ER at RHH, some antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and antihistamines for Kym.  Whilst collecting Blackberries and Plums in our orchard she was attacked not once but twice! The first one she didn't really feel or see (although it was diagnosed most likely to be a spider), but the second was one of Tasmania's infamous Jack Jumpers, so feared as to warrant an entire section at RHH for the little monsters. The worry was that it was able to inject through her jeans!

Kym's leg swelled up around the "spider" bite site and a pancake sized (17cm diameter) welt that was red and raised and very sore appeared! So off to the hospital which looked a little like Dante's inferno, so then alternatively we ventured out to a more sedate clinic for the scripts and reassurances that no anaphylaxis was immediately likely.

Rest, ice, lots of drugs and several legitimately venomous looks at the "mastermind" of the lovely Blackberry and Plum Jam idea seemed to work as therapy over the following few days.

OUCH! 7 days later and after many medications

Worth it? Mmmm - time will tell

Jess looks very concerned about Kym's reaction

Our neighbours are now wondering if we shouldn't pack up and head for suburbia to mitigate the likelihood of further medical disasters - but where's the fun in that?

Incidentally Anthony also had a (scheduled) trip to RHH this week. The orthopaedic clinic, after gazing upon the latest x-ray of the snapped ankle, gave the go ahead for phasing out the moon boot over the next couple of weeks. Some physiotherapy awaits, but then all should return more or less to normal - whatever the hell that might be!

Take care and watch out for spiders and ants - nasty!