Sill's Scary Snake Story
For the last 6 days, many people in the NeverLand room have listened to my play-by-play and daily account of the following adventure. I decided to submit the full version with all the details here, in case any of you missed any episodes LOL. I, Sill Spirit, and my partner, lover, g/f, wife, Free Spirit, live just outside Sydney in New South Wales, Australia and this is what we have endured this last week and its' dramatic conclusion!
This is not a funny story, this is a "I coulda died and might have" one LOL. What a week it has been! Last Tuesday I came home from work to find my neighbors Paul and Margaret who live directly opposite us, standing outside. We had been having record heat for Sept, up to 37C (approx 98F), which is hot for our spring so seeing them outside wasn't so odd. They are a very friendly couple, in there 60s I guess but anyway... They said they had seen a brown snake scaling their garage. It can't get into the garage from the bottom because of the rubber strip but could climb up and go over the roller and into the garage, which like ours, is attached to the house. Now any kind of snake is cause for alarm to me, a poisonous one is worse and an Australian brown is just a point blank horrific "lets go into panic mode" one. They are the second deadliest in the world!! Well Paul startled it and so it bolted into a hole behind the drainpipe. They said it was about 6ft long, ugh! They called the property management to get someone to come get rid and they in turn called WYRES which is like animal control. They said they couldn't come and LOOK for a snake but to catch it and then they'd come and pick it up! Big help, like anyone with a brain would even try to catch it. Later that day I looked out of the upstairs, pc room, window and saw this snake sunning itself. It was yes, easily 6 ft long, not as thick as I expected and I kinda felt better for having seen it cos then I knew what i was panicking about, and looking for LOL. They are very aggressive as well so the neighbors and I were of course very concerned/fearful. Snakes as you may know are territorial and this snake had claimed that spot behind the drainpipe in front of Paul's garage as its new home. They hunt at night and sun in the day. They can get through the tiniest spots and can't be run over as they just pop back up, or climb into your engine and into the car. The only way to run over this snake is to hit your brakes at exactly the right moment/spot to break its neck so this wasn't a very likely option. If anything, who wants to get outa their car to check??
Next morn after a restless ' is it in the house?" night. I went off to work. I walked home as I do each morn, stomping down the path so if the snake is around it'll feel the vibrations and take off. It didn't. It was sunning about 6 feet away from me and I got into my front door as fast as I could!! The authorities had told us to block all under the doors with towels and heavy objects to prevent it from getting in, well as much as we could anyway. Would the dogs let me know if it was in the house? yes they would but they'd probably get killed in the process. To make matters worse, Free volunteered to stay at her sisters from Wednesday to Friday to baby sit her dogs while her sister was otta town. That left me alone which I didn't like much either! Throughout the week, we continued trying to reach some one who would come and get it. We called the townhouse management (where we live), the wildlife people, the cops, the council and 5 private snake catchers. Nobody would do anything. Saturday morn and Free has returned, I see the snake outa the window and say there it is. She says where? And promptly goes out, and walks up to it to get a better look! Well heart in my throat is no understatement. I was so mad at her for doing that but she said she wasn't bothering it so it wouldn't bother her back! Little too risky for me and anyone else that heard that she did this. Snake went right back into its hole. I said, " Jeez you coulda at least taken the camera LOL". Now this snake comes out of its hole between 9:30 - 10:30 a.m each day so we managed to get a catcher to come early Sunday morn. Sigh of relief all around. The snake comes out, the catcher (Glen) chases it, it gets away. I watch all of this activity from the upstairs window where its safe! Nothing he can do so he leaves again. We are not happy about this cos at least we knew where it was before! Now we didn't!! And so Free is not afraid at all but I am and the neighbors are too.
Yesterday (Monday 29/Sept) I pass the snake on the way into my front door again, *shudder *tremble * fumble, fluster *enter. At least I know where it is. I call Snake man Glen he's not home. Snake decides to go walkabout so I watch it wander off, that's not fun either. Paul and Margaret arrive home, I tell them, then we all see it again. This time I am outside being brave!!
Well my heart is majorly pounding. Move to 3 hours later. I told Free I saw the snake and she sent a guy here. Meanwhile glen arrived. We ended up with 2 catchers and the snake gone. Paul Margaret and I were outside talking to them. One guy left, I said to Glen who was here yesterday "You gotta stay, it will be back, I know its habits, you can set your clock by them." so he hung around an hour looking for it. Margaret went into her house to get something (am laughing already) cos she came out her front door and I went "There it is!!" right behind her!! Well didn't she jump! I ran and got the camera. We three stand back while glen chases it, it comes toward Margaret and I so we bolt into my front door, its a bit farther back so we step out again, it comes closer, we bolt, talk about an adrenalin rush! Needless to say I got no incredible pics because I was too busy fleeing, bobbing and weaving!! I did get one after Glen grabbed it by the tail and put it in the bag phew!! I can't believe I was out there, I'll be telling this story for years to come. I'll never forget that beast swirling when he had its tail as long as I live. I said to glen "I didn't get any good pics, can you do it over please?" LOL I shoulda taken pics from window upstairs but...honest to god, it all happened so fast. What a brave guy, he measured it at 5ft long and about 3 years old. Will take it to the bush and let it go. He didn't measure the snake, he measured the area it covered lol. I'll tell ya it takes a min to get over that kinda heart pumping. I came in and poured myself a red wine LOL. Anyway that is the scoop, its gone, thank god. Now I am going to pack up all my "snake cant get into the house" equipment and take a breath. Wow eh? Second deadliest in the world and it was 2 feet away from me, no word of a lie. I sure didn't know I could move that fast! I got a pic off the net so you can see what one looks like and here's a pic of glen to give this tale some atmosphere. If anything good came out of this week, it was I learned the difference between rational and irrational fear (though I am sure I felt both!) I discovered that the things that frightened me before are miniscule by comparison, I learned that Free is reckless, foolish or brave, I am not sure which. I learned a great deal about snakes, got to know my neighbors, know for certain that had the snake approached my dogs I would have risked my own life and booted it in the head for them and lastly and most importantly, I had a topic to bring to the room and when I was asked what was new, I said "lots!!" Hope you enjoyed this story, better to read it than to live it believe me. Today I am still on the alert for the snake or another one like it. I expect that will take some time to get over.
All good wishes to you all,
Sill Spirit
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