Tag: The Big Spider

  • The Big Spider, Seattle, Washington

    The Big Spider, Georgetown, Seattle, Washington, United States of America

    Little Bigs Bardot
    Sat in a meadow
    On a lovely Seattle day
    There came a Big Spider,
    Who sat down beside her
    And frightened Bigs Bardot away

    Seattle’s monumental Big Spider is a load of rubbish – and I mean that in the kindest way possible!

    Your valiant reporter, the inimitable Bigs Bardot, was swaggering through the lively streets of Georgetown on my way to see Hat n’ Boots. Suddenly, shockingly, I was accosted by a terrifying creature. There, squatting upon one of the many well-maintained garages the area is famous for, was an arachnid of epic proportions.

    The eight hairy legs! The dozens of beady eyes! The bloodthirsty fangs! The putrid beast clambered towards me, drool pouring from its monstrous maw. I squealed with panic and turned to run, only to find myself ensconced in the arms of a burly stranger.

    “Relax,” he said calmly, “it’s not a real spider.”
    “It’s…not?” I asked timidly, burying my face in the stranger’s shirt.
    “No, it’s just an old Halloween prop I rescued from the trash.”

    Who’s your Daddy Long Legs?

    When I finally gathered the confidence to pluck myself from the Samaritan’s grip and take a closer look at the beastie, I realised he was right. The spider, despite being ferociously realistic and anatomically correct, wasn’t chasing me. He was nailed to the roof for the amusement of passersby.

    This curious stranger sports an impish grin and a roguish disposition (the spider, that is, not the gentleman who owns him – although he is not without his rustic charms). A tsunami of lust washed over me, much as it did upon meeting this spider’s Aussie cousin, Itsy Bitsy. What can I say, I have a thing for creepy crawlies!

    The spider’s owner went on to assure me that yes, he would be refurbishing the giant bug to return him to his former glory. There are even plans to turn the house into a horror attraction, thanks to dozens of other props he’s rescued over the years. He might even set up a website for the Spider.

    Maybe they’ll have to rename the city ‘Se-aaaaagh it’s a spider-tle!

  • Aranha Grande, Penha, Brasil

    A Aranha Grande, Penha, Santa Catarina, Brasil

    With a sassy attitude, girl-next-door good looks and legion of rabid fans, Aranha Grande is fast becoming the most popular arthropop-star in the Americas. The leggy luminary has wowed the New World with hit songs such as God is a Spider, Dangerous Spider, 34+35=Spider and Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m A Spider.

    Not a whole lot of variety, sure, but pretty good for an overgrown arachnid.

    Residing within Beto Carrero World, the largest fun park in South America and most popular tourist attraction in Southern Brasil, Ms Grande is far from the only Big Thing in Penha. A giant gorilla, sizeable snake and colossal cowboy hat (with boots!) are also on display in the park. O Milkshake Grande is nearby, too, if you’re thirsty for more Bigs.

    Forever on the cutting edge of fashion, this diva is know to change her look regularly. Until recently she presented herself as a jet-black tarantula, but now sports a trendy orange tinge. I guess she orders her outfits on the World Wide Web.

    Recently the paparazzi have snapped her with a rugged country boy from the Aussie outback. No, not me, the incomparable Itsy Bitsy. Honestly, please stop spidering on them. They deserve their privacy!

    Apparently many visitors to the park mistake Aranha for a similarly-named human pop star, and are disappointed to find an enormous eight-legged freak rather than a diminutive American starlet. Oh well, let me know when that other famous Grande can catch and devour a mouse!

  • Itsy Bitsy the Big Spider, Urana, NSW

    Itsy Bitsy the Big Spider
    Climbed up the water tower
    Down came the rain
    And made the spider cower
    Out came the sun
    And dried up all the rain
    And Itsy Bitsy the Big Spider
    Climbed up the tower again!

    You’d hate to be a fly in the cosy village of Urana, because it’s home to a spider the size of a small car! But don’t be scared, because this aspiring web designer is a charming chap who you absolutely arach-need to meet. In fact, he’s so popular they might have to rename the town Tarant-Urana!

    Despite being a fair way up the tower, Itsy Bitsy is a lot of fun to take photos with and easy to find, living at the end of the main street, next to a small lake with community BBQs. He certainly didn’t mind putting on a tough guy act as I shrieked in terror!

    Itsy Bitsy was created by local artist Andrew Whitehead and revealed in May 2009, taking up residence on the town’s imposing water tower. Made from scrap metal and piping – similar to Murray the Cod – he has eight lovely eyes (doesn’t that make him a spiiiiiiiider?) and loves spinning a yarn. Fittingly, he’s around eight feet tall.

    Brave Andy installed this Big Thing all by himself, which certainly impressed a flabbergasted reporter from the Border Mail. “Mr Whitehead, who is afraid of heights, installed the artwork himself, climbing a 16m ladder then walking around the 30cm rim of the tower carrying an 8kg bracket and 8m of cable,” the breathless report read.

    “Once the bracket and cable were in place a cherry picker raised the spider into position and it was secured with the three cables.”

    Easy Spider

    Thankfully, Andy didn’t build a Daddy Long Legs because Urana’s overrun by bugs; he was in-spidered by the town’s legendary former Aussie Rules team, who were known as the Spiders and surely must’ve played at Webley Stadium.

    Itsy lives reasonably close to his good mates the Big Murray Cod at Tocumwal and the Big Guitar at Narrandera, but thankfully nowhere near Ossie the Mossie, who he’d probably try to eat!

    Today this not-so-creepy crawly is the coolest dude in town and it’s customary for him to appear in wedding photos – newlywebs think he’s the greatest. I’d love to hear more from Itsy Bitsy, so hopefully he’ll launch an arthro-podcast soon!