People are still lovely.

I know, it’s been an awful week so far.

I’m watching reruns of That 70’s Show in the lounge – just to escape 2015. Then I go to my bedroom to fetch a jersey, and there’s a massive rain-spider on the wall above my bed!

Anyone who knows me will understand what that means: I come from a line of arachnophobes, and this is like the end of my immediate world. Sure, I can sleep on the couch, but I have to get dressed in the morning – by then it could have propagated, moved into my cupboard – it could have called all its friends on its little spider iPhone and colonised my bedroom!

I’m alone, everyone in this block is asleep or a stranger. Except my neighbour on the 6th floor, who I call – sheepishly. She comes down, but when she sees it, she’s more afraid than me. Who knew that was even possible?

We stand outside looking at one another – then she says: “What about the new guy on the ground floor? Let’s ask him!”

It’s crazy, but I’m freezing, and if we don’t do something, it’s going to colonise etc.

I knock – eventually he comes to the door. I gabble: “So sorry, this is so weird, but we (we) need someone! There’s a massive spider in my bedroom, and we’re both terrified – can you help?”

Understandably, he looks at us as if we’re crazy, but when I say (truthfully concerned): “Oh, are you also scared of them?! If you are, I’ll understand!”, I see something visceral kick in, bless him.

He says: “Hold on”, and comes back with a broom.

Well, he sorted it out, and fast.

Okay, I’m still looking at my bedroom as if it’s an alien landscape seething with hidden horrors – but people are lovely.