4 November 2013 SO MUCH FOR MY LACACARACHA DEADLY SPIDERS FOUND IN SAINSBURY AND DENIS SMITH? A mother has spoken of her terror after discovering dozens of the worlds deadliest spiders while eating a banana in her London home. Consi Taylor told The Sun she noticed a strange white spot on the fruit, which she thought was mould. But she dropped the banana to the floor after discovering dozens of spiders crawling over the skin. She told the newspaper: “I thought it was mould but when I had a closer look I saw some funny looking spots. I had a closer look and was horrified to see they were spiders. They were hatching out on the table, scurrying around on my carpet.” The 29-year-old took the bananas back to supermarket Sainsburys and was initially offered a £10 voucher in compensation. But after sending an image of the creatures to a pest control company, her family were told to evacuate their home as it could be infested with Brazilian wandering spiders. Guinness World Records in 2010 listed the Brazilian wandering spider as the most venomous in the world. Sometimes known as the “Banana Spider”, they often hide in banana plants and are found across South and Central America, and can be extremely aggressive and their venom contains a neurotoxin which triggers loss of muscle control, breathing problems, paralysis and eventual asphyxiation, although there is a common anti-venom. Sainsbury’s has paid for the Taylor home to be fumigated and for the family to stay in a hotel while it was cleaned, The Sun reported. The supermarket said: “We’re very sorry and have apologised to Mr and Mrs Taylor. We do have rigorous controls on imported products at all stages - from harvesting to transportation - which is why this is so rare.” I started the day nursing a minor hangover from my days touring Leek with my son Adam, as we headed for my old friend and former team-mate Kevin Lewis’s pub The Wellington. Along the way we were greeted warmly by a nice young lady in the Red Lion where we watched Everton and Spurs play out a goalless draw, which was a result I called. After seeing that my judgement was spot on I also called Cardiff City to be Swansea City in the first all Welsh Premier League Derby. I asked Adam “what price 1-0 both ways” if only for a saver, and he told me 10/1 but once entering Coral it was 7s, so I put my money back in my ‘Sky Rocket’ and returned to the Lion. Kev was his usual self, very social and full of his normal ‘rabbit’ about the past, which is one of the reasons that we gather. Alan Dodd was Alan Dodd, a superb young man - only a couple of years my junior - but as always seemingly the young kid on the block. I am a massive admirer of the young man (why do I keep doing that?) from Endon, just about two miles from Leek. The great news was his Elaine had beaten cancer, and I always see her as a vision of smiles. She still calls him “Doddy” which I find quite charming after all these years. I once tried to get Seattle to sign Alan, but he declined a move that he should be ashamed of, for it would have been an experience to treasure. If he found the old First Division a ‘Breeze’, which he did, he would have strolled through the NASL, and that was not because it was inferior, in fact far from it, but because he was that good and would have found the challenge much to his liking. He was as good a defender as I have ever come across. Also there was ‘Fox’ our keeper of the 80s and one of great quality and he still thinks that I build him up because of our friendship, but nothing could be further from the truth. I was a great friend of Mike Ivano in Seattle, and although I loved him as a bloke I would never have allowed him in goal in an important match. Last but not least Denis Smith arrived and I say last because he loves an entrance and that gives me ammunition to attack his senses of vulnerability, something I get such a kick out of. I spoke for a few minutes and before I reached Denis I was wondering just what he was thinking as I picked the microphone off the stand? I was very complimentary to the man whose medical report runs mine pretty close, although his were all on the field challenges of one kind or another. If Denis weren’t nursing a bad cut or bruise he would go looking for one, he was that destructible, or indestructible, whatever way you look at it? I made my way back to the bar and waited for his approach and was ready for our continual barrage of complimentary abuse. In the end we kiss and hug and leave on good terms, knowing that the mutual respect remains, although unlike both of our injuries endured, as we both have scars that will always be likely to be re-opened? All in all it was a very, very entertaining evening but after the names I just mentioned how could it not be? The fans of those days left with a smile after being entertained in a completely different way of 30 and 40 years ago, however, entertainment is entertainment and I think they see it the same way as I, I hope? I am fortunate that I am in the Potteries otherwise I would have been sticking me hand in a bag full of bananas in Ladbroke Grove, and ouch, I don’t think so! ALAN HUDSON’S LEEK BOOK SIGNING FOR ‘FROM THE PLAYING FIELDS TO THE KILLING FIELDS’: “IT’S A TRUE STORYAND IT DOES TUG AT YOIUR HEART STRINGS” APPEARANCE: Alan Hudson. Former Stoke City star Alan Hudson held a book signing following the launch of his latest publication. The City legend took part in a meet and greet session with punters at The Wellington Inn, in Strangman Street, Leek, last night following the launch of From The Playing Fields To The Killing Fields. The 62-year-old, who played for Stoke City, Chelsea and England, said: The whole book is based around the car accident I had in 1997 and how much my life has changed since then. It talks about how I have a different outlook on life since it happened and how you realise who is truly there for you when something like this happens.” In December 1997, Alan was admitted to a London hospital with life-threatening injuries. He had been crossing the road when he was struck by a car and flung against a roadside oak tree. He added: “It was a hard book to write. For a year after the accident I was in a wheelchair and that was a hard time in my life. A lot of people read books of fantasy and fiction but this is a true story and I do think it tugs at the heart strings. I had to be careful how I wrote it because I didnt want people to feel sorry for me. It is really a story about the celebration of life.” During his visit to Staffordshire Alan got the chance to watch Stoke City draw against Southampton at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. He said: “We were much better footballers in our day, but times have changed quite a lot.” Alan, below in his playing days, is due to travel home to London on Thursday before he meets with Michael Parkinson to discuss a video project. He is also in the process of writing another book.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 14:53:12 +0000
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