Free Calls for All
- Thread starter Stevenson Gawen
- Start date
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
I remember public telephones - guess I'm showing my age?
Stevenson Gawen
Well-Known Member
I took the photo yesterday!
We still have 'em here, not as many as the were but definitely still present. They used to be pay phones, but I believe that now emptying the coins cost them more than they were making.
They don't get used much. I think they're considered a public safety service in effect, so they are still maintained... occasionally.
Stevenson Gawen
Well-Known Member
Gianluca Drago
Well-Known Member
Spiders use them much, it appears! Nice photo(s), Steve.
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
There's always a price to pay...this time with your health! Yuk, what a place!
Ralph Turner
Well-Known Member
When I glimpsed the thumbnail for the first image I thought it was some sort of mould growing on the ceiling (as could be imagined here in the cooler, damper UK). Then I looked at the image properly and noticed it was fauna, not flora (though, technically, I believe fungi are a category of their own). Presumably a nice, sheltered environment for the little critters. Redback, or some other? I like the contrast of the warm glow in the second image, kind of inviting you in from dark surroundings, a cool blue of the sky's early (late?) hour.
Stevenson Gawen
Well-Known Member
Yup. I didn't get too close! Oddly, there were two dead birds, galahs, lying on the ground outside. I think someone had moved them off the road, as galahs are frequently road casualties (erratic flyers!) but it didn't help the atmosphere at all.
Don't think redbacks, they prefer more sheltered, crevice-like spots usually. Although... this was a bit crevice like...
Actually, I think some of the 'stuff' is windblown dust, fluff, etc, that's got hooked up on a relatively minor amount of cobwebs. But I wouldn't care to speculate on how many spiders are in there!
Ralph Turner
Well-Known Member
When we visited over there some years ago, we stayed for a week at a campsite in the Adelaide Hills. It was dark when we pulled up so I wanted to get our van's power line hooked up fairly quickly. Upon opening the pole-mounted box, there was one such spider, with it's beautiful glossy black body and characteristic bright red diamond pattern, sat spanning the very sockets we needed. Had to get my camera and macro lens, and it was very obliging until it decided it'd had enough and scuttled off into the back somewhere..
Ralph Turner
Well-Known Member
Well, I went back and had a look at my pics. The one I saw wasn't as shiny 'n' black as I remember, more a of a satin look with dark brown patches and small white stripes on it's abdomen. Also, more red stripe than diamond pattern. Apparently this one was likely still fairly young from what I read, with those small, white stripes. How the mind and memory play tricks... well, they do with the old duffer this end.
Last edited:
Stevenson Gawen
Well-Known Member
Feel free to post a pic if you like!
I'm no spider expert.. I just treat them all with respect, with extra when I know it's dangerous...
Ralph Turner
Well-Known Member
Gianluca Drago
Well-Known Member
It looks like a redback: https://www.australiangeographic.co.../08/australian-spiders-the-10-most-dangerous/
Ralph Turner
Well-Known Member
Indeed it is, Gianluca 
. We also saw a huntsman hiding in one of those boxes. Just a small youngster my cousin said. It was still rather BIG.
. We also saw a huntsman hiding in one of those boxes. Just a small youngster my cousin said. It was still rather BIG.
Last edited:
