V - E - R - Y . . . . . . . S - C A - R - E - Y ! ! ! ! !

One of the less attractive aspects of life in the tropics, if you happen to be moth-phobic, is the presence of big fellas like this, shown here on an ordinary business-size envelope. The screens on my doors and windows are not so much to keep out the mosquitoes as to stop terrifying (to me) creatures like this getting into the house.

I went out to the car yesterday afternoon and found it on the garage floor between the driver's side of the car and the wall. Although it was completely still I wasn't sure if it was dead, so I got into the car through the passenger side and clambered (at the second attempt, having removed the steering lock!) over to the driver's side.

By this afternoon it still hadn't moved so was presumably dead. With great skill, daring and trembling I flicked it onto the envelope to photograph it. I then courageously carried it to some grass so that I wouldn't have to look at it each time I got the car out.

Later I noticed that it had disappeared and I am now terrified all over again - in case Lazarus has brought it into the house and I step on it in my bare feet.

Most St Lucians are terrified of frogs, so I'm not the only one with irrational fears here!