What Am I Scared Of? (lighthearted!)

Here's my post for Blogtober Day 16. What are you scared of?

My youngest (18) is really keen to go to a proper scary Halloween Maze and yesterday two of my older children were reminiscing about mazes they have enjoyed and laughing at me because not even the promise of a pile of free doughnuts at the end would tempt me into one of those things.

Years ago I covered Fright Night at Thorpe Park on Press night and while my husband and then teenage daughter gleefully headed off to do battle with zombies and ride already scary rides IN THE DARK I stayed in the safety of the theme park's restaurant, ostensibly to recover from a long haul flight I'd completed the same day but really to avoid any kind of jump scare, spookiness and the like.

I can't watch horror movies and struggle even with programmes labelled as containing mild threat and violence. It's partly gore of course - I don't like those hospital reality shows and have been known to look away during Holby City-but I think a lot is the expectation of being frightened or startled I don't like.

I enjoyed Blenheim Palace's Halloween Trail but made sure we arrived in daylight (for the ease of taking photographs you understand.) when it's advised it is more suitable for nervous and young children. I have promised my family that if we go to Blenhaim Palace's 2026 Halloween Trail with new spooky installations we will start the trail after dark.

Out of Hallowe'en season I am afraid of spiders. Yes, I know it's irrational and they are good for eating flies but even the smallest of arachnids or a picture of one triggers a fear response. I have to try hard not to think that they are running over my bed in the night and have never forgotten the now proven made up fact that every human swallows an average of four to eight spiders a year . Interesting actual fact is that particular story was started by a columnist in 1993 to prove how fast misinformation can spread via email chains. If anyone is still worried apparently, most people sleep with their mouth closed and even if you don't, the flow of warm air and carbon dioxide would act as a natural deterrent.

I was terrified of needles until my 20's but seven pregnancies, insulin regulated diabetes and now a B12 deficiency which will require lifelong injections means I'm pretty much over that.

So maybe exposure is the cure? Maybe I should brave a horror movie marathon whilst holding a pet tarantula?

Nah I'll stick with my stupid fear which may hold me in good stead. My children declared yesterday that having pushed them in front of me when a pretend Zombie came towards me and having elbowed them out of the way and run as fast as an Olympian at a scary interactive adventure when I felt threatened by actors playing Cybermen, when the real zombie apocalypse or alien invasion comes I am well prepared to sacrifice them and run for my life.