On a recent post I talked about my four phobias, Sand, Spiders, Heights and Snakes.

Whilst I had managed to lessen my fear of the first one, the other three are still very much an issue!

Now you may have seen a post I did talking about my “50 things to do before I am Fifty” in which I names lots of challenges and activities that I wanted to do before I turn 50 in seven years time.

One of these challenges was to hold a snake.

You may ask yourself why I would want to do this, if I had a fear of snakes. Well, it is to challenge myself and not let anything defeat me.

I have come so far in the last couple of years with my attitude, confidence and body positivity that I don’t like being frightened of anything anymore.

So I added it to my list, not realising it was going to happen as soon as it did!

We went to a family party a few Sundays ago. This was at the house of an Uncle and Aunt and we got talking and having a good catch up, when Uncle Steve mentioned his animals.

Now I know he used to have quite a large reptile collection, but I didn’t realise he still did. When I told him about my challenge to hold a snake, he took me straight up to the reptile house and said he would give me a snake to hold.

Of course I started to panic, but Uncle Steve said he would get a little snake for me. Little or not, I was not too keen on the idea but it was on my list.

Uncle Steve started off getting a bearded dragon out which I love, so was absolutely fine with. Then he got out a pretty orange and coral snake (I think it was a cornsnake) and went to give it to me.

Aiming for my cleavage

I felt sick. I didn’t want to take it but before I knew it, he had put it around my hands.

Freaking out a little

Now, I have to admit it didn’t feel as bad as I thought. It was a strange texture. I always thought they would be rough and dry, but actually it was a little “greasy” feeling.

No idea where he was going….

I started to relax a little as it wasn’t really doing much. Then it started to move. I was kind of still OK with it until it started trying to get into my cleavage. Then I hastily asked Uncle Steve to take it back.

Very quick and very nosy!

I thought that my ordeal was over, and I was pretty proud of myself. Then Uncle Steve walked out with a massive yellow snake and draped it over my shoulders.

Not keen at all

I totally froze. It weighed a ton! And was slithering around my neck getting tighter. I could feel the bulk of it sliding off my shoulders, down my back, as the head moved round my arm and wrist.

I did not like this ONE LITTLE BIT!

“Try and Smile” they said!!

Uncle Steve was in the reptile house and I was starting to panic quite a bit. It was a very uncomfortable feeling and I was starting to freak out quite a bit.

Going into Panic Mode

I was really worried that as it was moving forward, the back end which so far was on my arm was going to “run” out and it would fall from across my shoulder/back.

As much as I didn’t really like the snake I didn’t want it to hurt itself. I was so glad when Uncle Steve appeared and I was able to ask him to take the snake back.

I have to admit that I didn’t “enjoy” the second snake as much as the first, if that makes sense. However I don’t feel utter panic when I see a snake.

Maybe if I had held the bigger snake first, I would have quite liked the smaller one?

Who knows?!?!

I have now ticked the challenge off of my list and don’t intend on holding one again, so I don’t feel the need in finding out.

Onto the next challenge…..