anyone else got an invasion of spiders?

[sotough]

I hadn't seen a single spider in our flat all year - until the last ten days.
Suddenly they're cropping up with alarming regularity. i accidentally stood on one barefoot as i made my way to the loo in the middle of the night and woke to find a huge, and i mean huge, black one on the duvet last night. I absolutely hate spiders and was terrified by the one on the bed. is there anything to be done, or is it 'just the time of year'?
are they likely to be coming in from outside?
we live in a middle floor apartment, with three sets of french windows onto very small balconies. there's lots of foliage near the balconies (trees, bushes etc.)
should i spray the thresholds with some sort of insecticide or is it pointless?

Conkers placed around window sills and doors etc will keep spiders out/away.

I have loads too, but every good witch has spiders!

conkers? wow, i've never heard that! will def give it a try!

This time of year is spider mating season so all the males are out and about looking for a female. I am absolutely terrified of them, it's my least favourite time of year. Conkers definitely help- I put small bowls of conkers all around the house a couple of years ago and had a spider-free year.

Yes. Each evening after putting the dc's to bed there's another huge spider in the living room. I think they creep in when it gets cold outside.

I'm not scared of them, but I do catch them and chuck them on the lawn.

Means theres rain on the way.........or so im told!!

Ive heard scattering bay leaves in the house keeps them away!

I'm off conker hunting tomorrow!