Spider

Well, yes, it's definitely a spider. 

And a rather spectacular one at that.  The colour is golden - hence you'd think a golden orb spider, but I really don't know, and trying to ID a spider when you don't know the first thing about them is very hard indeed.  This is the underside, and I can't get round the other side of it to see what it looks like topside up.

I've been trying to photograph this insect since first light, and only now managed to get one in good focus, now he/she is in the full sun.

By golly it's hot out there.  I got some good pine bark mulch for the front garden bed first thing this morning and spread it as quickly as I could.  It looks really nice now, but there's a long way to go.  I reckon after Christmas I  might get a tonne delivered and dumped in the driveway.  It's supposed to be a bit cooler then.

EDIT:  So exciting for the future of Blip - check this out.  We in Australia and New Zealand are not allowed to contribute financially as yet - but I sincerely hope this changes.  I know the Rower and I want to take part.