Sideswipe: I'm naturally lucky, touch wood...

Still surfing at 86! Byllee McDonald of St Joseph's Rest Home, St Marys Bay hits the surf at Waihi Beach with her Beachwheels and son Craig and granddaughter Kelly. Photo / Supplied

Top 10 superstitions people rely on every day:

1. Touching/knocking wood.

2. Crossing your fingers for good luck.

3. Avoiding walking under a ladder.

4. Not opening an umbrella inside.

5. Seeing a penny on the floor.

6. Breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck.

7. Not putting new shoes on a table.

8. Singing the magpie song to avoid bad omens.

9. Thirteen being an unlucky number.

10. Having a lucky number.

(Source: Survey by British insurer More Than)

****

Courtesy text, minus the courtesy

Wes would like to thank 2degrees for the text they sent at 4am, Tuesday morning reminding him that his credit card will expire soon. "If anyone knows the executive officers' mobile numbers I would also like to thank them via text at 4am," he adds.

****

Do as I do. I mean, do as I say

Sam says the driving instructor speaking on the phone during a lesson is just as culpable as if the driver was driving himself while on the phone. "The passenger has the responsibility when driving with a learner or restricted driver - ditto for drink-driving."

****

Failing the emissions component

"I had a driving lesson about five years ago," writes Jason. "About 20 minutes into an hour lesson my instructor directed me to a dairy where he got out and went inside. He eventually emerged with a packet of cigarettes and smoked for the rest of the lesson."

****

Flies and microwave murder 1

Tony writes: "Having once inadvertently squashed a blowfly under a microscope and watched the maggots crawl out, it's the last thing I would want in my microwave. But, having seen the state some people keep their microwaves in maybe they haven't noticed."

****

Flies and microwave murder 2

Gary Stewart agrees: "Apart from the thought of cooking your next meal in a box lined with exploded blowfly, what about the radiation risk? Microwave doors are designed to reduce radiation emissions but they can't totally eliminate it. Safety also relies on people not putting important sensitive bags of fluid, like eyeballs, close to the 'viewing' panel for any length of time. Far safer to lure the fly into the fridge, then when it's drowsy you can pull it's wings off and drown it in a bowl of water."

****

Today's Webpick: Massive double take... Is one of the infamous David Bain jerseys starring in this music video? Go here.

Follow Ana Samways on Twitter.