When you see a Magpie, what do you do?

[FavouriteMug]

Going by the reactions of my friends, choices seem to be broadly split as follows:

A. Stop whatever you are doing/saying IMMEDIATELY to utter some weirdy salutation stating with the words 'Good Morning Mr Magpie', even though it's 4.30 in the afternoon. After which your friends are permitted to resume the conversation again.

B. Deftly perform some sort of ritual involving 3 salutes and a tug on your collar without breaking conversation and still managing to keep one hand in the steering wheel/pouring hot water into a mug etc.

C. Absolutely nothing, because it's just a sodding bird and why would you?

I'm C - I think I'm the only one who is and that the world has truly gone mad

If I see one magpie I ask it where it's mate is as I can't take much more sorrow

Definitely C.

I say the ‘one for sorrow …….’ rhyme

I say good morning or good afternoon mr magpie....I always feel better if I see more than 1 ( one for sorrow, and all that 🙄) ....I say I’m not superstitious...but I think I am really 😁

Hello Magpie, how's your wife?

C. Absolutely nothing. Don’t remember the last time I saw a magpie because I just don’t think I acknowledge it.

@Kitkat151

I say good morning or good afternoon mr magpie....I always feel better if I see more than 1 ( one for sorrow, and all that 🙄) ....I say I’m not superstitious...but I think I am really 😁

Same here! Except I say “Hello Mr Magpie!” and wave. I’m completely bonkers I know but I just can’t help myself….

I salute the magpie

Always have. Always will

I say "Hello your Lordship, how is your ladyship?"

Doff my invisible hat and say “morning/afternoon colonel”

I say hello Mr magpie how are you today?
I feel better if I see 2

I salute, I don't stop talking or doing whatever I'm doing though, so that's not weird at all really... right?

Carry on with the days activities because I am not insane.

Has reminded me of Richard Herring's piece in the magpie counting system

metro.co.uk/2013/11/29/richard-herring-the-magpie-reward-system-will-only-bring-you-sorrow-4205804/amp/

If I see one I do four things -

1. Think how beautiful and how much more blue they are than I remember.
2. Quickly look for second (for joy)
3. Remember that I’m supposed to give a salutation so in my head I might say something like ‘good morning mr magpie’ - silently in my head. I actually was discussing a magpie a few weeks ago with dp and I did full on salute and we laughed.
4. Then think ‘bloody hell what a faff this all is’ (other than 1) and get on with my day.

In my head I say ‘hello Mr Magpie, how’s your wife and children’.

Goodness only knows why. Honestly, I have a STEM degree and everything.

It’s the only superstition I adhere to!

If I’m walking by myself I always say it in my head so as not to look silly...Hello Mr Magpie, hope you and your family are well! If I see a pair I say Good morning/good afternoon Mr & Mrs Magpie.

If we’re out for a drive or walking and we’re definitely alone I’ll say it out loud. 😁

Hello Mr Magpie, how are your wife and children?

Yes, I’m ridiculous!

Good morning Mr Magpie, how’s your wife?

Seeing a lone magpie is always a little stressful …

I blow it a kiss. I feel really uneasy if I don’t do this. I know this is absurd and feel I should be a C person as it’s just a sodding bird. But old habits die hard …

I’m c but DH is b.

I’d been with him 10 years before I realised that the odd half salute thing he did when driving was saluting a magpie (I thought he was sort of acknowledging a thought, if you know what I mean)

I say or think “good morning Mr Magpie, how’re your wife and kids?” And I think through the 1 for sorrow rhyme as well.

I say the good morning bit because my mum always did, no idea why though!

“Good morning/afternoon Mr Magpie.”

I appreciate it’s only a bird, but I am taking no sodding chances after the past 18 months.

I salute and say good morning Mr magpie or good afternoon Mr magpie depending on the time.
Unless there's more than one. Then I don't do anything. It's only singular magpie that get the salute.

Hold my collar then look for a second one For joy