DEAR John, did you know that when it comes to breaking bad news to someone, the 'Dear John' letter is a thing of the past? Yes, it seems that today we're more than happy to pass on bad news via text. According to a survey, 42 per cent of people reckon it's OK to dump a partner or fire someone by text.

There could be some bad news around today. If you haven't noticed the date at the top of the paper, let me save your eyes the journey. It is Friday the 13th.

Twelve-year-old Ella wrote this of Friday the 13th, when prompted by the CBBC Newsround website: "My alarm clock broke, making me late for school. Then the car engine got too hot so I had to walk to school.

"I lost all my books and stationery in the lunch hall and then fell down the stairs when I got home.

"Other than that my day has been good!"

I had a similar 13th a few years ago. I was on my way to host a radio show when my car broke down, and I still had 25 miles to cover. I wasn't a member of a breakdown service, and in order to be rescued I had to sign up on the spot for £40.

The breakdown guy towed my car to a garage and then drove me to the railway station. There I jumped on the first train, only to discover it was going in the opposite direction.

My mobile phone was in the glove compartment of my car, so I was unable to text my employer with the bad news. That Friday cost me over 500 quid.

Other than that, my day too was good!

Last Sunday was a perfect day for us. We went to the beach and, fed up with getting sand in all our important places, shoes, car and hair, we chose to go to the pebbled shoreline of Budleigh Salterton.

After polishing off yet another cream tea we hit the promenade to burn off the calories. I do like a beach where I know I won't be leaving with an unwanted sand dune in my pants.

Instead of building sandcastles, people were creating pebble mosaics — we'll do that the next time.

This time, though, was for seeking out a heart-shaped rock and spending half an hour on a bench, looking out to sea.

Stay lucky. Ciao.