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9 things that used to be free... but aren't now

Little bags of pretzels on airplanes, plastic bags, ‘the channels’… we miss the days of freebies.

YOU MAY BELIEVE there is no such thing as a free lunch, unless – allegedly – you are this guy.

There was a time in this country, however, where there were a few freebies you could rely on. Listen up, children, while we tell you about the land of free Dunnes Stores bags and free… air.

Plastic shopping bags
1 / 9
  • Plastic shopping bags

    We know that the plastic bag tax has led to fewer of them being used and discarded. But we admit that we miss making whimsical fancy dress from our excess bags like this lady. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
  • Airline snacks

    Ah the glamour of old-school flying. You paid a fortune for your plane ticket - but they made up for it* in free bags of pretzels and a free drink. *sort of. (Lars Plougmann/Flickr)
  • 'The Channels'

    Terrestrial TV channels - two-channel land until TV3 and TG4 came on the scene - were always available here if you had your TV, your aerial and your TV licence. To keep them after next month, you'll have to either be paying for a satellite/cable connection or stump up for a Saorview box/TV. (PA/Topham Picturepoint/Press Association Images)
  • Directory enquiries

    Okay, this is actually an early telephone exchange but we *like* to think that these smiling ladies were the ones always at your service with numbers. And you didn't have to pay a fee to get to them. They didn't text you the number though...(Image: Sport & General/S&G Barratts/EMPICS Archive)
  • Air in your tyres

    Several in TheJournal.ie HQ have noted that some garages are now using coin-operated inflation devices. So much for putting air in your tyres for free. Is nothing sacred, etc.? (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
  • Diluted orange drinks...

    ...Or a drop of Ribena in your pint of water. How long has it been since those were free in a pub for the designated driver/teetotaller in your life? If you know of a pub that still does offer them for free, tell us in the comments. (flikr/flickr)
  • Public toilets

    To be fair, the older ones were not always the Mae West, but it's rare to find a public toilet that doesn't require an entrance fee/coin in the slot these days. (Andrew Napier/Flickr)
  • Rubbish collection

    It could be argued that income tax always paid for rubbish collection and so it was never 'free' but many areas that never found they had to pay a specific rate now find themselves hit with bills. Again, could be argued as a good thing in the 'race against waste'... (bixentro/Flickr)
  • We're saying nothing....

    Image: Nick Ansell/PA Wire.

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    Mute runandosty
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:25 PM

    The downside of free ribena is scabby students coming in a taking up a table and supping the same pint of it all night. Same goes with German people.

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    Mute Rob Morgan
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:19 PM

    Why did you have to ruin a good point with some German bashing? Moron.

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    Mute Caroline Locke
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 2:19 PM

    What do you expect when you charge at least E 480 for a pint of lager???

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    Mute Caroline Locke
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 2:20 PM

    E 4,80. sorry.

    21
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    Mute John Buckley
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:08 PM

    The best was free samples in supermarkets

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    Mute Continent Simian
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 2:41 PM

    Superquinn is still a good spot for this.

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    Mute Kevin Duffy
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:09 PM

    You never heard of pretzels and don’t remember them on Aer Lingus? Are you a twelve year old who lives in a cave?

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    Mute Thomas Mc Carthy
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:51 PM

    Remember you use to get 10 pence for a glass bottle. Recycling had incentives. Now you’ve to pay to recycle in some places, WTF happened to the world.

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    Mute thomas ryan
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:17 PM

    The air is still free you put a euro in once finished you get the euro back like a shopping trolley.

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    Mute felix knox
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:52 PM

    If they did charge for it it wouldnt bother me. Their electrical provider will charge them for running the compressor.

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    Mute Ruairí O'Mahony
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:18 PM

    The Stags Head in Dublin still serve free diluted blackcurrant/lime etc. But they are the exception as far as I’m aware.

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    Mute Catherine lonergan
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:54 PM

    Wallis,s in midleton also do them free :)

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    Mute Ailish O'Brien Byrne
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 2:29 PM

    The railway social club in rosslare harbour, wexford still does

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    Mute Mark O Brien
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 5:46 PM

    Most pubs outside dublin don’t charge for diluted drinks!

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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 6:47 PM

    I got charged 4.50 for 3 pints of tap water with a drop of blackcurrant in lucan the other day, totally changed my opinion of the place, staff were lovely but I can’t stand that money grabbin..

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    Mute Goldie Locks
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 8:21 PM

    I was charged €6 for 3 pints of tap water & blackcurrant in the Kiltipper Inn in Tallaght. Name & shame.

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    Mute Gus Lynch
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 11:47 PM

    Brady’s of Dunboyne give free ‘cordials’ for the kids too.

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    Mute Ronan McHugh
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    Oct 28th 2013, 10:37 PM

    IMO its a bad bartender that’ll charge for diluted drinks… when the shit hits the fan and the place gets hot, the bartender will drink gallons of diluted drinks and not drop a penny to the till

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    Mute Joey English
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    Oct 28th 2013, 11:10 PM

    @Ronan would you really begrudge a barman that? You obviously never worked in a bar! And how does it make the bartender bad? The boss decides if they charge for cordial, they just have to do it!

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    Mute Nydon
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:53 PM

    It would be a bit off not to mention that the opposite also is the case. Unlike back then, we now have a free: Nelson Mandela, Nicky Kelly, Birmingham six, Guildford four, Aung San Suu Kyi.. :)

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    Mute saltaroo
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:48 PM

    The maxol at artane castle you don’t get the euro back

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    Mute Micheal
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:04 PM

    Ah the good ole days of yore!

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    Mute falstaff oldcourt
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:44 PM

    I’ll tell you one thing that used to be free… Text messages. When mobile phones were taking off, majority of people were unaware of text message function. Had a phone for months with no credit but could text for free to my mates that had mobiles.

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    Mute Ross Hannon
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:35 PM

    The classroom bar lismore serves free mi wadi all day to whoever wants it!

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    Mute Adam Walsh
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:37 PM

    In the odd pub you would still get a free glass of mi wadi some don’t charge .

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    Mute Lj Traynor
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:20 PM

    Some places charge you for water never mind the mi wadi to go into it and no matter how long the bag tax has been in place people still argue that there is no such thing and that you are just trying to rob their 22c!

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    Mute Mike Derham
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:15 PM

    I’ve stooped using garages that charge for air. I don’t mind depositing a euro once I get it back after.

    is there any place that offers free coffee top ups anymore?

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    Mute Jody O'Toole
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    Sep 25th 2012, 5:48 PM

    Mancinis in Dunboyne does free refils on tea and coffee.

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    Mute Jody O'Toole
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    Sep 25th 2012, 5:49 PM

    Sorry Ashbourne.

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    Mute MaverickPaw
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:04 PM

    who would want to drink free squash all day ? that’s pretty sad

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    Mute Sam Manton
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:13 PM

    all 8 pubs in my town give free miwadi orange / black currant !

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:51 PM

    What are Pretzels???? Don’t remember Aer Lingus handing out those…suppose that’s what happens when you copy and paste the article from the USA.

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    Mute Susan Daly
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:34 PM

    Erm, Gavin, I didn’t copy and paste anything. Don’t you think my examples are a bit Irish?? I used the word pretzels because it went with the best copyright-free image of airline snacks I could find.
    An apology would be nice if you could bring yourself to make it!
    Susan

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    Mute Ronan Mulcaire
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:38 PM

    Don’t feed the trolls, Susan!

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:45 PM

    Jacks doesn’t look very Irish nor the dustbin pic…you could have taken native pics with your phone very easily if stock shots weren’t available.

    Maybe you are too young to remember but Aer Lingus passed a basket of jellies.

    As regards an apology we will just have to agree to disagree

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    Mute Bang Bang
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 2:29 PM

    Susan, what does “a bit Irish” mean?

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    Mute Susan Daly
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 3:25 PM

    Hi Ronan,
    I know you’re right.
    Hi Bang Bang, I mean that they are Irish -plastic bag tax, the ‘channels’ etc. Rather than US examples, which is what Gavin is implying.
    Gavin, the pics are chosen by me from our AP/PA picture licenses and Flickr/Creative Commons free-to-use stock which is international – I used the most fun, apt pics for people’s entertainment. I am agreeing to nothing – you accused me of straight out plagiarism. Not cool.

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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 3:57 PM

    @Gavin, Susan deserves an apology seeing as you blatantly accused a professional journalist of plagiarism, plus your ‘logic’ did not even stand up to scrutiny. If you think it is so easy I suggest you submit an article rather than taking cheap shots.

    I enjoyed the piece Susan, well done

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    Mute Zoe Hughes
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 5:20 PM

    Emm, you get little packets of pretzels on Aer Lingus flights. I got them ladt month. And anyway, pretzels are traditionally Eastern European. Jut FYI. Nice article Susan! :D

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    Mute Sluazcanal
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 7:18 PM

    What I liked the most about this article is that its free.

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 12:50 PM

    Thankfully the air for tyres is free at our local garage and the ‘razza’ is free in the local pub.

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    Mute Hipster Enda
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:21 PM

    TV is still free once you have a license and the equipment to receive it. TV/Box/Aerial or Dish . Same as yore.

    In fact you get even more now. With a digital terrestrial / FTA satellite combo box you can get 60 odd watchable channels for precisely nothing and perfectly legally.

    Sports aside, why anyone would want to subscribe to Sky/UPC basic packages to give you more or less the same channels as FTA is beyond me.

    23
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    Mute Patitas
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 2:49 PM

    TV is not free. 4 channels cost you eur 160 per year. If you do the maths per channel it works out almost as expensive as the premium sport or movie packages.

    The current tv business model is obsolete. I service all my tv needs online where you can get all the english and irish tv legally and trully free, and with a little bit of research any movie or sport event in the language of your choice.

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    Mute Zoe Hughes
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 5:23 PM

    A lot of places do free squash, but the trick I’ve found is to assume you have to pay. One bartender told me he never charges if you offer money, and always calls people back if they assume its free. There’s a little tip for those amongst us who don’t drink and don’t want to get ripped off for a half glass of coke!!!

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    Mute Mike Derham
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 1:16 PM

    I’ve stopped using garages that charge for air. I don’t mind depositing a euro once I get it back after though.

    is there any place that offers free coffee top ups anymore?

    16
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    Mute Felicity Scott
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 7:13 PM

    Ikea! At least they do in the North…

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    Mute Elaine Keenan Kearney
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 11:11 PM

    Mickey D’s offer free refills, a little known secret recently learned from an employee.

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    Mute Elaine Keenan Kearney
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 11:24 PM

    I should mention free refills of coffee, but hey free is free

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    Mute Martin Dolan
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 3:53 PM

    Cordial drinks are free in the bush hotel in carrick on Shannon co Leitrim

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    Mute ezcheese
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 7:59 PM

    Ah the poor jackeens have to pay for air & cordial. Not so down the country. If anyone tried to charge me for either of those I’d tell ‘em where to go fairly sharpish.

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    Mute Dazed in Galway
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 8:56 PM

    I’ve not been charged for red lemonade twice at a pub in Galway. It’s my favourite drink for cooling down, so I was very happy. I think the bar manager feels generous every now and then. For this reason I’m not mentioning the pub.

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    Mute Niamh Dunphy
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    Sep 23rd 2012, 11:20 PM

    The Holy Cross in Waterford serve free diluted orange etc!

    5
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    Mute Aidan Woods
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    Sep 25th 2012, 12:42 PM

    You can get anything you wantin
    CALLAN,S BAR & RESTAUTANT,
    Hackballs Cross
    Esp free Cordial even Orange & Pineapple thanks to Odi !!
    plus ya get to listen to Garreth about his
    “Sporting Career”"

    No need for directions
    ya hav not lived till ya bein to de Hack!!!

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    Mute Dean Hutchison
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    Sep 24th 2012, 2:15 AM

    They even charge you at the Petrol stations here now to use the air to fill up your tires. By use of coin operated machines that cost 1$ for a set time limit (which is never stated anywhere).

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    Mute Janet Ryan
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    Sep 26th 2012, 3:02 PM

    Swan Dowlings in Naas give free cordial pints .. & dashes of 7up to designated drivers !!

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    Mute Eoin Byrne
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    Sep 25th 2012, 11:47 AM

    Lufthansa give you free pretzels. And free soft drinks. And indeed, even free beer. As much of it as you can drink. And even on their short haul flights. In economy class. They don’t charge for air or water either.

    Admittedly it’s €69 one way to Frankfurt (and that’s the very cheapest) but hey, if you have four or five beers, it easily makes up the difference compared to paying ruin air €40 to fly 100km away.

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    Mute Philip Patrick Gunnery
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    Oct 28th 2013, 9:20 PM

    Oxygen will be next

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    Mute Lyndsey Johnson
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    Jul 7th 2013, 1:20 PM

    Txt messages used to be free!!!!

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    Mute Sue Jameson
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    Jul 7th 2013, 12:38 PM

    Ah the basket of jelly sweets – used to try and snag the red ones.GBWTD

    1
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