I can't believe that it's FREE!!!

Red_Marauder

Okay, since a lot of people have reduced working hours, or you may be unemployed altogether, or maybe like me you have some free days holiday time and are too broke to go actually go on holidays, I thought I'd start this thread about free stuff that you cannot believe is free!

It's not necessarily recreational things, but services in general.

I'm heading down to the National Gallery on Merrion Square later to see a Modigiliani... I can't believe that's free.

And another thing I can't believe is free are the Guards.

My house was broken into recently - the effort the guards went to to track down a dusty old laptop and my girlfriend's pendant really surprised both of us.
One Guard gave me his private mobile number to call over the weekend because he'd be off duty, another, a female Detective, called to our house to see if we'd done anything about changing and updating the door locks. Shortly after she rang me up to tell me they had found a laptop, and remembering my line of work, noticed that it had that kind of stuff saved onto it. I got my laptop back. I can't believe that stuff is free.

Now before everyone gets onto the tax bandwagon, yes I know we pay for galleries and gardaí with tax - but in fact - not everyone does. I find it really heartening that we live in a society that is willing to provide these kinds of services for our use on a "can-pay/ can't pay" basis - and imo very fairly too. I have to say, for the tax I pay, some of the services are simply excellent.

So, what out there do you enjoy or use, which you can't believe is free!!

soups05

well i broke into this guys gaff the other day and nicked his laptop. turned out it was an old dusty type so i handed it into the cops and they got rid of it for free.







runs

mikom

Red_Marauder wrote: »

I have to say, for the tax I pay, some of the services are simply excellent

And some are bollox beyond belief.
Try driving through the potholes on the way to the museum.

chin_grin

Red_Marauder wrote: »

My house was broken into recently - the effort the guards went to to track down a dusty old laptop and my girlfriend's pendant really surprised both of us.
One Guard gave me his private mobile number to call over the weekend because he'd be off duty, another, a female Detective, called to our house to see if we'd done anything about changing and updating the door locks. Shortly after she rang me up to tell me they had found a laptop, and remembering my line of work, noticed that it had that kind of stuff saved onto it. I got my laptop back. I can't believe that stuff is free.

Now before everyone gets onto the tax bandwagon, yes I know we pay for galleries and gardaí with tax - but in fact - not everyone does. I find it really heartening that we live in a society that is willing to provide these kinds of services for our use on a "can-pay/ can't pay" basis - and imo very fairly too. I have to say, for the tax I pay, some of the services are simply excellent.

So, what out there do you enjoy or use, which you can't believe is free!!

This is AH, hence I stopped reading where I bolded it and made up my own story. I'm now off for a fap.

ziggy

This post has been deleted.

AnonoBoy

The best things in life?

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

Overheal

Water...

Agricola

Fresh air.

Smcgie

Can believe boards is free!

WindSock

Red_Marauder wrote: »

I'm heading down to the National Gallery on Merrion Square later to see a Modigiliani... I can't believe that's free.

Go to the Royal Hibernian Gallery too up the road in Ely place. Upstairs is a deadly exhibition worth looking at.

bitemybanger

I cant believe air is free that there hasnt been a meter and a tax added:rolleyes:

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Blow-jobs. Seriously. It's so cold the hookers are just giving them away just to get somethign warm into their stomach...

Biggins

Agricola wrote: »

Fresh air.

Say that in two years time on a Ryanair flight!
They will claim ownership and lease their cabin air to you on loan for the duration of travel - for a small fee!
...and no, they won't let you bring your own.

lightening

National Museum, Kildare St.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm.
Admission: Free.

Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9;30am-6pm; Saturday, 9:30am-5pm; Sunday, 11am-5pm.
Admission: Free; donations accepted.

Chester Beatty Library and Gallery of Oriental Art
Opening hours: 10am-5pm Tues-Fri; 2pm-5pm Sat; tours on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm.
Admission: Free

National Gallery
Opening Hours: Monday - Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10am-5:30pm, Thursday 10am-8:30pm, Sunday 2-5pm.
Admission: Free.

Trinity College Top
Opening hours: Monday- Saturday 9:30am-5:30am, Sunday noon-5:30pm.
Location: College Green.
Admission: Free.

St. Patrick's Cathedral
Opening Hours: April-October: Monday-Friday 9am-6pm; Saturday, 9am-5pm; Sunday, 10am-11am 12:15pm-3pm. November-March: Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm; Saturday, 9am-4pm, Sunday, 10:30am-11am 12:15pm-3pm.
Admission: Free.

Chester Beatty Library and Gallery of Oriental Art
Opening hours: 10am-5pm Tues-Fri; 2pm-5pm Sat; tours on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm.
Admission: Free

Other free things, parks, beaches, the sea, the rivers and the mountains. All playgrounds for people all over the country.

Sea Sharp

The library and the give a penny / take a penny jars.

Dravokivich

mikom wrote: »

And some are bollox beyond belief.
Try driving through the potholes on the way to the museum.

Social welfare card for the bus...

...I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S FREE!!! :eek:

- Drav!

Mike 1972

bitemybanger wrote: »

I cant believe air is free that there hasnt been a meter and a tax added:rolleyes:

If you buy a tin of compressed air spray in a computer shop VAT is levied

Red_Marauder

ziggy wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

No, I mean we do pay tax.

But I was just calculating it there this morning (one tends to go through one's payslips when nursing a hangover and wondering why you can't afford holidays during holiday time) and it turns out - I pay €127 per 7 days in tax.

€127 per week... that's the kind of money I'd be paying if I had to pay rent to sleep in a dingy one bedroom basement apartment up the road from where I live... and for all that I get gardai, healthcare, my 5 years in university tutiton fees paid for, all of my primary school tuition paid for, knowledge that the government I pay for has just sent €20 million to Haiti...a myriad of things.

Guards aren't necessarily free all the time - but the extra out of hours services those guards provided for my girlfriend and I were and I really respect them for that. I can't believe that's free!!

Naos

Red_Marauder wrote: »

No, I mean we do pay tax.

But I was just calculating it there this morning (one tends to go through one's payslips when nursing a hangover and wondering why you can't afford holidays during holiday time) and it turns out - I pay €127 per 7 days in tax.

€127 per week... that's the kind of money I'd be paying if I had to pay rent to sleep in a dingy one bedroom basement apartment up the road from where I live... and for all that I get gardai, healthcare, my 5 years in university tutiton fees paid for, all of my primary school tuition paid for, knowledge that the government I pay for has just sent €20 million to Haiti...a myriad of things.

Guards aren't necessarily free all the time - but the extra out of hours services those guards provided for my girlfriend and I were and I really respect them for that. I can't believe that's free!!

How exactly is it free? Seriously, do you understand the concept of the word 'free'?

Red_Marauder

Naos wrote: »

How exactly is it free? Seriously, do you understand the concept of the word 'free'?

I'm talking specifically about the extra effort they made - where I said one garda was going off duty for the weekend but would keep me updated if he heard anything, and he gave me his private mobile number if I needed to ring him.
the female detective was walking by our house one weekend and spontaneously called in as an off-duty detective to ask us if we did anything about getting better locks since the break in. We had tea together and she gave my girlfriend and I lloads of advice on alarms and window bars. Personally, that was a free service I was really impressed at.

It would encourage me to do similiar things in my own job. Spread the love, you know!

My name is URL

Tbh, I'd say it's extremely rare that a Garda would give someone their personal phone number

I'm not even sure if they're allowed to do so.. doesn't all investigative stuff need to go through the proper channels?

Red_Marauder

My name is URL wrote: »

Tbh, I'd say it's extremely rare that a Garda would give someone their personal phone number

I'm not even sure if they're allowed to do so.. doesn't all investigative stuff need to go through the proper channels?

No, unfortunately.

I only happen to know this because there was a Superintdant on the radio recently saying that a huge amount of Irish police stations have no internet or fax facilities, and that a large amount of gardai have to use their own mobiles for professional use because of funding cuts.
Because a lot of them have no interent at the stations, many guards also have to use their home PCs and home internet to fill out reports etc.

I really don't know how you can put up with all the rubbish involved with being a guard and still have the enthusiasm to give out your private mobile number, or to enquire casually about a closed burglary case to see if they've got better locks. Anyway, that's not the purpose of the thread.

Another great free thing... libraries with free newspapers and National Geographic!

And my neighbours wifi!

Mike 1972

My name is URL wrote: »

Tbh, I'd say it's extremely rare that a Garda would give someone their personal phone number

Probably their (Garda issue) mobile rather than their actual personal number

More akin to a direct line

Red_Marauder

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Probably their (Garda issue) mobile rather than their actual personal number

I doubt it, I would be extremely surprised if regular on-the-beat Gardai are all issued with Garda mobiles.

Naos

Red_Marauder wrote: »

No, unfortunately.

I only happen to know this because there was a Superintdant on the radio recently saying that a huge amount of Irish police stations have no internet or fax facilities, and that a large amount of gardai have to use their own mobiles for professional use because of funding cuts.
Because a lot of them have no interent at the stations, many guards also have to use their home PCs and home internet to fill out reports etc.

I really don't know how you can put up with all the rubbish involved with being a guard and still have the enthusiasm to give out your private mobile number, or to enquire casually about a closed burglary case to see if they've got better locks. Anyway, that's not the purpose of the thread.

That is not a service, thats just a person taking a genuine interest in your case.

cian1500ww

Red_Marauder wrote: »

I doubt it, I would be extremely surprised if regular on-the-beat Gardai are all issued with Garda mobiles.

AFAIK, all gardai are given a mobile, they're used more nowadays than the radios as the radios aern't secure.

Wibbs

Red_Marauder wrote: »

No, unfortunately.

I only happen to know this because there was a Superintdant on the radio recently saying that a huge amount of Irish police stations have no internet or fax facilities, and that a large amount of gardai have to use their own mobiles for professional use because of funding cuts.
Because a lot of them have no interent at the stations, many guards also have to use their home PCs and home internet to fill out reports etc.

I really don't know how you can put up with all the rubbish involved with being a guard and still have the enthusiasm to give out your private mobile number, or to enquire casually about a closed burglary case to see if they've got better locks.

+1 Ive come across a fair few cops who are very sound and go above and beyond the call of duty. You might remember the odd cnut, but I've generally had good interactions. Their facilities or lack.... anyway yea different thread.

geeky

I like this thread but isn't there a sunshine and lollipops forum elsewhere?

enda1

The wonderful beaches around Ireland (and the lifeguards/coastguard that go with them).

Helix

mikom wrote: »

And some are bollox beyond belief.
Try driving through the potholes on the way to the museum.

or living in a decent country

jd007

I can't believe it's not butter free!

Redpunto

I can't believe those little pencils and the paper tape measures in IKEA are free, my kids have a field day when we go in there:D

Guy:Incognito

Red_Marauder wrote: »

.

I'm heading down to the National Gallery on Merrion Square later to see a Modigiliani... I can't believe that's free.

That's not free. They're working an angle. They make you learn stuff.

Guy:Incognito

Redpunto wrote: »

I can't believe those little pencils and the paper tape measures in IKEA are free, my kids have a field day when we go in there:D

That's how free stuff stops being free.

Cool Running

RTE television - I cant believe its free

Some guy called to the house saying he was the TV licence inspector(as if) and I said to him "Ya and im the wallet inspector"

Borneo Fnctn

I'm eternally grateful that social welfare fraud is free. God bless the guvverment.

TheMilkyPirate

My next door neighbours internet.

eth0_

mikom wrote: »

And some are bollox beyond belief.
Try driving through the potholes on the way to the museum.

THUMBS UP.

Drove back from Belfast today; horrified at the number of potholes *ON THE M1*. Pretty sure some were the same ones I saw when I last drove that way back in October! Hitting a pothole is annoying enough but... at 120km/h??

Wazdakka

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Can believe boards is free!

*looks over at red stars*

DAMMIT!!!

Mr Benevolent

Wazdakka wrote: »

*looks over at red stars*

DAMMIT!!!

Reference not found.

therewillbe

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Blow-jobs. Seriously. It's so cold the hookers are just giving them away just to get somethign warm into their stomach...

Ans HIV Tests if she wants more

CreepingDeath

You could always go into the courts and watch the goings-on for free too.
Never found the time myself, but it's on my to-do list.

Mr Benevolent

CreepingDeath wrote: »

You could always go into the courts and watch the goings-on for free too.
Never found the time myself, but it's on my to-do list.

It's actually good fun. Judge Judy fun, but fun nonetheless.

Herbal Deity

Software!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sJUDx7iEJw

CrazyRabbit

2 pages and nobody has posted "Your mom" yet. Shocking for AH...just shocking.

As for my list of free stuff that I can't believe is free...

Movies.
Music.
Porn.
Games.
Internet (well, I don't pay for it).

FarmerGreen

I cant believe it's free.

Sex.
I haven't read the small print though.

stepbar

Red_Marauder wrote: »

Okay, since a lot of people have reduced working hours, or you may be unemployed altogether, or maybe like me you have some free days holiday time and are too broke to go actually go on holidays, I thought I'd start this thread about free stuff that you cannot believe is free!

It's not necessarily recreational things, but services in general.

I'm heading down to the National Gallery on Merrion Square later to see a Modigiliani... I can't believe that's free.

And another thing I can't believe is free are the Guards.

My house was broken into recently - the effort the guards went to to track down a dusty old laptop and my girlfriend's pendant really surprised both of us.
One Guard gave me his private mobile number to call over the weekend because he'd be off duty, another, a female Detective, called to our house to see if we'd done anything about changing and updating the door locks. Shortly after she rang me up to tell me they had found a laptop, and remembering my line of work, noticed that it had that kind of stuff saved onto it. I got my laptop back. I can't believe that stuff is free.

Now before everyone gets onto the tax bandwagon, yes I know we pay for galleries and gardaí with tax - but in fact - not everyone does. I find it really heartening that we live in a society that is willing to provide these kinds of services for our use on a "can-pay/ can't pay" basis - and imo very fairly too. I have to say, for the tax I pay, some of the services are simply excellent.

So, what out there do you enjoy or use, which you can't believe is free!!

I hope the guard paid you for those laptop pics...

Red_Marauder

stepbar wrote: »

I hope the guard paid you for those laptop pics...

I must admit, there was an awkward moment when the laptop ws being handed back. It turned out that after the thieves took the laptop, they proceeded to place all manner of offending material on there in a way that really really undermines women - young librarians in particular.

It really got my blood boiling so it did.

FarmerGreen

And they reset the clock to last week!

komodosp

Do they have to be things we are actually unable to believe that they are free?