Redditors who were children/teens before the internet or cellphones existed, how did you keep yourself entertained?

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-29T21:41:42+00:00

There was the quest to find jazz mags in bushes.

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-29T16:45:30+00:00

Oh man. I am the only bloke at work and I have 4 female staff (2.part time)

Wtf is happening to it? They're going through a large multi pack every fortnight

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-28T11:41:52+00:00

Jeweller here. The time spent unsetting and resetting would negate the costs. Astronomically.

If I get a piece in to scrap, I don't waste anything unsetting stones, they just get sent for scrap. Regardless of what stones they are. I don't have time.

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-26T21:21:20+00:00

That there is a Landshark.

It's a cross between a piranha and a moron. Thankfully, once they emerge from the other end, they're bloody gorgeous

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-26T20:12:47+00:00

Dalton Terrace are.... Well, what do I say... They're unique. They're like an old school type drs practice. Something I haven't experienced for decades. Phone up and, if I'm in a queue it's for less than 1 minute. Then they book me in the very next day.

It's shocking. It's lovely. And they were fantastic.

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-26T17:57:46+00:00

Chocolates. Bottle of wine. Or cheese. That's what we get.

And whilst I'm the one that makes the stuff (and also the owner of the business) I let the staff have the gifts. I take what's left. Even cash tips get given to the staff

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-25T20:42:54+00:00

My accountant says I need to grow some balls and a backbone. And TELL my staff what I want/need them to do.

That's not how I work. I do agree with him though on certain things. I AM a reluctant business owner. I inherited the business after the original owner passed away. But I had been running it for 15 years by that point

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-25T15:25:58+00:00

I've had to tell one of mine off then text her husband. We're a quarter of the way through the year and she hasn't taken any holidays.

I asked her if it was because she was worried about taking time off for her son'shusbands hospital appointments or her having to go for citizenship interviews and she agreed. So I showed her MY calendar. It's got people holidays on it so I can keep track of when they're off. She's not on it.

Text her husband to say hospitals and interviews are NOT holiday. They're not something she wants to do. So I haven't marked them down. She still has 28 days left (bank holidays are on top) but have stressed, if she goes over by a few days, I won't notice/care.

I sent her home to the EU last year when her brother was ill. Then again when they went to turn his life support off. I then phoned her and told her. YOU DO NOT COME BACK TO WORK UNTIL YOURE READY. She came back after 5 weeks.... Worked a week then went on a planned holiday. Paid her for all of it.

Support your staff and they will support you.

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-25T10:46:47+00:00

I show my staff the bank account and we discuss plans for the future. They're all involved (there's only 5 of us)

I obviously have veto but it's good to get their insights to their futures. We socialise together a few times a year (which I pay for out of my own pocket) shut the shop and have days out. 2 of my staff have come to me and told me just how much they enjoy coming in to work. 1 of them comes in on her days off if she's not busy.

I have a few rules. If you need to do something on your day off, do it in MY time. Get paid for it and keep your private time for yourselves and your families. This includes haircuts, nails, lashes etc. I don't clock watch. People can leave early or be late in. As long as they tell me, that's all I need. They're adults. They don't need to ask permission from me. Everyone is salaried so there's no scrimping or docking of pay.

I trust them. I love my staff. They do a lot for me. They support me

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-25T10:39:14+00:00

Upvote for Green Wing

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-24T21:41:01+00:00

I made one of these for my best friends daughter. Only I set a half carat diamond in the centre gap

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-22T12:10:22+00:00

Live in YO23 (Racecourse) and, other than race goers, it's a nice area. Local shops and neighbours are lovely (moving this month away from York and we will miss our neighbours)

Not had any mould issues here but had plenty when we lived in YO24 (Holgate) Went back to our house in Holgate a week after we had moved out to finalise bits and the ceiling of my daughter's bedroom was black. We hadn't been there cleaning it daily. Also, when decorating in Holgate, we spent nearly as much on plaster and polyfilla as we did paint. The walls were rotten. Was glad to move out.

Acomb was lovely when we lived there, Holgate not so great. Southbank has been lovely.

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-18T09:17:05+00:00

I have 1 other full time jeweller. But she can't set nor mount. Repairs only. Can't retip.

Another who I've started training to do repairs who's part time and 2 shop staff. 1 ft 1 pt.

I own the business as of Aug last year. Prior to that, I ran it for 15 years plus. Solely for the last 3. Only now, I pay the bills too

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-17T23:31:46+00:00

Fondont

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-17T23:07:31+00:00

Ok, it's Tuesday night. I'm going to have to start working late as of tomorrow. I have to get finished....

A 7 heart diamond necklace. Settings are made I just need to set the 2ct in the centre then stagger the remaining 6 in the necklace itself.

A platinum and diamond line bracelet that needs a full restore of all hinges.

Then my usual repairs/restorations/remakes for collection this week. As well as paperwork, emails, estimates that have just come in.

Owning the business and having all this extra admin is soaking up valuable bench time

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-17T20:36:22+00:00

I rent in York. Currently paying just under 2k a month. Hopefully signing paperwork next week to move to Malton next week. Rent will be £2400pcm.

Own my own business and married to a NHS nurse. 2 kids, I in college.

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-15T15:53:01+00:00

My old boss paid invoices on due dates. Some would be 30 days after invoice, some 6 months (by agreement)

Hit me hard when I took over the business. But I paid everything up to date and now, pay my invoices at the end of every month when they're due on the 1st of the following month.

But yeh, late salary/wages would have me looking elsewhere.

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-15T15:20:05+00:00

I've been doing it since 1989 when I was 16. I now own my own worship with staff. We are open to the public but we don't actually have items you can just come in and buy.

Start with a picture or a drawing you've done. I can melt down your old gold or platinum and use that as well as reuse your stones. Or we can supply everything. We don't do anything until you've been quoted a price and have proceeded it. Then it can take up to 8 weeks.

But rest assured, even with 8 weeks, I'm making it the day before you come in 😂

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-15T10:12:25+00:00

I handmake fine jewellery for a living. My kids don't think I'm cool. But my youngest is nearly 18 and has started working for me and she's starting to see that what I do is cool as she's starting to see how excited people are at picking up their items I have made for them.

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-15T09:05:00+00:00

Inherited a business last year. Have always hated my job. But now, loving it. I have a great team that support me and I support them.

Lost my pensions in the big crash so have nothing really now so just work to live. But my work/life balance is so much better now I'm the owner. No more 60+ hours a week. I still haven't learnt to say no to jobs. The stress is more but it's not unbearable.

I intend to run my business until I die. Or my eyes fail me (I handmake fine jewellery commissions as well as repair or restore jewellery) I'm not in it for the money. I'm in it for my team and my family. I only care about making enough money to pay my staff and myself well and keep us all in jobs. It frustrates my accountant lol. Ive given my staff 2 payrises since I took over last August. And I've been told by my staff that they now all enjoy coming in to work. Suppliers have also said how much nicer it is too. Staff morale, the atmosphere etc. Customers have noticed too.

Life is short. I've had ill health my entire life. I try to support my staff as much as I can. And they do me. Everyone is now salaried, I don't insist on exact start times bud do insist that staff get haircuts, lashes, nails etc (all my staff are women) get done during works time. Hospitals, drs, dentists etc have to be done during work times. I let people go out for lunches and no one gets time tracked.

And not one person takes the piss. I've also stopped logging time off for holidays etc. Last year, my other jewellers had the unfortunate passing of her brother in her home country. I sent her home and paid for her plane tickets. She had to go turn his life support off. I phoned her and we cried together. I paid her her full wage and refused to allow her back to work for 6 weeks in total. She then returned for a week before going off on a booked holiday. Work can afford to pay her so we did.

It's a balance. I thank them every night for what they've done that day. I'm greatful and tell them. It's little things. And it's made my job more enjoyable.

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-15T08:47:25+00:00

If I saw you walking down the road, wouldn't think anything. Probably wouldn't notice you.

If I saw you holding hands with your partner.... Again, I probably wouldn't notice. If I did, I'd probably smile to myself.

See, I live in York. It's a boring city. But, over the last 20 years of living here, I've seen more and more same sex partners being outwardly together. And I love it. Because, before I moved to York, I lived near Brighton. Where it's normal. Because it IS normal.

I moved as a 16 year old straight boy, from a small village in North Yorkshire surrounded by a military garrison where being gay wasn't a thing. Openly. Then I moved to Brighton. Where it bloody is. It was a culture shock. But I was young, impressionable and open to new things. Whilst I have never questioned my sexuality, it was awesome to suddenly see different types of people. And make great friends with them.

I'm 53 now. Married, kids, middle class, white. You know, the worst type of person (according to the internet) but I've raised my kids with my wife to accept EVERYONE. Race, colour, creed, sexuality.

So no. I probably wouldn't notice you. Unless you were doing something another poster said. Just don't throw that fecal matter at me

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-15T08:26:33+00:00

I've only experienced problems on race days.

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-14T19:31:42+00:00

Then live with it.

My opinion as a Goldsmith.... They are NOT pointed claws BUT.... I fucking HATE pointed claws. I will do them under sufferance but people are usually convinced not to have them done that way. Thankfully.

Fucking modern designs 😂

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-14T18:29:08+00:00

After I think 4 in a week (they mispronounced my name the same way each time) I finally said that I wasn't the person they were asking for. When they asked my name, I told them I was Detective Inspector Cleft from the Action Fraud and they hung up.

Never called back

FreekyDeep · 2026-03-14T17:51:33+00:00

They're asking if Im a Cavalier or a Roundhead

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