Today, I discovered that Aldi doesn’t just sell beans out of cardboard boxes. I happened to read a copy of the Daily Mirror (distainfully, of course) last night and was surprised to see that they have weekly bargains in computing and all sorts of stuff. This morning, I caught my Boss browsing to the Aldi site as he was lamenting not being able to get over at 9am due to a meeting. I offered to go for him as I was curious.

The first problem, however, was their website- it said our nearest Aldi was in Tong Street, a couple of miles away on the other side of town. This surprised him as he always thought the more local store did well and was surprised it had closed.

Anyway, I made it across to Tong Street for 9am, but was stunned to find that the Aldi was in fact a Netto!

It seems that they closed the Tong Street one down but the plonkers in Head Office deleted the wrong one from the Website…

They have an interesting approach to Customer Service- you can ring them to find out where the nearest store is but they can’t advise on stock levels and all of the stores are ex-directory so you are advised to visit the store to find out availability and deal with problems. This is the antithesis of Argos (where they can quite happily fail to deal with your problems by multiple contact methods including phone, web and inept screens in the store) but it probably saves shedloads of money for Aldi by being honest…

I caught some of a radio programme on Radio 4 tonight about men with obsessive hobbies, particularly the New Yorker who had recreated a Subway Train Cab in his apartment bedroom.

This reminded me of a few people I have met with equally engaging hobbies.

Whilst I haven’t visited, one man on the Strowger List collected old telephone exchange equipment to the point where his entire flat was full of it to the ceiling, with only narrow walkways to get to the cooker, toilet, bed etc.

A keen projectionist had a full size 35mm Cinema projector in his spare bedroom, and was busy converting his garage into a home Cinema. I was involved (in a paid capacity) to advise him on how to wire up a salvaged controller for the screen tabs (curtains)and masking.

Jim Laws in Suffolk is a man who collects old lighting equipment and controls, ostensibly as a business. Last time I visited, he had two huge barns full of the stuff. If it is a heritage item, he probably has it. Somewhere…

I have been accused of collecting a radio station, but it is actually for Morley FM & will be moving into the studio shortly, fingers crossed. Then I’ll have room for the Hammond Organ… (Only joking dear!)