It's just been announced that Argos are to stop printing their catalogues.
What has this to do with QE2 i hear you ask well, in my days on QE2 no self respecting crew cabin would be seen dead without one, they were even left in full view for Crew Cabin Rounds. Argos was THE 'go to place' for the Filipinos to do their shopping when in S'ton. All those lovely toys to take home for their kids, plus little bits and pieces for their wives and other family members.
The crew shuttle bus even dropped them off, & picked them up from, outside Argos at West Quay Retail Park.
Filipino shopping began the moment they returned back onboard from leave and continued right through until they went on leave again, 9 or 10 months later.
It was literally everything, from toys and jewelry to soap and household items. The main reason begin that these items were far cheaper in UK, and some other places around the world, than back home in the Philippines. For example, a pack of 4 bars of soap cost less in UK than 1 bar in Manila!
