Here is one for you, have you ever had any pleasant suprises you've had to do with the hobby.
I had one today. We went for a day out in Norwich and IO heard there as a modelzone there so I went in with low expectations. What I found was one of the best model shops I've been to for ages (aside from the internet). Needless to say, I came out a very happy man with a lot of new soldiers!
So again, Have you had any pleasant suprises to do with the hobby?