Many years ago, tipped in Zurich and phoned the company I pulled for to get my reload details. TM answered the phone and when I asked if he had a reload for me he said:
“Go to Herrenberg, I’ve looked on the map and it is just up the road from you, about 30km south of Stuttgart.”
“No problem, what’s the address?”
"Wim Bosman, Industirestra… err, erm, … Industriestrasse 10, Herrenberg.
Off I go
Later that day
I’m in Herrenberg and no sign of an Industriestrasse. Ask a few people, nothing. Stop at a Shell garage and ask there, never heard of company or street. They check a local map and the phone book for me, nothing. Phone the office, no mobile in those days so use payphone in garage…
“No one has heard of Wim Bosman here and there is no Industriestrasse.”
“Mmhh, strange. Give me 15 minutes and call back.”
15 minutes later
“Hello, any joy?”
“Yes, I know why you can’t find it.”
“Why, am I in the wrong town?”
“Sort of, but you are actually in the wrong country.”
“The wrong what now?”
“Err, yes, I gave you the wrong address, you should be in 's-Heerenberg in Holland, not Herrenberg in Germany.”
“Where is 's-Heerenberg then?”
“Near Arnhem!”
“Ooops, you still want me to go there?”
“Yes please, don’t worry we will pay the miles.”
" 'kin right you will."
“Oh, by the way, it is Industriestraat not industriestrasse. I thought it looked odd but thought it was a typo.”
Now if only he had said straat instead of strasse first time I would have questioned it.
The next day, and some 500 kilometres later, I arrived at the correct address in 's-Heerenberg.
Most worrying, this guy was my nominated CPC holder so I actually employed him part time.