Rechargeable batteries.

[#1]

Thanks for the heads-up on eneloop batteries and the Technoline BL-700 charger.
I didn't realise rechargeable battery technology had moved on so much since I last bought any, several years ago.
I bought both from http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/nimh-aa-rechargeable-battery.asp after reading this interesting review http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2014/01/eneloop-batteries-and-bl700-charger.html.
Ordered Tuesday afternoon, arrived next morning.
I now have a new toy to play with (and a boxful of old batteries to test!)

[#2]

I see that http://www.7dayshop.com/products/7dayshop-intelligent-battery-charger-dc-4xaa-aaa-ni-mh-ni-cd-200ma-... have a £20 charger that looks very similar to a Technoline one.  Whether it's  a copy or  a rebadge, who knows.  There's a manual that can be downloaded from the Specs section.
Even the batteries from Lidl, whenever they turn up as a Special,  seem to be low-self-discharge ones now.  I'm happy with them so far (just a few months) .