...and as it turned out, a lot of heavy lifting and creative problem solving for Louis and I this evening.

Ms R's daughter was on hand to (try and) explain what needed moving where, but at first glance it seemed there wasn't enough space to get the double bed moved into the spare room which was the primary request, such that Ms R could then be released from hospital on her birthday.

Rather setting the pattern for the evening's entertainment, Ms R's daughter mentioned that she expected us to remove the single bed and mattress from this room...so we did that first after a bit of DIY to remove the headboard. She then mentioned that the armchair also needed removing and disposing of...so we got that parked in the hallway temporarily.

We then turned our attentions to moving the double bed from the main bedroom into the newly emptied spare room - which proved to be something of a challenge as well, because it was an Ottoman storage bed, temperamental in nature - once we removed the mattress it sprung open...We all sat on it, gathering our breath and trying to work out a plan - which is where the packing tape idea came along, and we wrapped as much tape as we could to keep the bed shut, turned it on its side and moved it as quickly as we could to the spare room before it sprung open once again.

This then left a sofa bed to be moved also into the spare room, and the return of an exercise bike, the moving of a chest of drawers, and two heavy bedside tables...and finally Ms R's daughter confirmed we'd done everything she needed. She gave us each a packet of biscuits by way of thanks.

We wished her well for her mother's return (and upcoming birthday), and went down the stairs with the remaining armchair and two cushions in our hands...and out into the welcome cool air of a Monday evening...