On the hottest early May bank holiday weekend on record (!), birthday girl Monica joined Sam and Caireen in Hither Green to help a resident in need move some large and heavy furniture outside for the council to collect.

It started well with the sunny-yellow sofa being swiftly transferred from front room to front garden through a rather tight space in the hallway. Sam ingeniously removed the sofa's legs to squeeze it through the space and out into the sunshine.

Next was the cupboard... which was a cupboard that really did not want to be moved. We originally hoped to get it out in one piece but that wasn't to be as the top part came off as we started to tilt it. This helped us get it through the first door and then, after some coaxing, pushing, pulling and general shunting, down the hallway to the front door. This is where the cupboard really dug its heels in and refused to leave! A screwdriver was found in order to remove handles so that an inch or so could be gained to squeeze it through. It still refused to go. We were beginning to think we would have to back it up and dismantle it, when Monica (Birthday genius) realised that the doors could be easily lifted off . It was then just a case of squeezing it through the two front doors and then out to join its sofa friend in the sunshine. Job done!