Random reminder

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 31

Random reminder

A LITTLE MORE TO THE MIDDLE

Some of us just love telling other people what to do in their own homes and gardens. So she was delighted to be asked to assist with some furniture-moving at a friend’s place. This lady can’t move her own furniture, as she lives in a wheelchair most of the time, which also means that things have to be arranged both to leave room for a wheelchair to turn, and so that she can reach them. High shelves are out. See the problem? That’s just the beginning. She teaches the piano. Pianos are large pieces of furniture. One could even say dominant pieces of furniture. “All it needs is some lateral thinking,” the lady assured her, handing her a yardstick to measure the new desk with. “What I want in this room,” she went on, "is the bed, desk, shelves, two filing cabinets, more shelves, chest of drawers and a cupboard.” The lady waited expectantly, and her helpful friend measured a few

things while she tried to think. What with the built-in wardrobe, used as a store cupboard, and the necessity to leave the door free, it didn’t look easy. Of course they triumphed. They took the handles off the desk drawers to allow room for the drawers under the bed to open, pushed the walls out >/s of an inch t 0 allow the filing cabinets to stand side by side, and stood one set of shelves on top of the desk. After that it was easy. They decided to leave the other rdoms for another day, and sat down to enjoy a cup of tea. The assistant was busy telling her hostess what to plant where, when she realised that the happy smile had nothing to do with her helpful garden advice. “I told you it needed lateral thinking,” she said triumphantly, “I know just what to do to make that room really functional. I’ll use the wardrobe AS A WARDROBE!”