The hot tub nobody used in Palm Beach

We've been in Palm Beach for a while now, and this was the first time I'd paid someone to take rubbish away. The spa came with the house. We used it twice in five years. It had cracked, it smelled and it took up the best spot on the deck.

The spa had been plumbed and wired in. The electrician had already disconnected it, but it was still sitting on a concrete pad with a fence all around.

Palm Beach is a rapidly renovating beach suburb of older homes and new unit developments, and getting things out isn't always simple. Tight streets near the beach need careful truck placement.

When I rang, the person who answered asked a few simple questions about what it was, where it was and how to get to it, and said they could come and look that afternoon.

The crew pulled up, had a look, and told me the price straight away. No surprises, no 'we'll see how it goes'. I said yes and they got started within five minutes.

They cut it into sections on the deck and carried the pieces down the stairs. I'd been told by someone else it needed a crane, so I was very happy.

What I appreciated most was that nothing was rushed and nothing was a hassle. They explained where everything was going: charity, recycling or the tip. I felt good about it.

It's a small thing, but having someone else carry it all out made a much bigger difference than I expected.