The hot tub nobody used in Oxenford

I'm in Oxenford, and I'll be honest: I put this off for far too long. 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.

Oxenford is a family and light-industrial mix near the northern motorway exits, and getting things out isn't always simple. Easy motorway access keeps same day bookings realistic.

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.