I've just bought a new leather chair from Staples.

Now as usual it was totally flat packed with bits of chair attached to various plastic coverings.

It took me about 5 minutes to get the thing up and it's really comfortable and well worth the cash.

But it got me thinking, a few years ago you needed a degree in Physics to put these things up, from the odd bookcase to a PC table. Now it's just easy. Or is it just me? Has flat packed furniture become easier? My Ikea kitchen table come Studio table was also very easy to put up. Maybe I've grown up. Or maybe I just look at the instructions more?

My birthday/Xmas present to myself last year (2009) was a wonderful massage chair costing several thousand pounds which arrived in pieces. It took me about ten minutes to assemble it (it is marvellous - all my friends adore it) but I was rather annoyed that, after spending that huge amount, the chair needed me to assemble it. Five minutes after I'd finished the phone rang. It was the German manufacturers - had the parts been delivered and could their assembler come round to put it together. "Oh, I've done it myself" I answered. They were staggered and said it was the first time a customer had ever assembled one. Was I sure it was OK? "Yes" I replied and indeed, a year later it's still working perfectly.