You’d never believe it to look at her, but our editor Deb Bibby has enough heft to break tables just by sitting on them.

Yes, Deb, plonking herself down on one end of our flimsy, wobbly meeting table to have a little chit-chat with the team, managed to break off one of the table’s extendable leaves and buckle the legs, rendering the poor table useless. It took the entire staff, pulling this way and pushing that way, to dismantle this wretched piece of furniture.

But our good friends at Freedom Furniture came to the rescue by giving us a really fab Carpenter’s dining table. It’s huge, handsome and solid as a rock. There’s no way Deb will be able to break this one. Thanks so much Freedom – you saved the day and we’re all yet for years now. Bring on the meetings (and the staff drinks)!

The table has arrived! A posse went to the courier dock to collect it.

Elle unveils the tabletop.

… And Jackie attaches the trestle legs. Assembly was super-easy.

Our new Carpenter’s table, fully assembled.

It’s home to the gorgeous cherry blossoms October cover girl Shannon Fricke sent us. Thanks Shannon.

Christening the table. Thanks Freedom!

RIP old table.