Simon, who has my tape deck, is going to collect Dave from the airport on Friday and take him (Dave) to his (Dave's) place, where he (Simon) will leave the tape deck for me (me) to collect at some point, it (Dave's place) being significantly nearer (to my place) than Simon's (is).

An added bonus is that my friend James is currently house-sitting Dave's place, and there's a chance he and I will get together sooner than I might otherwise have got to Dave's, or vice versa.

Phew :)