Thanks so much for all the helpful explanations of this word!

I understand now that most people primarily associate the word with Gorbachev's programme, but that it has an original meaning that can be used too (although with the risk that people think there is some kind of pun).

Thanks for giving suggestions for alternative ways of saying "moving furniture", re-organising at work... etc!

I am building up a massive collection of flashcards (in the Anki software)... So all useful sentences go into my collection. I am trying to build up a vocabulary of a about 3000 words and the BASICS of grammar before I start the SERIOUS grammar cramming....