Life is full of unforeseen events ; the uncharitable  would call them unmitigated disasters, but that would be, um,  uncharitable. To disguise the impact of these , I often feign that they are but part of a grand general scientific investigation. Know therefore that when I say that I am performing an experiment it is not a search for knowledge to clarify a foggy corner  of existence, but that something very wrong is happening.

Take tonight for instance. On the eve on an important gig, the amplifier  I have cleverly power-sourced with a battery device of my own invention. Yet with the required plugs and wires connected up, the essential ” Power On” light failed to materialise. 

Quick as a flash I turned to my companion in music  proposing that I should ” try a little experiment” to connect my guitar through the second input in her own amplifier. Not the time for scientific investigations of any shape, form or nature came the reply.

Plan C  was to fall back on my boringly conventional Mains/ DC power source However, after a fearful scramble in the box marked ” box” to my great chagrin this turned out not to be in the box but still at home with the guitar case left behind on the grounds it was too heavy. Plan D therefore, a  panic stricken phone call to the companion of my life’s tribulation with the plea that she should track down the missing electrical implement and bring it hither.

As I diversionary ploy I pretended to busy myself with the rearward region of the amplifier and therein, heavens be praised, lay the solution. The lack of apparent connection was due to having plugged the battery cable into the wrong hole in the back. Re-Insertion into the  hole marked DC input duly produced the  power on light.  The performance   continued.