All this talk of batteries and power tools is very poignant for me because - much as I love working with these things around the house - I have a rare physical condition which prevents me from doing anything much with them. The condition - known as Audiorachialgia - makes odd neural connections between the auditory part of the brain and the main spinal column.

The upshot of all this is that certain words, such as "drilling", "sanding", "sawing", etc., trigger a nervous reaction which - on being heard - results in immediate and crippling back pain. In contrast, other words, such as "guitar", "session", "drink", etc., ease the pain and relax the body.

My wife - good soul that she is - is very understanding, and has been so for a number of years. When these household jobs are tackled, I do as much as I physically can - things like handing her the drill chuck and selecting the right bit when she asks for it, holding the wood while she saws through it, and so forth. I do my bit, in spite of the pain.

But, you know - just now and then - I wish I could hold a powerful tool in my hand and get right down to business... ah well, back to the guitar.