We do all know what it's like. No, really. Even those of use at gadgetshop HQ have had linguistic difficulties and communications conundrums to contend with in our past lives. And there surely is no conundrum more dashed difficult to solve than the mobile phone that's about to run out of juice. Until now, that is.

Looking for all the world like a cross between an alien cigarette lighter and a Maglite torch, this compact instant phone charger gives one's deceased phone battery a bypass and provides up to another two hours of talk time. Marvellous.

But there are squintillions of chargers out there, you cry as one. Ah yes. But none so silky smooth. Light. Convenient. And cheap.

Hewn from a turquoise aluminium tube, the sleek little charger has room for a single AA battery inside, making it useful wherever you are in the world. And at just a shade over 7cms long, it's eminently portable to boot.

Now one can never live in fear of being caught short in public again. Enabling one to complete that birthday phone call to one's grandmama, or that 'mwah mwah missing you too, sweetie', to one's ladyfriend without loss of either power or prestige. And that has to be worth a fiver.