Had another false start to what should have been a really simple wiring job, this time because I forgot what I had (or, to be more specific, what I didn't have) in my supplies box. I installed the new light (new back box, light holder, new cable, the full works) and then realised that the one thing I needed but didn't have was..... the switch to control the light. The old light had a pull switch on it, which was really useful because it meant you had to pick your way through the dark to find the light.
So today we were in town, and I picked up a handful of switches. They are so cheap I'd rather not be in a place where I need a cheap part and don't have one. As I was looking for some other stuff at the hardware store I also noticed that my back box wasn't big enough for the job. It works, but isn't quite big enough for the job as far as the electrical code is concerned. So I bought a slightly bigger back box which is big enough. And now that piece of work is finally done. For good measure I took the piece of dead cable out and threw it in my box of dead cable.