Hehe, had it several times that controlers were not there. Excuses being..
In the toilet
Out to lunch
Sleeping
Simply not there
Running the little shop next to the tower.
Radio not working.
Sleeping off the big new years party.
Solution has always been to "buzz" the field, checking runway and winds and transmiting like it was an unmaned airfield.
The low pass usually got them up on the air.
Usually followed by frantic transmitting "Aircraft overhead, aircraft overhead!!!!"
