Once Again: ERROR 2003 (HY000): Can't Connect To MySQL Server On Localhost (10022)

When I try to connect to my MySQL locally via the command line, about 19 times out of twenty, the connection fails with this note: ERROR 2003 (HY000): Can't connect to MySQL server on localhost (10022). The twentieth time the connection is there, and I'm able to maintain and build databases. That's weird, I can't see any pattern. Even weirder: the PHP-pages that use the databases log in every time without failure. I copypasted the password out of the PHP-code, to be sure I have the right password, and MySQL prompts me for the password when I enter the command 'mysql -u root -p'. But when I enter it, it fails. I've tried a lot of obvious solutions (Capslock, enter when te PHP-page is active, or not active, or was recently active, with and without firewall) and they all gave the same pattern: sometimes it works, but mostly it doesn't. Is there anyone with a bright idea to solve this situation