Make a Date with the Dark: 8.30pm, Saturday 26th March 2011

Think back to when you were a little ankle biter, a young whipper snapper, a lil' half pint, a yard ape (you see where I'm going); you'd be playing with He-man or Barbie (or maybe both! Especially if Santa brought Barbie a Ferrari instead of Ken! Ah, the modern woman.) on a Saturday night before bedtime. Then, all of a sudden! Darkness. A power cut! Aaaaarrrrrgggghh! At first you were a bit scared because you know that monsters only come out when it's dark. But then you remember you're eight, and you're too old to believe in monsters so you kid yourself that you're running downstairs as fast as lightning (slowing to a cool 'saunter' on entering the living room) because you're having a race. Your dad goes to the trusty 'emergency torch' drawer, retrieves the most gigantic torch you've ever seen, and checks the fuse box. Nope. It's definitely a power cut. At this point, your parents are hoping there are definitely candles in the back of the tea towel/battery/'general crap' drawer. If they're smart, the matches are in their too. If not, never fear! The gas still works! So they light the cooker then light the candle - genius!

This is the point at which the magic happens. You're huddled in the living room, surrounded by the warm glow of candles and you do something really special: you spend a night together without the television. Maybe your family find a pack of cards in the 'general crap' drawer and you play Knockout Whist. Maybe you dig out an old board game and spend the evening trying to be the first to buy Park Lane and Mayfair. Maybe you're really brave and you tell ghost stories! Whatever happens, it's magical. 

So I say, let's use this opportunity to re-create it:

Turn out the lights, pretend it's a blackout and let your imagination go wild. Make cocktails by candlelight, read a book with a torch, play hide-and-seek-in-the-dark, play Knockout Whist, or dance to a silent disco with this, appropriately titled, song in your head:

Or, alternatively, take Marvin's advice:

Golly gosh! Did Marvin really suggest that?

Whatever you do, save the world!

Earth Hour: Saturday 26th March at 8.30pm.