"So, Dr Spiteri Goldblatt, do you concede that the recent spate of island-wide power cuts reflects very badly on you, as chairman of Malta Energy Supply Systems (Mess) and the engineers serving under you?"

"No, no, no, that is a very simplistic way of looking at the problem. And in doing so you are forgetting that the Marsa power station is the main culprit."

"Ah right, so it's not the fault of the humans who administer the Marsa power station, but it's due to abstract and esoteric gremlins lurking within the plant itself?"

"Absolutely, got it in one."

"So you, as the person in charge, abdicate all responsibility for the two recent breaks in the power system that plunged all of Malta and Gozo into darkness for an unacceptably long time?"

"I do indeed. In fact, when the last cut happened on Good Friday, my wife and I were just about to tuck into the first course of a dinner at that most prestigious of Paceville restaurants, The Complacent Kipper. So how could anyone hold me responsible when I wasn't within 15 kilometres of the power station?"

"But surely, as the chairman of this most vital parastatal company you have overall responsibility, whether you are actually on site or not."

"Who says so?"

"Er... the people who appointed you chairman, and the general public."

"Ha, ha! You're pulling my leg, right?"

"No I'm not actually. But OK, I'll try another tack. You must agree the recent spate of extended power cuts are unacceptable in a so-called modern society in the 21st century."

"Who says we live in a modern society? Some might argue that Malta is still very much a third- or even fourth-world country. And for a banana republic I don't think we're doing at all badly power-wise."

"Now the $64,000 question. Are we likely to experience any more severe outages in the foreseeable future?"

"How can one measure the... foreseeable future? I can't answer your question. Who knows?"

"So in other words, your answer is yes, we will get more cuts?"

"I didn't say that."

"But you implied it. Then what do you advise the members of the public to do when they experience their next power cut?"

"Ah, now you're making sense. That's actually a very good question."

(Interminable pause, during which interviewer and interviewee stare at one another)

"So are you going to give me a very good answer?"

"Oh indeed. You see I believe we should grasp - with both hands - the opportunity given to us by any subsequent power failure."

"To do what precisely?

"To do what we omit to do when we do have access to electricity."

"Which is?"

"Well... for example, during the 1965 massive power failure that blacked out the entire eastern side of the US and Canada the inhabitants made excellent use of the prolonged period of darkness."

"Go on."

"Did you know that nine months after the event this part of North America experienced an unprecedented leap in the birth rate?"

"So you're suggesting..."

"I'm not suggesting anything, but you did ask me what the populace might do, in the event of another island-wide power outage."

"Fine, any other bright ideas?"

"Several. A lot of people told me they were actually rather happy to see the lights go out on Good Friday."

"Oh! Why, may I ask?"

"They told me that for the first time in ages they were able to look up and see the stars in the heavens."

"And that is a good reason to applaud the power cut."

"In a way yes - and it will also provide entertainment when... if... there is ever another protracted power outage."

"I'm not with you."

"Just think of the hours of endless fun you could have when the lights go out... counting all the stars in the heavens."

"I did once try this, but gave up after 7,202,161."

"Then there's blind-man's-buff without the need for blindfolds. Or..."

" - Sorry to interrupt but, couldn't we just have fewer and shorter power cuts?"

"No you cannot! Some people are never satisfied. Here's me racking my brains to keep you entertained during blackouts and you keep on whinging about doing away with them. Typical!"