Dear Sir/Madam,

Watching live coverage of yesterday's Florida Supreme Court hearing from the cosiness of my flat in Germany, I wondered what Joseph Priestley and Benjamin Franklin would think and feel if I could have transported them 220 years through time to be with me.

Having just read a bit of Harry Potter, I thought I'd try a spell myself, and what do you know? Suddenly these two renowned 18th Century scientists, or natural philosophers as they called themselves then, were both standing beside me.

I quickly explained what was going on and why I'd summoned them.

In open-mouthed disbelief they starred at my TV and then tried examining it from all sides.

Before they did some damage I told them that they could be in Florida themselves the following afternoon, travelling the distance that had taken them weeks by sailing boat in a flying machine. That reduced them both to a state of near-cataplectic shock.

I forgot about the Florida recount for the moment and after reviving them with a cup of tea, started to explain things to them more gently, showing them some of the less startling wonders of my flat: electric lights, central heating, hot and cold running drinking water, shower, washing machine, toilet, photographs, sound and video recordings, refrigerator . . . .I couldn't get them away from that. I did my best to explain how it worked and they just stood in front of it, opening and closing the door, putting their hands inside to feel the cold and then at the back to feel the heat it was giving off.

I tried drawing their attention back to the events in Florida, but they weren't interested. They just walked around my flat, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.

Eventually I got them off to bed. They're sleeping now, while I'm writing this. Hopefully today, before the magic wears off, I'll be able to get them interested in the Florida recount.

If I succeed I'll be in touch. I am sure that like me you'd love to know what they think.