Of course I look forward to meeting everyone for the first time (except, as stated before, Llanfair, the only one of the lot I have already met). It's really exciting!

In Germany, shops are allowed to open Monday to Friday 8:00 to 20:00 and Saturday 8:00 to 16:00.

There are a few exceptions: bakers may open for three hours on Sundays, bakers and newsagents may open earlier in the morning (I think from 6:00 but I am not really sure about it), shops at filling stations, airports and train stations may sell "travel goods" around the clock. "travel goods" is interpreted very freely - it is no problem to get alcoholic drinks (bottled) at filling stations...

11 days till we meet!