Chloe: Don't some European cities close for extended periods over lunch, I'm pretty sure this occurs in many French villages too... for a few hours in the middle of the day? I think THAT's a great idea! it would allow people who work outside the home to return to the home base for lunch and contact with the housebound parent and kids.

Cai: Extended banking hours probably wouldn't affect DH in his current role but I feel for all the other bank workers who have church/sport/other commitments on a weekend who will have to sacrifice these activities. Also I think it's a slippery slope. ok... so banks open all weekend... then so will the legal providers that support financial transactions like mortages... then eventually all office workers will be dragged into working over the weekends as private corporations see the potential now that the whole concept of going to work on the weekends in "normalised".