Over the years we have travelled extensively, and stayed in many hotels and houses, but have never before been “welcomed” in such an aggressive and unprofessional manner, as was our unpleasant experience with Frau Frauke. Upon our arrival she unnecessarily censured us for being “40 minutes … EARLIER than planned”, and subjected us to a lecture on the German virtue of “punctuality”. I forbear from discussing in further detail on this forum German virtues or, indeed, how qualified Frau Frauke is to preach them. Anyway, we were made to feel that our early arrival was a reprehensible act, for which we had to show contrition and apologize. She can perhaps be forgiven for knowing little about the difficulties of timing international travel with extreme accuracy, though this is no excuse for neglecting civility or the somewhat more substantial virtue of hospitality. The lecture on German virtues was followed by an account of her personal problems, and then a request to help move furniture (!) to a few flats down from her, which we did, in an effort to placate her colorful outburst of Sturm und Drang. If, however, like us, you quickly manage to delete the landlady from your consciousness, the flat itself was very comfortable, pleasant, well organized and especially well located. As this trip was work related, I would have liked a receipt from the Frau, which alas, has still not been sent to me. Is this neglect, I wonder, a deliberate and practical extension of the lesson inflicted on us regarding the German virtue of Pünktlichkeit?