Thanks laura* and nuliajuk. I'll see if she still has the manual or I'll probably be able to find it through a web search. It's a Nexus hub I think. I'm just going to have to get over this mental block about the cable.

nuliajuk, if I get really unlucky and have to fix a puncture, I definitely intend to try fixing it without removing the wheel first. And I'm hoping one of those flat lightweight multispanner tools will do the job for the axle nuts. I'm going to have to practice during my lbs's business hours just in case.