The emergency release cable is supposed to be pulled using the jack handle hook, it needs a good tug about 200 newtons.
Once pulled it can be reset by operating the hand brake switch.
The main problem with the hand brake is rust or lack of maintenance. If you have diagnostic equipment you can drive the cables to the mounting position which make getting the shoes off and on easier but can still be done without.
usually the drums are rusty and the backplate to shoe interface dry. give it a good service, tighten up the adjuster, back off 10 clicks, turn the disc around to access the cable adjuster, undo it a turn and tap the drum wiv an hammer and retighten.
do the above first if you get the screeching tune, it quite often fixes it.
bedding in procedure is

Start and run the engine.

Apply the footbrake 3 times within 10 seconds and hold applied after the 3rd application.

Apply the electronic parking brake switch 4 times, followed by 3 release applications within 10 seconds.

the hand brake light should now be flashing. drive the vehicle about 20 mph and apply the hand brake to stop the vehicle a few time minding not to get it too hot.

Took it on another long road trip, parked overnight and noticed it was holding gears much longer when I drove it the next morning. Also, I wouldn't say gearchanges are exactly harsh, but they are a bit more perceptible now than I remember them to be. Aside an hour and a half of stop and go traffic in the city center and about 2 hours on twisty backroads that climbed up into the hills, it was a normal easy trip which I've done countless times in my old disco without any problems... Is it that the gearbox controller is just going through its paces or I should I really be worried something may be acting up?

They have a different gearbox map when cold, helps them warm up quicker, also they hold gears when cornering.
Faults that can cause the problem are brake light bulb feeding back when the side lights are on and tires with different load ratings which cause delayed changes once traveling at speed.

owl said:

They have a different gearbox map when cold, helps them warm up quicker, also they hold gears when cornering.
Faults that can cause the problem are brake light bulb feeding back when the side lights are on and tires with different load ratings which cause delayed changes once traveling at speed.

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Thanks a million owl... Feelin much better now that I have a clue of what to look out for.

Get your rear brake pipes checked out. Came out to mine Friday morning and found a puddle under near side rear wheel. Turned out to be brake pipe had rusted through where its held in place by plastic clip. A common problem apparently.

To replace the whole brake line is a major ball ache but you can (as we did) just replace portion of it by taking it back to good metal and jointing it.

Birdbrain said:

Get your rear brake pipes checked out. Came out to mine Friday morning and found a puddle under near side rear wheel. Turned out to be brake pipe had rusted through where its held in place by plastic clip. A common problem apparently.

To replace the whole brake line is a major ball ache but you can (as we did) just replace portion of it by taking it back to good metal and jointing it.

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Good advise, thanks. I'll make sure I go over mine very carefully before Morocco