Delicious Day Off! (1)

22,543 / 50,000 (45.0%)

But was forced to get up and log on, just now, as my book collection does not tell me what I need to know: to wit, the date of the Dutch annexation of Ponticherry*. If I ever polish this into a fit form for publication, I shall need a good book about European trade in India and Indonesia 1685-1695. The Confusion, though wonderful in many respects, is too distracting, and anyway skips the bits I want to know about.

Since I am out of bed (ten hours' sleep and almost two chapters since I crawled into it last night) I might as well go to the sorting office and pick up my latest mystery parcel. Though if I spam LJ just a little longer, it'll be shut, and I'll have to wait ...

*1693, reclaimed by the French in 1699. Too damned late for my narrative, anyway. Dampier says only, "I have heard since it was taken by the Dutch": but he is writing in 1697 about events of 1691.

Delicious Day Off! (2)

Well, they wouldn't give me my parcel, and I couldn't find a relevant book in Ottaker's: but I did see Peter the Great, plus dwarf.

Food now. Chili pasta & prawn thing. Can't remember the last enjoyable hot meal I had ...

Delicious Day Off! (3)

25,735 / 50,000 (51.0%)

Though am not happy with latest bit: still, time enough for revision next month year.

Sleeeeep now.