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I have my weekend's reading all sorted. I have two books on history theory (and some words to write from those books). I have five Aurealis books (for some are still to arrive - the count of YA novels entered for the Aurealis is now 51, but they're not all here yet). I have just one book for BiblioBuffet, but that book's about Merlin and is going to be much fun. I have just three chapters of A Game of Thrones. And that's all the books between me and Monday morning.

I have writing, too, but I'm not going to list it. It will probably add up to between four and five thousand words.

I also have a grocery delivery to sign for, some cooking to do, hopefully a Kaaron and a Donna to see, and two meetings (one by telephone, one through ICQ).

It's going to be a good weekend, but possibly marginally busy.

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My day has been surprisingly exciting. My groceries arrived and were unpacked and a few hours later I discovered that a corner of my loungeroom was emulating a swimming pool. Fortunately for me, I'd cleared the floor of that corner and the bookshelf was untouched as were the records from c 1915-1935 that normally reside there. Some water I'd bought has sprung a leak..

I have cleverly applied sticky tape to prevent it leaking further and I decided that, since it was beautiful spring water, it should not be wasted. The floor is much cleaner and, since it wasn't my fault and it had been intended for drinking, the supermarket is refunding my water-money.

I also managed to get mild anaphylactic shock. It was very slow onset (which is the best kind - the fast onset is what kills) and it's probably a PMT thing. Anyhow, I've taken the requisite medication and my breathing is douce and my eyes are not tempted to goggle and all my soft tissue is behaving as it should. I shall have a very early night, for the medication has the sleep-making side effect.

Also, in between everything, I've read 3 1/2 of the books I need to finish this weekend. If I can read 120 more pages before I sleep, I'll be very happy, but I'm not counting on it. I have a clean floor and am full of watermelon and that will do if it must.

On an unrelated note, putting the broccolini in with my chicken was inspired. Possibly by fatigue, but still inspired.

I put enough verjuice in the pan to half-immerse the chicken breast. I sprinkled very generous amounts of lemon myrtle over the exposed side and also some fresh pepper. When the breast was done most of the way through, I took it out, shredded it roughly, put it back in the pan and added the broccolini stems. A bit later I added the florettes. This gave me the bright green of the half-cooked and the yellow-green of the cooked vegetable. The chicken is always nice done this way, but the broccolini really took on the lemon and grape flavours. I have more of all the ingredients and might try a variation on Monday.

And now I am demonstrating to myself that it's possible to blog with drooping eyes. I suspect the antihistamine is doing its thing.