I'm sorry to hear you're so overdue - I went to 42 weeks with my DS and am so hoping not to repeat the experience this time (am 33 weeks). There's still time for things to kick off naturally, so will keep my fingers crossed!
I think you're right to be concerned about the speed of things with your history of precipitate labour. I know that most inductions, even at about 42 weeks, take hours/days to kick off, but I had one pessary and hyperstimulated immediately. I have been told that this time I should expect a short labour (though no guarantees obviously!). My mother and sisters also have short labours.
My labour still took about 7 hours, as they didn't rupture my membranes until they'd tried and failed to counter-act the hyperstimulation with drugs. Once my waters went I started dilating quite quickly. But I ended up with a crash section due to fetal distress (was lucky enough to have a spinal rather than GA). The trace on my son had been "suspicious" straight away, as he wasn't handling the constant contracting he was experiencing. I had to have CFM and was flat on my back the whole time (and my son was back to back, so even more painful being unable to move in the slightest!). It was a stressful experience, but it turned out well and I am happy with the care I had (as how were they to know I'd react the way I did?).
I don't want to scare you - most inductions are totally fine - but hyperstimulation is definitely something to consider, especially when your history of natural labour is fast and furious.
But I agree that it's odd to have you come in at 9pm/start a pessary at midnight. At my hospital, second and subsequent births are induced first thing in the morning, as they expect them to progress faster.
Remember, you have to consent to everything. So if you want to go in the morning instead of the night before then you can (it's not like they'll refuse to induce you!).
I had to come in the night before but the labour ward was full, so didn't have my pessary until the next morning. With hindsight, I wish I'd just insisted on going home as spent a sleepless night on a horrible ward listening to other women in early labour. Not the ideal way to spend my last night before becoming a mother!
Re starting labour, I'd suggest relaxing. I also tried everything (am still sick of pineapple nearly 2 years later!) but some people believe relaxing can help trigger it to start naturally - you can buy a natural labour start hypnosis download here.
Sorry for the massive ramble! Really wish you all the best for a natural start to things 