01. My Melbourne International Film Festival picks this week:

• The Siege of Paradise – excellent documentary about overtourism in Italy’s Cinque Terre, told through the eyes of local residents, business owners, and a young social media influencer. Sad, funny, terrifying, thoughtful.
• Sheep in the Box – a story about AI bereavement bots and unfinished business. I was expecting to bawl… but I didn’t. Still interesting though (and lots to think about re: AI).
• La Gradiva – about a school trip to Pompeii. And so much more. Dialogue between the teenagers (and their interactions with the teachers) was outstanding. My heart ached for one character (Toni). My pick of the films I’ve seen so far.
• Kings of Venice – who doesn’t love an underdog story? This one is a little different – it’s paddle ball versus pickle ball, and it’s full of crazy characters.

02. All the program launches: Opera Australia 2027. German Week. Birrarung Riverfest. So many activities ahead.

03. A perfume inspired by the archives of the State Library and Archives of Tasmania.

04. Is it just me or does everyone love census night?

05. Listening: Role Model covers Olivia Rodrigo. Obsessed.

06. Bargain jumper.

07. Eating: Pidapipó’s August special – winter pavlova ice cream. Divine.

08. Cooking: Bratkartoffeln from The Potato Book by Poppy O’Toole (I love this book).

09. Launch of Victoria Hannan’s new novel, I Love the Whole World!, at Readings. She was in convo with Kate Mildenhall, who said that after Kokomo and Marshmallow, this book is a ‘joy bomb’.