Hey Chiffchaffs,
It’s officially autumn and I can finally pull on my thick wool socks and cosy jumper without regretting it by mid-morning. September did me good - and even after a bumpy start (mini heatwave - eurgh!) fulfilled its job - back-to-school vibes, conkers, shortening days, new TV, and plans, lots of plans.
I was back at school with Pathways, as our third term got underway. We’re already well into Literature Brief 3 with Happy Yak (Quarto) and have had some great classes - shout out to the lovely, inspirational, and very generous Steven Lenton and Alex T Smith.

September has also ushered in a new season of TV, and I’m spoilt for choice of an evening. Strictly is back - Team Bobby and Team Nigel all the way here, and there’s a new (and sadly final) series of Sex Education - although I jinxed myself by rewatching series 3 first and now the new ones just aren’t vibing for me. We’re also loving One Piece and the new Celebrity Race Across The World, which I’m excited to see is going to go right through the bit of the world I’m planning to travel myself next spring.
Which brings me onto exciting plans - I booked my Bologna accommodation for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair next year! If you’ve been to Bologna, or the book fair, and especially if you’ve travelled there and back by train I’d love to hear any tips and recommendations you have. Current plans are to take a slow journey home via the Bernina Express (and hopefully through the Brenner pass on the way) so please, please, please send me all your recs.
Homework diaries and exercise books at the ready, here’s this month’s further reading:
In the same week: I pulled out my beloved and kintsugi-fixed candlestick 🕯️ for the autumn dinner table; discovered 🪡 embroidermends (visible mending + 12th century manuscripts); and Mr Blackbird tells me about the kintsugi-mended stormtroopers in Ashoka.
On the politics of pockets👖
I regularly tell Big Kid that Maths is in everything - even 🎨 art and music 🎶- which means that The Extraordinary Ways Rhythm Shapes Our Lives totally makes sense.
On finding what you like but not forgetting what you’re good at - something I’ve been struggling with for awhile.
Why all the Emoji? 💗
See you all next month, where I’ll be rolling out my favourite Anne of Green gables quote, and hopefully sharing some new work.
Please, please, please take my survey to improve The Quiet Blackbird - currently I’m going off of 3 peoples responses so, if you want your say…
Love,
Question of the month: What’s the best thing about autumn?
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I was enjoying this read and opening all the links like little jewels for my treasure box and then I found you linked the article about asynchronous friendship. What a surprise and delight! I’m so pleased it resonated. 💫
I went to Bologna this past spring (not for the book fair) and loved it! Very walkable within the city
Some food recs: 1) Antica Trattoria Spiga. Humble little place with my favourite pasta dish of the trip. 2) Delizioso Food. Affordable and delicious middle eastern food. I had the shawarma wrap there twice.
There is food everywhere, including a lot of bakeries. My partner had a cannoli every time we passed by a window that had one.
If you have time outside of the fair, the observatory is a great place to visit even if you’re only somewhat interested in space/science/history. They do guided tours and the guides were fantastic. Super interesting and learned a lot.
We flew into Bologna but we did take a train out of there. We missed our initial train because the platform numbering system confused us. There were regular number platforms (1, 2, 3) and another “oeste” (west) set of platforms (1 oeste, 2 oeste) and we didn’t realize it. The people who work there helped us out and we were able to catch another train on a similar route 20 min later without having to buy different tickets. So just pay attention to the platform numbers!