Dani Garavelli
@danigaravelli.bsky.social
Freelance journalist & writer. Bylines at the Herald, the Guardian, the London Review of Books, the Big Issue, Prospect Magazine et al. Radio 4 documentaries, including Waiting for the Van & Prosecuting Polmont. Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize.
Pinned
If this sounds negative then blame ...*gestures in direction of absolutely everything
WE arrived at the flat the day before the winter solstice dressed in old clothes and ready for action. Our eldest son and his girlfriend picked up…
www.heraldscotland.com
"I told them, then, how his dad and I had painted his nursery yellow when he was a tiny, unborn thing, known to us only as 'button'”. My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column on a paint job and the small joys that keep us from becoming bitter. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2572507...
Wild London is a pure joy: the foxes, the falcons, the deer and a 99-year-old man still utterly captivated by the world.
January 1, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Wild London is a pure joy: the foxes, the falcons, the deer and a 99-year-old man still utterly captivated by the world.
Just missing the picture of Betty Blue.
January 1, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Just missing the picture of Betty Blue.
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
“It is simply this: do not tire, never lose interest, never grow indifferent—lose your invaluable curiosity... It’s as simple as that.”
-Tove Jansson
-Tove Jansson
January 1, 2026 at 6:12 AM
“It is simply this: do not tire, never lose interest, never grow indifferent—lose your invaluable curiosity... It’s as simple as that.”
-Tove Jansson
-Tove Jansson
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
Once more up The Whangie before the year ends. Wee bit icy.
December 31, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Once more up The Whangie before the year ends. Wee bit icy.
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
It is a little known fact that they prerecord the Jools Holland Hootenanny - all the people on screen are faking it being New Year for tv.
For eg, last year’s was prerecorded June 15th, 1535, during the Siege of Munster, look carefully and you can see John of Leiden mingling with the audience.
For eg, last year’s was prerecorded June 15th, 1535, during the Siege of Munster, look carefully and you can see John of Leiden mingling with the audience.
December 31, 2025 at 4:52 PM
It is a little known fact that they prerecord the Jools Holland Hootenanny - all the people on screen are faking it being New Year for tv.
For eg, last year’s was prerecorded June 15th, 1535, during the Siege of Munster, look carefully and you can see John of Leiden mingling with the audience.
For eg, last year’s was prerecorded June 15th, 1535, during the Siege of Munster, look carefully and you can see John of Leiden mingling with the audience.
This is a good, balanced piece on Alaa Abd el-Fattah, I think: highly critical of successive governments but concluding that, once granted, citizenship is citizenship. "I don’t want to live in a country where naturalised or joint citizens are treated as 2nd-class Britons, forever on probation."
Britain Should Have Read the Tweets First
The case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah is a test of Britain’s values.
www.theatlantic.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:37 AM
This is a good, balanced piece on Alaa Abd el-Fattah, I think: highly critical of successive governments but concluding that, once granted, citizenship is citizenship. "I don’t want to live in a country where naturalised or joint citizens are treated as 2nd-class Britons, forever on probation."
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
"The perfect conclusion to a wonderful trilogy, and like its predecessors it will lift spirits and warm hearts."
Many thanks to "Scots Whay Hae!" for naming Upon A White Horse in the top ten non-fiction books of 2025. www.scotswhayhae.com/post/as-a-ma...
Many thanks to "Scots Whay Hae!" for naming Upon A White Horse in the top ten non-fiction books of 2025. www.scotswhayhae.com/post/as-a-ma...
As A Matter Of Fact: Scots Whay Hae!’s Ten Best Non-fiction Books Of 2025...
There were some fascinating non-fiction books published over the last 12 months, and it was a tricky job to whittle a list down to a handy top ten, but we just about managed it. The list below feature...
www.scotswhayhae.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:39 PM
"The perfect conclusion to a wonderful trilogy, and like its predecessors it will lift spirits and warm hearts."
Many thanks to "Scots Whay Hae!" for naming Upon A White Horse in the top ten non-fiction books of 2025. www.scotswhayhae.com/post/as-a-ma...
Many thanks to "Scots Whay Hae!" for naming Upon A White Horse in the top ten non-fiction books of 2025. www.scotswhayhae.com/post/as-a-ma...
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
This is Virginia Astley's beautiful new record The Singing Places. It can be ordered from her Bandcamp page, I think. One of the many delighful things about this music is that the field recordings of birds, from chiffchaff to wren, are listed in the credits in the order that each species appears.
December 29, 2025 at 4:16 PM
This is Virginia Astley's beautiful new record The Singing Places. It can be ordered from her Bandcamp page, I think. One of the many delighful things about this music is that the field recordings of birds, from chiffchaff to wren, are listed in the credits in the order that each species appears.
Some favourite bits from Helen Garner's diaries so far.
"Wishing..I had a real job with people I didn't particularly like, so I wouldn't have to produce my own raison d’être every every day, like a spider yanking thread out of its own guts, or wherever the hell they pull it from.'"
"Wishing..I had a real job with people I didn't particularly like, so I wouldn't have to produce my own raison d’être every every day, like a spider yanking thread out of its own guts, or wherever the hell they pull it from.'"
December 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Some favourite bits from Helen Garner's diaries so far.
"Wishing..I had a real job with people I didn't particularly like, so I wouldn't have to produce my own raison d’être every every day, like a spider yanking thread out of its own guts, or wherever the hell they pull it from.'"
"Wishing..I had a real job with people I didn't particularly like, so I wouldn't have to produce my own raison d’être every every day, like a spider yanking thread out of its own guts, or wherever the hell they pull it from.'"
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
"I told them, then, how his dad and I had painted his nursery yellow when he was a tiny, unborn thing, known to us only as 'button'”. My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column on a paint job and the small joys that keep us from becoming bitter. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2572507...
If this sounds negative then blame ...*gestures in direction of absolutely everything
WE arrived at the flat the day before the winter solstice dressed in old clothes and ready for action. Our eldest son and his girlfriend picked up…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 28, 2025 at 8:25 AM
"I told them, then, how his dad and I had painted his nursery yellow when he was a tiny, unborn thing, known to us only as 'button'”. My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column on a paint job and the small joys that keep us from becoming bitter. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2572507...
Spent the afternoon playing with my pal @jentrueland.bsky.social’s epically great dolls’ house. It’s way more beautiful than my actual house.
December 28, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Spent the afternoon playing with my pal @jentrueland.bsky.social’s epically great dolls’ house. It’s way more beautiful than my actual house.
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
"Over Christmas, all the ghosts become unruly ..." This is a really beautiful column, by @danigaravelli.bsky.social
"I told them, then, how his dad and I had painted his nursery yellow when he was a tiny, unborn thing, known to us only as 'button'”. My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column on a paint job and the small joys that keep us from becoming bitter. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2572507...
If this sounds negative then blame ...*gestures in direction of absolutely everything
WE arrived at the flat the day before the winter solstice dressed in old clothes and ready for action. Our eldest son and his girlfriend picked up…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 28, 2025 at 9:22 AM
"Over Christmas, all the ghosts become unruly ..." This is a really beautiful column, by @danigaravelli.bsky.social
"I told them, then, how his dad and I had painted his nursery yellow when he was a tiny, unborn thing, known to us only as 'button'”. My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column on a paint job and the small joys that keep us from becoming bitter. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2572507...
If this sounds negative then blame ...*gestures in direction of absolutely everything
WE arrived at the flat the day before the winter solstice dressed in old clothes and ready for action. Our eldest son and his girlfriend picked up…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 28, 2025 at 8:25 AM
"I told them, then, how his dad and I had painted his nursery yellow when he was a tiny, unborn thing, known to us only as 'button'”. My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column on a paint job and the small joys that keep us from becoming bitter. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2572507...
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
7 July 1967: Barbara Pym discovers Procol Harum.
December 26, 2025 at 6:14 PM
7 July 1967: Barbara Pym discovers Procol Harum.
Maybe the most beautiful light I’ve ever seen in Troon today. And the water so still and the grass so green.
December 26, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Maybe the most beautiful light I’ve ever seen in Troon today. And the water so still and the grass so green.
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
"Lucid, profound and moving, it is his best book."
Many thanks to @mathewlyons.bsky.social for including Upon A White Horse in the Engelsberg Ideas Books of 2025. It's an honour to appear in this list of excellent works.
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/book...
Many thanks to @mathewlyons.bsky.social for including Upon A White Horse in the Engelsberg Ideas Books of 2025. It's an honour to appear in this list of excellent works.
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/book...
Books of the Year 2025
Contributors to Engelsberg Ideas highlight the books they’ve enjoyed in 2025.
engelsbergideas.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:45 PM
"Lucid, profound and moving, it is his best book."
Many thanks to @mathewlyons.bsky.social for including Upon A White Horse in the Engelsberg Ideas Books of 2025. It's an honour to appear in this list of excellent works.
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/book...
Many thanks to @mathewlyons.bsky.social for including Upon A White Horse in the Engelsberg Ideas Books of 2025. It's an honour to appear in this list of excellent works.
engelsbergideas.com/reviews/book...
Since people are doing year highlights, here’s one of mine: the gift of one of Muriel Spark’s famous James Thin notebooks. Imagine what words she might have written on the pages if she had the chance.
December 23, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Since people are doing year highlights, here’s one of mine: the gift of one of Muriel Spark’s famous James Thin notebooks. Imagine what words she might have written on the pages if she had the chance.
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
How wonderful amidst #Christmas2025 preparations to hear another gem from the BBCArchive BBCRadio4. @cerysmatthews.bsky.social celebrates the place of the child in the experience of #Christmas, through memory, story & performance. Captivating.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, A Child's Christmas
Cerys Matthews steps into a world of Christmas tales written through the eyes of a child.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 22, 2025 at 1:38 PM
How wonderful amidst #Christmas2025 preparations to hear another gem from the BBCArchive BBCRadio4. @cerysmatthews.bsky.social celebrates the place of the child in the experience of #Christmas, through memory, story & performance. Captivating.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
Still thinking about the guy in the post office telling me I was a "clever girl" for remembering to put the sender's address on the back of my package - what a high!
December 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Still thinking about the guy in the post office telling me I was a "clever girl" for remembering to put the sender's address on the back of my package - what a high!
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
Another Christmas song that isn't a Christmas song.
Vashti Bunyan & Twice As Much
Coldest Night of the Year
youtu.be/eCcBEj6VnpA?...
Vashti Bunyan & Twice As Much
Coldest Night of the Year
youtu.be/eCcBEj6VnpA?...
Vashti Bunyan - Coldest Night Of The Year
YouTube video by hcloudforest
youtu.be
December 19, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Another Christmas song that isn't a Christmas song.
Vashti Bunyan & Twice As Much
Coldest Night of the Year
youtu.be/eCcBEj6VnpA?...
Vashti Bunyan & Twice As Much
Coldest Night of the Year
youtu.be/eCcBEj6VnpA?...
A wee Christmas big-up for @karingoodwin.bsky.social who never stops trying to shine a light on injustice everywhere.
Mohammed was 17 years old when he was shot by an Israeli sniper in Bethlehem. Two years on, his family say there is no accountability for his death. Their story is one of dozens from communities across the West Bank
Read more: www.theferret.scot/i...
Read more: www.theferret.scot/i...
December 21, 2025 at 12:33 PM
A wee Christmas big-up for @karingoodwin.bsky.social who never stops trying to shine a light on injustice everywhere.
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
On Sunday we’ll publish our weekly investigation with The Ferret as usual. But this week it isn’t about uncovering hidden stories here in Scotland.
Karin Goodwin, The Ferret’s co-editor, has been in the West Bank 👇
Karin Goodwin, The Ferret’s co-editor, has been in the West Bank 👇
Our collaboration with The Ferret brings you reporting from the West Bank this week
www.thenational.scot
December 19, 2025 at 10:27 PM
On Sunday we’ll publish our weekly investigation with The Ferret as usual. But this week it isn’t about uncovering hidden stories here in Scotland.
Karin Goodwin, The Ferret’s co-editor, has been in the West Bank 👇
Karin Goodwin, The Ferret’s co-editor, has been in the West Bank 👇
One kitchen painted, two cakes decorated: once-a-year domestic goddess.
December 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM
One kitchen painted, two cakes decorated: once-a-year domestic goddess.
Reposted by Dani Garavelli
