Do you need a rest – or do you actually need a night out?
Celebrity friend-making, easy recipes, gifts and much more!
I live in such fear of being tired that I think I actually miss out on life sometimes. Do you ever feel like that?
On Wednesday, my friend Kim had a book launch at the Trinny store on King’s Road. It was from 6-7.30pm, perfect for combining a bit of social stuff with an early night. But as I was leaving, another friend, Juliet, texted to invite me to some kind of ITV party happening down the road.
When I looked on Google Maps it said the venue was only ten minutes away and because of that and the fact that I knew there would be celebrities there, I jumped in a black cab. I bloody love a celebrity. Doesn’t even matter which one.
I realised about 15 minutes into the cab journey (too busy scrolling) that we were going the wrong way. It turns out he was taking me to The Cut at the Young Vic and I was actually meant to be going to a restaurant called Cut at 45 Park Lane.
I nearly took it as a sign to bail. I could still get home at a reasonable time, no hangover and an early night. OR I could carry on, pay an extra hefty cab fare and get immediately pissed on account of skipping dinner.
My gut said, ‘get a grip you boring old cow, go to the party!’ so I carried on. And I am so glad I did.
The minute I walked in, I saw Alex Jones from The One Show. And because I had listened to a podcast with her on Good Company earlier that morning (and she was cheerleading older mothers on it), I felt like it would be rude not to say hi. So I did. She was SO lovely and we were having such nice chats as we queued for the cloakroom that the attendant actually asked if we’d like out coats hung together. Errr, hello? I think that means we’re BESTIES, right?!!!
I love her.
I also met This Morning’s very own Ben Shepherd who is the nicest man on earth. Like, he actually listened and asked questions and didn’t look over my shoulder to see if there was anyone better to chat to, despite me being a slightly pissed random with a mouth full of mini burger.
I love him.
At the end, I got talking to a good-looking but outrageously drunk guy who began to give me his number but then suddenly changed his mind after two digits and walked off. Welcome to dating in 2025, guys! Live ghosting. That’s a whole new level of awful, isn’t it? Ha!
Me and Juliet almost moved onto the espresso martinis and carried on to another party, but thankfully we saw sense and just shared a vape while we waited for an uber.
The whole evening was just so silly and fun in a weirdly restorative way.
I listened to the Sentimental Garbage podcast the next day and Caroline O’Donoghue mentioned this quote she’d read somewhere on Substack - “90% of the time when you think you need a rest, you actually need to have fun.”
And I thought YES. That is exactly bloody it.
So next time you’re on the fence about a night out - double check. Do you need a rest or do you actually just need to have some fun?
HOME COMFORTS WITH….. MICHELLE JOHNSON
I met Michelle last week - she’s the editor of the gorgeous luxury mag Tempus and the owner of what must be the best fringe in the business. It was a work chat but, like all the best work chats, we were soon oversharing, ordering more coffees and putting the world to rights. So obviously I asked her to be on Nesting. Enjoy!
Where do you live and how long have you lived there for?
I’ve lived all over London – including Kilburn, Holloway, Balham, Tooting – before landing in Walthamstow about three years ago. I love the description of London as a city of villages and think it’s really true; every area has had its own character (and madness).
How did you find your home?
Budget was probably the biggest factor. I wasn’t fixed on an area, so it was more about finding the closest match to my priorities. I knew I wanted great transport links into central, some kind of outdoor space, and to avoid anything ground floor/street-level. I spent maybe a year on and off viewing flats to understand what was available before finding my home. Highly recommend pairing weekend viewings with a pub lunch to get a feel for the area – it became a great way to tour the city.
Who is at home with you?
Just me and as many plants as I can fit into the flat. After so long in flat shares, I was surprised how the little things really make the flat feel like home, like having family photos in the living room, filling every corner with greenery – and being able to do DIY whenever the urge strikes!
Your favourite thing about the house and your biggest niggle about it!
I’ve loved decorating and starting to find my own style and way of living. I especially love my geeky hallway gallery wall, which is still evolving. I’ve been collecting unique prints for all my favourite various obsessions, including an Iron Man print in the style of the Da Vinci Man, a Stranger Things Hawkins Flower Market poster (where the flowers are shaped like a demogorgon’s maw), and a Dingoes Ate My Baby band poster from Buffy. Biggest gripe is the building’s endless lift dramas.
Where did you grow up? Did anything about your childhood home inspire your current home?
I grew up in Essex, where my parents still live. When I was young, they had this dark mahogany-coloured furniture that I’m still drawn to – one of my DIY projects was rescuing a gorgeous bookshelf they were going to chuck and dying it a deep dark rosewood colour. I love it. I also picked up the gardening bug from my dad, even though I was never interested when I was growing up.
How do you feel about household chores?
If I burn the building down, would it get me out of cleaning the bathroom? I would say I’m a clean and tidy(ish) person, but I hate household chores and really struggle to get started. That said, I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, which has helped me gain new insight about why it’s so difficult to create a regular schedule (among other lightbulb moments). I’m learning techniques to help manage that better, but I think Joanna Maciejewska nailed it when she said: “I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so I can do my laundry and dishes”. Bring on the robot butlers, already!
What’s your current TV obsession?
Currently waiting impatiently for the final series of Stranger Things and rewatching nostalgic favourites like Stargate SG1 and Criminal Minds. I also love documentaries – anything true crime or cult-related. Or for a great spooky comfort watch, Ghost Files by Watcher (YouTube) is an evolution of the Buzzfeed Untold Supernatural series, which is a hilarious – and, at times, genuinely creepy – ghost hunting series.
Best home comfort meal?
This time of year, I’m all about wintery meals like pie and casseroles. I’m lactose intolerant and, a few years ago, went on a mission to adapt my favourite comfort foods, so now can make a banging dairy-free chicken and leek pie. I also love a store cupboard risotto: just throw in whatever’s available with as much lactose-free cheese as possible (thank you, Arla).
Book currently on your bedside table?
Almost finished I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, which I was supposed to read for our local book club in October. Our December assignment is Milkman by Anna Burns, so that’s next on the list. I’ve been part of the book club (run by Simon at Waterstones E17) for over a year and have loved discovering books and authors I’d never have picked up otherwise – although the group is so fun and has such great recommendations that my TBR list has become a bit intimidating!
Background noise in your house?
I always have some kind of music playing when I’m home and will listen to almost anything. At the moment, 80s/90s/00s rock and pop is for energy, trip-hop is for focusing, and DIY is always better with an alt-rock Angry Women of the ’90s soundtrack.
My garden is….
A work in progress. Figuring out what can survive in the sun and wind on my balcony has been a learning curve. This summer was great – I was overtaken by geraniums and even managed to keep a rose bush alive – but I have somehow managed to murder five lots of lavender (I’m cursed).
Have you ever lived elsewhere in the world (or country)?
I’ve only lived in the South East, but I’m lucky to have travelled quite a lot and love putting my feet on new ground. I’ve been to Geneva a surprising amount for work and usually stay at the same hotel, so I’ve got a fairly solid routine there for decompressing after long days.
Your favourite home from home?
My close friends all have that amazing ability to make you feel just immediately welcome and relaxed the moment you step through their doors. All you need to do is kick your shoes off, grab a cuppa or glass of wine, and you’re ready to put the world to rights. It’s something I really admire and would love to think my place feels the same for them.
Follow Michelle’s adventures here.
FOOD STUFF
Butternut squash soup
Not a massive fan of a butternut squash, I thought. But I had one left over from a recipe I never got around to and ended up making this soup and it was honestly one of the most delicious things I’ve eaten in weeks. I planned it as a batch cook but ate the whole lot.
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Ginger and Spring Onion Rice with Hot Honey Salmon Bites
I’ve already gone on about Dinner Tonight quite a lot haven’t I? But look, it’s revolutionised my diet. This was amaaaazing. I’m afraid the recipe is for paid subscribers (honestly it’s so worth it, and nope, this is not an ad!) but you can’t go far wrong using a bit of guess work and all the ingredients in the title….oh and this - which I’ve just discovered and is so, SO good. On everything.
Right, that’s it for now. As always - hit the heart at the bottom if you liked what you read. See you next week!
P.S
🧦 Always searching for the perfect sock. This is close to the top of my list.
📕 Any of these for your foodie friends, Gloriously offline and wholesome.
🙏 Is this a bit Handmaid’s Tale? Not sure, but think of the warmth!
P.P. S Who is Dominique Afacan and what is this newsletter all about?
Well thank you very much for asking! I started this newsletter when I decided to stop being a luxury travel journalist (fool!) and opted instead to ‘settle down’ and start a family. Initially, Nesting was a cosy compendium of all the things I loved about my new, grown-up life with two kids and a sausage dog – but it’s since become a place where I write about everything.
If you sign up, you can expect quite personal pieces about life, love (and death, unfortunately) to funny stuff, recipes, recommendations and interviews with fabulous folk. Some of the people I interview will be solo mums (I’m one too) and others will be people I find fascinating and who are open to having me snooping around their home. I’m very nosy.
Writing Nesting keeps me sane, so the mere act of signing up (or becoming a paid subscriber) is a huge favour – but I hope you get something out of it too.
Love this!