A Great Weekend in London: Feast, Rave, #Arsenal!

It was with butterflies dancing (and tiny tigers growling) in our tummies that a mini troop of us headed to London Fields on Saturday.

We were on our way to Feast in the Fields, but the main course of the day was Arsenal v. Hull City in the FA Cup Finals.

Strange to think I was in Lagos, barely pregnant with Ezra, the last time Arsenal lifted a trophy!

 

FEAST

 
We arrived at the Brewhouse with 6 hungry boys and a nap-drunk little lady.

Soon enough we were tucking into Square Pie mini pies, beef and chorizo burgers, polish sausages and spicy Moroccan chicken wraps.

Feast in the Fields isn’t as large or buzzy as markets like Street Feast, but it’s a lovely chilled setting, feel-good tunes spun by the DJ and luscious London Fields to scamper about in afterwards.

While the kids clambered on the playground, we found a spot beside the Pub on the Park terraces where we could just about see a screen. My friend Rachelle of Love Learn Cook fed us delicious homemade patties and buttermilk fried chicken as we waited for kick-off.
 

ARSENAL

 
Two nil down in 10 minutes, tension sky-high, the boys and I squashed inside to get a better view. There’s nothing like being in an English pub during a massive game — the cheers, the groans, the drama.

And when Aaron Ramsey (always my fave) came through for us in the 2nd half of extra time, we blew the roof off, Red Army-style. Sheer elation!

Random blokes snapped pix with my little Gooners. We sang Arsenal chants all the way home.
 

PARADE

 
On Sunday, only hearing last minute about the parade happening that morning, we high-tailed it to Upper Street.

Islington Council had put up barriers to safeguard the crowds, but of course this blocked a lot of fans from getting a good view of the Arsenal Bus.

But we caught glimpses of Sagna, Giroud, Arteta and the trophy being lifted to the sun.
 

RAVE

 
It was a jam-packed afternoon with a birthday party and bouncy castle in the park, followed by the Big Fish Little Fish Camp Bestival’s Travelling Circus at Shapes in Hackney Wick.

We had too much fun making a skeleton dance on screen by motion control sensors. And it’s always a blast when the parachute drops.

But it was legendary DJ Tom Middleton who closed out the Big Fish Little Fish party season in classic style. Dancing with the babes to his drum and bass mash-up of Pharrell’s Happy and to Everything is Awesome from the LEGO Movie was definitely a weekend highlight. Roll on Camp Bestival!

Afterwards, we cooled out on the lawn outside the Hackney Pearl cafe.

I got chatting with a lovely Aussie couple and their adventurous little girl. They sent me more pictures from their 7-month-old’s first raving experience.

On the train back home, we waved and cheered all the fans in Arsenal shirts.

A great weekend to be a Londoner, an awesome time to be a Gooner.

 

On the Spot

 

Lewis and Edie, 10 months

‘It’s our first time at Big Fish Little Fish, I think my wife found out about it. Really good and very funny watching some of the other parents and thinking, I know what you were up to last summer! It’s a different vibe but Edie’s absolutely loving it.’

Big Fish Little Fish are playing a residency in the afternoons at Camp Bestival in July.

Find out about the next Feast in the Fields at www.feastinthefields.com

Check out the Hackney Pearl at Hackney Pearl