A day at Fana'Briques 2012 ...

This year, I had decided that I would go and see with my own eyes what a gathering of LEGO fans looks like, in this case one of the most important in France, Fana'Briques 2012.

So departure with the whole family for Rosheim, or rather Obernai a few kilometers from the place of the exhibition where we had found a guest room. On Saturday morning, head to Fana2012 with the desire to impress me and meet all those who bring LEGO to life in France, gathered for a weekend.

Upon arrival, I noticed that the organization is up to the task. Almost everything has been thought out correctly, and it smacks of a job well done. Head to the BrickPirate stand to meet LEGOmaniac, Lyonnais who provides the atmosphere, Stephle59, Alkinoos, 74louloute, R5-N2, Domino, Icare, Captain Spaulding and many others, they forgive me if I forget here ....

Nice atmosphere in the room, it's hot, people arrive, crowd around the stands, and that of BrickPirate is full: It is ideally placed and the MOCs presented are of quality. Quick tour of the exhibition as a whole, and it's quite uneven, the best meets the worst ... Lots of trains, the children love it, me a little less, and the theme Public Works moderately appeals to me. I pass quickly on excavators, cranes, graders etc ...

Some stands are impressive by the size of the MOCs staged. Others are a little less so, the MOCs presented are in fact a network of rails in the middle of which are gathered without really any logic various and varied machines, some minifigs and some small houses without great coherence. I pass there also quickly.

What strikes me during my wanderings is the contrast between the enthusiasm of the BrickPirate team or the SeTechnic team, eager to meet the visitor, to show their work, to chat with the kids who only dream of of one thing, to touch, to handle, to play ... and certain other stands where the gloom mixed with undoubtedly a little complacency and nonchalance are in order. I get annoyed to see certain exhibitors sprawled behind their tables, impassive.

Beautiful things to see also for Technic enthusiasts with the SeTechnic stand with the presence of the very chrome UCS of the Naboo Royal Starship. There is also a detachable chairlift (I had to have someone explain to me what that meant) and some gigantic cranes in front of which Joe Meno, the author of LEGO Culture and editor of the BrickJournal, was ecstatic.

Lots of medieval creations on the show, including the superb Archenval de Stephle59, and this theme that I don't particularly like is suddenly more sympathetic to me. It is only imbeciles who do not change their minds, it is said in authorized circles ...

Meanwhile my 9 year old son is gargling in front of the tables full of Hero Factory, Bionicle and others figures. My other 3-year-old son is desperately trying to get a car across a railroad track trying to open the barrier after the train has passed. I explain to him that he cannot touch, he gets annoyed, and I tell myself that it is a huge paradox: An entire exhibition of toys that cannot be touched. Fortunately, the organizers had planned a few corners with tables, benches and a lot of pieces for the youngest.

A few very cold beers later, a little chat with the very nice guys from Muttpop, Nicolas and David, who are at the origin of the LEGO Culture project and who had the good taste to bring us back Joe Meno, who came to visit the exhibition and dedicate the book in question. I picked up my autographed copy and was excited. The operation was carried out smoothly, the book is a success and I hope that the success of this book will open the door to other achievements of the same ilk.

One thing is certain: When I see what the French community is capable of, I tell myself that we are lucky to have talented MOCeurs, able to come together and at least to iron out their possible differences of point of view. the space of a convivial weekend.

What I saw in Rosheim were passionate people, ready to make many sacrifices to share their passion. And for that, they all deserve the respect and support of French fans. And LEGO too, but that's another story ...

Special mention to the BrickPirate team, with whom I had a great time, and thank you to LEGOmaniac, Captain Spaulding and 74louloute for their welcome, their kindness and the memories I brought back from this nice getaway.

There would be a lot of other things to say about this event and I will come back to it here on occasion, with the necessary hindsight.