Comice 2025

This first post here is about the Comice 2025 held in Fougere using a new blogging platform.

 If I just try to get the procession of floats in, that will likely be enough for me today!

It kicked off with the Cadets de Baugeois as always - our local brass combo for all occasions.

Then Bauge (it would appear accents are not possible with this platform) kicked off the floats, as is their right as next year's hosts.  Sadly the photo doesn't show the old crone that came with the float, she was rather special!

Following them was Vaulandry, as last year's hosts, who, in line with the theme of retro, recycled their rather fabulous float with a model of the Chateau of the Marquis of Turbilly, who founded the Comice movement in the area over 150 years ago.

After that, we had the first of the Fougere floats, this one celebrating the Solex endurance races they used to have in the village.  I haven't included the batch of Solex riders that came in front.

Cuon was the first of the kitchen/living room combos with a very fine stone fireplace and activities of yesteryear.

Boce celebrated their Viking roots (while also promoting their music festival in two weeks time).

Pontigne had a rather splendid old style classroom, complete with unruly children and a strict schoolmaster with a pipe.

Then we had the next Fougere float, provided by the local gardening group, the Grenadiers.  They had convicts to pull the float, a couple of soldiers to keep them in line, and some ladies in very fine Empire style frocks.

We were next - le Vieil Bauge had the most magnificent tractor in the parade, driven by its owner and old tractor enthusiast.  We were also an old style kitchen with fireplace and a bunch of old biddies drinking rose wine and playing silly games.

Following on from us was St Martin d'Arce who took bits of old floats and dragged an old racing car behind the main float.

Chevire le Rouge reprised a number of their old float ideas including drummers and the rather disturbing Bois de Boulogne cops and prostitutes from last year.

Le Guedenieu celebrated their baking traditions with an old style bakers - they are the hosts each year of a Giant Croissant festival and have a new baker in the village, so it is all appropriate.

Echimire turned in the final kitchen with chimney scene, complete with a major game of cards going on.  More cheekily, in the fireplace, there is a part burned cheque for 28,000 euros signifying the donation of the profits of their Comice in 2021 to a national charity, rather than being used to support local groups and clubs, as is the norm.

The final float was the main Fougere one, as hosts, and it was magnificent.  In four stages, it had a magnificent metal horse, a reminder that this was the 150th Comice, a replica Eiffel Tower, as the one in Fougere had to be dismantled a couple of years ago, and a final section passing the flame to Bauge for 2026.

So there you have the full set.

This was my first go using Blogger, and the photos load swiftly and easily - a key issue for a weekly blog.  But what is it like for the reader?  Let me know!