Jigsaw Puzzle, our passion.
Sunday 25 February 2018 : 1ère édition du Concours de Puzzle de Berchem-Sainte-Agathe
On Sunday the 25th of February, we participated in the first edition of the Berchem-Sainte-Agathe puzzle tournament. As this contest took place in Brussels, we proposed to non-puzzler friends to participate with us: Gaëtan and Greg.
This tournament has an unusual format for us: 6 hours with a mandatory break. There are also 2 small games during the contest that can make you win 50 and 100 pieces.
The contest starts with a first puzzle of 500 pieces (wheelbarrow of flowers) and we get the opportunity to test our two recruits: Greg is doing well but Gaëtan ... hum how to say it ... At least he is of good will when asked to sort, as long as he does not come across colors that his color blindness prevents him from distinguishing. The organizer announces the size of the puzzles that will follow: there will be a 1000 pieces, then two 500 pieces. It scares us a bit because we know that to do that, we need much less than 6 hours. We finish the puzzle in first position, not far in front of the second team.
The second puzzle comes, it is a 1000 pieces representing a map of the world covered with postcards. While we are assembling it, a first little game arrives: we have to guess the weight of a basket of fruits. We are not far from the good weight but at least one team does better than us.
Noon arrives and the break too. This is not usual in the world of puzzle competitions but we can understand the interest of it for the children in order to keep the family aspect of the event.
Moreover it allows us to discuss with other teams more than what we usually do, as we are used to not lift the nose of our puzzle. We finish this second puzzle by consolidating our first position.
The third jigsaw puzzle represents the solar system. It is not so obvious for a 500 because there are a lot of black parts. This allows us to widen the gap in the lead. Gaëtan makes me laugh not being able to complete a planet consisting of about 8 pieces 🙂
The fourth puzzle is a 500 pieces representing horses. During this puzzle, the second mini-game takes place, it's about being the fastest in a riddle of logic. We are generally not bad at this style of game but another team gives the answer faster than us. We finish the 4th puzzle almost 2 hours before the end of the competition, a bit unfortunate but we can understand for a first edition. One wonders how the organizers will manage the rankings because other teams will clearly finish within two hours, including the team that won the 100-piece bonus. From our side, since there is no other puzzle, we can not increase our total number of pieces.
We wait patiently for the end of the contest and the proclamation of the results. We have the good surprise to be declared winner, the organizers having decided that at the base it is still a puzzle competition. This is especially fun because this time we came with Gaëtan and Greg.
List of puzzles:
- Ravensburger 500 pièces – Summer bouquet
- Ravensburger 1000 pièces – World travel memories
- Ravensburger 500 pièces – Solar system
- Ravensburger 500 pièces – Horsing around
Saturday 17 February 2018 : Second edition of Jigsaw Puzzle Context of Sart-Lierneux
On Saturday 17 February, it is already the third contest of the year, and the second edition of the Lierneux contest which we had really liked last year, organized by the team 1001 pièces. This year again it was a success, we had space, we really liked the puzzles, the food was nice and the atmosphere very friendly.
I already spoil the end announcing that We are puzzled ! finished first in the ranking, and I can tell you it was not a foregone conclusion… Amongst today’s team members, two were ill; the third could not come and we had issue a call on social media to find a last minute replacement. Thankfully Corinne answered to us, although she had the flu too! She was not much experienced and probably was a bit intimidated at first, but it’s certainly thanks to her that we could win; two extra hands to sort pieces and assemble some is very important!
The competition started with a very classical puzzle, representing Neuschwanstein castle; who never did similar a puzzle! But personally it’s a memory trigger, I remember evenings puzzling with my grand-mother.
The next puzzle was a 500 pieces with kittens, and then a more difficult puzzle of 1500 pieces very nice and colourful. Next came a 1000 pieces with black and white pictures of London, with some typical details in red. This one was quite difficult to sort out once the red pieces were out, but we could make it on time to get the last puzzle: a 2.000 pieces showing a colourful street in Cuba, from which we were able to assemble 681 pieces. And note the Yakatrié team finished third on this competition, while they were only 2 members ! But we could not expect less from Sophie et Patrice de Goncourt:-)
Beautiful edition which allowed us to travel thanks to the nice puzzles!
Press article:
Consulter l'article paru de vlan.be
List of puzzles:
- Ravensburger 1000 pièces – Neuschwanstein in autumn
- Ravensburger 500 pièces – Kitten in a basket
- Ravensburger 1500 pièces – Portuguese windows
- Ravensburger 1000 pièces – London, Multi Color
- Ravensburger 2000 pièces – Colourful Cuba
Sunday 28 January 2018 : 7th Puzzeliade of Hotton
2018 is here and we are back for a new puzzling season, which starts as every year with the Puzzeliade in the city of Hotton. The same SWAT team is here to participate to the 8 hours contest (Cathy, Patrick with Vanessa & Pierre).
This year the competition is off to a flying start, with a 1.000 pieces jigsaw puzzle, which is a bit hard for more "relaxed" teams, as some of them will spend most of their time only trying to complete this one…
The second puzzle is still a 1.000 pieces but a bit easier, we will take this as a welcomed pause before the next one : there we are a bit disappointed, because we already had this 1.500 pieces jigsaw puzzle in a previous contest. Moreover I had it done again at home not so long ago… Despite the "experience" in this puzzle, assembling it still seems to take at long time…
Then comes a 1.000 pieces representing New York, in general our team is not bad for this type of puzzle and in less than 2 hours it’s completed. There is only 30 minutes left for the last 500 pieces puzzle, which we are unfortunately unable to finish, we are missing 10mn !
This year, no food gift basket for the winners, we “only” get to choose a puzzle for our prize. I believe this year the organization had more difficulties in finding sponsors, but anyway it was still a very nice competition. What will happen next year? Because everybody agreed that the first two puzzles would be mixed together before being handed over to the We are puzzled ! … Will this be a handicap? We will demonstrate otherwise 🙂
Saturday 4 march 2017 : PuzzleDay of Durbuy-Barvaux
Since 2012 takes place our favourite competition : the Barvaux-Durbuy puzzleday ! It’s 8 hours of happiness, thanks to the excellent organization, atmosphere and puzzles from Clementoni!
We could not miss this event, which unfortunately took place this year at the same time than the 4 hours contest of Maransart, which we very much appreciate: we had to make a choice, and we hope this problem won’t happen again in the future.
This year We are Puzzled ! did not win the tournament, but the spirit of the competition was there and we gave the best of us until the end ! Our team finished in second position with only 31 tiny pieces behind the winners, and this despite the fact that we were only 3 members out of 4.
Ranking 2017
Saturday 18 February 2017 : 1st edition of Jigsaw Puzzle Contest Sart Lierneux
This year there was a new Jigsaw puzzle contest in Sart Lierneux (Belgium), organised by the tean "1001 pieces" for the benefit of the Helicoptered Medical Centre (CMH). We are Puzzled ! could not miss this new appointment 🙂
It was a 8 hours puzzle format, and for a first time it was a real success! We thought the organisation was just excellent and had no cause to be envious of other contests which have been taking place for several years already. The choice of the puzzles was perfect: it was varied, for type of image as much as size and difficulty of the jigsaws. There was enough for all tastes. On top of this, we were given puzzles from the very good brand Ravensburger, we were therefore thrilled!
The room and tables were spacious enough. The catering was also very good, as well as the music (variety and volum) and the light. Finally, the reward distribution was perfect, and We are Puzzled ! , who won this competition, will know how to make the best of it 🙂
Ranking 2017
Since 2013, Günther Simetsberger has been organizing the World Puzzle Days in Facebook. This is an original event, which allows all jigsaw puzzle lovers to be reunited around the same virtual table to complete puzzles.
- Anyone having a Facebook account may register. The event will begin on 1st January 2017 at exactly 00:00, and will end on 28th February at 24:00. During these two months, participants from all over the world will complete puzzles of 1000, 2000, 3000 or 4000 pieces while staying at home.
- The only requirement is to regularly post pictures on Facebook to show the progress of the puzzle, and of course a photo of the puzzle once completed! Günther will take care of the very regular update of the statistics, so everyone will be able to follow the progress of the event.
- In order to avoid some "cheating" (I do not see the advantage, as we do not gain anything and it is purely for fun...), we will have to add in the pictures an object which nature will be revealed only at the last moment, this will be the proof that the puzzle was indeed completed during those two months and not before.
We find the idea very original and above all immensely friendly: how bring together people from all horizons, cultural backgrounds, language, religion and gender, without prejudice and without discrimination? Simply by forgetting the differences and bringing closer those passionates around a common hobby that has no boundaries.
Useful links:
In the series "Never without my puzzle", here we are again, this time with an experience 100% Caribbean !
This year holidays were dedicated to complete idleness… but this did not mean that we would not give ourselves over to the joys of our favorite hobby. First we mocked a bit in the French side of the Island of Saint-Martin; after having found some second hand shops that had in stock some jigsaw puzzles in bad shape and/or uninteresting, we visited on a Sunday morning a small garage sale next to Marigot’s port, for 2 Euros, we bought "The Fisherman’s house" (painting from Henri Deuil), from the brand Druon.
In the evening, we settled in our terrasse over the beach, with our aperitif which included rhum of course, and we started to assemble pieces.
That night there was the first and only storm of our holidays, and although the rain was neither cold nor much, we had to take our puzzle back inside the house.
But on the next morning we took it out again while we had our breakfast. Despite the poor state of the puzzle and the missing piece, it is a true delight to assemble puzzles in such a wonderful environment! The result in the sunlight and with a beach panorama in the background is just fantastic 🙂
During our stroll at the Marigot’s craft market several days later, we could not resist to the temptation and bought this wood puzzle "Nemo", it will be perfect to brighten up the wall of our puzzle room 🙂
And finally, a quick tour to the souvenirs shop at Princess Juliana airport was sufficient to choose and take on board with us this colorful puzzle, which will remind us of our holidays memories every time we will need it!
From where in the world will come our next puzzle? 🙂
Saturday 19th of March 2016 took place
the second edition of the 12 hours of Arlon.
We are puzzled ! was of course present to defend last year’s title. We knew it would be difficult this year because many strong teams were enrolled. Moreover the number of contesters went from around thirty teams to about sixty and the tournament of Arlon clearly became the second biggest tournament in Belgium (behind Hannut).
Given that the tournament is very well organized by the Kiwanis Club of Arlon and given that their building allows to welcome many more teams, I am sure that this tournament is going to continue to grow during the next editions. At least that's what I wish them.
The only thing which we regret is that the two biggest tournaments of Belgium use the same brand of puzzle: Jumbo. It reduces considerably the choice of jigsaw puzzles in order to avoid having the same as in Hannut, so there is no big variety in the puzzles. We find it all the more a pity as we do not like the puzzles Jumbo, neither for their motives (a lot of puzzles with small characters: the "Van Haasteren", "Where is Wally?" and "Pieces of history"), nor for the quality of the pieces.
I hope moreover that the tournament of Arlon is going to cultivate its differences with Hannut, first of all by keeping its format of 12 hours which makes its uniqueness, and I do not despair to see another brand there than Jumbo.
Let's speak now about the contest itself...
We begin with a 500 pieces "the brewery" of the collection Jan Van Haasteren, followed by a 1000 pieces, "The Castle" of the collection "Pieces of history". After these two puzzles which do not suit especially to our team, we are 2nd or 3rd, but already quite far from the leaders, the "Yapluka" team, that we know way stronger than us on the puzzles with small characters.
Our third puzzle is a 1500 pieces representing animals of the jungle including a lion whose head occupies two thirds of the puzzle. A brief debate begins on the use or not of the joker on this puzzle. On one side, this puzzle is apparently very difficult, especially knowing the quality of Jumbo pieces. On another one, my co-team members like this kind of puzzle and want to do something else than "small characters". The heart (and the majority ;-)) takes it on the reason and we decide not to use this joker.
While we assemble this puzzle, we notice that several other teams which used their joker on the 3rd puzzle, finish the 4th one (a 1500 pieces of the Wasgij collection) well ahead of us. When we finally finish our 3rd puzzle, we decide to use our joker on the 4th and begin the 5th, a 1000 pieces representing kittens.
At this stage, it is our neighbouring team, the "Puzzlinelles" who is in the lead with approximately half an hour lead on us. "Yapluka" made the same error as us on the jokers and went from 25 minutes in front of us to 10 minutes behind us.
On the cats, we reduce the gap with the Puzzlinelles and begin the 6th puzzle (a 2000 pieces) with about ten minutes of delay on them. This puzzle allows us to take the lead and we begin the 7th puzzle with 2 hours remaining in the contest. But there, it is another Van Haasteren 1000 pieces that awaits us! When we hear that "Yapluka" is still only 10 min behind us we know that on this type of puzzle, the chance is big that they will overtake us. And it is what happens, they finish their puzzle with a 5-10 minutes lead on us and with 15 minutes left on the last puzzle (a 1500 pieces), it is not enough to come back.
We finish thus second of the contest but we are not at all disappointed to lose our title. We are even rather satisfied with our performance because we expected to end much farther from the "Yapluka".
Sunday 24th January took place
the 5th Puzzeliade in Hotton
Organized by the parents committee of the free school of Hotton-Melreux, the Puzzeliade opens the jigsaw puzzle contest season in Belgium, and it is always a pleasure to participate. The organizers try to vary the sponsors, so every year we have a surprise in terms of brand and type of puzzles. The atmosphere is warm, and there is a prize for everyone.
The week-end had not started very well for me, and I was not in a happy mood:
And as soon as we entered the room, the so special and characteristic atmosphere of jigsaw puzzle contest just wrapped us and we found back our smile, all problem forgotten.
This year the contest was really successful, with a record attendance of 33 teams. The competition was sponsored by Trefl. Although I am not personally a fan of this brand as I find that pieces are not of good quality, I really liked the puzzled proposed. We started with a 1000 pieces puzzle representing a yellow cab in a black and white New York, then a 1000 pieces Zebra quite difficult to assemble, next a 1500 pieces puzzle representing a landscape with a lake, and finally a 1000 pieces with cupcakes.
Normally only those 4 puzzles where scheduled, but as there were still around 2 hours of contest left, the organizers gave us one extra from a previous edition, from the brand White Mountains. This puzzle is one of my favourite as the pieces shapes are so atypical from what we find in Europe.
We are puzzled ! won the competition for the 4th consecutive year. It was an excellent way to finish this day that had so badly begun. Now we are ready for the next competition 🙂
Useful links:
http://puzzeliadehotton.blog4ever.com/
Since four year now, Günther Simetsberger has been organizing the World Puzzle Day in Facebook. This is an original event, which allows all jigsaw puzzle lovers to be reunited around the same virtual table to complete puzzles.
- Anyone having a Facebook account may register. The event will begin on 1st January 2016 at exactly 00:00, and will end on 29th February at 24:00. During these two months, participants from all over the world will complete puzzles of 1000, 2000, 3000 or 4000 pieces while staying at home.
- The only requirement is to regularly post pictures on Facebook to show the progress of the puzzle, and of course a photo of the puzzle once completed! Günther will take care of the very regular update of the statistics, so everyone will be able to follow the progress of the event.
- In order to avoid some "cheating" (I do not see the advantage, as we do not gain anything and it is purely for fun...), we will have to add in the pictures an object which nature will be revealed only at the last moment, this will be the proof that the puzzle was indeed completed during those two months and not before.
We are puzzled ! will participate this year for the second time. Last Year Cathy was the only representative from Belgium, and she completed 3 puzzles of 2.000 pieces.
This year we will participate as a team and try to contribute a bit more to the final score. In 2015, there were 643 persons registered and 1.266.412 parts assembled in total. Will we succeed to do better this year?
We find the idea very original and above all immensely friendly: how bring together people from all horizons, cultural backgrounds, language, religion and gender, without prejudice and without discrimination? Simply by forgetting the differences and bringing closer those passionates around a common hobby that has no boundaries.
Useful links:
… or the art of finding solutions 🙂
It was such a beautiful weather on Saturday in Brussels, we wanted to make the most of it. However we were somewhat tired after our working week and did not want to be very active. Furthermore, quite a long time had passed since we last made a puzzle, and the tips of our fingers were starting to itch… How could we reconcile all those “constraints” in a satisfactory way?
This Sunday July 12th, the 3rd jigsaw puzzle championship took place at Newmarket. We are puzzled! registered to the pairs category, and won the competition! 🙂
We loved this unique experience: participating in various countries championships (we participated in March 2013 in Madrid’s one) provides huge pleasure, because we have the feeling of belonging to a family that shares a hobby which knows no borders or nationalities. We meet passionate people, we exchange opinions, ideas, website addresses and tips, etc ...
Une amie m’a fait connaitre le puzzle “1000 colours” il y quelques mois. J’ai tout de suite été emballée par ce puzzle unique. J’aime les couleurs vives, et lorsque je fais un puzzle, j’aime particulièrement les grandes zones et les dégradés. Autant dire que ce puzzle était pour moi. Malheureusement ce puzzle n’était plus disponible à la vente, et puis c’est sorti de ma tête.
