Photo update

A quick photo update of the Feria, and progress on the apartment

Just a hint at the kinds of antics and costumes worn by many of the crowd (often rugby players)

Parade of horses and riders

The bulls are let out of their truck

Great drumming band, one of many bands

Disco below us in the square, until 4am, 4am and 2am on the 3 nights. We slept fine! Really.

The Feria was as mad as ever. It is very busy, and very loud, but a heap of fun, and great seeing so many people enjoying themselves. Sunday we escaped to do a walk up to the dolmens above Maureillas - we find a break away from town mid-Feria revives us for the following day!

The fireworks on Bastille Day to end the Feria were outstanding. How a little town like Céret can put on such a show is surprising, but it was a great spectacle, and a worthy finale to the Feria. The best display we've ever been to, as it was all so close - in fact so close that Alastair had to duck at one point to avoid some flying fireworks.

And now onto an update on the apartment. Antoine the builder has pulled out all stops this week, now the Feria is out of the way. He parked his Bobcat in the garden courtyard behind us, so has good access now. The plasterer has just one coat left to go, but has been away this week while Antoine has had 4 men on site. Meanwhile we have been sneaking up in the evenings and weekends to work on the exterior windows, doors and shutters. Despite the age of the woodwork, I've managed to get the whole lot fitting well using generous helpings of plane, scraper, sandpaper and grunt. They've come up even better than we expected.

Shutters finished, in two-tone grey.

Bedroom windows fixed, sanded and undercoated.

TWO SKYLIGHTS! Kitchen will be central below the mezzanine.

From the kitchen: front windows undercoated, plastering near finished.

The best news is that the two new skylights are in place, and the amount of light is superb. It also lets a lot of air flow through the apartment. The light in the new living room is just awesome, as it is in the mezzanine. All the floors have been levelled flush today, except the bathroom which has a tiny step to allow us to have a walk-in shower. Tiling starts asap, can't wait.