July 14th – Feu d'Artifice not dampened by the rain

The French National Holiday last Tuesday, Bastille Day, following a long weekend, was unfortunately dampened by the rain which persisted for the most of the day.

Nevertheless Le Defilé took place at 10 0'clock in the morning proudly marching through Lavelanet in commemoration of those that had gone before.

With the funfair still in full swing and the rain easing off for a while I walked up to town at about 10 in the evening to be part of the celebrations culminating in the fireworks at 11 o'clock. As usual a splendid display was witnessed by many Lavelanet townsfolk of all ages.

The weather in this area seems to have developed into a pattern at the moment. A few days of blue skies, with the temperature gradually climbing, followed by thunder and lightning storms and some cloudy days – and then the pattern repeated. At least we only caught the edge of last Thursday's storm – apparently warnings had been posted by the French Met Office in 55 departments across France.

A very tuneful bird has been singing around the garden but I have yet to catch sight of it. I am better at visual recognition than their song – so I'll let you know if I catch sight of it.

Tour de France, Bastille Day and all the Fun of the Fair

After nearly two weeks tiling the bathroom the last tile has gone on the wall and the final piece of grout has been applied. Just a few finishing touches . . . and I will be able to think about something else. Began in the blistering heat but thankfully this last week has been much fresher but with plenty of cloud. Today, though, is clear blue sky and sunshine.

Plenty to think about in this part of France this weekend. The Tour de France is passing within 20 miles of Lavelanet today – down from Andorra to St Girons. Last year it actually passed through our town. This weekend though Lavelanet is taken over by the fair which fills the centre of the town every year on the weekend leading up to Bastille Day, 14th July – although not generally known as Bastille Day in France – it is the French National Holiday. A notice at the top of our road informs us that our normal route into town will be closed between 4 0'clock in the afternoon and 2pm the next morning, every day from yesterday until next Wednesday. No such nonsense like funfairs having to close by 9 or 10pm here. In fact, next Tuesday, families will come out about 10 0'clock in the evening for the grand feu d'artifice and la bal de danse in the car park in the centre of town.

For those that know about it the Pergola with Chair that Chris has been searching for is now in place in the garden and photographs will follow.

The buddleia is in full bloom which attracts some wonderful butterflies – we had a swallowtail filling itself with pollen today. There are lizards running up the wall and, of course, the occasional weird creepy crawley that finds its way into the bedroom or bathroom.

The buzzard continually mews overhead, circling and looking for its pray – strange, though, that you never actually see it swoop to catch anything.

Probably go to check out the fair tonight, maybe have a beer, visit a vide grenier tomorrow – you never know what you might find – and look forward to the fireworks on Tuesday.