One of the things I love about owning an old house in France is that I keep finding little details in the way it is made, in the nuts and bolts of its structure which appeal to me.

This is one of the several locks on the front door which looks like it was built to survive a serious siege, or at least an attack by abattering ram.

A simple and perfect door handle, polished by hundreds of different hands

This wonderful heart shaped motif which is part of the closing mechanism of the shutters.

Just last week daughter D brought me up to the attic to show me this hinge, previously unnoticed, on the back of a door.

By the good graces of the French Meitheal we now have lost the attic carpet to show us these shagged but wonderful old earthenware tiles underneath. We are going to try and save them.

From the new velux window at the very top of the house we have one of the best views in the house of the Peuch and of Cornheillon

A little plant pot holder found in the garden. I am very yempted to get someone to reproduce it, it is such a good design.