Le cordonnier dans son atelier

Our neighbour M has just set himself up in business as a cordonnier (cobbler) -- except he's much more than that. He intelligently took over the premises which had been occupied for decades by a business that specialised in sharpening secateurs and other viticultural tools. He smartened the place up and kept all the old sharpening machinery that was usable. For the leather-working side of things, he has a collection of vintage tools and machines -- I don't think any of them can be less than 70 years old. "All mechanical," he said. "They run like a dream, they're quieter than modern machines, and if they go wrong I can fix them myself -- no need to call a technician."

All very picturesque, but sadly my quick snaps taken with the little camera didn't do his fine old machines justice -- I'll just have to go back with better kit and more time. Here he is talking to S in the leather store -- whole skins hanging on the left. He's not any old cobbler -- he did a two-year diploma, and one of his current projects is a custom-made splint for a dog with a deformed paw that prevents it from walking properly. Let's hope his emphasis on quality brings success.