Nails in all shapes, sizes and metals are imperative to me. Steel nails, brass tacks, copper nails and tacks, flat nails...nails with little hats on them for nailing down galvanised iron, great big nails they call spikes for - no we have not found out why they are in the collection, but they look very useful. Three inch nails without which no building work can possibly proceed, tiny thin nails for fine jobs of joinery. Once T. put my nails outside, "It hasn't rained," she said. "No, but the dew!" I said looking with displeasure at the faint tinge of rust on my beloved nails.