Journal

Jetboating

Recently we went jet boating with my 80 year old grandfather who had just purchased himself a new jet-boat for his 80th birthday. (His old one had been stolen a few years ago). We headed up a tight little river weaving in between fallen logs and hanging willow branches getting deeper and deeper into the gorge when suddenly, 'BANG'. We headed straight up a bank on the side of the river and the boat wouldn't start again.

We were deep in the gorge and couldn't float the boat down the river due to rapids, so we walked out across the farmland until we stumbled across a farm house. We explained what had happened and told the farmer we would be back in a few days to get the boat. The below photos show the hilarious recovery effort that my Grandfather got himself into a few days later, using wire ropes, pulleys and a tractor to get the boat out of the gorge.

How to Write Straight

Ever wondered why teachers write with one hand behind their back? We were pretty stoked when we realised that it helps to keep your writing straight when using our Studio Rollers. Pictured here is our new 450mm size which we use in the workshop.

We found this pretty interesting and hope you did too!

Thanks,

Will

Tomato Growing Tips

Last year my Dad gave me 6 tomato plants for Xmas and we planted them on Boxing Day. This is my first crop but it's been pretty fun.

A good friend shared these tips with me and I thought there may be some other growers out there who might be interested.

1. Don't plant too early. Tomatoes need heat to grow - if the ground is still cold they will get stressed which leaves them susceptible to pests and diseases.

2. If growing in a pot give them plenty of root room. For a 200cm tall plant use a 40+ litre pot. Add water-retaining crystals and mulch around the top (dry lawn clippings will also work). Don't put the pot directly on concrete or stones as the residual heat in mid-summer will cook the roots. Elevate the pot with timber or bricks.

3. Plant deep. Remove the leaves halfway up the plant and bury up to the next leaves. The buried stem will grow roots, which enables the plant to access more water and nutrients.

4. Do not over water, especially when young, as this will make new growth too soft and less resistant to fluctuating temperatures and wind.

5. Once the fruit is set, keep moisture levels consistent. If they have uneven water levels at this stage the fruit can grow grainy.

6. Dwarf and determinate (growing to a set height) should not be delateraled as once it has reached it's set height it can only bush out. Cut the laterals with sharp secateurs as ripping them can wound the stem and expose the plant to diseases. Delateral your plants on a fine day so that the wound can heal. Remove leaves off all tomatoes that are 20 to 30cm from ground level.

Skipping Rope

We have applied our design philosophy to another object, the skipping rope:

"Simple and functional design made with quality materials that will wear in over time".

Pulley Maid Drying Rack

Ceiling hanging drying racks are a great way to dry your clothes without taking up valuable space in your home. They are an efficient and cost-effective way to keep your clothes looking their best, and the George & Willy pulley maid can easily be tucked away when you're not using it.

Helicopters

Every Friday lunchtime at George & Willy, it is someones turn to do show and tell. Last week I (George) did a show and tell about helicopters. My brother Patrick has always had a huge interest in helicopters and after years of listening to him, part of the knowledge and interest has passed on to me.

Twizel Canal Surfing

Earlier this year on our staff trip down South we ventured through Twizel to the fish canals, an area where Sam used to work on a Salmon farm. We were heading up towards Kaikoura the following night so had our boards all ready to go. While we waited for Sam to catch a couple fish we got out the tie downs and began dragging each other along the canals. It was pretty cold and pretty funny.