Newspread #1 — Vintage Land Rovers, Rugby Season, Porter Home, Pour-Over Coffee, Decline In Quality
Highlights from the last month of interest and worth sharing.
Welcome back to Newspread.
After a hiatus, Newspread’s returning with a more intimate and personal format on Substack. In this first edition, I’m sharing my thoughts over the past month, covering vintage Land Rovers and watches, the All Blacks, the decline in quality, and Porter James' new home collection.
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— Zayyar Win Thein
Paolo’s Land Rover Series 2A restored by Coolnvintage.
1. Who I Want to Be at Age 57
Coolnvintage, are a vintage car restoration company based in Lisbon, Portugal, who specialise particularly in Land Rover. Their philosophy revolves around the art of slow-living and cherishing the journey over the destination. This resonates deeply with my own business, Wynn & Thayne, as we share a similar ethos within the field of vintage watches.
Recently, Coolnvintage have ventured into YouTube, and one video of theirs highlights a client who embodies their ethos. Whilst the video’s purpose is to spotlight the car, luxurious watches, and fine cigars, there is an undertone of something truly important. There’s a deeper discussion around the appreciation of finely crafted objects. It’s a mantra I try to live by that buying less but better will always prevail in terms of utility, happiness, and joy.
It’s also hard to not ogle at Paolo’s watches, his Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675 with a fuchsia bezel is an incredibly rare find in today’s market. Also to note is his Omega Speedmaster from the year of the moon landing making it a “pre-moon Speedmaster”, and his Rolex Explorer II Ref. 1655 ‘Steve McQueen’.
Watch on YouTube: Coolnvintage Obsession || Land Rover, Watches, Jazz and Cigars
Image & Source: coolnvintage.com
Beauden Barrett was by far the stand out player of the game.
2. International Rugby Season
The international rugby calendar is in full swing, with the All Blacks securing their second home victory over England this month. My friends and I gathered at a local pub to watch the game, and it made me realise how much sport brings people together. Fans from all walks of life unite around the All Blacks, celebrating the highs and empathising with the lows.
It's an exciting time for New Zealand rugby, with Scott Robertson as the new coach with a fresh squad. I'm not a die-hard rugby fan by any means, but I'm really looking forward to watching this team progress and play more.
In high school, I played halfback and then second-five. Sometimes I miss the feeling of running with the ball in clear space or making a big tackle. My body can't handle that anymore, so I'll live vicariously through the All Blacks. Interestingly, two current players, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax, went to my high school. Both were prodigy’s back then and it’s amazing to see them do well and represent the country.
This Saturday the All Blacks take on Fiji in San Diego at 2:30pm NZST, be sure to tune in for the game.
Image & Source: photosport.nz
My four-year-old Filson Rugged Twill Zippered Tote Bag, still going strong.
3. The Decline in Quality
My friend Cyrus and I recently caught up over lunch and had an in-depth conversation about the noticeable decline in the quality of clothing. Cyrus shared his experience with a pair of new Nike shorts he added to his gym wardrobe, but they began to wear poorly after just a few months, unlike an older pair that still perform well to this day.
I brought up Filson in our discussion. I'm in the market for a new everyday bag that could also be suitable for short-haul travel (2-3 days). I currently use a four-year-old Rugged Twill Zippered Tote Bag, but recent reviews make me hesitant to buy any new Filson product, especially since they have moved some production offshore from the USA.
In this era of private equity takeovers, cost-cutting seems to be the first step, often at the expense of quality. It feels like the gap between cheap, middle-tier, and high-end products is narrowing. However, if you invest in smaller, independent brands that prioritise generational quality, you still get what you pay for, albeit at a premium.
Coincidentally, a YouTube video was published the next day that perfectly encapsulated our thoughts. It's reassuring to know we're not imagining things, but it's disheartening that the reality is one where profit takes precedence over product quality.
Watch on YouTube: It's Not Just Shein: Why Are ALL Your Clothes Worse Now?
The current setup with Normcore’s Pocket Scale and the Fellow Stagg EKG Kettle.
4. On the Grind with Pour-Over Coffee
My espresso machine at home has been acting up and won't pull a good shot of late. I had it tested, and there was nothing wrong, which is even more frustrating. It's likely that the grinder and its settings need to be fine-tuned and dialled in.
In the meantime, I've gone back to pour-over coffee with my V60 setup, and I'm absolutely loving it. There's a charm in slowing down the process, and it makes me appreciate the coffee even more. Before brewing, I play some jazz in the background to get into the zone and enjoy the process. Right now, I've got Hiroshi Suzuki's album "Cat" and The Dave Brubeck Quartet's "Jazz Impressions of Japan" on rotation.
Lately, I've been getting my beans from a new local coffee shop called MaryLan Coffee Roasters. The owner operates on a pre-order model, roasting the beans to your preference and offering a range of countries and flavour profiles to choose from.
I'm also looking forward to trying out local brands such as Sister Aotearoa and Slow Coffee Roasters next. If you have any recommendations on local coffee brands to check out please let me know by sending me a message or dropping a comment.
Beautiful interiors and delicious food. Try the Buckwheat Pancake (bottom right) or if you have the appetite the Pastrami Croque Monsieur (bottom left).
5. The Butcher Baker, Helensville
My partner and I recently visited The Butcher Baker with a few friends, and it's a charming eatery nestled in Helensville, west of Auckland. We had an amazing experience—the food was incredible, and it's definitely a place we'll return to.
The Butcher Baker emphasises farm-to-table dining, sourcing produce from local farmers and craftsmen who value organic agriculture. This commitment makes their food taste fresh and delicious. Many of their dishes are cooked in a wood fire oven, adding a smoky flavour and depth. They're open for brunch and lunch with excellent coffee, and in the evenings, they offer a seasonal menu with craft beers and natural wines.
Mohair and wool throw in olive (left), two ceramic pieces with Japanese incense (right).
6. Porter Home by Porter James Sports
My friend Joshua, who runs Porter James Sports, recently launched a capsule collection of home goods aptly titled 'Porter Home.' The collection includes mohair and wool blend throw blankets, as well as two ceramic pieces created in collaboration with Auckland-based ceramist Fiona Mackay. Featuring an incense holder and a tumbler, these ceramics are crafted from custom stoneware clay, with each piece partially dipped in a bespoke PJS Pantone glaze.
While all these products are exciting, the standout for me is their sandalwood incense, crafted in Japan by Kungyokudo, the country's oldest and most revered incense producer. Paired perfectly with the incense holder, it offers a full immersion into the Porter James world. I love seeing brands venture beyond their usual offerings to create products that enhance the everyday lives of their customers.
Images & Source: porterjamessports.com
Thank you for reading the first edition of Newspread. I'm excited to bring you more content soon. Personally, I aim for this to be a fun platform where I can share what I find fascinating.
If you have a question, suggestion or found a mistake, send me a message or post a comment below.
Nice to see you writing again :)
On the coffee front, I just bought a bag from Dear Deer which is a local for me in Onehunga. They roast the beans to order on the spot and so far it’s delicious! Always good to branch out from the bigger roasters, we’re so lucky to have such a range of local options in Aotearoa