ClarenceRiverValley

Checked out this new cafe for coffee with friends. My hot chocolate was the best! I didn't get anything to eat, but my friend insisted I taste some of her carrot cake, and it was AMAZING; apparently it was sugar-free, too! This cafe specialises in organic wholefoods. The cafe itself is cosy -- the furniture is mismatched and appears to be older stuff "upcycled"...but why not?! It all fits in well with the decor style. The staff were friendly, service prompt, and they will be very understanding of any special dietary requirements.

Just paid my first visit to this newly opened cafe. The interior has something of an "antique" feel with older, mismatched furniture, random old furniture and decorations around the place. This fits in well with the fact that there is a doorway directly through to next-door's antique shop! It was a good spot for a catch-up with a friend. We checked out the iced chocolates. They tasted pretty good, but given that they were served in very tall, thin glasses...well, maybe an extra-long straw/spoon would have been helpful! The staff were friendly and we were served promptly. Prices are pretty average. Will definitely plan to go again.

Trent Driving School is based in Sydney, and now also services the Illawarra. I came to L Trent as a brand new learner. Trent has an extremely thorough approach to teaching safe driving, the instructors are very professional (I was with Bob till his retirement, then with Scott), while at the same time being friendly and setting you at ease. A single lesson costs $80, but if you buy in bulk (5, 10, 15 or 20 lessons) the discounts get progressively higher...such that if you pay for 20 lessons at once they're $69 each. Yes, that is expensive, but you pay for the quality of the instruction. It is well worth the investment to learn to be a good, safe driver. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

L Trent is based in Sydney, and now also services the Illawarra. I came to Trent as a brand new learner. I had my first few lessons with Bob in Western Sydney, but due to his retirement I became one of Scott's pupils. Trent has an extremely thorough approach to teaching safe driving, the instructors are very professional, while at the same time being friendly and setting you at ease. A single lesson costs $80, but if you buy in bulk (5, 10, 15 or 20 lessons) the discounts get progressively higher...such that if you pay for 20 lessons at once they're $69 each. Yes, that is expensive, but you pay for the quality of the instruction. It is well worth the investment to learn to be a good, safe driver. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Indian Cottage is in a lovely building -- the old Commercial Bank. I went with a group of friends, and being a larger group the staff had decided to set up for us in a separate room off the main dining area. This gave a sense of privacy which was lovely. The staff were friendly and helpful -- regularly coming back to check if we needed anything more. Indian Cottage offers a range of curries for about $14-$18 each. Rice, papadams, naan bread, etc. are purchased separately. A pleasant dining experience, and I would recommend it to others.

I had a few driving lessons with Kevin. He's a great driving instructor, knows what he's talking about, etc. but unfortunately I found he got distracted onto other topics during the lessons. If I'm going to spend money on professional driving lessons I'd rather be in "driving mode" for the whole hour. However, I have friends who have had lessons with Kevin and haven't found the same issue with his lack of focus. Maybe he was just having an off day! Big River Driving School has two cars, one manual and one automatic, both with dual controls. Lessons are $50 each or $280 for six.

Fine Dining in Grafton. This restaurant/cafe is set in a beautiful spot overlooking the Clarence River. A lovely place to go out for dinner if you're prepared to pay the price. The service was like service is meant to be, with the staff checking round regularly to refill glasses, take plates, pass the new menus, etc. Nice atmosphere with pleasant background music. The food was top class and beautifully presented. Variety of starters ($6-$12), mains ($20-$30) and desserts ($10-$12) to choose from, and a range of alcoholic beverages.

I just had my first trip to the new Grafton Steakhouse. A nice place to relax for a meal with friends, though the noise level meant I had difficulty hearing people who weren't seated right next to me. The food was great. I chose the seafood basket ($29), and it was presented amazingly. The only negative is that it wasn't quite as hot as I would have liked.

The menu includes a handful of chicken, seafood, lamb and pork dishes, as well as a range of beef steak dishes. Your steak will be freshly cooked as you like it. A variety of sides to choose from, also. The staff were friendly. The meal took a little while to come, but if it's fresh cooked what do you expect?!

After spending hours trawling through online cake decorating supplies shops, I found this one, which not only had what I was after (a larger than normal cake board) at a reasonable price, but also wasn't going to charge me the earth for shipping. They have a good range, great prices, regular specials (I got in on an Australia Day sale), and very fair shipping pricing. There is also the option to pick up your order at no charge if you're in Sydney. My order was processed quickly and arrived in good condition within a week.