The Garage makes a perfect cup of coffee, but cuts corners on every other element of service. They are rude, unfriendly & lacking any kind of atmosphere; but, they are pro's when it comes to making coffee. It's all about the coffee here!

My husband treats me every now & then with flowers that he orders from Magnolia. They do arrangements to order, & they always look spectacular. And they deliver too, which is all part of the personal service. The flowers are beautiful, though I must admit they usually only last a few days before wilting. I'm not sure why, perhaps they are not so fresh, but they do look beautiful on the day they arrive.

I've been using Marion Florist for years - they make bouquets to order, & they are colourful, long lasting & beautiful. Their roses are spectacular & a bit pricey, but worth it when they last for weeks.

Approximate cost: $100

I had a slimming body wrap done at Escape Day Spa. It wasn't a pleasant experience. The mud bandages were cold (they're supposed to be warm), which gave me chills after over half hour standing there freezing. The beautician hadn't done it before which meant it took much longer than expected & the results were average. I wouldn't recommend it.

Approximate cost: $130

I have just discovered Dendy - there are only a few in Australia, but their prices are half that of the big chain cinemas. They play arthouse movies as well as the blockbusters, & best of all, they serve alcohol & old style popcorn. Dendy makes cinema an experience - we recommend it!

Approximate cost: $7.50

We stopped by Movenpick after a day of walking and shopping & ordered their triple sorbet desert (strawberry & vanilla with strawberries & desert topping). It was amazing!! My husband & I shared between two & there was plenty to share. Even the coffees came in big mugs - talk about value for money!

We recently bought a car interstate through GBrothers & their service was by far above & beyond expectations. They not only held the car for us interstate while we organised finances & travel, but they detailed the car, performed a major service & organised extended warranty for good measure (all free of charge as a courtesy). We were so impressed with their service & value for money, we will definately be looking to them for the next car.

Almari hand makes tradesman's gear & other handy bits & pieces too. They are amazingly talented & the leather is top quality. It looks as beautiful as it smells. Some of the leather they stock is quite rare - it's worth a look.

We stayed there on a very cold, rainy night & it was just magical. It really was in the clouds, quite literally. We stayed in a motel suite which was pretty average itself, but the owners were so lovely & they had free DVD's & books at reception to borrow for a night in. They really made it memorable.

UNE has a great correspondence program. Their professors are personable, compassionate & smart. They are also very open minded & accommodating when I need apply for extensions for work reasons. I'm happy with the diverse range of subjects they offer, & would definately recommend them to someone who is working full time & wants to concurrently work towards a degree.