This cafe can give you a hot pie or a freshly made sandwich, but you can also buy a foreign newspaper or DVD or tin of baked beans. They operate as a mixed business but you can also have lunch there or buy your weekly bread supply (they bring in bread from local bakeries). It seems to be a one-stop everything shop, especially with their liquor store next door. I once needed to get my child something for her school lunch box and this was a convenient place to grab a freshly made roll. There are tables and chairs to eat your food alongside the mini-supermarket-style aisles. There is a selection of deli meats and cheeses to purchase as well as a little window full of cakes. The only thing lacking is the service which is inconsistent and not always friendly.

Approximate cost: $4-ish for a pie and over $3 for cakes

Though there are plenty of 'Just Cuts' around - they are definitely not all the same. I have tried several in the Geelong area and have always been disappointed except for the Waurn Ponds location. I consistently have great hair cuts at Waurn Ponds, despite having different hairdressers nearly all of the time. Each store is managed by different people so they must be doing something right to keep delivering the goods. The Waurn Ponds salon is the furtherest away from me now since I've moved however I will continue to go back because it's worth it. They have a great assortment of magazines to read and it's a 'chic' looking salon too. Their haircare products are good, especially 'Edgy' which is like a defrizz hair smoothing product. They have 'frequent flyer cards' as in, each time you go they stamp your card and you can have $4 off a haircut and eventually $6 off.

Approximate cost: $Around $22 for a style cut

I have been buying sushi and hot Japanese meals from Sushi 8 for years. I seem to have a love/hate relationship with them. It's the service that lacks the most for me. The owners, despite seeing me going in there sometimes 3 times a week, still have moments where they resent giving me a dab of wasabi and some pickled ginger with my sushi. I once asked if they'd included it and they said yes, only for me to find out at home that they hadn't. This seems to be a common thing among Geelong's Japanese establishments. Far too stingey with their condiments. I prefer the soy sauce in the little plastic fishes but everyone, including Sushi 8, want you to use the big Soy Sauce bottles on the tables. I used to think Sushi 8 had the best hand rolls, however now I think they try to skimp on fillings -presenting more filling on the outside where it is visible and less on the inside which you find as a 'surprise' later on. They also put too much rice in their hand rolls and their raw fish isn't 'thick' enough on their nigiri. They are also a bit too stingey with miso soup - barely a ladle-full with each order. I once was short 20 cents and needed to walk two blocks to withdraw $20 from my bank account to pay for my sushi. Despite being a regular customer for years, the owner/lady wouldn't let me off 20 cents.; Or at least say "Pay next time?" It took time to use three sets of pedestrian lights both ways to go use the ATM and I'm sure they probably thought I wasn't coming back for my sushi, but I did. Which was followed by hushed talk between husband and wife. Another things I don't like is when they start speaking another language in front of you in low, hushed tones and you just KNOW it's about you because you've just asked for ginger the second time or something similar. They once wanted to start charging me for ginger and wasabi and I refused (seeing as I was a very loyal customer and no charges were listed in the shop or on menu's and still aren't and are still complimentary). I didn't go back there for at least a year after that little fiasco. When I did they were a lot nicer to me and gave me too much ginger and wasabi. That only lasted a few months though. I kind of feel desperate for more Japanese takeaways in Geelong that offer good sushi and service without an attitude - and also be able to understand me, ie. have a better command of English. Japanese and "attitude" eventually go hand in hand in Geelong. Sushi 8 included.

Approximate cost: $2.30 for a hand roll and around $10 for sushi packs and lunch time meals. $14 to $20 for dinner men

I have been with this Internet Service Provider for a few years after trying at least 3 or 4 others. I am most pleased with their quality, high-speed broadband, cable internet. Our home phone is also with them and it suits us to have both home phone and internet on one monthly bill. I used to have my bills direct debited as a compulsory thing -but then was able to make arrangements to go into the office and pay by cash each month when it suited me. They are quite understanding and flexible in billing matters as long as you honour any commitment you make. NCable also offers cable TV and some web hosting and domain name registration services. We don't have cable TV or any of those services though. I think this internet service provider has improved with time and we've had no problems signing with them for another two years after we moved house. Staff over the phone and in person are friendly and helpful. Technical support is very good too if needed. I'm quite happy with what they charge too for their services.

Approximate cost: $74.95 per month for 10 gig of Premium Plus Broadband + 2 Ncable email addresses

Rhema FM is a community radio station that cares about the community and also spreading the gospel. It has inspiring talk & Christian music.. all kinds from all genre's. I enjoy the great teaching programs (especially while I'm driving) like Greg Laurie and Joyce Meyer + Focus on the family. You can have the 'Word for Today' devotional sent out to you for free - or as a member you will have it sent to you on a regular basis. The station often has on-air giveaways and if ever you deal with staff members (some volunteers) - over the phone or in person, everyone is super-friendly & helpful no matter what their position is. Jesus is Lord of this wonderful station & they shine His Light in all the things they do. Loyal listeners often pop in to donate or offer staff words of encouragement, that's how valued this station is!

Approximate cost: $Free to air. Membership $55 a year or $38.50 concession

An Apostolic Pentacostal Church with Sunday services at 8.30am, 10.15am and 6pm.

-John Winkler - fantastic senior pastor!
-Small groups to get involved with.
-Lollycounter.. soon to be cafe/eatery (the church is undergoing renovations)
-Toilets are amazing - like a hotel

Approximate cost: $None. You are free to let the offering bag pass by, up to you.

I don't like seeing that staff, especially management are stressed and it shows in their dialogue with other staff. I've not had poor service, but there aren't too many smiles and I get the feeling people don't enjoy their jobs or they work long hours. Their pizza's need more cheese! There is lack of flavour and I didn't appreciate once a comment (from the male serving) about how large my order was. Which was 2 medium pizza's and 1 large. No cards accepted. The pizza's aren't remarkable enough for me to want to come back.

Approximate cost: $10 for a medium pizza

This medical practice has a Medicare office nearby in the shopping centre so you can claim your Medicare rebate quickly. They also have clean, easy-access toilets & some magazines in the waiting room +childrens books. Patient seating isn't crammed, but well spaced out. I can highly recommend Dr Susan Trainor. Always friendly and seems to care about your wellbeing in general beyond how you are physically. I like it that she thinks to send me for periodic tests like blood sugar or even a mammogram!

Approximate cost: $45 before Medicare rebate, less for concession

I feel like I want to love this little 'hole in the wall' bakery more than I do. I love their frosted windows & the fact they're open longer than other bakeries on some days. I even like the business name. But I feel the bread needs 'tweaking'. My husband is a Healthy Loaf devotee, but for me.. the quality isn't consistent and something is missing from their bread. Salt? I dunno. I'm more curious about their sweet things which are still a kind-of 'trial'..and not in great quantity. Like coffee scroll-type-things.

Approximate cost: $3.60 for a block loaf

After several visits I decided I definitely would no longer be spending my money at The Nail Room. Each time I was unhappy with the service and my nail treatments but delayed finding a new nail salon simply because I had a lot going on in my life! Two sisters own and work the business. One in particular can be quite rude and has no problems snobbing-off paying customers. Sometimes you can wait over 20 minutes and nobody will even say hello to you in this tiny salon! The amount of waiting time here is just ridiculous. It's just unacceptable to be made to wait up to half an hour each and every time when you have an appointment. The quality of nails/treatments is very average, in fact I would say even below average at times. I have felt 'rushed out' here more than once and even been given the feeling that my business isn't valued or appreciated. Uncomfortable inferior chairs to sit (or wait) in and someone definitely smokes in their toilets. Technicians hands often cut or covered in bandaids. I've had a few cuticle cuts myself as a result of the filing being too ambitious. Ouch!

Approximate cost: $40 infills