My local Australia post outlet told me this week that the rules for parcel return have changed. They no longer keep parcels 30 days but only 10 working days. I am horrified by the potential impact on those of us with no after hours access to mail. My parcel was kindly held by the staff as they noted I had not collected the mail but otherwise my parcel would have returned to the US.What is worse, there is no info about this displayed at the post shop, nor in my mail box and not even on the website.

Convenient and the fuel prices are usually about the average. Roast chickens are quite good and they offer a good range of hot food but it is quite expensive and the cooked dishes are over-focused on sausages lately.

My favourite shoe shop... good specials and discounts for loyalty but best of all top notch brands. They also tell you the truth when you are tossing up between buying the little strappy sandles that will hurt like hell rather than the sensible ones even if it means a few less sales!

This is reliably great - they always have pea and ham soup bubbling on the wood stove and burgers made the old fashioned way.

And watching the fire while you wait for your burger is always a hit... I always take my visitors to experience this very different business.

Often pop in here for lunch... love their little serves of pickles (seaweed, ginger and octopus)and they have boiled soybeans. These are priced so you can afford to add one of these to sushi or a meal. Miso is also only a dollar extra so you can easily make your own combo. Cabbage salad is a bit predictable after a while.

Since the hours extended to 7.00 pm a couple of years ago, I have been managing to do most of my regular shopping here and I am pleased with the focus on simple staples at reasonable prices. Meat is good enough quality and price that I buy most of what I need there and as I now can't get Australian bacon at either Woolies or Coles, all my bacon comes from IGA.

Good spot for morning coffee. A very small range of curries for lunch with a good vegetarian option most days. Often the only meat is kofta meatballs but it is a reasonable price at $10 with a drink fpor a large serve.

Megan has been one of my health care team for several years now and her work is always excellent. Her very presence is calming - great when you are trying to address the effects of a much too stressful world. Great massages and naturopathic advice that is always useful.

My favourite hairdressers... most of the staff are really skilled and the whole salon runs with low chemical products so I don't get sick when I visit!
Also sells lovely Modern Organic Products - I love the lemongrass shampoo. Given a choice I don't go anywhere else.

I travel over an hour to get to this dentist - offers mercury free fillings and can manage without injections when needed. Easy to get an appointment. Great country service that I would even travel from the city to find!