The ashram offers a variety of themed retreats throughout the year. I have been to one week-long retreat and a weekend one. It is worth being aware that these are not exactly holidays. It's a 5 o'clock start every day and part of the deal is that you help out with things like gardening, maintenance and cooking. The environment is one of routine and discipline and there are lots of benefits from regular yoga and meditation tuition.

The food (vegetarian) is mostly grown in the ashram garden and is delicious. The surroundings are fabulous! The ashram is located near the Wombat State Forest and there is time in which you can take a walk and enjoy nature.

There are day classes as well. A good intro to the ashram is the daily yoga nidra (meditation) and lunch which is only $20. There are yoga classes on Saturday afternoons, and other day activities - it's all on the ashram web site.

The community is friendly and approachable. Once you're in there, turn off the mobile phone. It's not part of the ashram lifestyle. It's a welcome break not to have mobile phones distracting us.

I am probably more likely to return for day classes rather than a longer retreat. However, both are worthwhile and recommended.

Approximate cost: $varies - see website

Creswick Neighbourhood Centre has a wide variety of courses during school term times. Whether you are looking to get fitter, learn to cook or to learn a bit more about computers, this is a great place to be and to meet new people.

I did a meditation course at the centre a while back and enjoyed the experience a lot. At $5 a week it was very affordable and beneficial for me. It is disappointing that this course no longer appears in their brochure. However, I have a long list of things I would like to do at the centre: art classes, creative writing, coffee making and so on. There is also a drop-in social group for people who just want to get to know some new people over a cuppa.

The staff and volunteers are very helpful and friendly. If that isn't enough, there is also a community garden and some lovely shady spots. The outside pizza oven is pretty cool too.

The prices of courses varies, but it is generally affordable.

Approximate cost: $varies, see brochure

The decor is beautifully traditional. I have to admit that I would prefer a seat that is a little more padded. The low wooden seats can be uncomfortable after a while.

Apart from that, I really like Chat for Tea. The vegetarian menu (Asian style) is extensive and there are some small snack-type choices in addition to the main meals. I am hooked on the dumplings. I share these with my good friend who is hooked on the teppanaki noodles. Both of these melt in your mouth. I think the menu would suit meat eaters too. There is nothing lacking.

The vanilla chai is very tasty too. There is a variety of non-alcoholic beverages available.

The service is courteous and respectful.

We generally visit around lunch time and there is plenty of seating available. The restaurant is not open every day, so it may be worth phoning in advance to check which days it's open. It is open in the evening and the variety of meals available makes C4T a viable choice.

I always enjoy visiting gracenotes. We usually only drop in for a snack and coffee in the afternoon. The staff always remember who we are, which makes us feel welcome in the cafe.

I highly recommend the muffins - much better than your regular mass-produced variety. I imagine that they are made on the premises. There is also a fabulous morsel called a forgotten cookie, which I think is meringue and chocolate. Depending on who is at the counter, there can be flexibility outside of the menu. However, one week my friend asked for cheese on toast and they wouldn't make it because it wasn't on the menu. The next week it was fine.

The decor is very warm and the cafe is spacious and comfy. I've never felt crammed in. There is a gorgeous open fire place and I look forward to Winter, so that I can enjoy that warmth.

The cafe is located opposite the local school, so you may not always get parking out front. There is plenty of parking around the corner and it is less than five minutes walk back. If you need a park out the front, it is better not to visit around the time that school goes in or comes out for the day.

Overall, it's a thumbs up. :)

There was minimal waiting time and the service was very professional and reassuring. I had a liver ultrasound and the radiographer made the experience as comfortable and non-intrusive as possible.

The reception staff were efficient and helpful. They offered to send on the results to an additional doctor when I mentioned that I had more than one treating physician.

The facilities are modern and up-to-date and the waiting area was comfortable.

So far I have seen Dr Culvenor and Dr Smith. They were both very thorough. I was very appreciative at the compassion and time taken when I had some serious health concerns. I asked some questions more than once and Dr Culvenor was happy to answer and provide reassurance.

The longest I have waited is 30 minutes, which is comparable to other clinics. Sometimes I have not had to wait at all. The waiting area is comfortable and well stocked with magazines.

There is a $30 up-front fee unless one is a pensioner, which is a fair amount for someone on my income. I do think it is worth it, as the service is very good. I was bulk-billed for an appointment when I was only needing prescription renewals.

The clinic is modern and the reception staff are efficient and friendly. I am glad to say that it is possible to get an appointment quite quickly. I have heard stories of how difficult it is to get appointments at all in Ballarat and surrounding areas.

Approximate cost: $30

Red Nonna provides breakfast and some basic lunch fare (foccacias, croissants, salad). My experience has been of the coffee and cake selections.

The banana muffins are home-made and very yummy. I have also tried the Anzac cookies which are all that they should be. I like my coffee weak and they pay attention to that request - other cafes just think weak means "same ol'".

The service is friendly and I think the pricing for coffee and something sweet is fair. (About $8-$10.)

I would not recommend Red Nonna on a very hot day, as the aircon seems to be non-existent and sitting inside is intolerable. Also, some of the rather rustic seating can be uncomfy if you're sitting for too long. I like the general appearance of the place, but some good quality cushions would help with customer comfort.

It is generally good and I would return.

The Jolly Miller is a recent discovery of mine. It is more of a lunch and breakfast venue. There are a variety of pies, foccacias and quiches available at the counter and some delectable looking cookies and cakes.

I have been there twice and had a croissant and a ham and salad foccacia. The food was fresh and tasty. The coffee was above average. The cafe is light and comfortable. Time between ordering and "delivery" is reasonably good.

I understand that Jolly Miller also provides catering services and decorated birthday cakes. I haven't used these services, so I cannot comment.

The service was courteous.

There are two cash register payment points which can be confusing when people are queuing up to pay. This was especially an issue the first time I was there because it was a bit busier. It's not a huge complaint, but it could be done better.

My ratings might go up as I make myself more familiar with Jolly Miller. On the whole, I think it shows promise and I would certainly return if I was visiting Bacchus Marsh at any time.

I've been using Ariel Batteries for about 20 years. It is a small family business in Clifton Hill and has been around since 1947.

There is no need to make an appointment. If you walk through the door, you'll get the service. It is a small shop front with a traditional workshop. The service is very professional.

Ariel differs from some other places in that they make their own batteries. One reason why I chose them in the first place was because they recycle any parts that they can. This does not affect the quality of the product. I had one battery that lasted me nine years.

The pricing is very reasonable and they do not try to sell you the most expensive product on the shelf. They simply recommend the product that will do the job.

For all of these reasons, I am a returning customer. I now live well out of the city, but I would always return.

I've been using Ultratune since I moved to Ballarat for basic handbook servicing of my Toyota Corolla. All repairs and maintenance are completed in a timely way. Although it is a straightforward service, they always spend time at the end to explain what they did and report on the condition of important things like the brakes and the tyres. They are happy to answer any questions that I have. The service is respectful and friendly.

There was a mechanical issue last time that I may refer to a specialist mechanic, but I have no particular criticism of the Ultratune service itself.

I think there that all efforts are made to provide the best service possible. When they're not overwhelmed with work, they have also been known to give the car a wash for me - nice bonus.

I especially like that they check with me before proceeding to do any extra repairs. It should be a given, but I have known mechanics who just go ahead. Thanks, ultratune, for being honest and respectful.

Approximate cost: $varies