Service was way above and beyond what I expected. If you want an electrician or air conditioning specialist who will do the job thoroughly, explain what the problem is and not rip you off, call MeCool.

I contacted Angel at MeCool based mostly on other womo.com.au reviews. I had a window air conditioner that had suddenly stopped working and the temperature in the next few days was forecast to hit 38 degrees. The other factor in calling him is that Angel is an electrical contractor as well as an air conditioning specialist, so if the problem was electrical I didn't have to call in anyone else or pay extra callout fees.

I contacted Angel by SMS on Saturday and gave an outline of the problem, including the aircon unit model number. He looked up the model and let me know about parts availability straight away, and we arranged for him to come out on Monday morning to check the existing unit and the electrical connection.

Angel arrived on time. The problem took a while to diagnose due to the very dodgy electrical work done when the property was rewired by another company a few years earlier. I believe Angel when he said the problem lay in the way the circuits had been connected on the board because it is not the first time I've had a problem related to the rewiring job which was done almost entirely by apprentices.

Angel disconnected the aircon, pulled apart the wiring including tracing the wiring in the ceiling, located the problem with the circuit and fixed it.

He tidied up afterwards, and was polite and pleasant throughout, despite the rather frustrating diagnostic issues.

Angel's set callout fee was $88 and for the time he was here, he charged me a fraction of what was paid for the electrician who installed the air conditioner in the first place.

I'm very pleased with Angel. I've already passed his details on to a friend and I'd thoroughly recommend him.

Approximate cost: $88

A friend recommended Kim at METFitness for fitness training. Kim has a great attitude, is positive and so very supportive. If you are looking for a buff bully to yell at you to do another pushup when your arms feel like they are going to burst, that's not Kim!

I am starting from a point where my aerobic fitness and toning both need a lot of work and Kim helps me focus on the improvements and on my overall health. She encourages me to extend myself but she doesn't make me feel bad if I can't quite manage a particular exercise. The sessions are well-paced and balanced with aerobic and toning exercises. The Busy Mums program is child-friendly too: http://youtu.be/6z72hfBSNSU

One thing also worth mentioning is that exercising outdoors in the fresh air near the beach with Kim is a lot more fun than plodding on a treadmill indoors!

Approximate cost: $15 for group session

I think this must be the most female-friendly tattoo parlour in Melbourne. It is the opposite of what you expect in a tattooists - it's bright, open and the staff are friendly. It's also exceptionally clean and well lit.

The main part with the tattoo stations is open to the street but there is also a back room for privacy or intimate work.

The tattooists I spoke to, Joy, Nathan and Nadina, all have fine arts backgrounds. These are seriously talented artists, not just people who have learned how to use a tattoo gun and follow a stencil.

They have Christmas vouchers which includes a 10% discount so that's well worth a look.

It's easy to get to, close to Cheltenham station. When I went there the staff were still working out the best possible parking arrangements (building works near the station blocked off some of their usual parking) but that's a minor issue.

Approximate cost: $150

My son likes to let his hair grow long and shaggy before he finally agrees to go to the hairdresser. I met Carole, the proprietor of Kid's Garage, on a course in 2010 and decided to try Kid's Garage for the "back to school" haircut for term 4. Carole is energetic, efficient and is great with kids. We were both happy with that first haircut and the value, but better still was the overall experience.

"Kid's Garage" is exactly what the salon is - a fun, bright salon set up in a garage. Describing it that way just doesn't do it justice. It is a really relaxed, cheerful place designed for kids with an edgy, artist-commissioned "graffiti wall", Nintendo, Wii, and the tried & true bonus - Chupa Chups! My son describes the graffiti wall as: "Awesome!"

The big difference for me with going to Kid's Garage is that getting my son's hair cut is no longer something likely to cause whining resistance. As long as he is going to Kid's Garage, he is happy to go along, check out additions to the graffiti wall and chat to Carole about what's happening at school. Win-win!

Approximate cost: $20

If I wander in here with any children in tow, we end up spending a good half hour in the shop. Between the range of products in the shop itself, and the residents Shadow the cat and Jimmy and Polly, it's hard to get kids out of here!
They no longer sell puppies or kittens in the store. They still have rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and fish but they also have a huge community noticeboard of pets needing new homes, offers of boarding, lost and found etc.
It's a pet friendly shop where dogs are welcome and between the hydro bath and the busy weekend trade it's more of a pet-based social interaction than a shopping trip. Prices are competitive and the PetStock members club card offers additional regular discounts and special shopping events. The staff are knowledgeable and the only drawback is that it can be so busy on weekends that service takes a little longer.

Very good quality food and prompt, friendly service. We have tried a range of their products and as a family we have too many favorites but their corn bread and their slices deserve a mention. Their soft knot rolls are great for kids lunches, and they also stock a handy range of milk, soft drinks and ice cream. Prices are average, usually just a shade cheaper than the major franchised bakeries. A very good shop to have as a local bakery.

John is simply wonderful. I went there on the recommendation of a friend who had cats and dogs and she positively raved about this clinic. Having taken my pets there for about five years now, I understand why she was so positive.

I have taken animals - from horses and cattle to domestic pets - to about a dozen different vets over many years and John stands out.  He is everything you want in a vet; calm, assured and compassionate and I don't hesitate in recommending him to any of my friends.  I have experienced vets who want to push you into the most costly treatment option, who don't listen to the descriptions of the animal's problem, ones who aggressively seek to add on additional, high cost services, and I've seen vets who are downright incompetent.  None of this applies when you deal with John the Vet.  

On a personal level John is affable, on the ball and has a sense of humor, whilst professionally he is competent, up to date and committed. He is firm but gentle with the animals.  The clinic is always clean and tidy.  I have been in the waiting area, the surgery, the consultation room and the pet boarding area and everything is neat and well-kept and it is very obvious that  the staff are all animal lovers.   I am a repeat customer, I buy most of my cat's food through John so I visit the clinic every 6-8 weeks.

In 2006 John cared for one of our cats who was in terrible pain.  After exploring every option, we had to make the sad decision to have her put down.  John and his staff treated our cat gently at every stage of her treatment. She was a truly cantankerous cat at the best of times and she was utterly foul tempered for much of the week or so that she spent at the surgery. But regardless of her mood, the staff were so tender with her. When we had to let her go the staff were caring and supportive throughout.  

We have since brought a new cat into the family and he actually enjoys his vet visits.  Not the process of having his teeth checked or having his temperature taken perhaps, but he is interested and relaxed when he visits. He doesn't even get upset on the odd occasion when John's own standard poodle, Spike, visits the waiting room.  During the consultation John is happy to let the cat jump off the examination table and prowl the room, investigating thoroughly while John addresses any concerns I might have; I think this relaxed approach helps our cat to take his vet visits in his stride.

Apart from his checkups, on two occasions our cat has required treatment for illness or injury.  Each time, we were offered two possible options for treatment.  On both occasions John has recommended a less invasive and less costly option first, with the prospect of surgery as a secondary option and on both occasions the first treatment has worked well.  

I am thoroughly happy with John the Vet's services. I wish I had found him earlier.