Here's basically what happened that means, despite a colleague's recommendation, we will never go back to see Dr Trompf after our initial appointment:

- When making the appointment over the phone, we were told the appointment would be "about 15 minutes", and the fee would be approx $56 but that our out of pocket expense would be $21 after Medicare rebate.
- During the consult, I asked Dr Trompf what methods were available to be sure that the two pregnancy urine tests we performed were accurate. Dr Trompf then asked my partner for a urine sample by visiting the outside bathroom, and when she came back, Dr Trompf simply performed another pregnancy stick test.
- When it came time to pay, we were told that because we had taken longer than usual in our appointment, we would in fact me charged $90. When asked about how much we would get back, the receptionist checked her charts and told us about $66 would be refunded. Despite our surprise, $24 out of pocket was not too much above the $21 we were originally quoted, so we paid.
- After that we were handed an additional receipt for what Dr Trompf charged Medicare for the pregnancy test.
- At the Medicare office that afternoon, we discovered that we in fact were only eligible for $34.30 refund, leaving us $55.70 out of pocket (more than 250% of what we were told it would be).

The important facts:
- I simply asked a question about ways to be surer of the pregnancy. We did NOT ask for another urine pregnancy test, and we were not informed that it's performance would have additional fees to the public purse associated with it.
- We were never told, nor was there any information in view anywhere in the office, that fees increased with appointments over 15 minutes.
- At any rate, the only reason our consult was more than 15 minutes (it was about 20 minutes) was because of the test Dr Trompf ordered that we did not ask for.
- We would not have agreed to pay $90, it is only because the receptionist gave us incorrect information about the refunds we received that we did so.

30 June Update:
It appears as though the receptionist gave us a receipt with the wrong information on it, and we should have been rebated $66 from Medicare. This has now been sorted and we are definitely happier, but the other issues still stand out in our mind, i.e. they seem to think they have the right to do/charge what they want without informing the customer of important information so that they can make informed decisions. This may be in fact how many doctors operate/think, but for us that isn't treating customers/patients with respect as autonomous individuals.

Approximate cost: $90

We will only speak for our experience, it may not be reflective of how Tall Ship normally operates. Basically we went on the half day tour, which on their pamphlets and website says is for a fast boat to and from McLaren's landing. However, it was only after we paid our money and were already on tour that we were informed that our return trip would in fact be on a much slower vessel, so that our stay on the island would be cut short. This was very disappointing and we would not have bothered going if we knew this is what was going to happen. After some back and forth we were finally able to have some of our money refunded for this, so they are good sports in the end and I am sure their other tours are much more fun/value for money. Just be aware that the return boat may and does change on you without notice.

We bought hotel delivery on our first night of arrival for dinner from this place, we order a roast beef dinner and an octopus salad for $50 odd dollars. It was definitely not worth it, the portions were small and barely enough for the both of us and the meat was pretty tasteless (the gravy wasn't much better), though the octopus was okay.

Approximate cost: $25

Got my pizza delivered, good value with the Menulog 10% discount for first purchase here:
http://www.menulog.com.au/mediterranean_pizza
On time delivery, pizza was hot and tasty with REAL ingredients, no complaints.

Some of the features I love:
- Three swimming pools, two indoor and one outdoor
- Very reasonable entry fee, especially compared to other aquatic centres
- Boot Camp!! Surprisingly fun.
- Generally well maintained facility
- Only a few minutes walk from where I live...

Approximate cost: $3

We went here last week. $11.00 for roast duck noodle soup, $8.50 for stir fried nian-gou. For what you pay, compared to elsewhere (esp. BBQ One in Eastwood), the servings aren't very large, and you don't get extras (eg. free soup at BBQ One). I have to say that the nian-gou was very good though, some of the best we've had at a restaurant.

Approximate cost: $10

Adia is always very busy and you may have to wait a while if you need immediate work. You will find the wait (presuming you aren't in immediate dire need) worth it, as he is the gentlest dentist I have ever come across. He also does his best to save teeth, he is not one of those "let's get in there and do some surgeries/extractions" types.

I was pleasantly surprised by both the value and the speedy service offered at this food court. My favourite remains the $6.50 beef kebab with chilli sauce, can't go wrong for a quick bite in between classes.

I bought a great value Dell Optiplex 755 from these guys at a good price (at the time :)). There were some EFTPOS problems, but we were eventually able to confirm on their bank side that they (think they) had received my funds and I took the computer home.

Later I noticed that the money had bounced back to my account, so I contacted CIC Services to arrange for a way for me to sent money to them, and I did so through a direct debit transfer.

About two months later, and the amount that I paid is automatically taken out of my account again. After some enquiries with the banks involved (mine and theirs, I did have to go through the Ombudsman too), we discover that what happened is that CIC did indeed receive the money into their account, and that the original bounce back to mine was at the expense of the bank, not CIC. When I contacted CIC again to give them the money I thought I owed them, they knew that they had in fact successfully received the funds, and saw this as a way to double their revenue by not telling me so.

Point is, be careful in dealing with these guys. They are not to be 100% trusted (but then again, who is...)

I personally am a great laksa fan, and I honestly don't understand what the big deal other students make of the offerings at Satay Delight at UNSW. It is one of the fixture businesses at UNSW, it has been there for a long time, but personally I just don't find anything special about the food here. On top of that, one day when I bought the thai chicken curry with rice, I suffered from severe stomach pain about half an hour later and needed to rush off for an emergency trip to the bathroom. I won't be eating here again.

Approximate cost: $8