Having been blessed to be born during the era of vinyl records and real record shops, Rocking Horse Records is a real gem and one of the few remaining examples of this almost extinct off-line retail genre. Established in 1975, Rocking Horse Records has been meeting the needs of Brisbane's independent record buying public ever since. Threatened with closure in mid 2011 because of raising retail rents in the Brisbane CBD, a vigorous campaign by supporters saved the store. This says a great deal about the importance of Rocking Horse Records.

At the front of the store are new CDs, magazines, posters, T-shirts, books, and rock'n'roll paraphernalia. It's the rear of the store that I love the most, though. It's here that you can find thousands of vinyl LPs, both new and second hand, together with new and second hand independent CDs. I've picked up a number of wonderful platters of vinyl from this store, and whilst at times pricey, it's worth it for something that is now very collectable.

Rocking Horse Records also sell record player stylii, record cleaners and concert tickets. Stock is also available for purchase on-line, which allows everyone in Australia, and beyond, to take advantage of this incredible store. There is an extensive collection of vinyl for sale on-line. Check out their website for details.

Approximate cost: $10.00 - $30.00

When we lived in the south-eastern suburbs of Brisbane, there was nothing my children liked more than a Sunday afternoon trip to Wynnum "beach". Beach is my kids' generic term for any destination with water - whether it be a muddy mangrove swamp or a pile of rocks by the seaside :)

Wynnum Esplanade is indeed a delight for children, with an amazingly large wading pool, no more than a foot deep, a stylish pier to stroll along, and an enormous children's playground. But what children always seem to like best, however, is the food. It's here that Grace Takeaway comes to the rescue.

Conveniently located opposite the wading pool and kids' playground, Grace Takeaway is on a corner which allows plenty of space for alfresco dining. Seating is also available inside the shop. They offer a wide variety of fish, cooked to your liking, together with chips, calamari, dagwood dogs, and assorted fish bites. Also available are real ice cream cones scooped from the bucket, along with several fridges full of ice cold drinks. Grace Takeaway is a perfect compliment to your lazy Sunday at the bay.

Approximate cost: $10.00

For a little independent kebab shop in a slow suburban shopping centre, Go Kebab is worth a try. Located opposite Mango Mick's the shop serves chicken and beef kebabs, together with a selection of pre-fried foods such as chips, dim sims and battered savs. My children think the pre-fried food is great, but then they're kids :) I much prefer to see my food made and kebabs is certainly one way of doing that.

The staff are friendly and generous in their servings of meat, salad and sauces. There's nothing worse than a kebab that's half empty! The salad is fresh, the meat well cooked, and the kebabs very tasty. Try one and I'm sure you'll be back again!

Approximate cost: $8.00

My Stihl brush cutter has been repaired twice at Capalaba Mower Centre, and on both occasions I was extraordinarily pleased with the service. I was firstly knocked over by the fact their repair person was a woman - go girl! Secondly, I was very pleased by how quickly the repairs were done. I've previously had numerous dealings with mower centres and as a rule have found them very slow to repair with big back logs of work. Whilst they clearly have a very good and strong customer base, Capalaba Mower Centre is so much more efficient with their repairs than other similar establishments. I also appreciated the text messages sent to inform me that the job had been completed. It was a nice touch. I highly recommend Capalaba Mower Centre.

Approximate cost: $100.00

Notwithstanding it's rather colourful name, this store is a regular pet shop, albeit one of the more superior of them. Located in a central corner position of Victoria Point Shopping Centre, this store is easily accessible and has good parking. There are three or four 10 minute parking bays almost at the shop's door, which is very handy for a quick visit or when purchasing something particularly heavy.

Exotiques & Birds of Paradise usually have a good selection of small animals for sale including mice, guinea pigs and fish. Although they sell puppies and kittens I personally have philosophical objections to the sale of them by pet stores. Google "Oscar's Law" for details.

They also sell a very good variety of pet accessories, runs and cages. I bought a very large guinea pig house from them at a very nicely discounted price. The staff even held it for me for several days without a deposit. Upon purchase, the store owner was most helpful and assisted in both partly dismantling it, so it could fit into my car, and also carrying and loading it into the car. This personal service is something frequently lacking in the retail industry these days.

Approximate cost: $100.00

Located a short walk from the ferry jetty, the supermarket and chemist, Bay Islands Medical Service is the only medical practice on Macleay Island. Open 6 days per week, the Medical Service provides an essential service not only for residents of Macleay Island, but also the adjacent islands, Karragarra and Lamb, neither of which have a medical practitioner. Karragarra and Lamb islands are both a 2 or 3 minute ferry trip from Macleay Island, therefore making the practice's location close to the ferry jetty very convenient.

The Bay Islands Medical Service also operates a practice at Russell Island and records from both practices are accessible to the doctors. In cases of emergency the practice is very obliging and will "slot in" urgent matters. One Saturday morning, when the Macleay Island dentist was closed and I was suffering from a raging gum abscess, the receptionist was most obliging and allowed me to walk in and almost immediately obtain an appointment with the doctor for antibiotics. Similarly, when the abscess again flared up and the Russell Island practice was closed, I was again "slotted in" at short notice.

The Bay Islands Medical Service, Macleay Island, also has the services of a female doctor which is very advantageous as the Russell Island practice is staffed entirely by male doctors. This affords the opportunity for women on all the Southern Moreton Bay Islands to attend a female doctor for matters of a delicate or personal nature.

When my cat was struck down by a mystery paralysis of the hind legs it was to Veterinary Happiness at Redland Bay that I turned. Living in an area prone to paralysis ticks, my initial reaction was to search for ticks. Hours spent searching through his fur for ticks produced nothing and left me at a loss.

Upon taking my cat to Veterinary Happiness, the vet and a nurse immediately commenced a thorough examination for ticks. Again, they found none and thereafter examined his hind legs for evidence of fractures. This also didn't reveal anything abnormal, so an x-ray was taken, confirming again that there were no breaks or fractures. It was decided that he should stay overnight for observation and be given anti-inflammatory medication in case he had strained muscles. Endeavouring to save money, it was decided not to initiate tick anti-venom unless the cat showed a deterioration.

I was pleased to receive a phone call the next morning and be informed that my cat was again mobile. The anti-inflammatory medication was working and clearly he had suffered a sprain. It was then that I realized that he regularly jumps 10-12 feet from a verandah down onto the ground. We suspect that he landed badly on this occasion.

I can thoroughly recommend Veterinary Happiness.

Approximate cost: $400.00

One of the things I miss most about moving away from Cannon Hill is our family's Friday night ritual of fish and chips at Sea Change, Cannon Hill. Located in a small shopping complex, parking off road and in front of the store is usually easy to find.

The quality of the fish is superb, as is the variety. My children, however, were always content with the same fare - one loved the battered cod, and the other spring rolls :) The shop is always very busy on a Friday evening, probably a race-memory from the days when Catholics could only eat fish on Fridays! Accordingly, there can sometimes be a delay in the final delivery of your order, but never much more than 15 mintues. It's certainly worth the wait for the quality of the food.

The store is spotless and well staffed. Alfresco dining is offered and so popular that it's unusual to be able to find a table. Taking it home to eat is therefore the best option, provided, of course, you can keep the cat away from the fish :)

Approximate cost: $10.00

Amongst the plethora of on-line survey sites, Valued Opinions provides adequate rewards for its surveys. An average survey of 20-25 minutes usually pays around $3.00. Payment is marked "pending" for up to a week after completion, and your total reward, in monetary terms, is displayed prominently via a sliding scale on your home page.

Redemptions can be made once you reach $20.00, however direct deposits and PayPal transfers are not an option. You can choose from one of a number of $20.00 gift cards, including Coles, Woolworths, Sanity, Hoyts, Bunnings Warehouse, JB Hi-Fi, Supercheap Auto, Dymocks and iTunes, amongst others. The option also exists to make a $20.00 donation to one of several charities.

Unfortunately I seem to be frequently screened out from surveys on this site, more so than many others. Perhaps it's my socio-economic status or the fact that I'll always drive a second hand car :)

Plush and well appointed offices are not a pre-requisites for a good accountancy practice. Leggett Accountants is an excellent case to point. Positioned on the congested and noisy thorough fare of Wynnum Road, Cannon Hill / Tingalpa, Leggett Accountants operate from an old and relatively unrenovated Queenslander. Don't let appearances dissuade you, however.

Between July and October the practise is open until 10.00 p.m. seven days per week. Obtaining an appointment quickly, and at a time suitable to almost everyone, is pretty much guaranteed. The staff are competent and personable, going out of their way to meet your needs. The preparation fee for a individual PAYE return is a reasonable $140.00. A 10% discount is offered on your next return if you refer a client.

My only reservation concerning Leggett Accountants is the delay between the drafting and execution of your Tax Return, and it's actual lodgement. The Principal of the practice checks all returns prepared by employee accountants prior to lodgement. This sometimes means that there may be a delay of 7-10 days before your claim is lodged. If you are not in a hurry to receive your tax return then this should not present a problem. That the principal is concerned to ensure the accuracy of returns and the best outcomes for clients is to be applauded.

I have used Leggett Accountants for my last three tax returns and have been very pleased with their service. Even though I moved from Cannon Hill to Russell Island prior to my last tax return, I still travelled back to my old stomping ground to have my tax done. As they say, "if you're on a good thing, stick to it"!

Approximate cost: $140.00