A trip to Caloundra is never complete without tasting the delights of Marsay Bros Seafood. There are many fish and chip shops in Caloundra and during the years that I lived in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland I must have tried most. None of them, however, come close to Marsay Bros. It's for that reason that I always like to at least get some hot chips every time I pay Caloundra a visit.

Marsay Bros has a vast variety of fresh fish available although as I'm not a connoisseur I've always stuck with very pedestrian fish like cod. Not that the cod tastes at all pedestrian once it's been given the Marsay treatment! The prawns are always fresh and succulent and on many occasions I've feasted on them whilst soaking up one of Caloundra's many pristine beaches. Although not the cheapest seafood around, Marsay Bros is well worth the extra expense.

On a warm day last week an unexpected funeral caused me to take the long trip to Caloundra, one of my former stomping grounds. Parched from the drive I called in at Rainbow Fuels hoping that they'd still have the coldest and cheapest cans of Coke around. I wasn't disappointed. They there were, still for sale at $1.20 each. Petrol was also very cheap at 130.9c per litre. By the time I arrived back in the Redlands district the fuel prices were around 148c per litre. Rainbow Fuels still have heaps of lollies, hot pies and sauce rolls, and cheap bread. What more could you ask for?

Sleeman Sports Complex is a phenomenal facility located on acres and acres of land. Facilities include the Brisbane Aquatic Centre which is said to be Brisbane's premier swimming complex; BMX Supercross Track; State Weightlifting Centre; Dry Diving Training Hall; Chandler Velodrome; H20 FITNESS; Chandler Theatre; Gymnastics Training Hall; and the newly opened Chandler Lodge & Cabins.

As someone who is not much of a sportsperson, my favourite part of the Sleeman Complex is the Chandler Gardens. These free facilities are located on 30 hectares of native bushland and include ponds, picnic areas and electric BBQs. It's a great place to take the family for a weekend picnic.

The Caloundra Cinema is just about the most unusual cinema complex that I've ever been to. Located on the upper level of a shopping complex, the cinemas overlook the shopping centre's forecourt. Whilst the cinemas are air conditioned, it can often be quite warm whilst waiting outside.

The greatest benefit of the cinemas is that they are very competitively priced. It costs around $22 or $23 to take an adult and two children to the pictures which is a great deal less than nearby mulitplexes. I recall almost fainting with disbelief when I was charged close to $40.00 for the same number of tickets at the Marooychdore multiplex.

I've just received my first batch of 50 meals from Easy Meals. I was initially reticent to sign up for the deal as I had never before purchased home delivered meals. It took a bit of convincing before I could accept that a pre-prepared and cooked product could both taste nice and be stored in a cupboard for up to 18 months. Given the offer of 50 meals at $5.50 each, and my particular dislike for cooking, I decided to take up the offer. The real selling point is that the meals can be paid off by fortnightly instalments and that you receive the whole batch after your first payment.

The meals are superb and I particularly like Beef Tortellini, Chunky Beef & Potato Hotpot and the Italian Meatballs & Pasta. I have to admit to not being particularly keen on the Beef Stroganoff. My boys are especially keen on them and love the Italian Meatballs the most. My major problem will be ensuring that they don't use the meals as daytime snacks. I've told them that we'll have them as a meal once a week, however it remains to be seen if I can keep my word :)

A few shops down from the intersection with Elizabeth St, Azra Pizzas & Kebabs is a fine take-away store located within the Brisbane CBD on Edward Street. Open 7 days per week until 3.00 a.m. Mondays to Fridays, 5.00 a.m. Saturdays, and midnight on Sundays, Azra provides much more than just a greasy fill-me-up after a night out.

Immaculately clean and well presented, the completely glass paneled wall opposite the sales and preparation area provides the illusion of a much larger shop. Along this wall are long bench tables with wooden bar stools on which customers can dine or wait for their meal. A crisp collection of current magazines are provided for one's perusal whilst you await the shop's generally speedy and efficient service.

Although I've never tried the pizzas, I have a kebab from Azra each and every time I visit the Brisbane CBD. Made from the freshest ingredients the kebabs are without exception always perfectly made and without flaw. They always taste divine. On a fine day I suggest that you grab your kebab and head around the corner to the St. Stephen's Cathedral grounds. An oasis within the concrete jungle, the Cathedral precinct has pristine lawns on which to relax and plenty of benches on which to sit.

Approximate cost: $10.00 with can of drink.

Previously located in Elizabeth St Brisbane, below the Irish Club, Christian Supplies moved to Milton following the January 2011 floods. Specializing in resources for Catholics and other Christian denominations, Christian Supplies has a well resourced on-line store in addition to their retail premises. During major religious events, such as Brisbane's Pray 2010, they are know to set up a temporary shop, together with fellow retailers of religious products, and religious orders.

The range of goods available at Christian supplies is exhaustive and includes a wide range of books on theology and spirituality, CDs, DVDs, Church ware, Holy cards, crucifixes and crosses, vestments, statues, rosary beads, cards, jewellery, icons, candles, Bibles,T-Shirts, pictures, and gifts appropriate for baptisms, confirmations and weddings. Children are particularly well catered for with a very large range of inexpensive but colourful Biblical story books. When my children were young I used to buy them one each every time I went into the Brisbane CBD. More recently, as a teacher of Religious Education to secondary students I found the school resources offered by Christian Supplies exceptionally useful.

Having driven past the Hoya Garden Centre on many occasions I was quite excited to actually find the time to visit it. Whilst very large and salubrious looking from the outside, I have to admit that the garden section left much to be desired. For an establishment of such size the quantity and variety of plants was much less than anticipated and their general condition and health was less than pristine. Even in the shaded green house all of the plants and ferns looked like they needed a good drink.

The Home Decor section, however, was an absolute delight. Occupying an absolutely huge area its many and varied wares are delightfully and professionally displayed. Being a bit of a chicken fancier I was drawn to the numerous rooster decorations, most of which were finely crafted and painted works of iron. With the rooster prices starting at around $35.00 I have at least one pencilled in as a Christmas gift for myself. Unfortunately on the day of my visit my liquid assets were only sufficient for a $2.00 faux egg. My chooks have a habit of laying here, there and everywhere and need encouragement to lay in one spot. I'd encourage those interested to look at the decor page of the Plaza's website and see for themselves the diversity of items on offer. The page can be found at http://www.hoyagardenplaza.com/#!brisbane-garden-centre-gifts/c8hd.

Hoya Garden Plaza also has a cafe which offers a quite extensive breakfast and lunch menu. I've not yet eaten there so can't comment on the quality of the food or service.

Approximate cost: $From $2.00

The Flour Monkey Bakery is an independent bakery established in 2005. They have two shops, one at Capalaba and the other at Carina. They aim to produce good tasting, real food made with fresh and non artificial ingredients. Their pies are made from 100% lean Australian beef sourced locally from another independent butcher.

The Flour Monkey always has samples of some of their fare available for tasting. The bread samples are absolutely delicious and the variety of bread types extensive. Made on their own premises, this bakery produces breads such as cheese & spinach bread, ciabatta, sour dough rye, Pane Di Casa, Italian cob, walnut and raison, baguette, and turkish bread. The bread rolls I took home were divine.

The Flour Monkey also sells a wide variety of savoury and cake products including cheese and bacon rolls, savoury twists, spinach fetta triangle, quiche, sausage rolls, orange and poppy seed cake, chocolate mud cakes, apple turnovers and gingerbread men. The list goes on.

With the increasing dominance of large chain bakeries I highly recommend you shopping locally and supporting this fine business.

I've always adored Asian supermarkets and was so incredibly pleased to find this well stocked store in Capalaba Central Shopping Centre. My late husband was a brilliant cook and Asian dishes were some of his many specialities. He was like a kid in a candy shop when he went to an Asian supermarket however unfortunately he never taught me his culinary secrets. My cooking skills, and understanding of ingredients, is therefore somewhat limited.

Flavours of Asia has all the grocery lines that you'd expect, from seaweed flavoured potato chips to sugar cane drinks. They stock beverages, canned foods, spices, sauces, seasoning, deserts, noodles, dried foods, fresh vegetables, soups, rice, cooking wine and the like. The list is endless. I picked up some instant vegetarian noodles, which was about the only details on the package which I could read because it was all written in Thai. My youngest son, a noodle fanatic, told me that they were the best he'd ever tasted and has instructed me to buy up every packet in the store. Now that's a recommendation!