I took the Mrs to this outlet store in Collingwood to buy her a new purse. It's not in what you'd call a convenient location but the parking out the front of the store was pretty good. There's no aircon in the store so rug up! There's a decent collection of purses in there that's for sure, enough to make your average guy quite confused. The prices are decent, and there are also handbags around the place too. Ended up getting a decent purse for less than what you'd buy a crumby one for in a discount store. Recommended.

I drove past this establishment on the way up North a little while back and decided to take the chocolate-crazy Mrs there for a treat weekend before last. The crowds are huge on the weekend but the store itself is quite large to accommodate this. The chocolate making area at the back has a glass wall so you can watch the goings-on. There is a huge selection of chocolates, and free sample chocolate! There's a cafe on the front side but we didn't use that. We did however buy $20 of individual chocolates and i have to say, they were very nice. Expect to pay, but in this case you get what you pay for. The setup is great, well thought out, heaps of space for kids to play and get rid of excess energy. Staff are friendly. EFTPOS facilities available. Check it out.

We tried this bakery last weekend while on a trip to Maldon via the old railway. We were not disappointed. The sausage rolls were quite nice but the cheese and bacon pies were fantastic! Square shaped but rounded at the same time, the perfect depth and the flavour? Great. Price was good too. The dine-in area is very limited and a little close together but it's a definite if you're in the sleepy town at some point.

Continuing with my recent interest in finding vintage railways still operating in Victoria, my Dad told me about this one. It runs back and forth between Castlemaine and Maldon, which is about 20KM give or take a couple. We drove the 148KM to Castlemaine from Melbourne, and arrive at Castlemaine with 15 minutes before the train left. It's a great sight to see, the old engine sitting there puffing away, engineers shoveling coal around and that unique smell in the air. The carriages are well kept and comfortable enough. As with any old train, be careful walking around while in motion as they're quite unstable side to side. Also be very careful if moving between the carriages. The trip was enjoyable, travelling through the mostly unseen fields and forests between the two towns. A courtesy bus met us at Maldon and took us from the station into the town. Everyone is friendly and it's a great bit of nostalgia. Well worth it.

Approximate cost: $70

I have always had a passion for older trains and the mrs was interested when i said i'd like to hunt out some steam train adventures around the state, so off i went searching. My sister told me about the Mornington Railway and i looked it up. The price for the trip was reasonable, the place wasn't too far away and i planned a mini trip around it. We arrived at Moorooduc Station with a few minutes to spare. Paid for our tickets (which are quality, old style and look great) and boarded the steamer. It's a relatively short trip, only taking 15 minutes or so from memory, and takes you to Morninton Railway Station. From there a courtesy bus meets you and drops you at one of many points on the way through town. We went and got a milkshake, then returned to the bus, back to the station on back on the train bound for Moorooduc. It's a great experience, love the sound of the old whistle/horn. It's a bit of a bumpy ride (more sideways than up and down) so be careful walking around while in motion as you may bump yourself. It's kid friendly, well kept and worth the money. Give it a try!

Approximate cost: $35

On several recent occasions i have brought my weekend car to this washing business while we go inside and have a drink and look around. They're located inside the underground carpark at the back of the shopping centre. The service is friendly and i was given a discount voucher to use for future washes. Not sure if this is standard practice. The washes have always been good, i get them to do the door jams as well and they're still immaculate right now despite my car being very dirty from recent weather. Turnaround time is generally good unless you go on a nice Saturday arvo. Price is pretty much par for the work done. The last two times i've had it washed there it's rained straight away but that's not their fault! I recommend this business.

On several occasions we have used this car wash. It's located on the corner of Bulleen Rd and Manningham Rd in Bulleen, which is good as we make several trips to the Northern suburbs. They have a large washing area bay, and a little cafe located on site. The cafe has a decent array of food and drinks, and quite a few seats so you can sit around and relax indoors while waiting for your car to be cleaned. While you're paying for a sandwich or whatever, you also pay the clerk there for the wash, then just take your receipt out when the car's done and away you go. There is a big overhead sign with many options ranging from basic wash to full leather detailing and so on. The quality of the wash is always good, and there are no premiums for Saturday washes like some others charge. Just be careful on your way in as it's right at a busy intersection.

We have had our car washed here twice. They are located out in the carpark of the Centro in Cranbourne. When i went there, two chairs were available for waiting, but i'd recommend going inside to the shopping centre and looking around there while waiting. Most of the time that's what you're likely to do anyway. The quality of the wash was quite good. The price was acceptable but not a cheapy. The turnaround time was pretty good. There are a few cleaning options available but we went for a basic wash and hand dry. Location is also close to several other individual shops along the main road so pick what you like while waiting.

After visiting Yarrawonga/Mulwala many times in the past i decided to take the one and only and myself on a cruise of the lake. It's a huge man made lake which flooded a forest, so the old dead trees are mostly still there, poking out of the river and lake area, making for a sensational view, especially at dusk. The cruise started off on the Yarrawonga foreshore, and slowly trundled out to the east, which takes you along the original path of the Murray, through a lot of the flooded trees, and then eventually around to the Mulwala side, where there are many, expensive houses. The tour is guided so there's commentary the whole way. Refreshments are available and the service is very friendly and welcoming. You'll get a great perspective of the iconic bridge, and then end back where you started. The value is pretty good, the experience is unique and it's a very relaxing way to spend a lazy afternoon. Well recommended!

I've had our car washed here twice in the recent months and both times it's been done very well. They're in a convenient spot as per most of these types of businesses, and the service was friendly and accommodating. The prices were about par but the job was done very well. They didn't charge extra even though the front of our car was coated with bug guts from several highway trips the last time. Recommended.