We've been going here for years. If you want great Chinese in a hurry, this place can do it. We put in our order and its always ready within 5 minutes. They are unbelievably fast. The crispy noodles and lemon chicken easily compare with anything you'd get in Chinatown in Melbourne! A really tasty dinner.

Approximate cost: $15+

This place sells the BEST potato cakes on the planet. For fish n chips, you can't go wrong. If your going for a drive to the valley and feel like something warm and yummy, these are the best fish and chips in the whole valley.

Approximate cost: $10+

After shopping around for a caesar stone bench we tried to get a quote from TTI Stone. The opening hours are really difficult and you rarely get your phonecalls answered. After getting a very reasonable quote we put in our order. The person I dealt with didn't discuss a deposit but organised someone to come out and do a template of the bench size. Unfortunately they couldn't give us any indication of the time this would be. We organised to be home on this day and noone turned up and our calls were unanswered. We repeated this process again and finally got the template done. After waiting 4 weeks for a phonecall we rang to see where the benchtop was, they told us they hadn't started it because we hadn't paid a deposit. We argued that noone told us there was a deposit, nor did we recieve paperwork, a phonecall or any communcation from them at all. I then had to go to pay the deposit but because of their ridiculous opening times this couldn't be done for another fortnight. All this time, we had no benchtop in our kitchen. Finally once we paid the deposit it took another 4 weeks for the bench top to be ready. Again we went through ridiculous processes to get the bench top installed as noone could give us an indication of time. The receptionist/staff in the store were really rude on the phone and made it sound like it was all our fault when they clearly were not communicating with us. The finished product was fantastic, but the process was far too long and exhausting to bother with again.

Approximate cost: $2700+

When my husband put a crow bar through our mains water pipe at 7pm one evening, we were drenched, cold and quickly flooding due to the enormous geyser erupting from our yard. We tried desperately to find someone who could come out immediately and then we found this number. The plumber was there within 20 minutes and had the whole thing repaired in under that time. Being an emergency repair job it cost a bundle and a half but it would have cost a lot more had we not got it fixed immediately.

Approximate cost: $300+

We needed a new hot water service in our previous house. We shopped around for a bit and got some quotes. Brendan was the only one who could do the job in a reasonable amount of time and had a good deal going with the rebates with Yarra Valley Water. We got a great natural gas hot water service that we were really pleased with. Brendan helped us through the rebate process and we ended up only pay a few hundred dollars for a job that would have normally cost three times that.

Approximate cost: $600+

The food is absolutely awesome. There's so much you can do with vegetarian food and this place proves it. It's got a cool atmosphere and is packed on weekends. The only downfall is the grumpy waiting staff, but that's not all of them...just the females mostly, but maybe each time I go they are having an off day!

Approximate cost: $20+

Oh No! I went here for a spray tan. Big mistake. The hairdresser told me that they were great quality and gave you a great overall tan. Problem was, aside from looking like I just fell in a pool of coffee, after a day I was brilliant orange...the same colour as the WowMow logo bar. No kidding! I scrubbed and scrubbed to get it off but ended up having to go into hiding for 5 days until it faded. I was fluorescent orange! A big contrast from my usual pasty white self. Getting the tan was unpleasant to start with. I was taken out the back and had to stand infront of what looked like a giant garbage bag wall, then she blasted me with the loudest 'spray gun' hairdryer thing you've ever seen. The overall job was pretty uneven and I was terrified I'd be seen by someone through the back window which faces the out back car park. Don't be tempted.

Approximate cost: $25

After being a total moron and backing my car into an inanimate object, I had a massive dent in the back of my new car. The whole thing was really upsetting and as the bumber bar now scrapped along the road I had to get it repaired. Fortunately my insurance came through and I went with Ashmore's in Lilydale. They did an amazing job and my car looks brand new. I also chose to pay extra to them directly (the rest was paid by insurance) to fix some other preexisiting issues. When I picked it up I was rapt with the job. The blokes that work there aren't the most expressive, but they do a good job. Value-wise, they're pricey but they're quality, so you get what you pay for.

Approximate cost: $600+

The ladies here are always friendly and do a good quick job. They're great at a quick trim when you need it. My husband is a huge fan as he can get a good cut for less than $15. Not bad if you're in a hurry and need a quick tidy up.

Approximate cost: $10+

I went here to get my ears pierced for a second time. I've had my ears pierced for years but wanted a second hole. The friendly hairdresser told me she could fit me in after her current client and to wait 15 minutes. I came back and she took me straight into the little room behind the desk. After fumbling around looking for the gun and the correct attachments for what seemed like ages, the young lady finally found the right parts. I started getting nervous after she started mishmashing different parts to fit on the gun. Then she gave me a really ordinary bunch of mismatched studs to choose from. I was hoping for some simple silver studs, but could only get the really obvious red or brownish ones. I went for the least garish and she grabbed a thick red texta and marked my ears. She quickly showed me where she intended to put the holes. They looked really close to my other holes, but I figured she knew what she was doing. Then one, two, three, and presto...a hole in both lobes. My ears hurt for a little while, but not as much as when I got home and test my red studs with my usual earrings. As I'd suspected, the holes were way too close and I couldn't fit even my smallest studs next to the new ones. Freaking out, because I had holes in my ears that weren't right, I began the torturous task of ripping the fresh studs from my ears to try and heal the holes up as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, as they were brand new, they were sticking to the flesh in my lobes and I ended up dry wretching over the sink. I finally got the guts to pull them both up and within a few days my ears were healed without obvious holes. It wasn't an experience I wish to repeat and needless to say I'm sticking with one hole for each ear. I won't be going through that again.

Approximate cost: $18+