Carla
Whistledown

After my previous purchase, I experienced a complete and total loss of willpower, self-control, dignity, and the ability to say "no" to anything that even remotely resembled a tub of cake.

Naturally, drastic action had to be taken. To protect both myself and, frankly, the wider Yamba community, I made the difficult decision to remove myself from the environment entirely.

I flew to the UK in December 2025. I stayed there until January 2026.

My sole objective: remain a safe distance from buttercream, trifle, and anything served in a suspiciously generous plastic tub.

I simply could not be trusted. Not in this economy. Not with these cakes. Not with custard within a 3km radius.

The reunion, however, was inevitable. It would occur in February for my Big FIVE-OH, where my heart, mouth and stomach would once again unite in their holy trinity of overindulgence.

Until then, exile was the only responsible option. For anyone else feeling weak, fragile, or emotionally unstable around these tubs of cake, I advised United Airlines still had seats available.

#IHopeYouPrayedForMe 🍰✈️🤣 Stay tuned… the Big Five-Oh cake reveal shall soon be revealed.

I gave Hayley a brief that essentially said: "Turning 50. Australian-born. Canadian family. Loves travel. Champagne enthusiast. Slight handbag appreciation. Oh, and can we include my dog?"

What she delivered? An edible autobiography.

From the Canada and Australia flags 🇨🇦🇦🇺, to the passport, plane and luggage ✈️, to the champagne bottles (entirely accurate) 🥂, to the pink handbag (also accurate) 💕, and even my beloved Polly 🐶. Every little detail had meaning.

And the inside? Two perfect layers of raspberry vanilla, light, delicious, not-too-sweet, generous buttercream and the kind of cake people actually go back for seconds of. (Which they did.)

Hayley doesn't just make cakes. She listens. She translates your life into sugar and executes it with precision and creativity.

If you want a cake that's more than "just dessert"… this is your girl.

I felt seen. And very well fed. 💗🎂✨ Further cake investigations may be required.

The Man Behind the Menu

Behind this weekly ritual is Chef Pete from Nicholson Fine Foods, a local chef known for producing award-winning preserves, jams, mustards and vinegars. The sort of pantry treasures that tend to become permanent fixtures in local kitchens once discovered. But every Friday, Chef Pete offers something a little different.

The Fresh Friday Formula

Each week he prepares one freshly made main meal and one freshly made dessert, both designed to be easy to take home and assemble, which means Friday dinner can look impressively organised with very little actual effort.

Main: usually around $30. Dessert: usually around $10. And if the locals are to be believed, this has quietly become a Friday ritual for those in the know.

The Wednesday Strategy

Chef Pete releases the Fresh Friday menu on Wednesdays. Which means the clever ones have learned to set a reminder and order early. Because by Friday afternoon… things have a habit of selling out.

So if you happen to find yourself in Yamba on a Friday evening, looking mysteriously organised for dinner… you may wish to thank Chef Pete. Just remember one thing. Set the Wednesday alarm. Because this particular secret does not stay available for long.

The journey covered roughly 8 kilometres beginning at sunset. The river was calm, the sky slowly turning shades of pink and gold, and dolphins appeared along the way as if they too had decided to join the expedition.

Halfway through the paddle we paused for a champagne stop, which, as far as I'm concerned, should be a standard feature of all outdoor activities.

The return journey took place under a glowing moon with headlamps lighting the water ahead. It was peaceful, surreal and genuinely one of those "we are lucky to live here" Yamba moments.

A special mention must go to our fellow paddler, 79-year-old John Sheather, who quite frankly embarrassed the rest of us by absolutely smoking the group (including the instructors) at what can only be described as supersonic speed. I believe he may have left the evening with a job offer.

The experience was part of Darren's birthday celebrations and it may have created a small problem for us… we are now seriously considering becoming kayak owners. Turns out paddling is not only ridiculously fun, but surprisingly gentle on the joints as well.

Highly recommended if you find yourself in Yamba and are looking for a truly memorable way to experience the Clarence River. Magic. ✨

After hearing whispers that Yamba now has a Japanese-style Head Spa, I naturally assumed such things only existed in large cities filled with influencers and people who alphabetise their skincare. But no. It exists… right here in our humble seaside town.

And where, you ask? In the industrial park. Which is increasingly proving to be one of Yamba's most underestimated precincts. Between forklifts, roller doors and mysterious plumbing suppliers, one finds some of the town's finest hidden gems.

The establishment: Pure Shine Hair Design. I love a good hair wash, not in the casual "that was nice" sense, but in the "I could happily remain here indefinitely while someone massages my scalp" sense. So when I discovered this was a 90-minute Japanese Head Spa experience… your correspondent bravely volunteered.

The treatment included: before-and-after microscope photos of my scalp (equal parts fascinating and mildly confronting), a serious double cleanse, scalp scrub, steam hair mask, heated eye pack, a mesmerising waterfall hair rinse, what I believe were feathers at one stage, possibly a soft brush sweeping my arms and décolletage, and various mysterious spa instruments I could not see because by this stage I had entered another dimension.

Reader… it was DIVINE. At one point I believe I briefly left my body. When I emerged, I felt somewhere between a cloud, a noodle and a fully reset human being.

The treatment runs 90 minutes and $299, so it's not an everyday indulgence. However I have decided this shall become a quarterly ritual while I attempt to grow out my undercut at the age of 50. God help us all.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five stars. Highly recommend.

My discovery: Ollie and Dave at The Joinery. This is not my first encounter with these two. On a previous occasion I made what some might call a slightly ambitious request: a hat rack from driftwood, care of Alfred our previous visiting Cyclone. Naturally, they delivered.

So recently, feeling emboldened by past success, I asked again. And once again… they delivered. Magnificently.

Allow me to introduce the newest resident of our home: "Madame." Because she is most certainly not a Mademoiselle.

This striking piece was crafted from a single slab of timber, shaped and finished into what can only be described as functional art. A mirror, yes. But also a sculpture. A statement. The kind of piece that makes visitors stop mid-sentence and say, "Where on earth did you get THAT?"

The answer, dear readers, is simple. Right here in Yamba. From two very talented local craftsmen who: listen carefully, laugh easily, deliver exactly what they promise, and somehow manage to turn raw timber into something extraordinary.

Yet another reminder that some of the best discoveries in Yamba are tucked quietly away in the Industrial Park. One simply needs the curiosity to go looking.

Yes, dear readers… I officially turned 50. Five-zero. Half a century. By some stroke of cosmic brilliance it landed on my day off… on a very rainy Yamba day. Which meant I was basically forced to spend the day at Angourie Resort Day Spa. A terrible fate.

The day's schedule involved: multiple spa treatments, strategically timed lunch between appointments, a hot tub, champagne, flowers, and zero responsibility. The spa itself is beautifully calm, the sort of place where time slows down and someone gently reminds you to breathe while applying something luxurious to your face. Highly recommend.

Then came The Festival of Darren. Naturally it seemed only fair that Darren receive a birthday celebration of his own. After an afternoon swim and cocktail at Angourie Resort, I unveiled the next surprise: a 45-minute Indian head massage. He emerged glowing, serene and mildly comatose for the next 12 hours.

Naturally, instead of going home we checked into a gorgeous one-bed spa apartment for the night, complete with champagne, bath oils and an excellent excuse to do absolutely nothing the following day. Highly successful operation.

A Local Secret Worth Knowing:

You don't need to stay overnight to enjoy Angourie Resort. Simply check in at reception, buy a drink or lunch from the kiosk, and you're welcome to spend the day enjoying the pool and grounds. The resort restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday, but the kiosk and day spa remain open Sundays, making it the perfect rainy-day or lazy-Sunday escape.

And sometimes, dear readers, a few hours by a resort pool with a cocktail in hand is exactly what the doctor ordered.

However… a small twist in the plot. Now that I had paid and received the address, it appears this "Yamba activity" is in fact located… in South Grafton. Yes. South. Grafton. Which, as it turns out, is not in Yamba at all.

With petrol currently priced like liquid gold, this discovery did give me a brief moment to reconsider my artistic journey. However, one must not let down a small business… nor waste a perfectly good story.

So I shall go. At least once. And thus it will be officially added to my growing list of "Things I Tried So You Don't Have To (or Possibly Should)."

Stay tuned, dear readers. My Archibald Prize-winning masterpiece shall soon be revealed. Along with a full and completely unbiased review, naturally.

A small class of four, our delightful instructor Julianne Gosper, a humble kit of watercolours, two pencils and two paint brushes… and suddenly we were artists.

The class was both instructional and remarkably easy for someone who previously believed watercolour painting involved witchcraft and natural talent.

And while my kingfisher may appear slightly over-fed with an enthusiastically shaped beak… it matters not. For I, dear readers, am here in service to the community.

The session ran for over 2½ hours and was genuinely enjoyable. Will I venture back to South Grafton? Perhaps. But my hesitation has nothing to do with the class and everything to do with the many adventures I have yet to try right here in Yamba.

$60 for 2½ hours of joy and a plump kingfisher masterpiece. Five stars. P.S. If anyone would like to purchase said masterpiece, offers start at $4.7 million. 🎨

Sometimes more than your dog. Definitely more if you happen to be holding a ball… or, heaven forbid, a stick.

A recent episode included a particularly heartwarming development. We met Dolly, a sweet dog who had previously been quite terrified of Boxers. However, after a brief diplomatic introduction to Queen Polly, Dolly bravely revised her position. Growth. Healing. Character development.

As for Queen Polly herself, she remains the quintessential Boxer: loves a zoomie, loves a stick (preferably one that is clearly far too large), carries said stick with her head held high charging proudly into the ocean as though she has won an Olympic event, makes best friends instantly, then returns home to sleep for the remainder of the day. Relatable, honestly.

A public service announcement: Queen Polly is a notorious ball thief. You have been warned. That said, her excellent recall (approximately 99% of the time) means your ball will usually be returned… eventually.

She is wonderful with small children, generally quiet unless extremely excited, and occasionally a little too interested in couples attempting romantic beach picnics. She simply loves love.

If we could all live like Queen Polly - always joyful, never bored, forever grateful for the simple pleasure of a beach, a stick and a friend - the world might be a far happier place. Oh, to be a dog on a Yamba beach.