Great Day With 'Do The Yarra Valley's' Michael and Tania

A fun interview with Tania and Michael Chanter of the new site Do The Yarra Valley was had yesterday. We were able to secure a vehicle from Andy and Tania Chirnside of Affinity Limousines to produce a little clip of what my driving business is all about.A big thank you to Andy and Tania and Dianne Curtis of Yileena Park, who opened cellar door at the picturesque cellar door in Steeles Creek for us to complete the picture.

Making touring wine regions affordable by hiring your own driver for a well earned break, tasting and indulging your way through wines and lunches, cheeses and brews.

Look out for the video clip on Do The Yarra Valley, look forward to seeing you out there enjoying what our region has to offer.

Two more winners of a driver for a day in the Yarra Valley

Congratulations to Tim Varney and Allison Walker who put their hand up for their very own driver for a day in the Yarra Valley wine region. Look forward to booking and taking a hosted indulgent wine tour with you and your friends.

Two winners of a driver for a day, one more draw to come!

Congratulations to Catherine Harry of whattowear.com.au and Llew Duval from New Zealand. You have won a driver for a day during February in the beautiful Yarra Valley.

February 2010 - win your own driver for a day in the Yarra Valley

In February 2010 Driven Indulgence is giving away a complimentary driver for your own designer tour or night out for up to four people every week.

All you need to do is visit driven indulgence blog to find how to be in the running to win your own driver for the day to enjoy the Yarra Valley.

Driven Indulgence welcomes you to explore the Yarra Valley region for a day. I have four mid-week designated driver service days to give away during February. Win your ticket to explore and discover the tastes and sights of our Yarra Valley.

All you need to do is email me and tell me why you deserve your own driver for a day! Then the rest is easy, we design a day for you and three friends to take a tour, tasting wines, beers great food and relax lapping up breath taking scenery and fresh valley air.

Conditions apply.

Must be taken in your vehicle during February 2010 on a mid-week day to suit both the person taking the driver for the day and Driven Indulgence. Driven Indulgence reserves the right to publish the winners emails as to why they deserve a driver for a day. Not redeemable for cash. Up to six hours, your own driver, perfect.

Winner will be notified via email and must be able to enjoy the best the Yarra Valley has to offer. This is for a driver only, discussion may be entered into over times and dates and of course bribes and tips all welcome to make it perfect!

sandy@drivenindulgence.com.au
m. 0408 244 531

First two days will be drawn Jan 30th 2010, Second two days will be drawn 9th Feb 2010. Winners will be notified via email and announced on this blog. Entries will be taken right up to the day before the draws.

Designated Driver For Hire

Are you aware that we have our own designated driver service in the heart of the Yarra Valley?

Driven Indulgence is available to retrieve you and your guests in your own vehicle from any of the restaurants, hotels, wineries and events in the Yarra Valley and surrounds. Your very own designated driver.

You will relax having your own designated driver to take you home or back to your accommodation in the Yarra Valley, you can enjoy as much food and wine as you like, enjoying your guests company to the full. Your designated driver is fully qualified by the Victorian Taxi Directorate and is a local guide and host.

Rates for designated driver vehicle and guest pick up service start at $65.00. Pick up after 11.30pm is $90.00

To explore other options for a designated driver for the entire evening, rates start at $150 for the first three hours then $25.00 per hour thereafter please call Sandy on: 0408 244 531

Bookings essential for your designated driver . Call or sms on mobile 0408 244 541 or email sandy@drivenindulgence.com.au

Gifts for the Fussy Friend!

Christmas is here, well almost which means ~ running around looking for that perfect something for someone who has everything or doesn't seem to need or want for anything. The answer is here, book a driver for your friend or family to enjoy a delightful day or evening out. A wine tour of the Yarra Valley for a Christmas gift ~ just perfect.

It's simple. Driven Indulgence rates are $150 for the first three hours and $25 for each hour thereafter. This is a driver only service using your vehicle. If you wish to include a luxury vehicle in the gift just add $220 to the driver for hire rates. You choose how many hours you would like to give and we do the rest. The perfect gift.

Your friend or family member will love receiving a Christmas gift that will bring lasting memories and fun on a chosen day out. Visit local wineries, take time out for a lavish lunch and a couple of glasses of wine, do a brewery tour or just take someone special out to dinner. Take a drive tour around the valleys and hills of our beautiful state, drive up the historic Great Ocean road or take in Melbourne's scenic sites. Take a tour of any of our wine regions, Yarra Valley, Beechworth, Alpine Valley, King Valley, Rutherglen and Peninsula's. Wine tours, brewery tour, gourmet food tour, photography tour, design your own tour! Christmas has never been easier, a Christmas tour for the whole family.

Conditions apply. Minimum of three hours, must be redeemed within three months, booked ahead and must be fun! Call Sandy for your Christmas gift voucher now on 0408244531 or email sandy@drivenindulgence.com.au

Book Your Driven Indulgence Here

Adopt a Marysville Filly for Cup Day Celebrations.

Jan, Sharon, Milly, Sarah, Jenny and Barbara.

Many of you would have received an email or personal invitation to make a donation which would allow women in Marysville to purchase a new dress for the Marysville Cup Day celebrations on Tuesday 3 November. These women, who lost everything in the February fires, although truly grateful for pre-loved clothing generously donated, haven’t had the luxury of purchasing a new dress for a special occasion.

Well, you gave, and in one week we managed between us all to raise over $2000 towards outfits for 15 'fillies' from the Marysville area. You are acknowledged for your compassion and generosity. Last Sunday was the day we picked to take the girls shopping. Some girls had to work or had prior commitments, they made it on the Monday we hear!

BODY in Healesville, Cherie putting some ideas to the fillies!

Here are some pics we promised of the day spent in Healesville enjoying that much deserved retail therapy. We are waiting to see who has some pics of the actual Cup Day. We know channel 7, 9 and 10 do, but the fillies were so excited and exhausted from the big days and bubbles, they may not have many for us!


Milly has found something already!

We have a huge thank you firstly to Barbara and the girls for taking us up on our offer. Barbara, when we said we would adopt you for a new dress, we never imagined that within hours we would be working on such a delightful project. Thank you for all your efforts in administering funds and organising the list of adventurous girls. I know it was a big thing for some as many felt they had among other things, lost their sense of identity since loosing their homes, town centre and businesses. We were happy to see they soon made a red hot go of discovering in part some lovely outfits and a sense of fun in their special day, perhaps even discovering a renewed sense of courage to put the big toe into uncharted waters, trying on things they may never have done previously.

Barbara and Jenny in Marysville on the day we 'adopted her for the cup'.


Thanks Andy and Tania, the limo was a treat, we all had a great time.

We would also like to thank Andy and Tania Chirnside from Affinity Limousines in Yarra Glen for giving me the keys to their beautiful 10 seat black Chrysler limo, letting me drive the girls from Marysville to shop in the Yarra Valley in style was heaps of fun. The day came together as a beautifully wrapped gift. Thank you Andy for popping out to see us personally, we know you and Tania were really keen to assist in anyway possible. We are especially grateful for the gift of luxury and comfort you afforded us, the limo certainly turned heads in down town Marysville.

Stories on the balcony, thanks for popping by Andy. Left to right: Barbara, Sharon, (standing) visitor to winery and Di in pink, Jan, Janette and Andy,

We met at Yileena Park winery with Bob and Dianne Curtis showing their hospitality by opening a bottle of sparkling on the balcony. Di put on a lovely cheese platter for us and we soaked up the last of the afternoon warmth on the balcony before heading through the Black Spur home. Thank you Bob and Di for spoiling us.

Jenny, Glenys and Bob with some bubbly!

Yileena Park's Bob and Dianne put on a platter and bubbles for us.

Jenny from Gracedale Yarra Valley and I had organised with the fashion retail stores ahead of time to make the girls welcome and assist us with fitting and making sure the girls were looked after. Of course they were all very accommodating and very generous. BODY, Black Cat, Strides, KG on Maroondah, Bella and Mr. Simon, the lovely shoe shop, Jamar and Re-Healed all worked hard to assist the girls in their selection, thank you to all the wonderful gift vouchers, discounts and fitting assistance. Thank you to Janette at Argyles Massage (above BODY) who gave all of us girls feet and hand creams and serums, that was truly appreciated and a lovely surprise. Thank you also to my dear friend Janette for coming with us and giving us the pleasure of your company, your contribution and the assistance in cleaning and re-fuelling the limo back at its' home in Lilydale with me. (That burger was good wasn't it!)

Back at the Golf Course in Marysville, nice hat girls!

We want to thank all who contributed at such short notice. Jenny's friends and work colleagues and my friends and work colleagues and our families - you quickly took up the offer, and passed the hat around, thank you! The day was quite emotional on many different levels. It was the first time some girls had had the courage to try on new clothes or venture far. Some had even mentioned that they would not have come, had it not been for a loving 'pushy' boyfriend, husband and family. Thank you to everyone who made a difference and reminded these gals that they are not forgotten, they deserve so much.

Thanks Jenny.

And last but not least, thank you to my dear friend Jenny Parker. Jenny, together we are discovering that we are dangerous. You are a delight to work with and a pleasure to know. We open our mouths and look what happens. Out tumbles love. With deep respect for our sisters in the hills, we wanted it to be a fun day with dignity and a day for them to experience choosing for themselves something lovely to wear. I think we did accomplish this for our new mate Barbara and all the lovely girlfriends that were invited. Looking forward to many more fun and heartfelt times together making a difference to the silent hurt to bring cheer and joy. Thank you for your friendship.

Thank you everyone!