Pittwater Life December 2020 Issue

Local Gift Guide
Holiday Reading
For the lazy summer days ahead…
A Promised Land
By Barack Obama
Penguin Random House, RRP $65
After four years of turmoil and tweets, political stability
and sane leadership return in the pages of President
Obama’s immensely pleasurable memoir A Promised
Land.
On track to become the bestselling presidential
memoir, this hefty tome will have you wondering how a
country went from such a humble, informed and genuine
leader to, well, Trump.
A felicitous writer, Obama talks about his wife and
daughters in near-elegiac prose; his sketches of world
leaders are trenchant without being cutting – though
Putin comes off looking like a mafia boss.
He is candid about his failures, his successes, and
the state of the nation.
A hopeful and fitting reminder of what leadership
looks like. – Raymond Bonner, Bookoccino Avalon
This is Happiness
By Niall Williams
Bloomsbury, RRP $19.99
A beautiful novel about remembrance,
love and loss set
in 1950s rural Ireland.
Noe is just 17 when he loses
his mother and his faith. Unmoored,
he leaves the seminary,
escaping to his grandparents
home in Faha, a fictional village
of County Clare. In this rural
outpost electricity has just
arrived, and the rhythms and
ways of its inhabitants begin to
change. Noe recalls his boyhood
grief, his journey to absolution
and his first abiding friendship.
You won’t want this lifeaffirming
novel to end. – Sally
Tabner, Bookoccino Avalon
Honeybee
Craig Silvey
Allen & Unwin $32.99
Sam and Vic meet late one
night on an overpass. What is
supposed to be an end, marks
the beginning of an unconventional
friendship between
the troubled teenager and
the lonely widower. Sam has
been let down by just about
everyone in his young life,
but for every heartbreaking
moment, Silvey has beautifully
crafted passages with
resolution and hope. The long
wait for his new novel is worth
every moment, and like Jasper
Jones can be enjoyed by adults
and teens alike. – Libby Armstrong,
Beachside Bookshop
Skunk and
Badger
Amy Timberlake and
Jon Klassen
Allen & Unwin $22.99
Badger always has important
rock work to do. He loves
rocks more than anything.
He doesn’t want a roommate,
especially a smelly
one. No-one wants a skunk
but there is nothing Badger
can do when Skunk moves
in.
This book was so funny!
It made me and my dad
laugh so hard. My favourite
part was ALL the chickens!
I didn’t know if Skunk and
Badger were ever going to
become friends, but if you
want to find out then read
the book.
– Henry Beaudoin (age 6)
Foleys Nursery
Foleys Nursery is a family
owned and run local
business. They pride
themselves on stocking the
latest plant trends and the old
favourites suited to the local
area. Horticulturist Justin
Foley says staff are their main
asset. “They are friendly,
helpful and knowledgeable,
you could say a triple threat!”
he said. Thinking of a gift this
Christmas? Think plants…
Foleys have a large range of
water-savvy plants for both
indoors and outside, a large
selection of quality pots, soils
and mulch, fertilisers and
pest control. Come in and see
their selection of Rhipsalis,
the plant of the moment –
and why not pick up a pot
and macramé pot hanger
while you are at it? Justin
suggests succulents, peace
lily or one of their herbs
could be a great teacher gift.
How about a live Christmas
Tree? Planting compost is
vital for drought-proofing
your garden. This year has
been like no other. It seems
everyone has been at home
more and gardening is the
new norm. Plants are in short
supply but Foleys are doing
their best to keep new stock
coming every week. So come
on in to the nursery, open 7
days at 16 Macpherson St,
Warriewood (entry via Brands
Lane). P: 9997 8573
62 DECEMBER 2020
The Local Voice Since 1991
Richards Shoes
It is clear to see why Richards Shoes is
a popular destination for families on
the northern beaches. The spacious
store has a great range of shoes for
everyone, with brands perfect for the
coastal lifestyle including Birkenstock,
Taos, Gino Ventori and Diana Ferrari
(for ladies); Florsheim, Merrell and
Rocport (for men); and Clarks and
Bobux (for the kids). And with owner
Rod Hiscocks – whose family has been
in the footwear industry for three
generations – and his experienced
staff, you know you will not only come
out with a great-looking pair of shoes
but with the correct fitting. Rod says
their most popular gift purchases for
Christmas are Birkenstocks for men,
women and kids in many styles and
colours – and when you mention this
promotion in Pittwater Life you’ll
receive a 10% discount! “Plus, if you’re
purchasing shoes as a Christmas gift
you get peace of mind, knowing we
have an old-fashioned, full refund or
exchange policy,” said Rodney. “And
we’d like to wish all our loyal customers
a merry Christmas and thanks them for
their support.” Find them at Shop 4, 3
Bungan St Mona Vale. P: 9999 6065
Ecotopia
The Local Voice Since 1991
The Art Shop
Ecotopia is your go-to destination for unique and exquisite gifts
that look beautiful and help to ease the pressure on our fragile
environment.
Discover a curated range of functional and ethically made lifestyle
luxuries and products that promote ecological connection, calmness,
grounding and gratitude on your daily journey through life.
The range includes pure resins and precious aromatics like
frankincense, myrrh, sage and palo santo, together with pure oils
and diffusers, journals, books, cards, inspirational games, Australian
music, crystals and jewellery.
Exclusive to Ecotopia is the gift of Nature to refresh and relax,
SerenaScent®, a combination of the most effective plant-derived
aromas reducing the impact of chronic stress on the body and mind.
This unique combination creates a calming, relaxing and serene
atmosphere. Perfect as a Christmas gift or for personal use, it’s
suitable for all ages and also works on pets. Find them at 4/3 Vuko
Place, Warriewood. P: 9999 0351
One of Mona Vale’s most inspiring shops,
The Art Shop is an independent art and
design store for the creative community of
the Northern Beaches. In The Art Shop you
will find everything you need for drawing,
sketching, journalling, doodling, and
painting with watercolours, acrylics or oils,
along with lots of materials to inspire young
budding artists. Along with an extensive
range of materials for the artist, student and
designer of any age, The Art Shop is packed
with creative and hard to find gift ideas for
Christmas and the holidays. Beautiful books
will inspire and fire the imagination. Paints,
pencils, pens, brushes, easels, papers,
journals, canvases and clay will bring ideas
to life. A range of art and creative activity
kits make for school holiday fun. Beautifully
designed jigsaws make for relaxing days over
the Christmas break. This colourful, peaceful
space is filled with inspiring and unusual
gifts to make a simple pleasure of Christmas
shopping. If choosing is hard, gift vouchers
for any amount are available. Located inside
the arcade at 20 Bungan Street, The Art Shop
is open 10am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and
10am to 2pm on Saturday. P: 9979 6559
Red Lauren
Friends and family members
will love the comforting,
crackling sound of a Red
Lauren wooden wick soy
wax candle – all lovingly
hand-made on the northern
beaches with nine gorgeous
fragrances to choose from
including French Pear and
Driftwood and Sea Salt. In
addition to traditional glass
containers, Red Lauren offers
stylish options including
smart marble wave and the
very much on-trend dimpled
copper container. The Red
Lauren range also includes
Room Reed Diffusers, Car
Diffusers and All-natural
Soaps. As a special Christmas
promotion for Pittwater
Life readers, Red Lauren is
offering free gift boxing and
free delivery and handling –
just use the code ‘present’
when ordering on the website
redlauren.com.au. Order
now to ensure delivery by
Christmas! P: 0447 569 100
DECEMBER 2020 63
Local Gift Guide