ff+m (184 Stoke Newington High Street, 0207 923 1211) is a one-stop shop for all manner of Christmas paraphernalia, with a range of decorations for your house. Cobbled Yard (I Bouverie Road, 020 8809 5286) stock a great selection of antiques, pine and collectables, unusual and ideal Christmas presents. 

Route 73 Kids (86 Stoke Newington Church Street, 0207 923 7873) has lots of appropriately educational toys and fun stuff for children. There's a good range of inexpensive stocking fillers and some games for kids of all ages. 

I'm sure you know someone with a skateboard on their Christmas list. Or at least a request to dress like a skater, and Bored on Board (111 Stoke Newington Church Street, 0207 254 9740) continue to be a brilliant local stockist of Bench and Carhartt - jumpers, hats, jeans, belts and wallets - among others, as well as more serious skating equipment. Like the board. Or the wheels. Or whatever it is you have to have. 

Hub (49 Stoke Newington Church Street, 0207 254 4494) are discerningly stocked as ever with beautiful clothes, bags, shoes and various Christmas treats. The John Smedley knitwear, Oria Kierly handbags, Fred Perry hat and scarf sets and Camper shoes would all make great gifts. This emporium of all things stylish is possibly not your first thought for children's clothes, but they have a good stock of Petit Bateau clothes for miniature fashionistas. 

Sunstone (16 Northwold Road, N16 0207 923 1991) women- only health and fitness club has now entered its 1311 year of existence and has slashed its joining fee to 1992 levels. For the women in your life, the club has a range of gifts, including beauty products and treatments, sports and casual fashionwear and luxurious pamper days, among many others. There are also various gift voucher options for people to embark on a healthy 2005. Check out their full range on www.sunstonewomen.com.

No matter how hard you try some people are impossible to buy for. The answer? Food. Gallo Nero (75 Stoke Newington High Street, 0207 254 9770) has lots of delicious items which would make good presents, such as traditional pannetonne in decorative boxes (£7.50 - £12.50), lemon doro and pandoro Chantilly (£8.50), Baci chocolates, amaretti biscuits in gift tins, champagne wines (£8.50), torrone and panforte (£3.5O-£5.50). Cassi (53 Stoke Newington Church Street) also has some great gifts for people with a sweet tooth, and Fresh and Wild (32-40 Stoke Newington Church Street, 0207 254 2332) have a good selection of organic wines and cheese & cracker presents along with Zen Sense gift sets (El 5) containing teas and soaps, Head to Toe sets (£I4.99) containing a variety of lip treatments and pedicure items and Lavender gift boxes (£l0). 

For a slightly more unusual gift, you could try a one-day stained glassmaking course at the Rainbow Glass Studios (Guttridges Yard 172c Stoke Newington Church Street, 0207 249 0276). The studio also has a limited range of beautiful glassware on sale. Shine Holistic (52 Stoke Newington Church Street, www.shineholistic.co.uk ) are offering gift vouchers, so you can treat someone to a massage or some aromatherapy to banish New Year's blues.

Still stuck? Books from Stoke Newington Bookshop (159 Stoke Newington High Street, 0207 249 2808) or electrical gadgets from Vision Link on Stoke Newington High Street maybe? If none of this works then buy them a bottle of wine from Oddbins and go to the pub.