Christmas Spiced Shortbread Who doesn't love shortbread? A pointless question, unless you're vegan or avoiding gluten, I suppose—but even then, surely the idea of it still sounds good! Shortbread feels inherently festive to me. Maybe it’s the buttery richness or its association with colder months. I wanted to take this classic treat closer to Christmas, inspired by the warm spices and bright citrus notes of the season. Think Christmas Pudding, Christmas Cake, Mince Pies, or Stollen—there’s something about cinnamon, clove, and allspice that perfectly complements winter’s chill. For my festive version, I’ve added a mix of spices, citrus zest, and a small twist: raisins soaked in Cointreau for a hit of fruity sweetness and orange flavor. (Feel free to switch up the soaking liquid—rum, hot tea, or even water will do.) A quick note on clove: it’s a potent spice, and not everyone loves its strength. If that’s you, reduce it to 1/4 teaspoon. I’ve also added almond extract for a subtle...
Isle of Wight: Part 2
It’s Isle of Wight: Part 2! I said I’d be back, and
this time, I delivered!
The Bay, Vegan Deli
If you caught Isle of Wight: Part 1, you’ll know my
feet and legs were protesting loudly after a long, long walk.
That evening, I had a chat with my trusty friend GPT about
how to plan the next day. I wanted something fun but less demanding on my legs.
After a bit of research, I discovered that the Isle of Wight is famous for
dinosaur fossils. Being a bit of a geek, this sounded like the perfect
adventure.
It turned out Sandown was the best spot for fossils, so the
next morning, I hopped on the bus from the conveniently located stop near my
accommodation. There was just one little hiccup—I took the bus in the wrong
direction! Luckily, the island’s bus routes are loops, and the fare is set, so
I eventually made it to Sandown. On the bright side, I got an unplanned scenic
tour!
While en route, I looked up food options and found a vegan
deli called The Bay. After a short stroll along the pier, I popped in
for breakfast.
I was excited about this place because there’s nothing quite
like it near home. The people were friendly, and the menu offered plenty of
options. Naturally, being a vegan deli, everything was vegetarian too. I went
for their full English equivalent.
I arrived just after 11:30 AM. They told me I could wait for
the lunch menu—apparently, their roast dinner is award-winning—but I was on a
breakfast mission, and nothing was going to change that.
The meal wasn’t your standard English breakfast, but I
enjoyed it overall. The mushrooms, though, were so garlicky they could’ve
warded off a city’s worth of vampires. I’ve never been a fan of avocado
either—it’s supposed to be a millennial thing, but as someone born just within
that range, I don’t get the hype. Surprisingly, when mashed into guacamole and
served with “facon” and toast, it was actually nice. The plate also featured
vegan sausages (probably Richmond), tomatoes, beans, and more toast. Overall, I
was impressed.
Here’s where things took a turn. When I ordered, I paid
upfront, which was fine—some places do that. But when I left, the lady at the
counter chased me down the road, claiming I hadn’t paid!
I walked back to show her my banking app with the
transaction. She apologised but explained they’d had issues with people walking
out without paying. What upset me was that it was the same person who’d taken
my payment earlier.
Maybe I’m overly sensitive, but being wrongly accused of
stealing is upsetting, especially when you know you did nothing wrong. Therapy
gave me tools to manage moments like this, but it still threw off my day.
Sandown Wildlife Sanctuary
Despite the rocky morning, I decided to press on. The
Dinosaur Museum was my original plan, but to my disappointment, it was
closed—it doesn’t open on Sundays.
Fortunately, I’d noticed a zoo (technically a wildlife
sanctuary) on the bus ride in, so I made that my backup plan. I love animals,
so this was right up my alley.
Although the earlier incident lingered in my mind, the zoo
lifted my spirits. I saw meerkats, lions, tigers, monkeys, and even had a close
encounter with lemurs in their walk-through exhibit. I’ll let the pictures do
the talking.
The sanctuary’s café was pricey, but given that proceeds
support their work, it was forgivable. Lunch was simple—a sandwich and a
drink—but it hit the spot.
Fossil Hunting
Still feeling off from the morning, I decided a walk might
help clear my head. Although the Dinosaur Museum was closed, there was no
reason I couldn’t look for fossils myself. One small problem: I didn’t know
what I was looking for!
What was supposed to be a short walk turned into several
hours, but it was beautifully peaceful. Cloudy weather kept most people away,
adding to the tranquility.
When I reached a boulder field as far as I could go, I
paused to soak it all in. With no one around, I practiced a few therapeutic
Kung Fu patterns. While I wasn’t exactly on top of the world, the walk helped
me feel lighter.
The Mermaid Bar
After the walk, I was exhausted—physically and mentally.
Thankfully, my accommodation was right by the Isle of Wight Distillery and its
accompanying Mermaid Bar. I strolled in for dinner, capping off the day with
fish and chips.
Sitting outside with my meal and a pint was exactly what I
needed. The fish was well-cooked, and the batter was crispy. While pub chips
can’t match a proper chippy, they were still good. I paired it with an Atlantic
pale ale—fitting, given my island setting.
That night, I slept soundly.
Heading Home
Though the trip wasn’t the relaxing getaway I’d hoped for, I
thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Isle of Wight. The food was generally
wonderful, the views stunning, and most people were lovely and accommodating.
There’s still so much left to see, like the Needles and the
Donkey Sanctuary, so I’ll definitely be back.
This trip reminded me that you don’t need to go far for a
change of scenery. Beautiful places are often just a train ride—or three—away.
When will you explore more of the UK or your home country?
