As the final hours of 2025 inevitably draw closer, I am reminded of the noticeable deviation between my planned and actual progress. Circulating social media are reminders that mere survival is worth commending, and that even the small wins are worth celebrating. However much I may preach the same message to those experiencing feelings of unfulfillment, I am a hypocrite. Those same sentiments do not hold validity for me.

Whether it be described as unwavering determination or naïve, unrealistic ambition, I couldn't care less about the classification. What matters is that goals were made, but not all were achieved within the designated time frame.

Substantial setbacks were suffered when I departed the downtown core in favour of a work location closer to home. My commute improved drastically, effectively slashing the total travel time by one third, yet my physical, mental, and emotional states were subject to a harsh blow. Having breathed easy for the past two years, the change mimicked the torturous, traumatic days of private sector work. Many months would pass before I could stand on two feet again.

Just when I believed that brighter days were ahead, my world drowned with darkness. Loss of a loved one is never easy, but experiencing grief firsthand was yet another grueling challenge for the mind and body. And while I have come to terms with the new reality, it still feels surreal at times, knowing that what was once constant is no more. The event was a cold reminder that humans are mere mortals vulnerable to the brunt of time.

​Returning home, it dawned on me that Operation Clean The House would need to be rebooted, else it'd never take place. New horrors await in the new year, after all. An ominous feeling rooted deep within my heart also urged me to inherit and acquire (via skill) family recipes that could potentially be lost with further changes.

​Honey Date Tea / 杏仁蜜棗茶 has been my saviour for all throat-related concerns from youth. Albeit straightforward in its ingredient list, the procedure was supposedly time-consuming. Being presented with this tea time and time again without a recipe for repeatability, I deemed it appropriate to devise a written method for reference.

​While the tea sat atop the stovetop, simmering away for hours on the lowest heat setting possible, I went to work reorganizing my bakeware collection. Since the pandemic days, the assortment of pans, tools, and accessories have multiplied exponentially. Gradually, the chaos and inconvenience became too much to endure.

Shelves were procured from IKEA under the assumption that assembly would be straightforward. After three hours of scratched shelves and a shaky frame, I surrendered and sought help from TaskRabbit instead. In partnership with IKEA, the portal allowed users to find "neighbours" offering handyman services and request a time slot suitable for both parties.
For those with natural aptitudes at building or constructing, this service may not be relevant. However, in a society with an aging population, such personnel become extremely helpful to those without the inability to DIY.

​A small amount of cleaning was conducted, as was inspecting all areas for expired food.

The last few days of the year proceeded under anxiety. With the other member of the household still out of commission, the responsibility of survival operations fell upon my shoulders. Groceries and errands were completed in a hurry, followed by cooking. Within the span of an hour, four stops were completed; my browsing partner assisted with the remaining two, enabling commencement of sustenance preparation shortly after 11 AM.

Christmas felt more than a little different this year.
For starters, we weren't celebrating - not officially anyway. But the lingering flu symptoms plaguing one member of the household had yet to dissipate completely.

Before the influx of illness though, a turkey had been procured. Celebration or not, sustenance wasn't negotiable. We reckoned we'd make several meals out of a single turkey anyway.

​Simple sides accompanied the glistening centrepiece: boiled yellow potatoes, canned pineapple chunks, and freshly sliced tomatoes. The assortment appeared minimal in comparison to past years, yet I frankly preferred it. Zucchini and Little Gem potatoes roasted with butter often reveal themselves too satiating alongside a meaty entrée. There is also far more food than can be reasonably consumed by two people. By scaling down the lavishness of the meal, we had inadvertently also prevented food waste!

​Brined overnight with plenty of garlic cloves, the oven roasted turkey was likely the best variation to emerge from our kitchen. Tender, juicy, and unbelievably flavourful, I declared it fitting that the side dishes had persisted conservative as to allow the turkey to take centre stage. Most impressively, all parts of the bird were thoroughly cooked through. The breast remained succulent despite its leanness, while dark meat along the thighs were marvelous, boasting irresistible flavour from hours of diligent preparation.

Holiday Rice Krispies

The annual return of Christmas cookies hadn't anticipated to be omitted, but the timing of festive preparations coincided with a turbulent return to reality. Rather than gleeful cut out cookies glistening with colourful sprinkles, I turned towards a simpler take on holiday treats: Rice Krispies.

​When the return of red, green, and white Rice Krispies returned to the shelves, I flocked towards the boxes, in spite of their four-dollar price tags. The seasonal variety was a pivotal element of my childhood and, as with many young Canadians, associated with family-friendly undertakings for school parties.

​Over the years, I've experimented with a wide range of Rice Krispies flavours, only to return to the original every single time. 

Regardless of my health status, I had planned to make the Monday before Christmas a sick day. Over the weekend, a sore throat and sinus pain had crept up, then gradually subsided with diligent nasal rinsing. Meanwhile, the remainder of the household was engulfed with severe flu symptoms, ranging from fever to nausea and vomiting, and a persistent cough.
My once peaceful morning was consequently repurposed for doctor appointment drop-off, medication pick-up, and groceries.

​In spite of an early awakening, my eventual departure for the northeast end of the GTA was delayed.

I arrived at my first stop of Oomomo around 1:15 PM - approximately 1.25h behind schedule. Locating parking in the FMP plaza is perpetually a nightmare; thankful was I to have chanced across two vacancies during my second loop about the space.
The intent had been to purchase a holiday card and envelope set prior to seeing Sunday Baking at her pop-up. Alas, all Christmas-themed items had sold out. I resorted to the next best alternative of a wintry dove letter kit.

The pickup process was as swift as could be - it was my commentary that was not! Having been presented with the rare opportunity to relay my appreciation in the flesh, I couldn't help but excitedly express my gratitude and admiration for her creative masterpieces! The honour was truly mine. Sunday Baking was easily my baking role model, in addition to my mentor and teacher. She had, albeit unknowingly, enabled me to create by providing free, valuable content via her YouTube videos and remarkable troubleshooting. I was ecstatic, for since the end of the stay sweet phase, I hadn't been certain that I would see her again.

​When ROYCE's Nama Chocolate had first risen to fame, I committed to a box at their Richmond Centre kiosk. After bringing the costly specimen back home though, I quickly discovered my aversion towards the dimensionless squares and their excessive dusting of cocoa powder.
But Sunday Baking's creations are different. Despite having reservations about certain treats, I've learned to trust in her formulas. The same theory was applied to the quad of Nama Chocolate on offer at the holiday pop-up.

Read Part 1 HERE !

​Hello Nori was my belated birthday dinner destination of choice - not that this was made known to my browsing partner beforehand. When the original plan of routing through the 100 Queen St W garage fell through due to City Hall's 6 PM closure, I descended down an alternative access to the PATH.
The stairwell and landing area did reveal any differences from when I had last commuted, however the internal corridors of the below-grade connections had undergone a dramatic facelift. The grungy environment was made brilliant with white tiling and marble walls. Seating had also been revamped with grey lounge chairs to appear more appealing and welcoming.

The section between Nathan Phillips and Hudson Bay went ultimately unexplored, for we turned into the Sheraton for lavatory facilities before continuing southbound towards York/Wellington.

Reservations were not supported by Hello Nori, thus we joined the queue and alerted the hostess upon arrival. She approximated a twenty-minute wait in consideration of the two parties ahead of us. While waiting, it dawned on me that eatery strictly utilized bar seating, without any private tables in the vicinity. Bags could be placed underneath the dining counter on one of the many double hooks installed underneath. Jackets could also be hung in the same location, though I took to the wonky, wobbly coat rack to prevent my sleeves from grazing my shoes and the floor.

Approximately fifteen minutes later, we were gestured towards two seats at the end of the U-shaped seating area closest to the waiting area. The hostess made certain to note the bar chair's swivel capabilities, as well as the height adjustment lever. I appreciated the ability to tailor the seating configuration to fit one's physical requirements, but appreciated the stool's built-in foot rest even more. Too often does a metal rod affixed to the bottom of the counter serve as a communal foot rest, and rarely does it accommodate my leg length.

​With Takeout and Dine In order slips placed along the length of the queue, we had plenty of time to review the restaurant's offerings prior to ordering. The menu was extremely compact, comprising of shareable portions of oshizushi and temaki (hand rolls) without a single side of greens in sight. Miso soup and edamame could be requested at four dollars each, though hearty options such as donburis were not to be found.
Hello Nori's signature selection of hand rolls could be requested in sets of 4 pieces, 5 pieces, and 6 pieces. Meanwhile, Aburi Oshi Sushi and Sashimi could be used to supplement the carb-heavy assortment.

​The hostess advised against ordering the 6-piece set, for most patrons find that they are unable to deplete it in its entirety. My browsing partner express dubiousness towards this suggestion, noting a decent appetite. We awaited for the waitress's rundown of the fixed menu and seasonal specials before placing our order.

View the full album HERE !

In the latter half of the week, I was feeling undeniably hoarse. I continued to screech through calls beyond the morning hours, then experienced ominous throat pain. There was also nausea, a mild cough, and loss of appetite - all of which pointed to a potential contraction of flu.

Weekend plans with my browsing partner became subject to review. The original itinerary was evaluated against my physical ability to execute the stops. Foregoing the last weekend of holiday festivities wasn't in the plans, so I was determined to power through a downtown day regardless.

​​​Departure was delayed as I scrambled to ready myself in nice attire for the rare outing. Contrasting against my preppy ensemble, my browsing partner arrived donning the usual casual pieces, which later proved to be insufficient in terms of providing warmth.

Signifying our arrival in the downtown core was none other than the sights of residents of the street. Little had changed since my transition away from Toronto, for the regulars remained perched in their usual spots, either sheltered under overpasses or huddled over air vents. Amusingly, one even had a tree, inclusive of ornaments and a single gift of Ensure.

​I was familiar with the Green P lot directly underneath City Hall from the perspective of a commuter, but never as a driver. Rates were reasonable, but only if not intending to stay past the 6 PM mark. Impark's Bell Trinity Square lot was the better option was all-day stays.

​Returning to Nathan Phillips Square instilled a sense of nostalgia. Suddenly, the lofty tree outside City Hall transformed into a photo-worthy attraction. The weekend had also summoned a different crowd (those without laptops) onto the premises.

We headed towards Eaton Centre via the Bay Street mid-block crossing. Candy Cane Lane assumed a popular photo stop for many visitors; while I'd normally stride past on my former lunch walks, I paused this time around to partake in photos and help others looking to capture the scene.

Our Eaton Centre objective was none other than the Holiday Light Show. Meandering towards the centre court, I caught sight of a cluster of police personnel huddled about a man outside Indigo. Passerbys were unable to view the man's face due from beyond the huddle, merely catching glimpses of disheveled hair and grunts. What a warm welcome to downtown!

Returning annually, the mall's Holiday Light & Snow Show had been elevated from previous years with the addition of Canadiana-themed projections and comparatively elaborate light configurations. Instead of operating at designated times on weekdays and weekends, the show had been rescheduled to illuminate hourly between mid-November and January 2nd, facilitating attendance accordingly.

​​With about four minutes to go, we hurriedly took our positions. Hovering by the third floor railings would provide unobstructed views and maintain ergonomic position of the neck, though I was keen on being enveloped in the artificial snow that would conclude the arrangement.

The sequence was undeniably better than past years, and rightfully crowned an attraction worth travelling for. Beyond its signature all-red appearance, the tree also transitioned between blue and purple! We were caught off guard by the abundance of fake snow, which clung to our hair and spectacles with no intention of detaching even with aggressive wiping.

When I first joined this workplace, I was convinced that not a single employee knew the meaning of work-life balance. To be frank, I still don't think the delineation is as distinct as those living the downtown - or downtown commuter - life. Yet, the reactions I witnessed in real time lead me to believe that the workplace wasn't as dire as once thought.

​Needless to say, I was less than enthusiastic about returning to the office. I enjoyed my days at home, munching on Taiwan souvenirs while shielded from the blistering winds of a true Canadian winter. Social interactions were the sole element to be missed from office attendance. And of course, the gorgeous sunset gradients!

​When I unveiled the doors to the familiar space, I was welcomed by an abundance of festive decorations. A Turkey Dinner Lunch poster informed me of an impending potluck with a turkey centrepiece - not that anyone had told me, of course.

​Near the window, two slow cookers simmered away at the sizable birds, their cooking aromas detectable by all those perched in the proximity.

​Incredible was this holiday feast! In addition to two extremely tender turkeys (deboned by upper management themselves!) were mashed sweet potatoes, salad, momos (the dumpling kind), roasted beets, fried rice, and more. The dessert table was equally brimming with goodies.

​Lunch in tow, I resorted to assembling a container to take home; placed within were: macaroni salad, potatoes, heirloom tomato salad, roasted beets, as well as turkey fitted with a ladle of cranberry sauce. Consumed later that evening as dinner, I must admit that the spread was scrumptious!

While the West Coast was disgustingly devoid of holiday decor, the same sentiment did not apply back home. Along with the lofty specimen that had been illuminated during Light Up The Square, the Civic Centre lobby featured two additional trees. One had been constructed entirely of potted poinsettias, which, I can confirm, were maintained regularly by staff in the early hours of the work day.

​An overcast, snowy day led me to the warmth of the mall. Again, a plethora of holiday installations were witnessed. The season of shopping had also given rise to limited-time retail events.

Browsing briefly, I noted the arrival of Zootopia - not Zootopia 2!!! - merchandise at Miniso and the availability of matcha at yogen fruz. Bingz had also disappeared from the food court, its storefront now replaced with an olive green banner indicating the imminent arrival of a Middle Eastern confectionery shop.

​Further festivities awaited me at the midway point of the week. An offsite team potluck welcomed us at the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre.

Based off the dismal pizza and pop lunch and astoundingly varied breakfast potuck, I wasn't quite sure what to expect of this event. Ping Pong was unexpected, as was Greek catering. Sponsored by the "leadership team", the quantity of chicken souvlaki and salad was rather meager. A veggie tray served to supplement the trays' contents.

When the need to visit the Downsview area crept up once more, I found myself contemplating lunch options in North York before heading back. Also imminent was the expiry of my Mister Wheel coupon, so I began to review eateries around the Yonge and Church/Churchill intersection.

Uninspired by ramen and abura soba (mazesoba's heavier, more satiating cousin) and eager to redeem a missed opportunity to try a culinary specialty, 555 Boat Noodles was the obvious choice.

The casual eatery had been closed during the Thanksgiving holiday, subjecting me to the grief of unbearably fiery kimchi bibimyeon at Nakwon Kisa Restaurant. While it was nonetheless a fun time reminiscing with a former colleague, the quality of the sustenance hardly justified its price.

It was just after 12 PM when we pulled into the North York area. Strolling south on Yonge, it was discovered that The Poke Box had replaced Sugar Marmalade's dingy, dim storefront with a fresh coat of vibrant, exotic pink paint. In addition, a blind box and keychain store by the name of Toys Collection had taken over the space left vacant by The Printing House.

On an awfully rainy, yet utterly typical West Coast, morning, we made our way to Burnaby again. Frequent and endless are my gripes about poor connections in the GVA area, but weekday mornings post rush hour made for a ridiculously smooth commute.

I witnessed an atrocious lack of professionalism once more. For a province that prides itself in connecting with nature on a spiritual level, its population has failed to overcome the countless physical challenges associated with rainfall in a manner that demonstrates respects to civilians. Though perhaps all of my woes would be eliminated with the introduction and application of common sense.

​Hearts heavy but stomachs light, the party headed towards The Jade for dim sum lunch. The restaurant's relocation from central Richmond (Oh, the infamous Alexandra Rd!) to Bridgeport had been an amusing choice.

Consistent was its location on the second floor of the building. Visitors could either climb the lofty flight of stairs leading to the reception area or wait for the sluggish elevator on the opposite side of the entrance.

The party of six (myself included) took to an assortment of steamed and braised dim sum dishes, incorporating a handful of rarer items on the basis of nostalgia:

• 晶瑩鮮蝦餃
• 安康燒賣皇
• 豉汁蒸排骨
• 煎臘味蘿蔔糕
• 香茜牛肉刮刮陽
• 西米黑芝麻焗布丁
• 黃金流沙包
• 籠仔梅菜蒸油菜
• 乾炒牛河

​Har Gow (蝦餃) and Siu Mai (燒賣) have never been items to tickle my fancy. They were always forgettable, no matter the innovation behind each rendition.

My picks lay with the Custard Lava Buns, which were scalding hot yet utterly delectable, and the Black Sesame Sago Baked Pudding, which took an eternity to emerge and led to nothing more than disappointment. Bland, boring, tacky, and unharmonious, I could not believe that the crunchy topping was the only acceptable element of the mid-day dessert.

All other selections were passable. While others may beg to differ, I tend to find Chinese cuisine in Vancouver to be more intricate and generally tastier than in the GTA. Prices will vary based on restaurant prestige and surrounding demographic, but there is greater probability of sustaining value for price paid on the West Coast - speaking exclusively for Richmond, though.

Later that afternoon, I finally made it to Little Pisces. Quite dismayed I was to not have been able to stop by their first location in Burnaby last year, the taiyaki specialty shop became a priority stop for the current trip (and possibly last trip on the foreseeable future).

Not even a week would pass before I tired of the mucky, grey scene outside. Another day, another downpour. Beyond suppressing any desires to venture out into the world, it further worsened already appalling driving conditions.

The day started with a Staples run, wherein parking spaces were few and drivers wielding their ungodly wide SUVs traversed down the centre of the drive aisles instead of adhering to the right. Basic driving training was an obvious void. Had I had not been equipped with ample driving experience, inclusive of 401 rush hour defenses, I'd have declared it dangerous to maneuver about the 2 km radius. 

At Staples, I was reunited with the World's Softest Plush, still beautifully rosy in hue and huggable as ever.

​We then headed towards Costco, as per my proposal. The route, despite being just seven minutes long, wasn't intuitive by any means. Unclear signage led me onto a freeway ramp, hence doubling travel time. Driving during daytime hours with precipitation was tragic enough, but, once darkness settled, it was at least three times worse.

​Thankfully, the odd Thursday saw acceptable visitor volumes. I secured a ridiculously convenient space in close proximity to the entrance. After carefully checking both ways for incompetent drivers, we scurried into the warehouse for some indoor window shopping therapy.

​Plenty of the Kirkland-branded inventory were also available at my home stores. However, several snacks were not. Exclusive products included strawberry-shaped gummies, locally produced beef jerky, various types of bird's nest products, and more. I struggled to resist the gargantuan bag of Caramel Popcorn Turtle Chips, eventually succumbing to its allure before confirming availability of luggage space. The same sentiment extended towards a pack of Loaker Tortina, which had seen prices settling in at $5 per 63 g box - essentially double that of the 2023 Eataly sale!

​The sheer abundance of samples was another staggering revelation. From prosciutto to crackers to coffee, the varieties were seemingly endless, and plentiful as well! I had never seen intact slices of crackers or meat being provided in the GTA.

​Once the transaction for snacks had terminated, I meandered over towards the readymade food section.

Not seeing any exclusives, we decided to share a Vanilla/Chocolate Ice Cream Cone, just like the good ol' days. Gargantuan cone in hand, we shifted towards the standing dining area. Picnic tables were not present at this location. A mother and daughter duo later casually 搭檯ed without so much as a respectful salutation. ​We didn't mind much, but I did wish they had presented some basic manners in the interaction instead of leaning into our table when negative reactions were not expressed.

​Different eating times can lead to disagreement, possibly even stronger conflict than with those without a strict eating schedule (or the need to eat at all!). When opinions conflict, the easiest resolution is to go your separate ways - an option that my browsing partner refuses to execute, thus causing all parties to grudgingly be dragged along for the sake of togetherness. (But that's a separate complaint.)

Priority for reviewing Taiwan photos led to a late lunch secured via UberEats. Consistent with previous remarks, ordering food delivery in Vancouver remains superior to the GTA. Beyond the plethora of options and $0 Delivery Fee, delivery is always swift (usually 15-30 minutes) and portions are exceptionally generous at their given price points. Any outing for sustenance usually spans a minimum of 90 minutes, as travelling between eateries is painfully slow even with a vehicle within reach. Locals can also confirm that travelling short stretches (4 km or less) along No. 3 Road can require twenty minutes or more, though they are unlikely to gripe about the distance travelled per hour unlike frequent highway users. As a small eater, one of the best things about order UberEats is the "benefit" of takeout containers and plastic/paper bags being provided without the excruciating eco fees tacked onto the bill. For at least half a decade, the cost of containers have been passed onto the consumer, now at a whopping fifty cents per unit!

​And so, ordering the item of my cravings via the platform was the informed decision. In spite of the excessive $5.70 "Service & BC Courier Fee", the bill remained well under $50 even after tip!

From JOHN 3:16 Malaysian Delights, I requested Hainanese Chicken Rice, Satay Chicken, and a Hot Teh Tarik, otherwise known as Malaysian milk tea.

Four lengthy skewers of Satay Chicken set me back $12.05, plus another $0.60 with the addition of peanut sauce. Admittedly, not having to fret over potential peanut intake was liberating! Unveiling the box, I was incredibly surprised to find two containers of the condiment. Had the request been tacked onto an Uber order back home, the portion would be puny and unjustified.
The sauce paired delightfully with the tasty and tender chicken. The skewers were flavourful: seasoned comprehensively and glazed/charred to perfection. To combat greasiness from gradual loss of temperature, I dunked the fresh cucumber chunks into the peanut sauce. Raw red onion pieces were, of course, discarded. 

​After hunger-related qualms were solved independently, a snack time outing could be facilitated with ease. We headed to Lansdowne Mall in search Bubble Waffle Café. While there are numerous outposts of the egg waffle hotspot, each location is priced differently. Based on the demographic, I reckoned that the Lansdowne location would not only be most economic, but involve the shortest wait time.

Strolling towards the food court, I passed by a baby boutique stocked with Jellycats as well as Van Cheong's familiar storefront. 

Fresh Elements has been a longstanding occupant of Richmond food courts. Since their 2014 days in Yaohan Centre, the BOGO deal price has been steadily climbing from $3.99. At present, eleven years since the summer that changed everything, a basic milk tea with pearls rings in at $7.49 before tax.

Bubble Waffle Café was situated in one of the corners of the food court. We took to an Original, now costing $4.95. Payment was settled in cash, at which point we were instructed to return in fifteen minutes to retrieve our order.