FollowOn the last day of 2025, my new life in my hometown of Ipoh felt noticeably different from how it would have been if I were still living in Kuala Lumpur.
There was no rush, no countdown plans, no packed schedule. Instead, the day unfolded quietly, anchored in simple routines and shared moments with my aging parents — and somehow, that felt just right.
The morning began with a drive to the hospital to collect my mum’s medication. Thanks to an appointment-based, drive-thru system, the process was smooth and efficient. No long queues, no waiting rooms — just a calm, practical start to the day. Moments like this remind me how much healthcare routines become part of daily life when you’re caring for elderly parents, and how grateful I am when things go smoothly.
After that, we headed to the Bercham food court to buy lunch. Bercham has always been known for good, affordable food, and it didn’t disappoint. The prices here are almost half of what I was used to in KL — even something as simple as roast chicken breast feels like a small win for both the wallet and the soul.
For dinner, we decided on steamboat at Johnny’s Restaurant in AEON Mall, Kinta City. We chose the clear soup base — light, mild, and not overly salty. Best of all, there was no inextinguishable thirst afterward, which is always a good sign. It was an easy, pleasant meal, and one we’ll definitely return for in the future.
31st December is also a special day for another reason — it’s Haru’s birthday. She turned five this year. I video-called Sherilyn and Cass so they could wish her a happy birthday, even though Haru didn’t really look at the phone (very on-brand for a cat). The girls miss her dearly, and in just three weeks, they’ll finally see her again when we head back to KL for Alycia’s convocation.
There was no New Year’s Eve countdown for my parents and me. No loud celebrations and no champagne glasses raised at midnight. But the night was peaceful, and my heart felt full. Happiness, I’m learning, doesn’t always come with noise. Sometimes it arrives quietly, in the form of shared meals, familiar streets, and the comfort of simply being together.
This was how we said goodbye to 2025 — gently, gratefully, and at our own pace.
Here’s a video of our last day of 2025 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KzLuGOhg2XQ
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