Little something…

Many, kids especially, look forward to Chinese New Year in anticipation of those little something they would receive from their elders and next of kin – the ang pow or hong pao or red packets containing money. There was a time when the minimum one should give was RM1.10, the 10 sen coin being a polite indication of having given a little bit more than just RM1.00 but I do not think people bother about that so much these days and they just give whatever they feel like giving.

I do know for a fact that these days, many are into this hobby of collecting ang pow packets and they would go round asking for any that anyone could spare to add to their collection. I always get a lot from the bank round the corner from my house and this year, they have even given me an exclusive box set…

…in addition to the regular ones but I do not need that many since I am not making those lanterns like the ones last year…

*Archive photo*

…to decorate my house. I would need a minimum of 24 ang pows to make one lantern like that.

My friend, Victor, also gave me some…

…from his shop but unfortunately, he only gave me the packets, no money inside. Hehehehehe!!!!

Then there were others from here and there…

…but I have bought a lot from the Foot & Mouth Artists people…

…so I actually have more than enough already. Talk about starting the brand New Year on the right foot, I was thinking that it would be a nice gesture in the right direction on this very auspicious occasion to do a little bit for charity to help the less fortunate.

However, one thing that is getting more and more scarce as the years roll by would be these Chinese New Year greeting cards…

Thank you, Somewhere in Singapore – yours is one of the three that I received this year and I got the other one from a very old friend of mine in Kuching and this one…

…made it just in time, from Hayley In Taiping, Perak. Thank you so much to you too, Hayley – so sweet of you to send one my way.