Letter of the Month 2014 Project

In the month of February, I have participated in a project called "Letter of the Months"! This is a game for the letters challenge, which means you have to write letters to your friends everyday by using the pen. Not typing but hand-written letters. The more letters you have sent, the more achievements you would received in this project. Of course you would receive surprise letters too.

 

 

This project is started by an author named  Mary Robinette Kowal.

 

 

On September 2011, Mary Robinette Kowal decided it was time for a break. She spent the entire month offline, and asked her friends to communicate with her through letters. The results of this personal challenge were a revelation:

When I write back, I find that I slow down and write differently than I do with an email. Email is all about the now. Letters are different, because whatever I write needs to be something that will be relevant a week later to the person to whom I am writing. In some ways it forces me to think about time more because postal mail is slower. “By the time you get this…” It is relaxing. It is intimate. It is both lasting and ephemeral.

How so? I find that I will often read the letters that I receive twice. Once when I get them and again as I write back. So, that makes it more lasting. It is more ephemeral because I don’t have copies of the letters that I write and I am the only one who has copies of the letters that my correspondents write. So, more ephemeral.

I know a lot of postcrossers share these feelings - this is part of the reason why Postcrossing exists!

Mary's decided to turn February into a Month of Letters, in which she challenges herself and everyone who decides do join to write and send at least a piece of postal mail every day. Here are the rules:

Mail at least one item through the post every day it runs. Write a postcard, a letter, send a picture, or a cutting from a newspaper, or a fabric swatch.
Write back to everyone who writes to you. This can count as one of your mailed items.

We can't help but feeling postcrossers have their work cut out for them in this challenge... :) Nevertheless, we wanted to dare you all to do it! Write postcards, letters or aerogrammes or surprise a friend with an unexpected package. Maybe even pick a Facebook/Twitter friend and send them with an offline "hello!".

 

Are you up to Mary's challenge? Grab your stationery and stamps and start writing! :)

 

 

I have already sent some letters to some of my friends and also received surprise letters. I think this is fun as nowadays all the people are just using email for communicate to each other by typing instead of handwriting. Guess what?! Hand writing reminds me of my school days and I like that kind of feeling.

 

 

Well, if you are interested for Letter of the Months, you may participate now! Have fun!!! :)

Postcard from GB

I have received a surprised postcard from the Great Britain. It is sent by Karen.

 

The postcard she sent me is the view of Nottinghamshire. It is a beautiful postcard. I like it very much. From the postcard view, it makes me want to take a visit of the Nottinghamshire. Britain is always the country that I am looking forward to travel.

 

Anyway, I would like to thank Karen for this beautiful postcard. Thank you!!! :)

To Bright Up Your Day!!! ♡

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home.
He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed:
'Dear Lord:
I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home.
I want her to know what I go through
So, please allow her body to switch with mine for a day.

God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish.
The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman...
he arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids,
set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast, packed their lunches,
drove them to school, came home and picked up the dry cleaning,
took it to the cleaners and stopped at the bank to make a deposit,
went grocery shopping, then drove home to put away the groceries.
Then it was already 1 PM and he hurried to make the beds,
do the laundry, vacuum, dust, sweep and mop the kitchen floor,
ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument
with them on the way home, set out milk and cookies and
got the kids organized to do their homework.
Then set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing.
At 4:30 he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad,
breaded the pork chops and snapped fresh beans for supper.

After supper, he cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher,
folded laundry, bathed the kids and put them to bed.
At 9 PM he was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, 
he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed
to get through without complaint.

The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said: -
Lord, I don't know what I was thinking.
I was so wrong to envy mywife's being able to stay home all day
Please, Oh! Please, let us trade back.. Amen!'
The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied:

"My son, I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change
things back to the way they were. But you'll have to wait nine months, though.
You got pregnant last night"



This has been voted Women's Favorite Watsapp of the Year!

If you agree, send itto all your friends who would enjoy this!!!!! :D

My First Recepi Postcard

My first recepi postcard is received from Russia. It is sent by Maria. She lives in the Far East of Russia and would be a financial manager after her graduation. Maria likes cooking so much and borshch is a traditional Russian soup.

I think I would give it a try to cook the russian soup. Haha! :p Anyway, I would like to thank Maria for the lovely postcard. Thank you! :)

Paris View Postcard from Spain

Patxi from SPain has sent me a postcard of Eiffel Tower of Paris in the night view. it is a beautiful postcard and I like it. 

Patxi has written on the postcard that he lives in Errenteria, a small town in the Basque country, north of Spain. I would like to thank Patxi for the card and I wish to travel to Spain someday. Thank you! :)

Happy Double Valentine's Day!!! ♡

Happy Valentine's Day! Today is a very V-day as it is also the Chinese Valentine's Day. The Chinese Valentine's Day is called 'Yuan Xiao Jie' (元宵节) or 'Chap Goh Meh' in Malaysia. The Yuan Xiao Jie is the 15th day of the Chinese New Year, and in year 2014, this day falls on the 14/2/2014. Thus, it is both the western and Chinese V-day on the same date for this year. I call it Double Valentine's Day!!! :)

The double V-day is only happen 34 times in 1000 years. The probability is 0.033. Thus, 14/2/2014 is really a very,very special Valentine's Day!!!! I am wishing all of you a very happy Valentine's Day and happy Yuan Xiao Jie!!! ^.^

Happy Valentine's Day

元宵节快乐

情人节快乐

Himeji Castle, Japan Postcard

Hooray! A beautiful Himeji Castle of Japan is received. It is sent by Katsunori from Okayama. Okayama is a city of western Japan. Himeji Castle is also called the Shirasagi (Snowy Heron) Castle. The restoring work of the castle-donjon, which is designated as a national treasure, was completed in June, 1964.

 



Moreover, Katsunori also attached with the stamp of Doraemon! Wow! One of my favourite animation characters. The stamp is so lovely. Thus, I would like to thank Katsunori for both the beautiful postcard and the lovely stamp very, very much. I really LOVE them. Thank you, Arigato Gozaimasu!!! ^.^

 

Irish Postcard

 

An Irish postcard is sent by Claudia to me. The postcard is from Dublin, Ireland. Claudia has written that she is a German lady but stayed in the Ireland for more than 10 years as she is working there.

 

 

The postcard shows the view of the Coast of Achill Island, County Mayo of Ireland. It is a beautiful scenic view. Again, I wish I could visit there someday. Anyway, I would like to thank Claudia for the lovely postcard. Thank you!!! :)

V-Mail from USA

This is the first time I have received V-Mail from the USA. It is sent from Joe. I think V-Mail is similar to our aerogramme. Joe has written that this is an American Military V-Mail that soldiers used to write home with during the World War Two. Well, I think V-Mail is a history then.

 

If you would like to know more about V-Mail, you may refer to here. Joe has blogged about it. Anyway, I would like to thank Joe for the mail. Happy Valentine's Day!!! ^.^

 



Polar Bears Postcard from Ukraine

 

Wow! A Ukraine postcard with polar bears is received in last week. It was sent by an old couple Vladimir and Nealina who have been together for 55 years. A very lovely couple I think.

 

Anyway, I would like to thank both Vladimir and Nealina for the postcard and wish they will stay in good health and happy always!!! Lastly, thank you again for the postcard! :)

Self-Made Greetings Postcard from the Netherlands

A self-made greetings postcard is received from the Netherlands. This postcard is made by Julia, one of the children from the group called Mdew30. Mdew30 is a group of a class of a primary school with 15 children whom from age 10 to 12. This is the first postcard of them to Malaysia and they are excited for it.

 

 

Anyway, I would like to inform to Mdew30, especially Julia. I like the postcard you all sent to me and wish you all would keep up for such interesting project! Keep it up! Thank you for the card! :)

Postcards from Germany

Gabifl's Postcard

A London red Double-Decker Bus and telephone booth postcard was sent by Gabifl from Germany. Gabifl is a nurse and a mother of 3 children. She has lived in Tokyo before and enjoyed the time there. In the postcard, she has written that her husband has visited to Malaysia before. Thus I would like to welcome she and her family to travel Malaysia in this year as Year 2014 is "Visit Malaysia Year!" Anyway, I would like to thank Gabifl for the beautiful postcard.

Silvia's Postcard

Another German postcard is received from Silvia. It shows the view of Benediktiner-Kloster Ettal. It is a beautiful postcard. Silvia is from Bonn. She written in the card that it is a beautiful city. I wish I could travel such beautiful city someday.

 

 

Lastly, I would like to thank Silvia for the beautiful card. Thank you. :)

Postcards from Russia & Belarus

Russian Postcard

I have received 2 postcards from Russia and Belarus. The Russian postcard is from Alesia . She has sent me a snowing card and she was having -21C from her place. Wow! It really is a very cold place. Anyway, I would like to thank Alesia for the card.

 



 



Belarus Postcard

The Belarus postcard is sent by the Belarusian Postcrossing team. The Belarusianpostcrossers are from all ages and they sent the postcard to the receiver randomly I think. I am so lucky that I have been chosen by them. So this cars is sent from Minsk.

 

It is a very lovely card with a beautiful stamp attached. You may see from the card above. Anyway, this card is in one of my favourite lists and I would like to thank the Belarusian postcrossers! Thank you! ^.^

Chinese New Year Postcard from Canada

A Wooden Horse Lunar New Year postcard is received from Tanya, Alberta, Canada. She is one of my friends to swap the Chinese New Year card for my collection as I posted earlier.

 

Anyway, it is a beautiful postcard and I like it very much. Both of us have the same wish which is to have a good year for this brand new year. Lastly, I would like to thank Tanya for the beautiful card and Gong Xi Fa Cai!!! :)

Happy Human Day aka Ren Ri 人曰 !!!

Today is 6/2/2014, it is the REn Ri (Human Day). Renri (Chinese:人日, literally Human Day) refers specially to the 7th day of zhengyue (正月, the first month in the Chinese calendar). According to Chinese customs, renri was the day human beings were created. It is celebrated not only in China, but also other regions influenced by Chinese culture.

In Chinese legends, nüwa (女媧) is the goddess who created the world. She created the animals on different days, and human beings on the seventh day after the creation of the world.

According to legend, the custom dates back to the Han Dynasty, and gained importance after The Three Kingdoms period and Jin Dynasty. Traditional Chinese wear Rensheng (人勝) on their heads, or put sliced gold on pingfeng and hair. Poems are also composed on this day. Emperors after Tang Dynasty may grant beautiful clothing to his followers on this day.

If the weather on renri is fine, it can be forecast that God will grant good luck to all people on earth. Fireworks andHua Pao (花炮) are lit, so renri celebrates the "birthday" of fire as well.

Since the first days of zhengyue are considered "birthdays" of different animals, Chinese people avoid killing the animals on the respective birthday and punishing prisoners on renri.

Nowadays in zhengyue, renri is celebrated as part of the Chinese New Year. Chinese people prepare lucky food in the new year, where "Seven-vegetable soup" (七菜羹), "Seven-vegetable congee" (七菜粥) and "Jidi congee" (及第粥) are specially prepared forrenri. The Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese use "Seven-colour sliced fish" aka "Yee Sang" (七彩魚生) instead of "Seven-vegetable soup".

So, make sure you will have Yee Sang today for the celebration of the RenRi. Lastly, Happy Birthday to everybody!!! ^.^

Auspicious Day for Work Resumption 开工大吉

Today is the 6th day (初六) of the Lunar New Year of the Wooden Horse. Many people are started to resume the work or school today after the long holidays. Today is the good date for work resumption. 

Thus, i would like to wish all the people to have a good work start or school start on this auspicious day. 开功大吉!!! ^.^

Surprised CNY Card from Taiwan

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!! A surprised Chinese New Year card is received from Apple, who is from Taiwan. It is a very beautiful card and i like it.

In the card, Apple written that she has adopted a cat recently and the cat likes to sit on her lap. I think Apple is a cat lover though! :p Apple also written that she is studying architecture.

Anyway, i would like to thank Apple for the beautiful CNY card and wish her have a prosperous new year. 谢谢！^_^

Surprised Movie Postcard

" Midnight in Paris ", a surprised movie postcard was received on 3/2/2014. It was sent by Tinny, from my neighbour country, Singapore. Tinny written in her card that she is also celebrating the Chinese New Year like me.

I googled about "Midnight in Paris" movie after i got this postcard and i found that this is a Romantic comedy fantasy film. The actors/actresses are Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Kurt Fuller,etc..

Anyway,I would like to thank Tinny for the postcard as I like it and I will try to watch such movie too. Once again, thank you Tinny!!! :)