October 7, 2009

Rolling Up Coins using Recycled Paper




I usually have quite a bit of coins in my drawers. And whenever I feel that it is time to bring my coins to the friendly shopkeeper down town I would use my very old style of counting money and roll the coins up in these old fashioned rolls.( The smaller coins packed in small plastic bags) go to the collection box for the Blind/Visually Disadvantaged at various bill collection centres.

This brings to mind the mother-in-law of my 7th Aunt who was in charge of the "money" in their textile shop so many decades ago in High Street Sibu. She would stack up the coins lovingly in different denominations and when she had enough of the 10's,20's and 50's she would roll them up to form $5.00's,$10.00's etc. Her fingers were amazingly nimble. Whenever my aunt had to go out from the shop to pick up some groceries she would pass by her mother-in-law and reverently asked for permission to leave the shop for a while. 7th aunt in her days never had the time nor the opportunity to go coffee- shop- hopping like what some of us younger generation love to do. It was not a "to-do" thingy then.

Grandmother Sia (or Ching Moo) was very attentive and she would be such a severe supervisor of the shop that every one would "fear" her. She was in total control of the cash and not a single cent would be wrongly counted in the buying and selling of the shop items. Her cashier's little unit was also well protected by several steel bars. Money went in and went out through a little square opening. I remember she had a good table top with two drawers which she kept under lock and key. And she sat on a beautiful European made swivel chair. Did any of the cousins ever try her swivel chair? I don't think so? May be only her own two grandsons did.

I also remember how she carried the keys of the shop and the safe in their inner / secret pocket. They were safely pinned by safety pin. Whenever she walked about we could hear the keys clanging.

I always think that she was the epitome of a Foochow towkay neo. So commanding and so in control. Probably she was the first Foochow towkay neo who practised POLC in a modern textile shop in my young eyes then. Years later I realise that the Chinese people always have their wives as managers of their shops. Or on the other hand the towkay's son would more often than not marry the cashier of their new outlet because she happens to be such a good accounts clerk.

And then I also learned that money can take full control a person's life too....But the Bible lessons in Sunday School also taught me that the love of money is the root of all evil.

(In another article I will post a picture of her swivel chair - which her family has been keeping in excellent condition long after they closed their textile shop...so until then - cheers)

14 comments:

Ah Ngao said...

yeah,the Bible taught us money crazy or the love of money is the root of all evil - its not true lah.i think it depends on the person with a lot of money - is evil or not.what do you think,S'kiana?

Yan said...

Yes, where your treasures are that is where your heart is!

Hi, just back from Singapore for some refreshing times! Check my blog. Ha, ha, doing some promotion here.

wenn said...

well..i am the one taking care of the counter for my husband..

Ensurai said...

Hi Ah Ngao
Nice of you to share youropinion about the value of money and the love for money....hahaha we all have our money dreams. But most important of all we have to treasure our talents and look after what God has given us...in Christian terms it is "stewardship".
Warm regards
Sarawakiana

Ensurai said...

Dear Yan
How are you? Have not been reading blogs much these few days.
We all have different treasures....a friend always reminds me "live simply so that others can simply live......"
But if I want to buy a DSLR I have to save up slowly....hehehehehe.
Must always remember to keep God in our hearts.

Ensurai said...

Wenn
How nice!! Do you just run to the bank laughing with all the money?? No need to roll the coins up I suppose....cheers.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Are you related to Belinda Sia? Where is she now?

Superman said...

Can trust own people more mah. Hehe. That's Chinese. :)

Ensurai said...

Dear Ann
My 7th Aunt's daughter is Belinda Sia!! That's her excellent grandmother I have described.

Belinda is in Melbourne I believe.


God bless.

Ensurai said...

Superman
I agree with you. The best people to help you in your business are your womenfolks....hehehehe!!
Who can be better than your own mother or your wife!!
Cheers.

Anonymous said...

Hi Cikgu
How are you? Nice to see this old style of making coin rolls. We used to do exactly this in my aunt's stall whenever we went to Miri. That was before the banks had their coin counting machine!! Nowadays we just bring our coins and let the machine count...Nice of you to remind us...Have a great day!
K

Ensurai said...

Hi K....
Yeah today banks are full of different machinery to help their customers.
I still like going to the neighbourhood shop and using my coins to buy my stuff.
Reminds me of the olden days when our ancestors strung their coins (with square holes in the centre). Paper money came very late to Asia/
China actually.
Now we have plastic money (credit cards).
Have a good day.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Sibu is really a place where you are bound to be related esp if you are a Foochow. There are 9 of us, 2 are married to Foochows. Not very typical.

You really must come to Auckland if you haven't been. Your sis would tell you, Summer is th eebst time to come. If you come, I will take you to Western Springs where you can feed all the feather animals and eels.

Thanks for news about Belinda. What about Chang Ming Chu?

Ensurai said...

I am not so sure about Chang Ming Chu but I do meet up with her brother Arthur Chang and once in a while her sister Chang Kerk Wen (My classmate) whenever I go to Sibu.

I will see if I could be in Auckland in the Summer sometime in the future. I have two friends I would like to visit and one cousin or two in the south.

Thanks for the invite.

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