func.f_updatePoints = function(amnt)
        -- first make sure that the previous points display is removed --
        if g_gui and g_gui.pointsText then
                if g_gui.pointsText.parent then
                        display.remove(g_gui.pointsText);
        end
        g_gui.pointsText = nil;
        end

        data.points = data.points + amnt;
        local points = display.newRetinaText("PTS: "..data.points,265,13,"Lovely Eunike Hans",16);
        points:setReferencePoint(display.TopLeftReferencePoint);
        points.x = 360;
        points.y = 20;
        points.alpha = 0;
        g_gui:insert(points);
        g_gui.pointsText = points;

        -- animate it --
    timer:newTransition(points,{time=300,alpha = 1,y=30,onComplete = function(points)
        timer:newTransition(points, {delay=400,time=300,y=50,alpha = 0,onComplete=function(points)
            if points.parent then
                points.parent.pointsText = nil
                display.remove(points)
            end
        });
    });
end