Hectic First Day of CNY!!!

On the first day of Chinese New Year, we did so many things and went to quite a number of places (all in the name of tradition: which means that we went to the same places EVERY YEAR!!!).

First, it is the family tradition to partake of this longan drink, which was offered for prayers the night before

Tai Koo, her daughter, grandchildren and son-in-law

I don't know why they are standing and consuming the drink!

Here's the patriach, up bright and early and awaiting his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to pai nien

Pai Nien! (customary new year greetings)

with distribution of ang pows!

Posing with their ang pows!! Granddaughter Tay and Great granddaughters Tay

Youngest Tays from the youngest Tay son

Then time for chweenkafook (family portrait)

next, ready to go for relative-visiting

Not easy to get organised!

Four brothers out of five

wonderful Midah garden can easily park 8-10 cars!!

Arriving at grandmother's house 

It is now 5th Aunt instead

Flashback: pictured here is grandmother who died at the age of 103

The house has been renovated and was ideal for photos

most of the  siblings have flown the nest

the  indoor garden

with two dogs

another flashback: when the kids were such cuties

a litte bigger little J

5th Aunt telling stories of the Tay clan

taken outside the mansion that is now "Bombay Palace" restaurant

original  forefathers

A young Tay posing with the very same suitcases that carried the clothes of the first trip from China

Before we left  Grandmother's house, we met more members of the Tay branch

angelic Andrea Tay

her sister Emily Tay

from this gorgeous Mum Jamie

NEXT STOP: THE TEMPLE.