Shedding the Wood Snake Year, readying for the Fire Horse Year

SundayBlog 219 - 25th January 2026

For those of you who have not yet jumped on the “New Year New You” bandwagon, one of my personal favourites, there’s still time. The Chinese New Year is not until 17 February. 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, of which more later.

Right now we’re still in the year of the Wood Snake, which was my year of turning 60. In this time I’ve visited my grandfather’s birth place in Corballa, in County Sligo, Ireland and then his grave in Margaret River, Western Australia. A life’s beginning in one hemisphere and an ending 77 years later in another.

See image - top left I’m smiling madly into the camera with my grandfather’s humble birth shack in the background. I’m hoping my distant-ish (second cousin twice removed or something like that) doesn’t suddenly show up and make good on the many threats codified on the farm gate. They all underscore the message “stay away, also I have a gun.” (See short video below of Corballa gate)

The right hand image is my grandfather’s grave, with the not entirely true latin epithet that means “he has done all things well”. To be honest, he didn’t sound like the best of husbands and his parenting was patchy too. But, different times.

As I stood and looked at his grave, I spotted an actual snakeskin, tucked into one side of the grave. A sign from the patriarch? I took it as such. It was retrieved and photographed. Middle image.

And so to the year of the Fire Horse. Vogue magazine says “In simple terms, think: rapid change, fresh opportunities, personal growth, and a faster pace of life.”

Sign me up. Whatever we’re doing in 2026, it’s going to be a galloping year. Get out your planner, shake out the vision board and let’s go.