When Horses Come Calling on New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day 2026 brought unexpected visitors to the Merilli gates. Our special neighbours Tom the Clydesdale & Chris stopped by with their magnificent heritage carriage to wish us well for the year ahead.
The timing felt significant. This is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac, and here was this gentle giant, standing at the Merilli entrance pillars under the afternoon sun, marking the start of something new.
There’s something fitting about a horse and carriage at the gates of a heritage property. Both belong to a slower time, when journeys were measured differently and neighbours had time to stop and talk on a country road. It’s the kind of moment that only happens out here, where the quiet allows for it.
The jingle of harness, the clip of hooves on limestone, the steady presence of a working Clydesdale. These are the unexpected joys of country life. Not planned or scheduled, just genuine connection happening at the right moment because there’s space for it to unfold.
We stood in the driveway for a while, framed by eucalypts and summer sky, enjoying the simple pleasure of neighbours who understand what it means to live this way. No rush, no agenda, just the kind of exchange that reminds you why you chose this life.
It’s one of the things we love about being here. You get the quiet of the countryside, the space for moments like this, and you’re still only seven minutes from the beach. Best of both worlds.
Before they left, we took a photo at the gates. Horse and carriage, red brick pillars, country light. A moment that captures what we love about being here: the heritage, the peace, the unexpected moments of connection that a quiet road and good neighbours can bring.
The Chinese zodiac says the Year of the Horse brings energy, enthusiasm, and forward movement. Standing there watching our neighbours head back down the road, carriage wheels turning slowly on the limestone, it felt like the perfect way to begin.
The Year of the Horse runs from February 17, 2026 to February 5, 2027. In Chinese tradition, horse years are associated with adventure, freedom, and the spirit of the countryside. Qualities we know well here on the Fleurieu Peninsula.