WARNING: May Contain Snakes! 🐍

Happy New Year

The Chinese Spring Festival/Lunar New Year will be celebrated this year on 29 January by over 1.5 billion people worldwide. This auspicious event presents a significant opportunity for businesses to showcase their offerings to China's rapidly expanding middle class.

As the appetite for Scottish luxury goods, including whisky, salmon, cashmere, and tourism, continues to rise in China, the time has never been better to explore export opportunities. For assistance in navigating this exciting market, connect with the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), an organisation dedicated to promoting trade and investment links between Scotland and China.  Other sources of info for Scottish businesses looking to export overseas are Scotland Food & Drink and Scottish Development International.

Snakes in the Workplace!

The Chinese Zodiac, featuring 12 animals and five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water), assigns 2025 as the Year of the Wood Snake. This combination last occurred in 1965, the birth year of renowned author J.K. Rowling, a self-described introvert.

According to the Chinese zodiac, individuals born in the Year of the Snake (1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 etc) are believed to be intuitive, strategic, and intelligent.  However, their inscrutable and introverted nature can often come across if they aren't paying attention and others might think they are a little cold or offhand.  As a 1977 snake, I largely agree (although would describe myself as an extroverted introvert!).

Don't expect a Snake to speak up first at a meeting.  They prefer to observe and assess any situation before making their move.  Recognising that different personalities and communication styles exist is the foundation of management and Forbes has some excellent advice when it comes to shy and introverted colleagues.

Have You Seen a Grass Snake in Scotland?

Until 2010, it was generally thought that wild grass snakes (Natrix helvetica) do not occur in Scotland.  However, three confirmed records were made in Dumfries & Galloway between 2009 and 2010, and there are other unconfirmed but possible records from elsewhere in Scotland. Research has since shown that grass snakes are present in Scotland, but we do not know if they are recent arrivals or their current range.

If you believe you have seen a Grass Snake in Scotland, please fill in ARG's simple online recording form to help them learn more about the distribution of Scotland’s largest terrestrial reptile:  arguk.org/get-involved/projects-surveys/have-you-seen-a-grass-snake-in-scotland

Get in touch if we can help with any aspect of marketing your rural business.

‍