Well – where did 2012 disappear to? It seems to have gone so quickly!
It seems an opportune time to sit down and have a quick review of 2012 – with a little help from WordPress too!
So I thought I would choose our favourite post and picture from each month of 2012 to share with you – starting of course with
January
A is for the Algarve – the first in our new series of My Personal A to Z of Portugal, which has been a great series of posts to write and compile – we are half way through the alphabet now – with more to come soon!
February
My favourite post this month had to be the Convent in Exile – Monchique – to be able to gain access to such a wonderful old building and meet a real local character and learn some history too – wonderful!
March
March included some great interviews with other bloggers – I have been amazed and thrilled at some of the wonderful friendships this blog has given us – and Julie Dawn Fox – The Fantastic Fox has to be one of the best bloggers out there!
April
April included our hilarious travels through Spain and France – including Postcards from my Car and the beautiful Salamanca in Spain – although I am not sure I am in a hurry to stay in a French ‘hotel’ again!
May
The Hidden Algarve gave us the chance to go off the beaten track and enjoy all that the Monchique has to offer – with some stunning views and hearty food!
June
We were also able to support a local campaign Save Salgados with a natural bird sanctuary and lagoon under threat from the developer’s machinery – the fight is still ongoing.
July
A chance for us to enjoy the legend that is José and tell some stories about Ferragudo this month in J is for José
August
Regular readers will know how much we love the Medieval Fair at Silves – so my favourite post for August has to be Medieval Enchantment
September
This month gave us the chance to share our My Algarve Insider tips for Photographing the Algarve – lots of hints and tips on where to go and what to photograph for you to enjoy and be inspired from.
October
Learning Portuguese and English – the trials and challenges of learning a new language – something many of you I am sure can relate to! And another post in our A to Z of Portugal
November
Allows us to introduce our posts for the fabulous CBBH Photo Challenge – this month the challenge was Blue and it was a tough choice of images as this is my favourite colour! This was also one of our most popular posts this year – thank you for all your comments and likes!
December
December has been a busy month – with awards, sunshine and our Christmas Sale of art and photography – Blog Awards Update and Christmas Show wrapped it all up nicely for us – and seems the perfect place to say a huge Thank you to everyone that has visited – commented – and liked our blog this year. We are truly humbled and amazed by all of your support, encouragement and friendship this year.
And as WordPress has reminded us today via our 2012 Report
4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 31,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 7 Film Festivals
Wow!
It is astounding how many countries you are all from too:
So – Thank you – one and all – and here’s to a fabulous 2013!
Algarve Blog 
I’ve just recently discovered your blog, buf love it already. Happy, healthy. 2013!
thank you – happy 2013 to you and yours!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you too!
BEAUTIFUL PHOTO! CONGRATULATIONS! Your blog has experience great and deserving success. Wishing you more success in 2013.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Happy New Year to you too!
Great pictures and blog, thanks for copying me in
you’re welcome! Happy New Year to you too!
What an exciting year you have had! Hey, I especially love November’s entry! 😉
Every good wish for 2013 from Sydney, Australia – yes, we did see the fireworks LIVE last night!
oooooh sooooooo jealous! hoping 2013 is everything you could wish for – and here’s to some more great blogging!
What a great year! Happy New Year!
thanks Meg – and happy travelling in 2013 to you too!
A lovely review of your year. Thank you.
thank you – I was amazed at how much we have covered! happy new year to you!
awesome photos! happy new year! and the last photo (december) is my favorite 🙂
thank you – happy new year to you and yours too!
Great pictures, lovely blog Alyson. Have a great 2013!
Thanks Sami – hope you have a fab 2013 too!
Wonderful reminder of your travels and your marvelous photos. Thanks.
Happy New Year! Can’t wait for the next twelve months of your offerings.
thank you so much for your kind words – it is so lovely that people are enjoying our little blog!
wishing you a fabulous 2013 too!
Fabulous pictures! Happy New Year 🙂
thank you! and to you and yours too!
Wow! What a compliment, Alyson! I’ve only just started trawling through my backlog of reading and work to do, which is why I didn’t respond earlier. Thank you so much for your friendship and support; it means a lot to me, especially coming from such talented people as you and Dave. Wishing you all the very best for 2013 🙂
you so deserve it! thank you for your friendship and encouragement in blogging too – here’s to a great 2013 to us all! 🙂
Looks like it was a great year! Hope 2013 is also a good one
yes it was – thank you! hope that 2013 is fab for you too
Great pictures! It’s obvious you’re a pro in photography. My whole family stumbled upon pictures and now press me to visit Portugal. 🙂
you should come it’s fab here!
For sure I will try. We have been several times to Spain, never to Portugal. Maybe it’s its turn now 🙂 The pictures were inspiring to do that.
glad we inspired you!
Wonderful selection!
Happy New Year 🙂
thank you – happy new year to you too!
This was a great post – loved it!
I’m going to checkout the August post though, you’ve got me intrigued on that one.
Cheers! & happy new year 🙂
thank you – and glad we have got you intrigued!! 🙂
Happy New Year to you too
Beautiful photos!
thank you! 🙂
The place where you are living now looks amazing. I have nominated you for the Shine-On Award. Please pick it up here and enjoy it! http://valentinadesigns.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/stuck-in-the-groove-by-valentina-cirasola-interior-designer/
thank you so much! 🙂 smiles …. and skips off to read about award …..!
My pleasure, enjoy it.
Great photos for the year’s review, and that August one is still my favourite. 🙂
thanks – that one was certainly popular on Facebook too! 🙂