Despite gloomy forecasts and the seasonal closure of record numbers of the Algarve’s hotels, those that remained open did good business in December, takings were up on last year anyway with revenues in the Algarve resorts increasing by 2.2 % in the month.  This may not sound much but it is better than the alternative and shows a measurable positive trend.

The increased take in December, according to the ever-cheerful Association of Hotels and Resorts in the Algarve, was due to an increase in average occupancy rate for the quarter of 26.1%, this was a welcome 4% above the figure for the same period in 2012.

The French economy is in danger of reverting back into recession.

It was the only one of the eurozone’s four major economies in which the private sector shrank in December. In contrast, Germany, Italy and Spain notched up some growth in construction, services and manufacturing during the month.

The expat campaigner, Harry Shindler, has had his efforts recognised by receiving an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.

Mr Shindler, 92, has been an ardent proponent of voting rights for British expats abroad for more than 15 years and also for parliamentary representation in the UK for them.

Traffic on the A22 declined further in the second quarter last year, but far less so than in the same period of 2012, according to the quarterly report from the Algarve’s transport and regional development body, the CCDRA.

On the A22, the decrease of average daily traffic by a further 5.6%, against a 52.2% drop in 2012 leads the reporters to imagine that this is some sort of miraculous recovery which Q.3 2012 will reveal in all its glory.

The cruise ship  Funchal safely has docked in Portimão after a tug eventually arrived from Setúbal to guide it into port.

The 331 passengers on the Funchal now have disembarked and are making their way back to Lisbon and Oporto courtesy of coaches supplied by the company or by car with family that had arrived to await the ship’s docking.

Portugal’s increasingly paranoid treasury has ensured that deposits of €5,000 or more paid into an account other than the customer’s own will automatically trigger a referral to the Bank of Portugal. The reason give is the fight against money laundering.

The new rules come into force in February this year as depositors of €5,000 or more into a bank account other than their own will have to be identified. Those making transfers of €15,000 or more from their own account and the recipient of such largesse both will come under increased scrutiny.

Passengers who were affected by flight cancellations on 24 December to Gatwick are being offered £100 good will payment by Gatwick Airport. It's not being well publicised in the UK let alone here in Portugal, and may brighten up some travellers day!

Extraordinarily adverse weather across the region, including exceptionally heavy rain, caused all local waterways around Gatwick Airport to flood.

The captain of the cruise ship Funchal decided to make an unscheduled visit to Portimão for the safety of his passengers and crew as the west coastal seas to Lisbon are too heavy for comfort.

Good news indeed for the shops and cafes of Portimão as 400 passengers were expected to spend some retail and recovery time in the Algarve in a city that has set itself up as a port of call on many cruise company schedules.