Merry Christmas from PetrolBlog

So here it is, Merry Christmas. Everybody's having fun. Time to look to the future now, it's only just begun.

Huge thanks to a certain Mr Holder for making the opening words for our traditional PetrolBlog Christmas message so much easier. We salute you, Noddy, even if we are growing just a little bit tired of your festive ditty now. 

But anyway, it's time to reflect on what became quite a momentous year for PetrolBlog and look forward to 2012. If, this time last year, you'd have told us that PetrolBlog would be invited to the launch of a new hot hatch in Barcelona, would get to drive supercars around a former F1 track in Portugal and enjoy a passenger ride up the Goodwood hill in a one-off concept car, we would have politely told you that you're going insane. But that's exactly what PetrolBlog has done.

What's more, PetrolBlog has been trusted with 13 new cars to review and has been fortunate enough to be invited to a number of press launches and events. It's all rather humbling and PetrolBlog is a little sore from the amount of times we've had to pinch ourselves. I don't think we'll ever feel we 'belong' in the circles we mix in, but like the cars we feature on the site, we happen to like playing the underdog.

But we've come a long way in 12 months. You'll notice that this Christmas message is about us and not me. That's because PetrolBlog is a team effort these days. If I can return to a first person context for a moment, I'd like to say a huge thanks to FailCar, Rob Griggs-Taylor, Ton Dumans, Tom Richards, Duncan McVitie and Ralph Hosier for gracing PetrolBlog with their words. Chaps, it's really appreciated - thank you.

Before this turns into more long and drawn out waffle, I'll close with a look forward to next year. As I put on my Christmas email to my email subscribers, PetrolBlog will be returning to its roots in 2012. That means a greater focus on cars from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, along with more features on Shatchbacks, Bangernomics and Bangerwatch. New cars won't be forgotten, but PetrolBlog's heart is with the older stuff.

Having said that, PetrolBlog will be at the Geneva Auto Show in March. Not only that, but we'll be going in the Saab 9000 as we're determined that Saab will be present at the show. The Citroën AX GT will come out of hibernation in the spring and see more action than this year. Plus, a fourth car will be joining the PetrolBlog Fleet - more on this soon.

So all that's left to say is thanks for paying a visit to our little corner of the interweb. Every page view and every comment received is appreciated.

We're not quite finished for 2011 yet - look out for a review of the Mitsubishi Evo, a look at a trio of Renaultsport heroes, some words on the Nissan Juke R and the much anticipated PetrolBlog Car of the Year 2011. It's not time to kickback and open the bottle of Blue Nun just yet.

Merry Shatchmas!