It’s the end of the year, so what else is there to do but look back at the stories and photos that had you clicking in 2013?
So here we go. These are the stories and photo galleries that attracted the most views:
1 Fife pupils urged not to walk home alone after attempted abduction
Our top story shows the increasing power of social media in spreading news. Thousands of people shared links to this article in September as we brought you the latest from the police regarding a possible threat to pupils.
The police themselves have discussed how Facebook and other sites can be a force for good and bad, but there is little doubt that social media will continue to play a key role in the spread of information in the future.
2 Police find two bodies in searches for missing people in Fife
The tragic conclusion to the high-profile search for two young people missing in Fife in December was our second most-viewed story.
The sad end came after days of appeals in the hope that they could be found.
3 ‘Outrage in Pitlochry!’ Viewers puzzled by Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson’s ‘Hertfordshire’ claim
Jeremy Clarkson said he was in Hertfordshire when he was driving in Pitlochry. Simple Jezza wind-up? Editing error? Whatever the truth, users flooded to our site in July to discuss this Pitlochry puzzler.
4 ‘Very lonely’ Crieff pensioner repeatedly inserted hand in horse’s bottom
Man inserts hand into animal’s rectum = internet goes wild. We have Fark, Buzzfeed and many others to thank for sending some international visitors to our site.
5 Man fined after penis flash dance ‘buffoonery’ outside Pie Bob’s
It’s another internet funny at No.5. We may never again get to write a headline about penis flash dance buffoonery (at Pie Bob’s or otherwise), so we couldn’t miss the chance when it came.
6 VIDEO: First look inside Dundee’s new Olympia swimming pool
Our first-person view of the new pool in Dundee was easily our most-viewed video article in 2013. You can see more of our videos from the year on our YouTube channel.
7 Angus man diagnosed with chronic lateness
Tayside man Jim Dunbar’s claim that he had been diagnosed with a lateness condition amazed and puzzled in equal measure.
8 ‘I’m glad you kicked his butt’ Michael Buble’s message to brave Dundee fan
We hoped the Canadian crooner would pick up on this tale of Dundee derring-do, and he didn’t disappoint. A tweet from the great man helped this tale soar up the charts.
9 VIDEO: Planners produce dramatic new vision of Dundee’s waterfront
We can’t claim the credit for this video, but we helped to make sure it was seen. The latest concept of how Dundee’s new waterfront might look had thousands of excited viewers captivated.
10 Sister makes emotional appeal for help to find missing Glenrothes man Allan Bryant
Allan Bryant’s disappearance from outside a nightclub in November remains a mystery. Many people have shared our articles in an effort to help to find him, and the family still await news. The thoughts of everyone at The Courier are with them.
11 Barefooted and munching Toblerone charity fundraiser’s Alan Partridge tribute on Dundee arrival
Christian Nock is one of the real heroes of 2013. His solo coastal charity walk around Britain, covered in detail on his Facebook page, has gathered many thousands of fans. So we were delighted to meet him when he made his memorable entrance to Dundee in August. He’s still out there walking right now, so give him some support.
12 100 residents evacuated from Dundee flats after landslide
We don’t have to go far back in the archive for our twelfth most-viewed story. The landslide near Lochee on December 30 left scores temporarily homeless.
13 Ripping the thistle off the badge
Steve Scott’s riposte to the Lions selectors in July came straight from the heart. And it was soon the talk of rugby fans across the country.
14 Carnoustie couple have Lidl intention of paying ‘shocking’ supermarket parking fine
This story was just one of many tales of parking woe that we carried this year. The reaction shows it is an issue that angers many people.
And when people are angry, The Courier listens. We will be investigating the private parking industry early in the New Year. Stay tuned…
The second year of Impact 100, where we celebrate those who have most influenced life in Courier country, created many talking points. But there could only be one winner, even if he didn’t get his knighthood!
16 Scott joins Adam H in final of Masterchef: The Professionals
Courier country was well represented in Masterchef this year, and users flooded to our site to read more as our local favourites reached the final.
17 Public finally get chance to try new Dundee Olympia swimming pool
We enjoyed a sneak preview a few days earlier, and the opening of the new pool in Dundee to the public created a wave of interest. Dip in and see why.
18 Woman fined after taking horse into McDonald’s
While local stories utterly dominate our 2013 chart, this amusing little from Greater Manchester raised a chuckle or two. You were lovin’ it, in fact.
19 Garage owner’s death stuns Dundee business community
A sad story from February, but our article became a place for many to leave loving tributes to a man who clearly meant so much to so many people.
20 Perthshire scientist’s premature ejaculation treatment can’t come quickly enough
And finally… And finally… If ever we needed proof that a headline can sell a story, it came here. We thought long and hard about it, but your reaction seemed to prove you don’t mind us having a little bit of fun where we can.PhotosSo that was 2013 as far as stories are concerned. But, of course, photos also play a major role in bringing people to our site.
Our photographers have covered thousands of miles documenting events across Tayside and Fife this year.
Here are your favourites:
1 One last look around the old Olympia swimming pool
You clearly love a bit of nostalgia, and this final visit to the old Olympia tugged the heart strings for many. Some people met their life partners at this place, you know.
2 Dundee v Dundee United crowd shots
We’ve been starved of Dundee league derbies this year, so our gallery from March’s Scottish Cup tie at Dens was a real crowd-pleaser.
3 A final look round Dundee’s Hilton Hotel
More Dundee nostalgia. How many weddings? How many parties? They are all just memories now as the Hilton was emptied ahead of demolition.
4 Lemmings sculptures find their way home to Dundee
They seemed to appear overnight, but these photos of icons of Dundee’s gaming history pleased locals and gamers the world over.
5 Rewind revellers turn back the clock at Scone
As long as you keep donning the day-glo clothes, we’ll keep taking your picture. Rewind the clock with this gallery of high-jinks in July.
6 Dens Road market in its heyday
Nostalgia? You want MORE nostalgia. The final demise of another Dundee institution in October prompted this trip into the archives.
7 The changing face of Dundee’s waterfront
More archives fun here as we took a trip back through the decades to see how Dundee’s waterfront has developed.
8 Steam trains thrill railway enthusiasts
A beauty from our railway heritage had people lining up to take her picture as she passed through Courier country in April. (Just don’t call a locomotive a train. We learned that the hard way.)
While we were stuck in work, this lot were filling the Trafalgar Square fountains with foam and kicking up general good-natured chaos. Lucky swines.
10 Crowds bask in T in the Park sunshine
And last, but never least, the sun shone at T in the Park and our photographers were there to capture the crowds at their glorious, sweatiest, best.
We’ve had a great year on the Courier website and there’s much more to come.
We have some very exciting developments planned in 2014.
We want to thank all of you who have read our paper and used our site.
Happy New Year!