1 So the big event this week is the SNP Conference and of course tomorrow it's Nicola Sturgeon’s speech to the party. There is a veritable cornucopia of speeches, events, karaoke provided by the YSI and fringe events. All details and visitor passes at www.snp.org

2 Inverclyde Council is hosting a virtual winter wonderland on Friday December 4 from 6pm onwards. Following months of doom & gloom, they will be switching on the Christmas lights, the advent calendars will be cracked open and it’ll be officially OK to put the tree. So jammies on, hunker down and get ready for some fairy light cheer. www.youtube.com/c/inverclydecouncil

3 Just like in lockdown one, Andrew Lloyd-Webber is releasing one live show on his YouTube channel. A veritable showstopper of delights is at your fingertips free and available to view for 24 hours. A new musical drops every week on Friday night at 7pm – this week its the turn of “An American in Paris” for all the details and to view please log in to www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkYg80kjIAI

4 Edinburgh Zoo is offering a Christmas extravaganza. A spectacular light trail around the zoo that takes you and your family on an incredible voyage, passing through Penguins Rock by moonlight and exploring an enchanted ice forest on your way to visit Santa’s workshop.

This winter, you can glow all the way to the Arctic with stunning projections, twinkling fairy lights, candy canes, nutcrackers and much more. Designed for limited visitor numbers with a wide range of safety measures in place, Edinburgh Zoo’s Christmas Nights are sure to light up your winter! From £12 www.edinburghzoo.org.uk

5 Live at the stand is back with another humdinger of a show. Your regular lockdown treat with your host extraordinaire, the one and only Mark Nelson. All Scottish comedy’s biggest names will be dropping in to do a slot including my big pal Gary Little and the one and only Joe McTernan. Saturday night 8.30pm and of course as usual, its live to your living room and you can byob. www.thestand.co.uk/live-at-the-stand/

6 In the abscence of gorgeous German markets filled with mulled wine, mince pies & mistletoe to browse for festive nick nacks, this year we will need to make our own cheer whilst online shopping. Never fear, the online Scandinavian Festival is coming to your laptop on Friday December 4 at 3pm until Sunday 6 at 6pm. Shop local in a global way. All the best artisan products from unique independent Nordic shops. Log on at www.scandinavianfest.com

7 Tickets for the event of next year – hell the event of the decade – go on sale this week. Thanks to Playground Festival some of the best live acts in the world are coming over to our bit. Underworld, Kraftwerk and the one and only Nile Rodgers and Chic, I could and will go on. The Wailers, Neneh Cherry, Martha Reeves & The Vandelas, Pictish Trail, Leftfield, and Gary Numan. Weekends do not come better than this. Head over to www.playgroundofsound.co.uk and snaffle yourself some tickets, there are even some fancy schmancy vip tickets. God knows we need something to look forward to and this my friends is it. Ticket prices are reasonable considering the line up at £65 for adults and £38 for weans seven and over.