This week, why the Sports Personality of the Year Awards were a cross between Eurovision and Crufts, 50 shades of Cinderella at the SECC and some of the best things to do in Glasgow over the jolly holidays.

Sports Personality of the Year 2014

The BBC's Sports Personality of the Year Awards are like the Eurovision of the sporting world. Clare Balding said as much, when she told us that folk around the country would be having SPOTY parties, at home, in their living rooms. However, I'm not really convinced that's a thing. Leaving SPOTY parties on the bench (or the sofa) for now, I was lucky enough to have a ticket to the live bash on Sunday night, which this year, was held in Glasgow for the first time.

It was a glamorous event, which saw hundreds of sporting stars swap their trainers for high heels and their spandex for, er, lycra. It also marked a glorious final whistle for what has been an incredible year of sport in the city. Personally, I'm fond of SPOTY as a whole; it's fun to see Lineker, Logan and Balding behave like cheerleaders, watch the perfectly formed montages (nobody does a good montage like BBC Sport) and, of course, celebrate the individual and national achievements of our sporting goods and greats.

However, I think some might feel that the Sports Personality of the Year Awards are like Eurovision in other ways too, there was a fair amount of head shaking and finger-wagging following the results, when favourite Rory McIlroy lost out to Lewis Hamilton for the big prize. For many, this decision put the whole event in the dog house… that, along with the fact that there were a total of four canines involved in the show - Lewis Hamilton brought his bulldog along for the ride, two scotty dogs helped present an award and there was an odd cameo from CBBC puppet pooch, Hacker. Sorry, my mistake, it's not Eurovision SPOTY's like, it's Crufts!

Barking bits aside, it was made up for by Chris Hoy's suit, his lifetime achievement award, recognition for superwomen Jo Pavey and - for the gymnast in me and because we'll (hopefully) be welcoming her back to the SSE Hydro for the World Gymnastics Championships next year - Claudia Fragapane winning the Young Sports Personality of the Year 2014. So, from me, SPOTY 2014 gets a diplomatic dix points!

Cinderella @ SECC

The fifth time's a charm: well, that's what Janette Krankie said, although I'm not entirely sure she was talking about the panto! This week, it was the pantomime turn of the SECC, when I headed along to their opening night. Back at the 'Sexy' centre for their fifth year, John Barrowman and The Krankies have certainly perfected the art of slapstick with a wee bit of tickle.

This year's fare is Cinderella, although there were times when I wondered whether they should have called it 50 Shades of Grey: The Panto. There were scantily clad men in leather, plenty of twerking and even a scene where Buttons, Prince Charming and Cinderella all beat each other up (the audience was in the dark about whether they had a safe word or not!)

In previous years, the SECC panto has promoted itself as 3D. However, this year they have (thankfully) done away with the daft specs and been a bit cuter with their additional dimensions. I don't want to give away any spoilers but, whatever the weather, you might want to take a brolly.

Also staring in the show is X Factor star Melanie Masson as the Fairy Godmother, a role surely made for John Barrowman? However, he was as cheesy and delightful as ever as love-lorn Buttons, alongside his younger brother Zip (geddit!) played by Mrs Krankie. The ugly sisters were pretty darn excellent too, as was the lad playing The Prince, who was charming.

Cinderella at the SECC is a wee bit like a great big novelty slipper; perfect for Christmas but entirely cringey at any other time of year. Well, if the shoe fits…

CEOG Loves Christmas

Twas the week before Christmas and everything was far from quiet! There's so much going on in the city over the jolly holidays, from dancing on ice in George Square to festive flicks. There's a few things that I will definitely be doing over the next week to get me in the mood, Santa.

First of all, I will be making a date to go and see It's A Wonderful Life. For me, it needs to be at the Glasgow Film Theatre. Like turkey and stuffing, It's A Wonderful Life and GFT go hand in hand. The retro vibe of the theatre, the mulled wine aroma, the soft focus black and white, it's what Christmas magic is all about. Oh yes, and that all important moral of the story.

You might think I've had my panto fill, but not before I stop by Òran Mór for Play, Pie and A Panto. This year, the cheekiest pantomime in town is The Emperors New Clothes. I'm going along tomorrow and I'm hoping for plenty of naked funnies… and politicians to be the butt of all the jokes!

A large part of the season is about mulling yourself in (a sensible amount of) alcohol. Nothing says Christmas like a wee mulled wine at the festive market on Argyle Street. I might swerve the stalls but a smug mug of the good stuff, as folk run past doing last minute shopping (when you've finished) is priceless.*

*PS It is actually quite dear!

Wee Bird Recommends

Bought more Christmas presents that you can shake a selfie stick at? Well, Wee have just the thing! Everyday till 7pm on December 23, folk are wrapping presents for Maggies Cancer Care. Don't get a bad wrap this year… pop along to St Enoch Centre (by the food court) or House of Fraser (4th floor) and have all your pressies beautifully gift-wrapped and for a small donation for this fantastic cause.