LIGHTS, camera action - let the party begin.

In just two days, wannabe Scot Rod Stewart will take to the stage at Celtic Park to kick off the biggest party the city has ever seen.

If the weather is kind, thousands of people will also pack Glasgow Green to join in the fun and fireworks and the opening ceremony on the big screen.

During 11 days of sporting action, hundreds of thousands of people will flock into the city to attend sports venues or the entertainment zones.

Council roads and venues will be busier than ever with people of all nationalities keen to soak up the best the city has to offer.

For some council staff, the spectacular Games opening ceremony will be the start of horrendously long working days for people used to being at their desks from 9am until 5pm.

Some have already been switched to new rotas which see them start work at 6am with their latest shifts ending at midnight.

Many will not take a day off until the Games are over and the athletes start their long journeys home.

Surprisingly, there have been few, if any, complaints from frontline council workers who will see little of their families for the next two weeks.

Asked how they will cope the massive workload, the answer tends to be the same. "It is a once in a lifetime experience."

UNFORTUNATELY, some people in the city will be glad when the party finally rolls out of town.

Residents near some Games venues are being driven round the bend because of a blunder over council parking permits.

Others are up in arms because they can't get their cars out of their driveways because of metal barriers.

Some senior officials are no doubt pulling their hair out over the parking and access complaints they are having to deal with.

And it still has to be seen if the months of work to keep Glasgow moving in the face of hundreds of road closures is a success.

However, hopefully the Games will be a celebration for most of city residents and even those nursing a gripe will get into the party spirt.

The city's Stalled Spaces scheme has certainly been a cause for celebration within the City Chambers.

The scheme was launched in a bid to make temporary use of parcels of land which had been lying empty and forgotten about for years.

Under the scheme, they have been transformed into community gardens, performance spaces and for art installations until they are needed by their owners.

Architecture and Design Scotland now plans to use the lessons learned in Glasgow to support and guide other local authorities which want to introduce the scheme.

A blooming marvellous result for the city council.

vivienne.nicoll@eveningtimes.co.uk