As the thunder rumbled and the lightning lit up the sky, Parade did what he usually does on these sorts of nights: he stood at the window in the dark, enjoyed nature’s show and hoped that the roof of his house didn’t get blown off.

Parade hadn’t seen a big storm for a while, so maybe that’s why Friday night’s spectacle seemed particularly dramatic.

Some of the lightning strikes seemed to fill half the sky through Parade's window and the rain – when it came – sounded tropical and torrential as it battered down on the roof.

It all made Parade think of December and January, when the weather is hot, the nights are warm, the drinks are cold, the thunderstorms are regular and the plants gasp and wilt in the late afternoon as the sun rakes over them from the west.

And then Parade spent the weekend in a jumper – the maximum dropped by about 10 degrees from Friday to Saturday - and could see his breath visible on Monday morning in the backyard when a frost seemed perilously close.

You can never get too comfortable, weather-wise, in the Central Tablelands because you can never be too sure what’s around the corner.

PARADE is told the Bathurst Stamp, Coin, Collectables and Lapidary Club and the Bead and Wirecraft Guild will hold a big event this Saturday.

The Open Day, Displays and Demonstrations and Garage Sale event will be held at the clubhouse in the Old Eglinton Fire Shed, Park Street, Eglinton on Saturday from 8am to 2pm.

Parade is told it will include stamps, coins, collectables and lapidary displays, and demonstrations of lapidary and jewellery making indoors.

Outside there will be items for sale, where members and others will be selling their unwanted collectables and goods.

If all that sounds tempting, phone Ernst Holland on 6337 3661 or 0427 373 661 for more information.

Parade is sure there will be plenty to see.