We’re planning to do a story on the city’s best coffee shop, as voted by readers, and we’ve already had some great nominations.

Not only are readers nominating boutique coffee shops brewing local beans, but they are also nominating chain stores they know and love.

Don’t miss the chance to have a say on which one you like the best by letting us know on our social media channels using the hashtag #bathurstcoffee.

Or, feel free to email in your nomination and photo to photos.westernadvocate@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

THIS time of year is always a bit of a struggle for Parade with endless parties full of tempting food.

Christmas parties can start as early as late November, then there’s Christmas Day, Boxing Day and new year celebrations.

Then, Parade and her significant other both have their birthdays in mid January, and then they are followed Australia Day.

By the time all of this is done and dusted, Parade always feels a few kilos heavier and in desperate need of some healthy food and no more champagne.

AS temperatures continue to soar to well above average in the city, Chifley Dam and a pools across Bathurst have been the place to be.

And, Western Advocate Phil Blatch snapped some great photos of people beating the heat at the dam recently, including the one above.

December was a hot month for the city, with the mercury soaring above 30 degrees many times in a month with a long-term average of 26.4.

Bureau of Meteorology data shows, however, that the median top in the city last month was actually 33.2 degrees.

While the mercury is predicted to reach the mid to high 30s later this week, it is far off the hottest January day on record which was in 2013 when the temperature reached 40.2 degrees on January 12.