Parade has been enjoying the cooler days that have been sprinkled among the hot ones this January, but all the days are set to be hot for the next little while.

After spending years focusing on the maximum temperature during this time of year, Parade’s tastes have matured and he now looks more closely at the minimum temperature.

If it’s going to drop below 20 degrees overnight, Parade reckons that’s bearable and he won’t whinge too much. 

If it’s not going to get below that important line, then Parade thinks you can complain away.

But there’s always a good with a bad.

Parade’s been keeping the water up to his vegetable garden and he reckons, with all this heat, he can almost see the plants getting bigger by the hour.

There’s a feast starting to take shape in that vegetable patch. Parade will just have to wait until a nice cool afternoon to do all the harvesting.

AND now for something completely different.

The Blue Mountains Historical Society is inviting history lovers to begin 2018 with a visit to Tarella, the society’s 19^th century cottage museum at 99 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls.

Parade is told Tarella will be open from 10am until 3pm on Sunday, January 28 for those who want to wander through the cottage, see how their forebears lived 100 years ago and learn about the evolution of a Blue Mountains holiday home from 1900 to 2015.

The new exhibition, High Life in the Mountains, in The Sun Room Gallery at Tarella, contains early photographs and souvenirs from the society’s collection, showing how those in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries spent their leisure time.

The society’s very popular garden stall will also be held during the open day.

Entry charges are $5 for adults and $2 for children.

Entry to the exhibition is free with entry to Tarella, Parade is told. 

Refreshments are also available for a small donation (which is an important detail at this time of year).