Rear view mirror

Driving eastwards - just past Cullinan, before that Tshwane - listening to, and loving MK volume 2 while the sun's setting magnificently into our rear view mirror. That means the red old orb is right this minute just behind Rustenburg and sinking fast behind Groot Marico. Yeah, there's no doubt about the fact I've left my heart in the bushveld, in the ol' West Transvaal.

Beyond all our expectations Louis and I've had a fantastic weekend in a special and friendly, but off the beaten track part of the country.

Breakfast at Marico Memoir's Bistro and our visit to Groot Marico was rounded off with a most unexpected tour through the Herman Charles Bosman Living Museum.

Ancient, gentle and soft-spoken Oom Jan Lemmer, who could so easily have crept from between the pages of a Bosman book, led us through the open air museum. That's where the farm-school where Bosman taught has been faithfully recreated brick-by-original-brick by the Herman Charles Bosman Literary Society after it fell into ruin at Heimweeberg. I'm experiencing experiencing incredible pangs of 'heimwee' right now...and on a number of levels.

Marico Memoirs

On the main street of Groot Marico having breakfast at the wonderful, atmospheric Marico Memoir's Bistro where Louise (from Gabarone), Jen (from Sandton) and Pauline (from Durban) have created an amazing restaurant oozing originality, ambience and I'm back here for the third time in one weekend to experience the authenticity of another of this country's hidden treasures.

Jen (see pic) tells us that she left Johannesburg about nine years ago where she was running three security companies! "The rats won," she says, before deciding this far and no further before heading out here with her young son, whom she has - wow - home schooled.

Breafast 'Benedict', which included plunger coffee, was two poached eggs and bacon on scones drowning in sumptious Hollandaise sauce (R45).

Sigh. It's almost time to begin the five hour journey back home, all along the N4. I will be back...the Groot Marico district has messed with my emotions and tugged on my sentimentality.

Marico Memoir's Bistro, Groot Marico: 014 503 0926 or memoirs@telkomsa.net