T
HE fairies have their own special spot, as do the selfie junkies and cigar aficionados. A soft mist occasionally makes an appearance as if to enhance the ambience of Granny Mouse Country House and Spa, nestled in the foothills of the Drakensberg.
Call them quirks of this Midlands establishment, or features perhaps.
Whatever they are, it’s the little things that make the “Mouse House” (as it is known) somewhat unique.
The first thing that struck me as we trundled down the country road towards Granny Mouse for our stay was the massive selfie frame at the entrance. The first of its kind on the Midlands Meander, it’s there to encourage savvy socialmedia users to promote Granny Mouse, by posting pictures online.
For once I was not in selfie-mode, as Mother Nature’s icy hand steered us away from the photo opp in search of some warmth.
Apart from the light mist and rain, our welcome also included two glasses of bubbly and a receptionist as warm as her cosy domain.
Our tour of the main house kicked off with the lounges, with their overstuffed chairs and crackling fireplaces — just what the doctor ordered for that chilly afternoon.
Next up was the well-stocked pub with its fine whiskies, brandies and other alcoholic concoctions.
We were then ushered to the cellar, which boasts a wall-to-wall collection of sterling wines — and later a quick whizz past the cigar lounge.
With the rain pounding, we dashed down the paved path to our “residence” for the evening.
Along the way, I spotted the place where the fairies are said to converge — a little patch in the well-tended garden, reserved for ethereal beings.
It certainly added charm, I mused.
The spaciousness and luxury of the room impressed me — from the window seat overlooking the misty hills to the miniature fireplace, king-size bed and the pièce de résistance ,a bathtub fit for a queen, complete with lavender bath oils and fluffy white robes.
If you do nothing but sit by the fireplace sipping on red wine while absorbing the tranquility, it’s worth the visit.
The Mouse House is a place to escape the “madding crowd” and reconnect with yourself and nature. Throw in a bit of a pampering at the in-house spa and some fine dining and you have yourself an ideal getaway.
The Eaves restaurant offers a degustation menu — which allows foodies a sampling of the chef’s signature dishes, including chickpea and garlic puff pastry parcel; dill and verbena sous-vide kingklip and house smoked lamb loin. There’s also an à la carte menu.
For dinner, we chose the less fussy Bistro, where starters include pulled duck pocket with spicy citrus sauce, curried fish, soft poached egg, cucumber and greens, crumbed snails and polenta, with crumbled goats cheese.
As for the mains, I can vouch for the Cajun calamari, grilled to perfection and accompanied by a portion of spinach, mushroom and garlic onion green beans.
Dessert was a delightful affair of baked apple tart, Rooibos ice-cream and muesli crumble.
Well watered and fed, we retired to our deluxe room for the night, hoping the resident fairies would convince Mr Sandman to make our slumber at the Mouse House sweet. — Govender was a guest of Granny Mouse Country House and Spa