As promised – a post about a talking painting and a different kind of service …

So we decided to visit the little country town of Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga for the long weekend of the 9^th August 2013.

What a quaint little dorpie (village) similar in character to Rhodes in the Eastern Cape.

Wakkerstroom is home to the huge South African Grassland Biome, with many species of indigenous birds and birders both local and exotic.

The abiding memory of that weekend end has to be the freezing weather – a mere 6 degrees Celsius at midday!

Charming little bric-a-brac shops and art galleries abound, lining the main tarred road as well as the gravel side roads.

Stopping off in the main street at Birdsong Originals Shop in search of something to warm us up, we came across a delightful eatery come gift shop and art gallery.  A crackling log fire and steaming soup warmed body and soul.

On the wall right opposite our table was … you guessed it … a talking painting!

I was immediately taken with the charming simplicity and vibrant colours of the jar of nasturtiums. The nasturtiums told me in no uncertain terms that the red walls of my small lounge at home needed them.

Of course, there was a sold sticker on the painting. Just my luck – I felt disappointed.

The kind owner, Moira, informed me that if I was keen, she would contact the would-be buyer to confirm if indeed they were still interested in the painting.

After sleeping on the matter and on our way out of the town the following day, we stopped off again at the shop.

Not only did Moira make the necessary call to secure me the painting for me, she also gave me the story behind the Belgian artist, Jacques de Backer, who had lived in Wakkerstroom and had just recently relocated to Canada.

Nothing was too much trouble, and she was so glad that we had taken the painting.

It made such a difference to be assisted by someone was  knowledgeable and who actually cared … we ended up buying another two small oil landscapes by the same artist.

A good an example of someone going the extra mile.