Feb 4 – T+ 7 Berry

Somebody said Berry was worth a look whilst in the area and having spent quite a bit of time in Bury during my youth it seemed like a plan. The same somebody recommended the Showgrounds as a good place to stay.

Mention of Showgrounds and we’re transported back in time to Lusaka. After Jane and I fled from the great milk kettle disaster of ‘81 we decided to leave the country in a hurry. As fate may have it, my boss in Manchester tapped me on the shoulder one day in October ’81 and asked if I’d like to go out to Zambia for 3 weeks to install a mainframe computer system (for those in the know they were ICL ME29’s). After consulting an atlas and as United were struggling again, I thought why not, and asked tongue in cheek could I bring Jane as well (at their cost).

   

Much to our surprise ICL agreed and 48 hours later we boarded a Zambia Airways Boeing 707 (we were young and foolhardy) and we were off for 3 weeks in the sun.

Five and a half years later we left Zambia with a few tall tales to tell along the way. Remarkably, I seemed to make an impression of sorts on the local ICL management team (thank you Mike and Ken) hence the eventual extension from 3 to 270 weeks.

We were installed in a large house with a swimming pool near the Lusaka Showgrounds. We had a house-servant called Alfred who had 6 kids and lived at the bottom of the garden, a gardener and a guard who opened and closed our gate and caught snakes (cobras, green mambas etc.) Bit of a culture shock for a 23 year old lad and laddess from North Manchester but somehow we adapted readily enough to the hardships, expat lifestyle and tax-free salary and somehow managed to retain healthy livers.

Lusaka Showground

We inherited a hound called Luga (as per the German WW2 gun) the Doberman from previous expats. A somewhat large and scary looking creature but a big woos when it came to it. One Saturday morning early in our Lusaka life we were at the Showground when a dog show was on and we were persuaded to enter Luga into the all-comers competition which he duly won. It was my job to take him into the show-ring and parade around in front of the judges. I hadn’t a clue what to do, but Luga knew precisely, led the way, pranced around, showed off his hocks and flanks or something and all the ribbons were ours. Turns out that in his past life he was best of breed but was keeping a low profile. We became instant celebrities in the eyes of the Lusaka Canine Club.

Showgrounds in Berry

No Luga at the Berry Showgrounds, but nevertheless a good choice. Welcoming people, great amenities, an immaculate oval to jog around – all good. But what about the town?

Tim in Berry

Well Berry is the sort of place we thought would not be our cup of tea as they say in Bury. It’s very small, has (and I counted them) 23 cafes and restaurants within a 10 minute stroll, most of them upmarket with cutesy handcraft and vastly overpriced soft furnishing shops strategically placed in-between. Like Kiama it’s catering for the Sydney weekenders but with the main attraction being gourmet dining.

The Berry Hotel in Berry

Yet somehow the place works and grows on you. Because of the torrential rain we ended up staying 3 nights. Not a bad place to see out a flood really, even if we did end up putting on some extra kilos. A mention for Mezzadellas Woodfired Pizza.

During breaks in the rain Blueberry had its first excursions hence the bruises. 7 Mile Beach is 7km away and you're not too from the Southern Highlands. All good really. 

Berry is therefore awarded ⚽⚽⚽⚽. Would have been 4.5 but there wasn’t a dog show.