Hello everyone, looks like we're going to be transferred to London for a couple of years. So I'm brimming with questions:

How much is a bottle of scotch? What about Bourobn (makers mark)

I want to bring my archery equipment, are ther many places to shoot?

Is there some kind of association similar to our fish and game associations in Canada?

Can anyone who has moved to London from abroad give me any pointers as to everyday living in London.

I don't know what else to ask but I know that AR is the place to find hunter friendly guys.

The chef

Hi chef,

To take your questions in order:

Between 10-40 pounds depending on quality and age, at the lower end the blends and at the higher 18-21 year old single malts. Burbon is limited mainly to Johnny Walker and Jack D in the main bars but everything is generally available.

Yes, you could shoot your archery equipment at my local club, Petersham and Ham rifle club.

Nor really, in respect of the hunting and fishing clubs you might be used to, but target shooting clubs are all over the place.

As to the everyday living.....get yourself here mate, Boggy, Kiri, Dave and the boys will ply with drinks and fill you in.

Please post any more questions and i'm sure between us we'll be able to sort you out but I will say get used to a shock when it comes to prices. For your colour a box of 50 30 cal tsxs is 80-90$ and powder $60 a pound.

Ghubert our moving costs will be paid for so that's free shipping in my books. Is there anything (legal)that I could bring over that would save you fellows any money?

quote:

Originally posted by calgarychef1:

Can anyone who has moved to London from abroad give me any pointers as to everyday living in London.

I don't know what else to ask but I know that AR is the place to find hunter friendly guys.

The chef

Yes, if you are approached by a portly foreign looking chap with an unlikely moustache, avoid him at all costs - he'll lead you into dark ways. He's easily identified because he can't spell 'bourbon' and dresses as if he's been fired from a cannon through what you'd call a thrift shop.

If you reload, bring vast supplies of everything. If you don't reload, don't expect to find the same selection of factory ammunition over here - the choice is dismal and erratic.

Adam.

Ah yes.

Avoid the villagers at all costs!

You can tell them by the haunted look in their eyes, as well as the silvery stains on their cuffs. They frequently also over-use material.

Especially ginger ones.

Wait a minute....portly?

In comparison to your fine self sir?

My god, look to the skies!

An enormous pot has hoved into view and appears to be calling a infinitely smaller kettle black...how curious.

London is expensive, crowded and unfriendly.

Glasgow and Newcastle are much nicer.

You must have upset your Boss to be sent to London.

One of the best fishing contacts would be O'Reilly at York Road.

Robthon that's funny! I haven't upset anyone it the wife that's getting transferred and I'll gladly tag along for a wee adventure. I'm looking forward to several gastronomic expriences and have been teasing the wife about "french Hookers"

One thing for sure it's a hell of a lot cheaper to fly to Africa from London than it is from Canada and I think I'll get more "Warm weather" hunting done.

It's hard to admit after the Canadian bush but I'm getting excited about experiencing European hunting methods. After my Grizzly encounters last year I think I'm due for some "Gentleman's hunting"

cheers all

You haven't said if you're planning to take firearms with you but if you do, you should consider having an RFD meet you at the airport to take posession of them until you can get your permits sorted out.

I'm an ex pat Brit and consequently a bit out of touch but I'm sure one of the guys here could put you onto a good RFD who's local to London.

With that in mind, you might also consider getting yourself a Canadian police clearance letter before you leave that you'll probably need to get a UK FAC or shotgun certificate issued...... that is if they haven't banned ALL firearms by the time you arrive!

If you want to experience some British shooting, then Kiri who posts here as Fallow Buck will be a good contact.

With regard to your question about bows....... if you meant bowhunting, you're gonna be disappointed because bowhunting is illegal in the UK. The only thing they'll let you shoot is a target.

There's a fair number of alphabet associations such as:

British Association of Shooting and Conservation. (or should that be conversation?)
Scottish Association for Country Sports.
British Deer Society.

And umpteen more. I'm sure the other guys here will be more up to date on who's good and who's not so good.

Yeah

Kiri aka Fellow buck is your man True gentleman

Can vouch for that and he is within shootable distance of a 338 lapua mag of central London

Once you have settled down drop us a PM will gladly share whatever contact I have

londonhunter

BTW which part of Canada are you moving from ?

Anything angry things there ?

Let me give one silly advice, since you will very likely drive: don't forget to keep the left. It's VERY easy to get wrong. I almost had a head-on collision during my 10 days stay in England, 20 years ago.

And if you aren't driving get an Oyster Card the very first time you go down into the Underground. It'll save you a fortune on "metro" and bus fares!

All good advise guys. As far as bowhunting I know it's illegal I just couldn't imagine not shooting my bow, I'm in love with the beautiful thing! I think I'll leave my guns here and borrow something if I hunt.

And driving....in South Africa last year I just tried to keep by the axiom, "keep the bitch in the ditch" that is my wifes side of the car toward the ditch, it worked well and even my wife started using the saying!

As to what part of Canada I'm from strangly enough it's Calgary Alberta. And yes we do have animals that like to chew up people. We don't let it bother us too much though, as with anyplace you just keep your wits about you and it's fine. We did have an unpleasant encounter with a pissed off grizzly last fall though. Thats a story to keep for the bar when I get over there.

Right, so you're moving to London with no guns but with a bow.

I think the first thing to do is find out whether you have any choice as to where you live. For example don't buy the line that Tower Hamlets is a quaint medieval hamlet preserved for posterity in the heart of London, nothing could be further from the truth.

There are a few archery clubs about, I will try and get a list together for you but would recommend Petersham and Ham rifle club as being a good all-round club.

We cannot match the exitment of GRizzly bear attacks but have enough feral urban children and their menagerie of pets to keep you on your toes.

Hey chef, if you are moving, you can tell me all your good deer hunting spots! :-)

Just kidding! Sounds like a great adventure... apart from the living in London part. Lots of people in a small area, dude.

Frans

Frans I'll tell you the biggest hunting secret of all time........are you ready?
........................................................................................................................................................The animals are..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Where you find them!

cheers dude!

So, you gonna leave all your guns with me, for safekeeping? Give my regards to Liz.

Grizz

Hi mate, my advice would be don't!

Overcrowded, filthy, very high crime rate and generally unfriendly.

4 of the most unpleasant years of my life, best described by one frequent london activity : travelling by tube in July/August

Scots....thanks for the heads up! I'm sure it can't be all bad, and France with all those piles of foie gras isn't far away. I'm gonna gain a bunch of weight my first few months.

Calgarychef,
If you are going to live in London, stay South of the Thames if possible.
Avoid North East London, especially suburbs like Haringay, Humberside and Scotland, the natives are unfriendly, eat pies, deep fried pizzas and too many french fries.
The best food is in the West End....unless you are cooking somewhere else?
For hunting cuisine, get yourself invited to one of Kiri's barbeques in the South East london area.
For seafood, the far South suburb of Normandy (Cherbourg) does one of the best Fruit de la Mer you will ever come across.
I'm not sure about your taste in Foie gras, you obviously haven't tried my venison pate!

I haven't tried your pate YET. Maybe I should bring my buffalo chopper and we can get elbows deep in sausage.

Thanks for the specifics regarding to areas to avoid. Wife and I will be going over in a month or so to find a place to live and hopefully get the kids into a school. That in itself is a bit daunting but just one more thing to get done.

cheers

quote:

Originally posted by calgarychef1:
Scots....thanks for the heads up! I'm sure it can't be all bad, and France with all those piles of foie gras isn't far away. I'm gonna gain a bunch of weight my first few months.

Best thing about London when I lived there was Continental Europe was just across the Channel.

The restaurants were TERRIBLE. But they seem to have improved in the last 20 years, when I lived there, compared to last year when I visited.

Good theatre in the West End.

Lots of touristy things to do, which most locals never do!

Visit some of the gunmakers and drool.

Londoners in Winter are like lemmings, and clump together, repeatedly bump into you, even when the pavement is otherwise empty and can not walk in a straight line ...

Don't go jogging, as the pollution will come out of your nose.

If living closer into the city, I lived for a while in Kensington, escape to the parks, Kensington Palace Gardens and Hyde Park to stay sane. My wife says I used to pace up and down in our flat like a caged tiger ...

Tubes in summer can have some interesting "wildlife" worth looking at.

England outside of London is much nicer.

quote:

Originally posted by Trapper Dave:
Calgarychef,
If you are going to live in London, stay South of the Thames if possible.

Has Brixton improved?

It had a FOR SALE sign up last time I drove through Brixton a few months ago.

May be sold by now

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Trapper Dave:
Calgarychef,
If you are going to live in London, stay South of the Thames if possible.

Controversial - North, North, North!

Living in N1 and loving it. Sorry but London has so many hundreds of interesting things to do. It is expensive and crowded but so are a lot of cities with no character or charm or history. You can take the tube and a bus and go watch big red stags/fallow bucks in Richmond Park, have afternoon tea at the Ritz and still have time to shoot a round of clays. It just requires a certain type of resilient character that likes the fast paced life.

Anyway, if you hate it you'll only be a 2hr train journey from France/Belgium and the civilised world!

London is fine once you get used to it. I am in pheasant and muntjac shooting territory within 30 minutes of home and in the opposite direction 20 minutes from Oxford street.

Bow hunting is illegal.

Kiri has food, I have an RFD and lots of guns and rifles and if you fight hard you may even extract a cigar from one of us occasionally.

You won't be short of sport or culture. Can you bring me a French hooker if you have a spare one?

Ok here's another question and it's pretty important!


how are the public schools? Here the kids go to the public school system and most indications show that the public isn't too far off the private system. Is that the case in England?

If you PM me I am please to guide you through this maze.

Alternatively I will be shooting In Montreal later this year in September. I sense you are located in Calgary. I will give you a local cell number we can also talk through your relocation issues off this forum

quote:

Originally posted by calgarychef1:
Ok here's another question and it's pretty important!


how are the public schools? Here the kids go to the public school system and most indications show that the public isn't too far off the private system. Is that the case in England?

In England, the "Public Schools" are Private ie, you have to pay fees to go. If you can afford it, you are a Michelin ***** chef!

The State Schools are free to children that live within their catchment area. Schools are inspected regularly by goverment Ofstead inspectors and rated according to performance. You may live within the catchment areas of several schools so be warned, there is a lot of competition for places in the higher rated state schools.
There are some very good Church Schools too if you are of a religous persuasion.

Gabriel neglected to mention that Richmond Park is in South-West London, the greenest quadrant and where God would chose to live if he could afford the Council tax.

NitroX Brixton is cool nowadays and the front line is now in places like the Roundshaw Estate in Wallington or Blackbird Leys in Oxford.

You're in safe hands, chef! These guys have helped me over there a couple of visits.. And it's been above average!

quote:

Originally posted by Anders:
You're in safe hands, chef! These guys have helped me over there a couple of visits.. And it's been above average!

We even put him through school!

Hey Chef,

Don't believe the horror stories. London is great especially if you live on the fringes so you can get the benefit of both the city and the country side.

Be sure to get in touch when you visit, and if you would like me to help you line up some viewings and show you around for a couple of days then I'm happy to do that. I generally have time on my hands and August looks like it will be quiet work wise. We can point out some of the sporting points of interest and get you out to shoot a Fallow buck on our ground close to London.

I'm back from Africa on the 16th August so the guys will be on Fallow duty at the end of the month to restock the BBQ's and shoot dinners that are coming up in the Autumn/winter. I'm sure an intro to the boys is a good enough excuse to fire up the coals....

I'll PM you my contact details and you can call me if there is anything you need.

Rgds,
Kiri


BTW, there are a couple of guns available for use should you need them so there's sport straight away while we set you up with a licence of your own...

BTW,

Amirs Johnnie Walker bourbon is legendary as is his dinner parties where he serves the vintage Boujolais Nouveau....



K

The best thing about London...is leaving!! do you know where your wifes job is located? london is quite a large place and there are a LOT os S@@@t hole places that i wouldnt walk my dog in Im lucky in that I work in SE london but live in West Sussex and wouldnt have it any other way except Im of to Toronto in the next few months!!!

They have to move the office to larger quarters and not sure yet where it'll be. It's obviously a huge part of our decision making and I hope they find a place soon.

quote:

Originally posted by Trapper Dave:
NitroX Brixton is cool nowadays and the front line is now in places like the Roundshaw Estate in Wallington or Blackbird Leys in Oxford.

Ha ha, I lived first in Surrey Docks for a few weeks, now known as Surrey Quays, I believe.

Then to East Dulwich for six months. The taxi drivers hated driving to Peckham and used to not believe it was really East Dulwich I wanted to go to. Peckham was OK anyway, and only ever saw one group of Simbas in the area.

Had Scandinavian friends moving out of an attic flat in Kensington, and we got the keys so finished off there. Charles and Di were near neighbours in those days, but rudely never invited us to High Tea.

Had a look at the place last year, first time in twenty years, and enjoyed the short visit as a tourist. Some things had changed a lot but some things also were the same.

East Dulwich is nice, it's about ten minutes from me. I also started off in Surrey Quays, and looking back on it I'm not sure why!!

Rgds,
K

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:

quote:

Originally posted by Trapper Dave:
NitroX Brixton is cool nowadays and the front line is now in places like the Roundshaw Estate in Wallington or Blackbird Leys in Oxford.

Ha ha, I lived first in Surrey Docks for a few weeks, now known as Surrey Quays, I believe.

Then to East Dulwich for six months. The taxi drivers hated driving to Peckham and used to not believe it was really East Dulwich I wanted to go to. Peckham was OK anyway, and only ever saw one group of Simbas in the area.

Had Scandinavian friends moving out of an attic flat in Kensington, and we got the keys so finished off there. Charles and Di were near neighbours in those days, but rudely never invited us to High Tea.

Had a look at the place last year, first time in twenty years, and enjoyed the short visit as a tourist. Some things had changed a lot but some things also were the same.

So, let me get this right...you are claiming to have never lived in Earl's Court, Shepard's Bush or Acton?

I'm sorry mate, I need proof you're actually Australian!

Next you'll be claiming that you steamed your food instead of lighting the barbie on some SE21 balcony.....

quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:
So, let me get this right...you are claiming to have never lived in Earl's Court, Shepard's Bush or Acton?

I'm sorry mate, I need proof you're actually Australian!

Next you'll be claiming that you steamed your food instead of lighting the barbie on some SE21 balcony.....

No finished off on Sheffield Tce, off Kensington Church St, off High Street Kensington. Earls Court is just off High Street Kensington I believe, never been there. Full of kiwis pretending to be Aussies.