Greetings from Africa!

[tomgowans 2]

Hello everybody,

 

I found this site because I noticed I was getting a lot of traffic to my blog from it. I am very pleased to have discovered 'The Hunting Life' so signed up immediately.

 

I am retired British Army (Light Infantry then RAOC as an Ammunition Technical Officer) and now live in Angola where I am building a fishing lodge and restaurant on the banks of the Rio Kwanza where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

 

I was a pretty keen shot in my day, the best shooting I enjoyed was when I was stationed in Belize. There I was a founder member of the sadly defunct Duck Hunters and Clubbers Association. There will be a sharp intake of breath from your Gentlemen members but I used a five shot semi-automatic Browning but will perhaps be forgiven when I say it was the only shotgun in the armoury forming, as it did, part of the EOD kit. I also had a Remington 700BDL in 30-06 (which was a superb deer rifle) and a S&W .357 target pistol (for the anoraks out there it was a model 586 with Pachmayr grips, a full length shroud and target sights. I was a geek for buying it and am evidently still a geek for remembering its specification).

 

I get to shoot occasionally in Angola (I recently took down a decent bush buck) but not only do the authorities make it awkward for foreigners to maintain hunting licences, since virtually everything was poached out during the long civil war, I feel uncomfortable shooting what really should be left to naturally restock. Sadly, that's not how the locals feel. The first few years of my post Army career in Angola gave me plenty of opportunities to keep my eye in but we were issued with Uzis, Galils. Llama 9mm's and, my personal favourite, the Cz 83 in 7.65. 'Why such a light weapon?' I was frequently asked by my beefy ex SAS and SBS colleagues, 'Because I haven't got arms like bloody Garth and I can hit what I aim at'. Still, not exactly sporting weapons. Generally, though, I only kill what i will eat and I am pleased that my son has the same simple mantra.

 

Happily, the sport fishing here is excellent so now that I have retired, that is what I concentrate on. Loads of Kingfish, Dourado and Tarpon (100 kgs for the latter being common). Although one of my favourite authors is Hemingway, I do not share his passion for chasing Marlin (which appears to require steaming half way to Brazil at a nauseating four knots), not due to any touchy feely, yoghurt knitting tree hugging objection I may have but because I am unable to hang on to my breakfast as soon as I lose sight of land. That, I am told, is not unusual for Pongos. I just think it is a waste of a good single malt.

 

Recognising my lack of sea legs, on Sunday the excavators come in to dig me a pond which I will stock with anything that'll take a fly. Then I will order that wonderful looking hat from Lock's, the Chepstow in case anyone is interested (de riguer I would have thought for chaps like you), dig out my No 4 dress (worn with a cravat not a tie, this is Africa after all), pull on my Australian Light Horse boots and leather gaiters and be known as that barking mad Englishman camping by the river next to the sea.

[theferreter 311]

hello and welcome to THL mate

[j j m 6,561]

welcome mate

[The one 8,511]

Hello and welcome mate

[dymented 2,220]

hello and welcome to the forum bud

[jonah. 775]

Welcome aboard Tom.

there are some really good lads on here with lots of sound advice (in amongst the drivel ) available on a multitude of topics, not just hunting.

like i said before, i enjoy reading your blog and think you have a very easy going writing style and funny to boot.

ATB

clive.

[paulus 26]

Hello everybody,

 

I found this site because I noticed I was getting a lot of traffic to my blog from it. I am very pleased to have discovered 'The Hunting Life' so signed up immediately.

 

I am retired British Army (Light Infantry then RAOC as an Ammunition Technical Officer) and now live in Angola where I am building a fishing lodge and restaurant on the banks of the Rio Kwanza where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

 

I was a pretty keen shot in my day, the best shooting I enjoyed was when I was stationed in Belize. There I was a founder member of the sadly defunct Duck Hunters and Clubbers Association. There will be a sharp intake of breath from your Gentlemen members but I used a five shot semi-automatic Browning but will perhaps be forgiven when I say it was the only shotgun in the armoury forming, as it did, part of the EOD kit. I also had a Remington 700BDL in 30-06 (which was a superb deer rifle) and a S&W .357 target pistol (for the anoraks out there it was a model 586 with Pachmayr grips, a full length shroud and target sights. I was a geek for buying it and am evidently still a geek for remembering its specification).

 

I get to shoot occasionally in Angola (I recently took down a decent bush buck) but not only do the authorities make it awkward for foreigners to maintain hunting licences, since virtually everything was poached out during the long civil war, I feel uncomfortable shooting what really should be left to naturally restock. Sadly, that's not how the locals feel. The first few years of my post Army career in Angola gave me plenty of opportunities to keep my eye in but we were issued with Uzis, Galils. Llama 9mm's and, my personal favourite, the Cz 83 in 7.65. 'Why such a light weapon?' I was frequently asked by my beefy ex SAS and SBS colleagues, 'Because I haven't got arms like bloody Garth and I can hit what I aim at'. Still, not exactly sporting weapons. Generally, though, I only kill what i will eat and I am pleased that my son has the same simple mantra.

 

Happily, the sport fishing here is excellent so now that I have retired, that is what I concentrate on. Loads of Kingfish, Dourado and Tarpon (100 kgs for the latter being common). Although one of my favourite authors is Hemingway, I do not share his passion for chasing Marlin (which appears to require steaming half way to Brazil at a nauseating four knots), not due to any touchy feely, yoghurt knitting tree hugging objection I may have but because I am unable to hang on to my breakfast as soon as I lose sight of land. That, I am told, is not unusual for Pongos. I just think it is a waste of a good single malt.

 

Recognising my lack of sea legs, on Sunday the excavators come in to dig me a pond which I will stock with anything that'll take a fly. Then I will order that wonderful looking hat from Lock's, the Chepstow in case anyone is interested (de riguer I would have thought for chaps like you), dig out my No 4 dress (worn with a cravat not a tie, this is Africa after all), pull on my Australian Light Horse boots and leather gaiters and be known as that barking mad Englishman camping by the river next to the sea.

remember this place

[tomano1 80]

Good one palus welcome mate ATB TOMA

[stripes 401]

welcome along fella,,hats off to you atb,

[Bootsha 1,306]

howdy and welcome to the nuthouse, you have had a very fruitfull life so far by the sounds, i hope you enjoy the same in your retirement mate.

 

all the best

 

B

[walshie 2,804]

Hello and welcome

[IanB 0]

Hello everybody,

 

I found this site because I noticed I was getting a lot of traffic to my blog from it. I am very pleased to have discovered 'The Hunting Life' so signed up immediately.

 

I am retired British Army (Light Infantry then RAOC as an Ammunition Technical Officer) and now live in Angola where I am building a fishing lodge and restaurant on the banks of the Rio Kwanza where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

 

I was a pretty keen shot in my day, the best shooting I enjoyed was when I was stationed in Belize. There I was a founder member of the sadly defunct Duck Hunters and Clubbers Association. There will be a sharp intake of breath from your Gentlemen members but I used a five shot semi-automatic Browning but will perhaps be forgiven when I say it was the only shotgun in the armoury forming, as it did, part of the EOD kit. I also had a Remington 700BDL in 30-06 (which was a superb deer rifle) and a S&W .357 target pistol (for the anoraks out there it was a model 586 with Pachmayr grips, a full length shroud and target sights. I was a geek for buying it and am evidently still a geek for remembering its specification).

 

I get to shoot occasionally in Angola (I recently took down a decent bush buck) but not only do the authorities make it awkward for foreigners to maintain hunting licences, since virtually everything was poached out during the long civil war, I feel uncomfortable shooting what really should be left to naturally restock. Sadly, that's not how the locals feel. The first few years of my post Army career in Angola gave me plenty of opportunities to keep my eye in but we were issued with Uzis, Galils. Llama 9mm's and, my personal favourite, the Cz 83 in 7.65. 'Why such a light weapon?' I was frequently asked by my beefy ex SAS and SBS colleagues, 'Because I haven't got arms like bloody Garth and I can hit what I aim at'. Still, not exactly sporting weapons. Generally, though, I only kill what i will eat and I am pleased that my son has the same simple mantra.

 

Happily, the sport fishing here is excellent so now that I have retired, that is what I concentrate on. Loads of Kingfish, Dourado and Tarpon (100 kgs for the latter being common). Although one of my favourite authors is Hemingway, I do not share his passion for chasing Marlin (which appears to require steaming half way to Brazil at a nauseating four knots), not due to any touchy feely, yoghurt knitting tree hugging objection I may have but because I am unable to hang on to my breakfast as soon as I lose sight of land. That, I am told, is not unusual for Pongos. I just think it is a waste of a good single malt.

 

Recognising my lack of sea legs, on Sunday the excavators come in to dig me a pond which I will stock with anything that'll take a fly. Then I will order that wonderful looking hat from Lock's, the Chepstow in case anyone is interested (de riguer I would have thought for chaps like you), dig out my No 4 dress (worn with a cravat not a tie, this is Africa after all), pull on my Australian Light Horse boots and leather gaiters and be known as that barking mad Englishman camping by the river next to the sea.

 

Welcome to the forum Tom, your blogs very interesting on checking it out. Great introduction too.

[tomgowans 2]

Paulus,

 

Of course I don´t remember Raul´s Rose Garden (Extra Green Stamps on Saturday) with the raised bar deck overlooking the dance floor and the crappy rooms in the back. I used to hurry by that den of sin every Friday night without stopping.

 

Ever.

 

Honest.

 

Bit of background to the photo would be very nice. I just happened to be in there drinking a beer with a Signals officer (the Paras were the resident battalion) when I saw one of my guys (RAOC) getting the shit kicked out of him by the Paras so against the advice of my friend, I dived in. I am still impressed with the distance across the dance floor from the bar these two lads were able to toss me and then, when the RMPs arrived, how they and their mates squeezed me out through the back window and into the bush so I, as an officer, didn't get nicked. Pretty decent of them, I thought.

[paulus 26]

i was there on helicoptor support refueling for a few months, that photo is just a googled photo mate, i remember the para`s and their big red sledge hammer, that was passed on to the next person who caught a dose, there was even a ceremony they carried it around allday with them and even slept with it

[tomgowans 2]

SH refuelling, when was that? I used to spin off all the 105 mm spent cases and turn them into ashtrays in exchange for LH seats on the Pumas so long as they flew to Big Falls where I would let the RAF loose with weapons, loaded ones, drop some ducks and then fly back. This was in the eighties when they were needing them, not feeding them.

 

You see, you are never too old to learn something new. All these years there was I thinking that sodding great lump hammers were standard issue to the Paras in lieu of personal weapons...

 

IanB, thanks. I will post more, honest but I am dealing with all sorts of shit at the moment. If you have read my blog you will know that I lost one front loader to the river, now the bloody great excavator I ordered worked for three hours before exploding so is now lying dead in the middle of my land.

 

I will make more money selling all this dead kit for spares than running a bloody restaurant!