Gormless or What!

I knew nothing of pampas grass, flamingos and Omo. And yet we were in the perfect situation for such activities, living in a row of houses with three young couples and a young mother. We were all very friendly and hosted evening parties quite often. No keys exchanged hands, but it seems one rampant male was doing most of the swapping, and later on there was a permanent exchange involved with the other two couples. But never any pampas grass or flamingos in sight.

There was a pampas grass in our front garden when we moved in our current house. It was enormous and we hated it. We tried pulling it up but with no success. Some bright spark suggested setting fire to it! Cue lots of villagers gathering to watch and one or two wondering whether to call the fire brigade. Needless to say, after the fire was brought under control by us and the neighbours, the d****d thing grew back even more enormous. So we asked a local odd job man to tie a rope round it and pull it out using his van. He did this, whilst managing to break half the front wall. All is well now and we have a beautiful magnolia.

welbeck

Abigail's Party.
it's really quite dark.

Absolutely loved it!

Sparklefizz

I remember that in the 70s.

Yes, our neighbours at top of cul-de-sac had a huge clump, and I was told about their 'antics' many years later.

Abigail's Party.
it's really quite dark.

Our next door neighbours in 1977 had pampas grass in their front garden. When we were moving in we noticed it and wondered ...
😁

Puts me in mind of Play for Today of that year, a Mike Leigh production starring Alison Steadman who organises a cringeworthy drinks party with cheese and pineapple on sticks. Middle class socialising. She’d had a fair few drinks herself, kept topping up neighbour’s glasses where she could, had the hots for Tony (I think) , a neighbour). Demis Roussos warbling away on the record player “Forever and Ever”!

even i knew that, though probably not at its height so to speak.
and i'm pretty dopey re contemporary ?culture.
guess i heard of it mentioned on tv in 80s/90s.

My sister told me that, after I bought a plant. Evidently displaying a flamingo means the same thing-though I think it has to be inflatable🦩

My husband and I had only been married 3 weeks when a work colleague asked me if he was broad minded. In my innocence I blithely said yes.
She then invited us to a party she was planning the following weekend. She also invited my friend and chief bridesmaid who married the week after me.
I think you can guess where I'm going with this.

About 20 minutes after arrival. People started pairing up with people other than who they arrived with.
We rapidly made our excuses and left. The four of us went back to our house for cocoa and biscuits.
No sign of pampas grass in their front garden either!

Oh my word! I've lived a sheltered life. 🤣🤣

My DH had relatives who were alleged swingers in the 70s.
I found this out when I overheard my MIL being told in whispers by the mother of one half of the couple.
Looking at them when I last saw them, in early old age , you have never believed it

I don't think all young people know what Pampass Grass means? I say this because a young couple we know had Pampass grass in the displays at their wedding!

I thought it was quite funny, but I'm sure it was innocent.

my very conservative Aunt and Uncle had a massive one in their front garden and dry stalks all around the house

I didn't know that! My very particular neighbour planted a large clump in her front garden. Perhaps she is not as boring as I believe!

Yes, Pampas grass in the front garden says Swingers live here. So too an old fashioned lamp post. A glowing plastic gnome in a caravan window says the same thing!

What plant do you have to plant in your front garden these days? 🤣

I had one for many years in my front garden and kept even after finding out it’s dubious reputation.
However I got rid of after neighbours starting hinting that the fronds were blowing into their gardens and becoming a nuisance.
They are very hard to get rid of or kill.
It took industrial strength weed killer to kill it.
It really was huge.
I am no longer attracting attention from strange men, delivery people etc.
The fact that I am 85 may possibly have something to do with that.

Yes I remember that as well, and the keys in the dish.
I don’t think I’ve lived anywhere where I might be tempted to go home with one of our neighbors.
But after a few too many drinks one night we did play a rather raunchy game of strip scrabble, hilarious at the time, but not good the next morning!

Me too!

Love, "OMO"

any more?

I have obviously led a sheltered life.

And all these years I thought Omo was a washing powder!!

Yes it’s well known amongst the key swopping groups
I think it was60 s70 s when it was at it’s peak I got rid of my pampas when I knew that in the 70 s 🤣🤣🤣

You live and learn midgey 🤫

I didn’t know that MrsKen!

Ha ha I didn’t know that!

When we moved into this cul de sac many years ago our very bossy neighbour had one. Got me wondering about them now…!