I had no idea about Pampas grass in the front garden or a packet of
Omo inthe window or an old fashioned lamp post or a glowing plastic
gnome in a caravan window. Evidently displaying a flamingo means the
same thing-though it has to be inflatable.

https://www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1317846-Gormless-or-What?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Gransnet%20Daily%20161122%20Wednesday&utm_medium=email

On 16/11/2022 11:51, Vicky wrote:
> I had no idea about Pampas grass in the front garden or a packet of
> Omo inthe window or an old fashioned lamp post or a glowing plastic
> gnome in a caravan window. Evidently displaying a flamingo means the
> same thing-though it has to be inflatable.
>
> https://www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1317846-Gormless-or-What?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Gransnet%20Daily%20161122%20Wednesday&utm_medium=email

I knew about the Pampas Grass because it was mentioned on GQT a couple
of years ago. I can picture the chap who said it and remember his voice
but not his name.

--
Jenny M Benson
Wrexham, UK

On 16/11/2022 11:51, Vicky wrote:
> I had no idea about Pampas grass in the front garden or a packet of
> Omo inthe window or an old fashioned lamp post or a glowing plastic
> gnome in a caravan window. Evidently displaying a flamingo means the
> same thing-though it has to be inflatable.
>
> https://www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1317846-Gormless-or-What?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Gransnet%20Daily%20161122%20Wednesday&utm_medium=email

The very large clump of pampas grass was the first thing to be dug out
of my front garden when I moved in. Though to be honest, no-one has ever
mentioned any louche goings-on here before I arrived.

Nor after. I trust.

Though there was once a Friday Gin Club, which sounds like a really nice
idea. No inflatables required.

--
Kate B

Kate B <elvira@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> On 16/11/2022 11:51, Vicky wrote:
>> I had no idea about Pampas grass in the front garden or a packet of
>> Omo inthe window or an old fashioned lamp post or a glowing plastic
>> gnome in a caravan window. Evidently displaying a flamingo means the
>> same thing-though it has to be inflatable.
>>
>> https://www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1317846-Gormless-or-What?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Gransnet%20Daily%20161122%20Wednesday&utm_medium=email
>
> The very large clump of pampas grass was the first thing to be dug out
> of my front garden when I moved in. Though to be honest, no-one has ever
> mentioned any louche goings-on here before I arrived.
>
> Nor after. I trust.
>
> Though there was once a Friday Gin Club, which sounds like a really nice
> idea. No inflatables required.
>

Quite So! (There is quite enough inflation just at present!)

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

Vicky <vicky.ayech@gmail.com> wrote:
> I had no idea about Pampas grass in the front garden or a packet of
> Omo inthe window or an old fashioned lamp post or a glowing plastic
> gnome in a caravan window. Evidently displaying a flamingo means the
> same thing-though it has to be inflatable.
>
> https://www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1317846-Gormless-or-What?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Gransnet%20Daily%20161122%20Wednesday&utm_medium=email
>

How many years has it been since Omo was on sale?

What would you put in the window now? <searches kitchen> DREFT? Dogging
requires extra female tonight? Doesn't have quite the same ring.

--
Linda ff

On 16.11.22 11:51, Vicky wrote:
> I had no idea about Pampas grass in the front garden or a packet of
> Omo inthe window or an old fashioned lamp post or a glowing plastic
> gnome in a caravan window. Evidently displaying a flamingo means the
> same thing-though it has to be inflatable.
>
> https://www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1317846-Gormless-or-What?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Gransnet%20Daily%20161122%20Wednesday&utm_medium=email

I think it was originally suggested in a book - but in reality it never
actually happened - when I bought this house it had three such plants in
each of what is now a driveway and two lawns and they went at the time
we built the extension.

The only strange people to knock on the door in the middle of the night
were the local constabulary who were looking for a former resident some
months after I had bought the house.

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics

On Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:27:45 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> a gribouillé dans
la poussière...

>The only strange people to knock on the door in the middle of the night
>were the local constabulary who were looking for a former resident some
>months after I had bought the house.

That's somewhat more disturbing than the telephone harassment we had here
for a few years after moving in, from people trying to recover debts from
the previous owner of the phone number. Although our disturbance went on
for longer, at least they didn't know where we lived.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

On Wed, 16 Nov 2022 21:01:30 +0000, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
wrote:

>On Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:27:45 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> a gribouillé dans
>la poussière...
>
>>The only strange people to knock on the door in the middle of the night
>>were the local constabulary who were looking for a former resident some
>>months after I had bought the house.
>
>That's somewhat more disturbing than the telephone harassment we had here
>for a few years after moving in, from people trying to recover debts from
>the previous owner of the phone number. Although our disturbance went on
>for longer, at least they didn't know where we lived.

The last home but one in the UK a year or so after I bought it baliffs
arrived to collect the furniture for a debt owned by the previous
owner. The flat had bars in front of it as security so I was able to
talk to them behind those and explain it wasn't me. They accepted that
and went away.

On 16.11.22 21:01, Penny wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:27:45 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> a gribouillé dans
> la poussière...
>
>> The only strange people to knock on the door in the middle of the night
>> were the local constabulary who were looking for a former resident some
>> months after I had bought the house.
>
> That's somewhat more disturbing than the telephone harassment we had here
> for a few years after moving in, from people trying to recover debts from
> the previous owner of the phone number. Although our disturbance went on
> for longer, at least they didn't know where we lived.

The odd thing was that as far as I could gather he had left the
residence some months before it was sold to me - they turned up that
night very heavy handed and I was extremely reluctant (after midnight)
to even contemplate opening the door to anyone.

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics

Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:27:45 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> a gribouillé dans
> la poussière...
>
>> The only strange people to knock on the door in the middle of the night
>> were the local constabulary who were looking for a former resident some
>> months after I had bought the house.
>
> That's somewhat more disturbing than the telephone harassment we had here
> for a few years after moving in, from people trying to recover debts from
> the previous owner of the phone number. Although our disturbance went on
> for longer, at least they didn't know where we lived.

When I had a tefaloan installed at our previous Toodle Towers, a
‘previously owned’ number was allocated and for a few years we received
calls for people wishing to speak to National Westminster Bank. Eventually
I adopted a standard reply to the enquirers asking if this was the NWB. I’d
reply: Depends, if you are depositing, yes, if you wish to withdraw any
money, no.

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

On 17.11.22 08:16, Mike McMillan wrote:
> Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com> wrote:
>> On Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:27:45 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> a gribouillé dans
>> la poussière...
>>
>>> The only strange people to knock on the door in the middle of the night
>>> were the local constabulary who were looking for a former resident some
>>> months after I had bought the house.
>>
>> That's somewhat more disturbing than the telephone harassment we had here
>> for a few years after moving in, from people trying to recover debts from
>> the previous owner of the phone number. Although our disturbance went on
>> for longer, at least they didn't know where we lived.
>
> When I had a tefaloan installed at our previous Toodle Towers, a
> ‘previously owned’ number was allocated and for a few years we received
> calls for people wishing to speak to National Westminster Bank. Eventually
> I adopted a standard reply to the enquirers asking if this was the NWB. I’d
> reply: Depends, if you are depositing, yes, if you wish to withdraw any
> money, no.
>

The Southern Electric Group - a group of enthusiasts of proper third
rail electrification systems - had somehow become the email address a
property company used to change housing rental arrangements. I
repeatedly and politely pointed out that we were not SSE and could not
help them and they might like to amend their database. Eventually I
think I emailed a senior partner giving intent on charging £1000 for
each such request. Even then they did not stop completely.

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics

On Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:20:09 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> a gribouillé dans
la poussière...

>The Southern Electric Group - a group of enthusiasts of proper third
>rail electrification systems - had somehow become the email address a
>property company used to change housing rental arrangements. I
>repeatedly and politely pointed out that we were not SSE and could not
>help them and they might like to amend their database. Eventually I
>think I emailed a senior partner giving intent on charging £1000 for
>each such request. Even then they did not stop completely.

Did they pay up when you invoiced them?
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

On 17/11/2022 12:05, Penny wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:20:09 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> a gribouillé dans
> la poussière...
>
>> The Southern Electric Group - a group of enthusiasts of proper third
>> rail electrification systems - had somehow become the email address a
>> property company used to change housing rental arrangements. I
>> repeatedly and politely pointed out that we were not SSE and could not
>> help them and they might like to amend their database. Eventually I
>> think I emailed a senior partner giving intent on charging £1000 for
>> each such request. Even then they did not stop completely.
>
> Did they pay up when you invoiced them?

EMNTK

john

On 17.11.22 12:26, John Ashby wrote:
> On 17/11/2022 12:05, Penny wrote:
>> On Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:20:09 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> a gribouillé
>> dans
>> la poussière...
>>
>>> The Southern Electric Group - a group of enthusiasts of proper third
>>> rail electrification systems - had somehow become the email address a
>>> property company used to change housing rental arrangements.  I
>>> repeatedly and politely pointed out that we were not SSE and could not
>>> help them and they might like to amend their database.  Eventually I
>>> think I emailed a senior partner giving intent on charging £1000 for
>>> each such request.  Even then they did not stop completely.
>>
>> Did they pay up when you invoiced them?
>
> EMNTK
>
> john

I threatened several times. Then I sent an invoice if I remember correctly.

Then interestingly it stopped.

But payment came there none.

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics

On 16/11/2022 17:27, krw wrote:
> On 16.11.22 11:51, Vicky wrote:
>> I had no idea about Pampas grass in the front garden or a packet of
>> Omo inthe window or an old fashioned lamp post or a glowing plastic
>> gnome in a caravan window.  Evidently displaying a flamingo means the
>> same thing-though  it has to be inflatable.
>>
>> https://www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1317846-Gormless-or-What?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Gransnet%20Daily%20161122%20Wednesday&utm_medium=email
>
> I think it was originally suggested in a book - but in reality it never
> actually happened

That's what your wofe wants you to believe....

On Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:20:09 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> wrote:

>On 17.11.22 08:16, Mike McMillan wrote:
>> Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com> wrote:
>>> On Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:27:45 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> a gribouillé dans
>>> la poussière...
>>>
>>>> The only strange people to knock on the door in the middle of the night
>>>> were the local constabulary who were looking for a former resident some
>>>> months after I had bought the house.
>>>
>>> That's somewhat more disturbing than the telephone harassment we had here
>>> for a few years after moving in, from people trying to recover debts from
>>> the previous owner of the phone number. Although our disturbance went on
>>> for longer, at least they didn't know where we lived.
>>
>> When I had a tefaloan installed at our previous Toodle Towers, a
>> ‘previously owned’ number was allocated and for a few years we received
>> calls for people wishing to speak to National Westminster Bank. Eventually
>> I adopted a standard reply to the enquirers asking if this was the NWB. I’d
>> reply: Depends, if you are depositing, yes, if you wish to withdraw any
>> money, no.
>>
>
>The Southern Electric Group - a group of enthusiasts of proper third
>rail electrification systems - had somehow become the email address a
>property company used to change housing rental arrangements. I
>repeatedly and politely pointed out that we were not SSE and could not
>help them and they might like to amend their database. Eventually I
>think I emailed a senior partner giving intent on charging £1000 for
>each such request. Even then they did not stop completely.

The nearest I came to that situation was when someone with the same
name as me kept forgetting their email address and giving mine
instead. I used to try and inform the sender each time until I grew
fed up with doing so.

Then I received by email some very expensive tickets to a sports event
and they could only be redeemed by showing the e-ticket on a mobile
phone and there was nothing I could reasonably/legally do about it.
The wrong email addresses stopped pretty abruptly after that.

Nick

On Thu, 17 Nov 2022 17:44:24 +0000, Nick Odell <nickodell49@yahoo.ca> a
gribouillé dans la poussière...

>The nearest I came to that situation was when someone with the same
>name as me kept forgetting their email address and giving mine
>instead. I used to try and inform the sender each time until I grew
>fed up with doing so.
>
>Then I received by email some very expensive tickets to a sports event
>and they could only be redeemed by showing the e-ticket on a mobile
>phone and there was nothing I could reasonably/legally do about it.
>The wrong email addresses stopped pretty abruptly after that.

The nearest I came to *that* situation was when a Canadian university
emailed to say they wanted to use one of my photographs. I pointed out they
were free to download and use the photo under the terms of the CC licence.
They replied they were not allowed to do that and would prefer to pay me
and would I fill in and sign a pdf form and they would send me a cheque -
how much would it be? I suggested £15 by bank transfer would be simpler and
I wasn't sure how to fill in and sign a pdf. I did give them my address at
that point in case they wanted to post it. Nope, they couldn't do that
either, it had to be a cheque, please return the form.

So I did my best filling out the empty bits of the form (without checking
the parts which were already completed) and sent it back with a note that I
would send the photo file when I had banked the cheque.

I never heard any more.

Several years later I happened upon the pdf on my Google Drive and read
through it.
The name section contained my name.
The address was that of a theatre producer in St Albans (I was familiar
with the details - I have googled myself from time to time).
They never got the photo file - I wonder if that other Penny got the cheque
- and if she banked it.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

On 17/11/2022 10:20, krw wrote:
> On 17.11.22 08:16, Mike McMillan wrote:
>> Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com> wrote:
>>> On Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:27:45 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> a gribouillé
>>> dans
>>> la poussière...
>>>
>>>> The only strange people to knock on the door in the middle of the night
>>>> were the local constabulary who were looking for a former resident some
>>>> months after I had bought the house.
>>>
>>> That's somewhat more disturbing than the telephone harassment we had
>>> here
>>> for a few years after moving in, from people trying to recover debts
>>> from
>>> the previous owner of the phone number. Although our disturbance went on
>>> for longer, at least they didn't know where we lived.
>>
>> When I had a tefaloan installed at our previous Toodle Towers, a
>> ‘previously owned’ number was allocated and for a few years we received
>> calls for people wishing to speak to National Westminster Bank.
>> Eventually
>> I adopted a standard reply to the enquirers asking if this was the
>> NWB. I’d
>> reply: Depends, if you are depositing, yes, if you wish to withdraw any
>> money, no.
>>
>
> The Southern Electric Group - a group of enthusiasts of proper third
> rail electrification systems - had somehow become the email address a
> property company used to change housing rental arrangements.  I
> repeatedly and politely pointed out that we were not SSE and could not
> help them and they might like to amend their database.  Eventually I
> think I emailed a senior partner giving intent on charging £1000 for
> each such request.  Even then they did not stop completely.
>
A union, I think it was, managed to get my phone number crossed with the
HR department of a major airline. All those faxes made fascinating reading.

--
Ric

On 16/11/2022 21:01, Penny wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:27:45 +0000, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> a gribouillé dans
> la poussière...
>
>> The only strange people to knock on the door in the middle of the night
>> were the local constabulary who were looking for a former resident some
>> months after I had bought the house.
>
> That's somewhat more disturbing than the telephone harassment we had here
> for a few years after moving in, from people trying to recover debts from
> the previous owner of the phone number. Although our disturbance went on
> for longer, at least they didn't know where we lived.

I got home from work one day and found a message on the machine saying
they were something to do with a bank and it would be in my best
interests to phone them back by 3pm, with a hint of or else. By the time
I got the message it was well after 3pm. The bank was one I wanted
nothing to do with as they had a reputation for excessive, annoying and
potentially dodgy sales calls. I don't take kindly to threats. So I
ignored it. This was repeated daily for several weeks.

Then one Sunday morning, just after breakfast, the phone rang. I had my
parents staying and I had been receiving several nuisance calls so I was
not too friendly when I answered. The caller promptly took offence and
then said I owed them $12,000. There were then several rounds of "No I
don't." "Yes you do." before the caller came to her senses and asked why
I thought I didn't. I told her I didn't have an account with them. She
then asked whether I was me, living somewhere or other in Arizona. I
said I wasn't, and if I were I'd hardly have a Dallas phone number. I
never heard any more[1].

[1] Just to clarify: No I hadn't gone deaf.

--
Ric