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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do you know where Will's mother lives?

237 replies

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 20/09/2025 16:54

For 20+ years I lived in an area where everyone knew about Will's mother. People would arrive late to meetings explaining that they were really sorry, but roadworks on X Road meant that they had to go round Will's mother's.

I'm aware that in the Midlands they know about Bill's mother's, not Will's. And that sometimes it's black over Bills mother's house. But I've now moved to a different part of the country where no one knows about Will's mother's, or Bill's.

So,
YABU - who on earth is Will/Bill's mother?
YANBU - everyone knows about Will/Bills mother.

OP posts:
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Purplebunnie · 23/09/2025 12:28

lilkitten · 23/09/2025 12:14

My mum lived in Birmingham, she said that meant prostitutes. Heard it in a panto there as a child, and I was pressing for an explanation 😂

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I think people forget the inquisitive nature of children😂it's not really what I would expect in a script!

I'm not sure where the back was. For a brief time I temped above the Bank of England and Rackhams and the Bank of Ireland were sort of next door. I wasn't there long but some poor unfortunate jumped from Rackhams top floor and we were evacuated at least twice. Thirteen flights of stairs if I remember correctly. I liked working in Brum

lilkitten · 23/09/2025 12:18

NoisyLittleOtter · 23/09/2025 12:15

I’m early 40s, so don’t think it’s an age thing. Guess it’s just a ‘different people’ thing!

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I'll ask my dad later. He would always say "I'm going to buy eggs", which meant the pub. My kids think "going to buy milk" means the dad is deserting the family somehow!

123becauseicouldntthinkofone · 23/09/2025 12:15

Manchester and no clue either!

NoisyLittleOtter · 23/09/2025 12:15

lilkitten · 23/09/2025 12:13

So am I, I'm totally baffled, never heard of this. Is it a thing people used to say? (I'm late-40s, not sure if I've just missed this)

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I’m early 40s, so don’t think it’s an age thing. Guess it’s just a ‘different people’ thing!

lilkitten · 23/09/2025 12:14

Purplebunnie · 22/09/2025 13:55

the back of Rackhams 😂haven't heard that in many years.

I was of the understanding it meant prostitutes used to hang around there looking for customers.

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My mum lived in Birmingham, she said that meant prostitutes. Heard it in a panto there as a child, and I was pressing for an explanation 😂

lilkitten · 23/09/2025 12:13

NoisyLittleOtter · 20/09/2025 17:05

(I’m in the East Midlands)

So am I, I'm totally baffled, never heard of this. Is it a thing people used to say? (I'm late-40s, not sure if I've just missed this)

Purplebunnie · 22/09/2025 13:55

SheWaits · 22/09/2025 10:19

My Brummie boyfriend who told me about Bill's mother also taught me about the Wrekin.

May I bring to the table "the back of Rackhams?"

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the back of Rackhams 😂haven't heard that in many years.

I was of the understanding it meant prostitutes used to hang around there looking for customers.

Rictasmorticia · 22/09/2025 13:47

Bohemond23 · 20/09/2025 17:05

This sounds like my dad going to see a man about a dog.

I had a really disappointing Christmas when I was 10. I heard my dad tell me my brother that he “was going to see a man about a dog” All day I wanted for the dog to appear and then cried myself to sleep.

supersop60 · 22/09/2025 12:46

FarmGirl78 · 21/09/2025 20:17

It's not the same. "Black over the back of Bill's Mother's" is saying it's looking dark over there <points into distance>, whereas "all round the Wrekin" is going the long way round <waves hand in vague semi circle in mid air> it taking forever to get something done.

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The OP mentioned going round Will’s mothers as being the long way round, so yeah, Will and Bill’s mother live a complicated distance away in bad weather.

OvertiredandConfused · 22/09/2025 11:00

Isthereanotherplanettoinhabit · 20/09/2025 17:35

My mother always used to say it’s black over Bill’s mother’s (meaning her house) when it looked like rain. We live in Worcestershire. I always thought it was a quaint expression of my mother’s but then someone told me it was something to do with William Shakespeare. So I would expect Will’s mother is a regional version of the same thing

I grew up in Staffordshire but now I live in the Home Counties and will regularly say “it looks a bit black over Bill‘s mother’s“ meaning that it looks like it’s going to rain.

SheWaits · 22/09/2025 10:19

Kjpt140v · 21/09/2025 19:15

"All the way around the Wrekin." I love that expression, not least of all because the Wrekin sits in my county. What is wonderful I have heard the expression all around the country.

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My Brummie boyfriend who told me about Bill's mother also taught me about the Wrekin.

May I bring to the table "the back of Rackhams?"

LittleCarrot12 · 22/09/2025 09:06

I’m in the confused group

ohyesohyesoh · 22/09/2025 09:05

East coast, and yes, it’s sometimes black over bills mothers house here too

VK456 · 22/09/2025 06:29

Everyone knew Bill’s mother when I lived in the East Midlands, but I don’t recall anyone mentioning her in North Wiltshire. I’ve never met a soul who speaks of Will’s mother, though…

Northquit · 21/09/2025 23:49

It's Bill. And we used to talk about it being a bit dark over at Bill's mother's.

However this was complicated by my granny having a brother William who lived over that general direction.

OneWildBiscuit · 21/09/2025 23:46

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 20/09/2025 16:54

For 20+ years I lived in an area where everyone knew about Will's mother. People would arrive late to meetings explaining that they were really sorry, but roadworks on X Road meant that they had to go round Will's mother's.

I'm aware that in the Midlands they know about Bill's mother's, not Will's. And that sometimes it's black over Bills mother's house. But I've now moved to a different part of the country where no one knows about Will's mother's, or Bill's.

So,
YABU - who on earth is Will/Bill's mother?
YANBU - everyone knows about Will/Bills mother.

I'm Scottish but often say 'Its black over Bill's mum's house' when it looks like it's going to rain. No-one here knows what I'm talking about. My mum is English (Yorkshire) so I'm presuming it's something I've grown up hearing?

winewolfhowls · 21/09/2025 22:44

I know soft Mick!

If you were annoying my Granny she would send you 'To play with Joneses kids.'

twinkletoesfairy · 21/09/2025 22:37

I'm from London, as are parents and grandparents, I've heard of Will's mother as in 'going 'round Will's mother's' ie. a long way round to get somewhere, also, once in my life heard expression 'Charlie's dead' from another girl would've been 1st year (Year 7) secondary, never heard before or after, I just answered 'Who's Charlie?' to much laughter, apparently it meant 'your petticoat is showing'?!

RedRec · 21/09/2025 22:18

I know exactly where Will's mother's is. About a mile away in the distance from my childhood home in Norfolk as my mother used to look out of the window and say it was black over there.

Ladymeade · 21/09/2025 22:12

Changingplace · 20/09/2025 17:02

Same, no idea what is happening here!

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Same!

Avoidingsleep · 21/09/2025 21:55

No idea, but it reminds me of when my in laws started going on about Soft Mick…that one took a bit of explaining, I assumed it was a family friend. 🤣

JustSawJohnny · 21/09/2025 21:49

Lollipop81 · 21/09/2025 19:51

I’ve been around the Wrekin is something I would say, I’m from Birmingham

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We're about an hour South of.x.

Pieceofpurplesky · 21/09/2025 21:43

Polly's mother here! I think she may be related to Bill.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 21/09/2025 21:10

I’m from Yorkshire and have never heard of this

OneFunnyPearlTurtle · 21/09/2025 21:08

I’m from down south and heard about Will’s mother when I was young, don’t hear it now. Also used to hear someone was going to see a man about a dog and also going there and back to see how far it is