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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:
Beachtastic · 20/09/2025 17:24

Will's (Bill's) mother's house is the one with a dark raincloud over it.

snemrose · 20/09/2025 17:24

East Midlands here - never heard of this expression.

defrazzled · 20/09/2025 17:24

NoisyLittleOtter · 20/09/2025 17:05

Where I am, if there are black clouds in the distance and it looks like it’s going to rain then ‘it’s a bit black over Bill’s mother’s’

this is how I know it, I have no idea what is has to do with roadworks 😂

Balloonhearts · 20/09/2025 17:23

You might pass it going round the po to find the handle.

GypsyQueeen · 20/09/2025 17:23

Oh so in the South we say "going around the houses" - I guess it's the same sort of meaning 😅

Original poster
AnnaQuayInTheUk · 20/09/2025 17:23

MissyB1 · 20/09/2025 17:21

No, but I do know about going to see Mrs Brown in the kitchen.

Tell me more!

OP posts:
MissyB1 · 20/09/2025 17:21

No, but I do know about going to see Mrs Brown in the kitchen.

MyOtherProfile · 20/09/2025 17:21

I don't know Will or Bill, or their mothers, but I do know everyone and their nan. They're the people usually blocking the roads, or filling the shops at Christmas.

NoelFurlong · 20/09/2025 17:19

Home Counties born and bred. No idea what you’re talking about.

CharlotteFlax · 20/09/2025 17:17

The first and last time I read about Will's mother was on Mumsnet a few months ago!

Blow me down with a feather, I'll go to the bottom of our stairs. It's a BARM!

Greaterthanthesumoftheparts · 20/09/2025 17:15

I learnt where Will’s mothers was from my late DStepF who was from Norfolk.

purpleme12 · 20/09/2025 17:15

Never heard of it either

From sounds of the explanation above it might be the same as 'going round the houses'

Woahtherehoney · 20/09/2025 17:13

I’m from East London and have no idea what you’re talking about. I now live out in the Essex countryside and have never heard it here either so 🤣

Cerialkiller · 20/09/2025 17:12

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 20/09/2025 17:04

I used to live in Cambridgeshire....

Show quote history

I've lived in Cambridgeshire for 40 years. Never heard this. Can't just be a Fens thing?

GypsyQueeen · 20/09/2025 17:12

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 20/09/2025 17:10

If there are roadworks or a traffic accident and there's a really long diversion, then you end up going "round Will's mother's".

ETA at least, in Cambridgeshire you do

Edited

I mean, I don't necessarily dislike it. And may even consider using it......
But people down here will say "who is Will's Mother?"
What would I say??? 🤔🤔🤔

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 20/09/2025 17:11

Princess Diana? Kensington Palace I think. RIP.

MrsGusset · 20/09/2025 17:10

We always say “the wife's mother's”. e.g. It's looking a bit dark over “the wife's mother's” means there's a storm on the way. (S East).

Original poster
AnnaQuayInTheUk · 20/09/2025 17:10

If there are roadworks or a traffic accident and there's a really long diversion, then you end up going "round Will's mother's".

ETA at least, in Cambridgeshire you do

OP posts:
GypsyQueeen · 20/09/2025 17:08

I'm a southerner and can tell you we know nothing of Will or Bill.

Uricon2 · 20/09/2025 17:06

Needapadlockonmyfridge · 20/09/2025 17:03

No idea!
Is that the same as going round the Wrekin?

No, I'm confident that means telling an unnecessarily convoluted story rather than doing it more directly (Shropshire family)

EsmeSusanOgg · 20/09/2025 17:06

I know 'All the way round the Wrekin' to mean going the long way round. It's a hill in Shropshire.

Never heard Will/ Bill's mother.

EtonMessy · 20/09/2025 17:06

No idea who Will, Bill or their mother are but suspect they live somewhere right round the Wrekin !!

Bohemond23 · 20/09/2025 17:05

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

NoisyLittleOtter · 20/09/2025 17:05

(I’m in the East Midlands)

TheSpottedZebra · 20/09/2025 17:05

I know of Bill's mother, but I'm not really from that area. I'd never bring her up in conversation myself.