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Original poster

to ask for your help solving this impossible riddle/joke

999 replies

killingtime9198 · 03/12/2018 10:57

My best friend's family have a family 'joke', which she originally told me about when we were about 12/13. When she originally told me she didn't get the joke either, but then later did manage to work it out. When she first met her now husband he didn't get it, but he later also worked it out. I have never managed to get it, and every now and again I will remember the saga of this joke (this has been going on for about 20 years now), try desperately for a few days to work it out and then forget all about it for months.

Anyway, I wonder if the powers of mumsnet can either locate someone who has heard this 'joke' before, or who can work it out!

The joke is:

'There once was a man called Boswell. For short they called him Bos, and he walked up the post office steps.'

The joke is definitely NOT that there is no joke, and they're all having a laugh at me for trying to work it out - I am 100% confident of this.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
WibblewobbleTum · 03/12/2018 18:27

'There once was a man called Cuntwell. For (FOUR) short they called him Cunt, and he walked up the post office steps.'

Solved.

Well is four letters. It can't possibly be anything else!

ErrolTheDragon · 03/12/2018 18:27
  • 'there one was a woman called Boswell. For short they called her Bos. And she walked up to the library'

The alternative version works with the 'boscombe down' hypothesis too.

BoswellAndNotAndAFox · 03/12/2018 18:28

We're gonna need to know the gradient of Boswelland's destination first.

MiaowMix · 03/12/2018 18:30

I think the 'Boswell joke' might be a little bit like the 'Penske Files' 🤔

Pipnik · 03/12/2018 18:31

If all else fails maybe I could sell it to the MOD as a Christmas cracker joke...

Bluntness100 · 03/12/2018 18:32

Yes I think its solved, it's but did boscombe down,

tobee · 03/12/2018 18:33

It's got to be having cross legs/saying please physical type "correct answer" cos it's impossible otherwise. Plus op "friend " says it works better in person..And that "friend " is crap at word games. So I think you must "get it" by mistake/chance.

It's well fucking annoying Angry

But the shared rage had made me laugh a lot Grin

MiaowMix · 03/12/2018 18:34

@MooMoi so one tells the joke in day 1996 and the other replies in 2018?
Long game indeed

nottakingthisanymore · 03/12/2018 18:35

Teacup has it.
It’s pretty rubbish.

PhilomenaButterfly · 03/12/2018 18:35

No Errol

nakedscientist · 03/12/2018 18:37

Remember the riddle:
"There were thirty cows in a field and twenty eight chickens. How many didn't?"

10

ThanksForAllTheFish · 03/12/2018 18:38

Text her back ‘Who’s Andy?’ And see if that’s the answer she’s looking for.

And for (four) short = Bos.

Next sentence - And He (Andy) walked up the steps.

Is his full name Andy Boswell?

Ok a quick google shows Andy Boswell was a baseball player who lost the use of his legs due to arthritis. Could it be something to do with this? Are the family all Baseball fans perhaps. 🤔

ErrolTheDragon · 03/12/2018 18:38

No Errol

?? Why not?

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 03/12/2018 18:39

Pipnik has it. And if that’s not it, I’m going with it anyway because it’s clearly better than anything the insufferable tits in OP’s, friend’s family, are going to come up with.
(Damn, and I was so close with the Windsor Forshorts, of course he was from the Wiltshire branch of the family, I feel such a fool).

Bluntness100 · 03/12/2018 18:43

No way, text her her and ask but did boscombe down.,,🤣

pallisers · 03/12/2018 18:48

@OneForTheRoadThen

Thank you so much!

MiaowMix · 03/12/2018 18:49

@PhilomenaButterfly that's a map?

ForgetMeLots · 03/12/2018 18:49

Text her and tell her she’s the Antichrist.

Then report yourself as a troll.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 03/12/2018 18:53

Ok a quick google shows Andy Boswell was a baseball player who lost the use of his legs due to arthritis. Could it be something to do with this? Are the family all Baseball fans perhaps
Oh god, let’s hope not, you’ve set me off again 😂, luckily I’ve now removed the mascara, but I’m sure if my arthritis ever progresses that far the only thing that will make it all worth it is if some random bunch of weirdos can entertain themselves by inventing a long running, unfunny ‘riddle’ with which to torment their so called friends and extended family for the next twenty years.

primoestate · 03/12/2018 18:53

@PhilomenaButterfly

My friends play your daughters game every year at Christmas. I've never got it.
What's the answer pleeeaaasssee.

PhilomenaButterfly · 03/12/2018 18:55

Yes MiaowMix, you've got it!

Errol DD says because encyclopaedias have pictures in them: a picture of a road would have cars on it; a picture of a tree would have a trunk.

6demandingchildren · 03/12/2018 18:56

Pipnik had it.
Op please phone your friend and just ask her
"Did boscome down"
Pretty please

CantsitWontsit · 03/12/2018 18:59

Something to do with the last line... So it can be changed to, when said out loud:
He walked up the post, off his steps? Confused

IamAporcupine · 03/12/2018 19:00

Right - I've been following this thread on and off all day
I am not from the UK and English is not my first language - could someone explain why "Did boscome down" would be an answer to this riddle pppplease?!

JustLurkingAway · 03/12/2018 19:06

This thread has well and truly killed me off this eveningGrinGrin