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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
WhenIGrowUpIWantToBeAPenguin · 03/12/2018 12:15

Maybe he walked up the steps as he was short? Confused

TidyDancer · 03/12/2018 12:15

If that's the answer that's a shit joke isn't it? Why have they persisted in this for years unless they just enjoy watching others get frustrated by it?! How odd!

LaDaronne · 03/12/2018 12:15

C'mon everyone, it's blindingly obvious, can't you see it?

ButchyRestingFace · 03/12/2018 12:16

C'mon everyone, it's blindingly obvious, can't you see it?

Yes, Can't you see the posts where it was cracked?

SheilaBruce · 03/12/2018 12:17

sidesplitting, obviously the joke predates the equity of access rules Grin

AjasLipstick · 03/12/2018 12:17

I don't think that's it. Why doesn't it just say "He went to the post office" rather than the awkward "he waked up the post office steps"??

easterholidays · 03/12/2018 12:18

Could it be a reference to the (as was) Post Office Tower? That has a lot of steps. I can't get any further with that line of thought though...

ButchyRestingFace · 03/12/2018 12:19

I don't think that's it. Why doesn't it just say "He went to the post office" rather than the awkward "he waked up the post office steps"??

**

Man the doors, people. Incoming call from Bletchley Park. 📞

ScrambledSmegs · 03/12/2018 12:20

If that's it (and it might well be) it's a shit riddle. No wonder no one gets it!

flumpybear · 03/12/2018 12:20

Cockney rhyming slang for hell = post office stairwell .... and they've kept you in hell over this for 20'years !! Hmm

flumpybear · 03/12/2018 12:20

Made that up by the way!

ursuslemonade · 03/12/2018 12:23

Is this meant to be funny?
They sound like a bunch of insufferable twats.

Fairenuff · 03/12/2018 12:27

I think they called him Bos for short but when he went up the post office steps he wasn't short any more.

So it could have been any old steps really, could have been the church steps or the train station steps. Anything to make him not short.

SylviaAndSidney · 03/12/2018 12:28

Fairenuff hmm interesting... 🤔

ViragoKnows · 03/12/2018 12:32

I think they called him Bos for short but when he went up the post office steps he wasn't short any more.

So it could have been any old steps really, could have been the church steps or the train station steps. Anything to make him not short.

Maybe its a combo of both getring taller and getting his letters back, so no longer being “Bos for short” ? Still groan worthy.

Conventicle · 03/12/2018 12:34

Is the rest of this family's conversation more scintillating than their Famous Family 'Joke'?

Magicmonster · 03/12/2018 12:39

‘For short they called him Bos’, Bos is four letters short of Boswell. So that bit could be a play on words. Although I know you say she doesn’t usually get that kind of thing.

chickhonhoneybabe · 03/12/2018 12:40

They called him ‘well’ for short! You’re welcome! 😆

Tryingtobedebtfree2019 · 03/12/2018 12:41

Can you ask your friend now please op. We are allwaiting to find out!

ScrambledSmegs · 03/12/2018 12:42

When you start singing it to the tune of Benny Hill's 'Ernie' you know you need to take a break.

No, I know it doesn't scan...

AhoyDelBoy · 03/12/2018 12:43

I think Virago has it!

chickhonhoneybabe · 03/12/2018 12:43

op missed out the well bit in her original post.

It’s ‘well’ for for short

EdisonLightBulb · 03/12/2018 12:43

@killingtime9198 please text her and ask her if this is the answer. If it is, please tell her from all of us, it is cr*p

SylviaAndSidney · 03/12/2018 12:44

I’m paying way too much attention to this ‘joke’.

AhoyDelBoy · 03/12/2018 12:44

Maybe its a combo of both getring taller and getting his letters back, so no longer being “Bos for short” ? Still groan worthy.
This^ and I agree not exactly that funny Hmm

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