to ask for your help solving this impossible riddle/joke

[killingtime9198]

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.

We don't know if you've got it BlockRockinBeats. Nobody knows apart from the OP's friend and the friend's husband. Who are too blooming evil to share.

Though I'm with 'does Boscombe Down?'

That decision will keep me sane.

Roll on Thursday! This has been driving me insane since last night!

We must start a new thread and tag the OP surely? Can we put a link to the new thread at the end of this one? We NEED to hold this poster to account. If she is indeed trolling with a made up, senseless riddle, she will need to go into hiding!

Do it, BlockRock.

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So did Derek reveal or clue us in on it? (DON'T repeat it!) My impression was also it was like one of those drawings that can be a lady or an old man and once you see it you can't unsee it but you can't see it if you stare at it, you have to do the side eyes at it, but I can't do the Magic Eye puzzles…

"'Again and Againagain got on a bus, againagain got off, who was left?'

The people who 'got it' eventually got it because they asked what for and were told 'Well..' "

@Againriddle please explain this. Boswell is already driving us nuts.

Picture the scene. Christmas 1993. Uncle Knobhead is a bit tipsy and regaling the fam with more hilarious tales. He starts another story with the words:

"There was a man whose name was Boswell, for short they called him Bos, andhewalkedupthepostofficesteps..."

And quick as a flash someone wittily intercepted with "that's not short for Boswell!!"

And how they all laughed. Auntie Janice peed her pants, mum dropped the sprouts and the Bos joke was immortalised for ever. It may well have been quite funny at the time but you probably had to be there.

Again and againagain got on a bus. Againagain got off. Who was left?

Again.

Again and again got on a bus. Againagain got off. Who was left?

I said Again you bastard!

Again and again got on a bus...

ARGH.

The again riddle (so you answer again and the person repeats it) reminds me of this from a Shirley Temple film

Joke teller: you remind me of the man
Victim: what man
JT: the man with the power.
Victim: what power
JT: the power of hoo-doo
Victim: Hoo doo?
JT: You do.
Victim: What?
JT: Remind me of the man.
Victim: What man.

and so on.

OP YOU NEED TO START A NEW THREAD BOSWELL PART TWO

This one is almost full

This was all people had for entertainment in the 18th century

What? Discussing non riddles with anonymous people on Mum's net?

I’ve taken a liberty

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3442896-I-NEED-MORE-ABOUT-BOS-WELL-solve-a-riddle-part-two?watched=1

@BoswellsLastStand I never knew that came from a Shirley temple film - I've only ever heard it as 'You remind me of the babe' in labyrinth.

I can't believe this has tormented you for 20 years and then you forgot to ask for the answer on your wedding day!

By the way, life is much happier when you give up on the game.

@BobDobbs Tue 04-Dec-18 21:32:10

I never knew that came from a Shirley temple film - I've only ever heard it as 'You remind me of the babe' in labyrinth.

It was Cary Grant in The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

The bachelor and the Bobby soxer is one of my favourite films!

Everybody over to Part II:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3442896-I-NEED-MORE-ABOUT-BOS-WELL-solve-a-riddle-part-two?watched=1&msgid=83084636#83084636

I reposted my summary for those who want to join this fresh hell.

There once was a man.

called Boswell.

For short they called him Bos

Did anyone list the books from the link someone posted further up?

caboodle.nationalbooktokens.com/hiddenbooks/?competition=13#

and he walked up the post office steps.

Or possibly approached the library.

And may have been a woman.

And now we all want to die.

Part II for those who want the answer is here in the hope that OP will materialise on Thursday and save us all:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3442896-I-NEED-MORE-ABOUT-BOS-WELL-solve-a-riddle-part-two?watched=1&msgid=83084636#83084636