Do you know where Will's mother lives?

[AnnaQuayInTheUk]

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.

Never heard of it either

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

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

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!

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

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.

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

Tell me more!

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

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

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

East Midlands here - never heard of this expression.

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

This is the explanation I heard too!

Are you all on glue?

Born in Midlands and now a Southern softie so Bill's Mother for me but when I said "it's looking rum at Bills mothers" to a crowd of chums they thought I was ever weirder than usual

I was going to say that it's "all around the Wrekin" here when you've been diverted all over the place.

This post has made me smile so much, thank you x

I'm from tbe Midlands and know the wrekin, but have no idea what you are on about.

Its always raining/looking bleak over Will's mothers around here in the east

It was the East Mids where I was introduced to Bill's mother. I'm familiar with going around the Wrekin as well - to mean taking a long route when a shorter one was possible (conversation and journey).

Shropshire here. "looks a bit black over Bill's mother's" when it's dark and stormy. "all round the Wrekin" when you've either been diverted on the roads, or when someone takes forever to get to the point!
No idea who Bill or his mother are!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37550178

Yes, this. Kent, Norfolk and South Yorkshire. Not heard it in relation to going round the houses.

From Wiltshire and had no idea, but may start using this 🤣

I’m from Cambridge and yep know all about Will’s mother. Had to explain it to DH on the bus once. He's from Yorkshire and thought I genuinely meant Will’s mother