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.

What?

Up North. No idea what this means

Bills mother in the Black Country in the west midlands is something to do with a storm coming I think? Something like this

I live in Sussex and my Nan always used to use wills mother as an example of anything and everything.
if it was raining she would say it is dark over wills mothers.
if there was something happening it would busy round wills mothers

I know bills mother

“It’s black over Bill’s mother’s “ impending doom😃

Never heard this before. We tend to say that we had to go 'all round the houses'.

Cambridge girl here, and yes, I still have to go round Will's mother's every time there's a traffic jam on my preferred route. Everyone nods sympathetically when I tell them of the journey

“Paid a galw Wil a dy Dad” = don’t call your father Wil.

meaning - show respect. I think!

Glad its not just me!!

It's 'Paid a galw Wil ar dy Dad'.('Don't call your father Will') @ItsNotUnusualToBe
It's from Ryan a Ronnie. Ryan and Ronnie - Wikipedia
The father was called Wil. The son Nigel Wyn would be scolded by his mother for calling his father Wil.

Ryan Davies died far too young and was a HUGE talent.
Phyllis Doris Myfanwy Talog - Wikipedia (the daughter in the sketch) was David Jason's long term partner. She also died too young and was talented.

What a strange post, and I’m not even talking about the subject matter! It’s written like we’re overhearing the last part of a drunken pub conversation where the context is unclear if you missed the beginning. The YABU/YANBU options are the wrong way round. Even though I’ve never heard the phrase before it’s blatantly obvious that it’s a local folklore thing, and you only need to google it to find out more. It feels like the whole post was written by a bot, but I can’t fathom the purpose of that!

I’m South Derbyshire, too! I hear “ black over Bill’s Mothers”… all the time! However….

….when I moved up from London, my DS were 3 and 1, and the oldest started nursery straight away. Took me bloody ages to suss out that Bill wasn’t one of the other children there, as I didn’t know anyone! 🙄 And, what was black? And over what? Who WAS this Bill that was never in class 🤷‍♀️?! And, why does everyone bitch about his Mum?
It didn’t help as no-one ever appeared to be talking about weather, 🌦️ when it was said, nor looking at the sky at the time! … It was just randomly dropped into chat, upon which most people would nod agreement, or mumble “ hmmm”, then either carry on chatting, or be on their way!

Oh, and I didn’t “ suss it out”. I had to ask someone after months. And, then kept getting it wrong. In fact, I’m still not sure I had it right after 15 years! I thought I did, but on reading this, I did think “ isn’t it over Bill’s COUSINS”?!..🤔😹!!

Great post, OP, by the way!! You’ve brightened up a meh Sunday!! 🙏😻!

I have absolutely no idea what you are tslking about and I’m a Londoner whose also lived in the south west , the south east , Sheffield and the Midlands …

In Surrey we say it's black over wills mother

Is it anywhere near "the back of the clock in Annie's room"? That used to be said to me a lot by my Grandad as a kid!!!

My Mum and Nan would say “It’s black over Mag’s mothers” 🥴…. Meaning heavy clouds are gathering…. They were in Liverpool
Absolutely no idea why 🤷🏼‍♀️

Not a clue. Maybe an older generational saying?

I don’t know the exact address but do know it’s always very grey over her house.

Yep, Will’s mother in Surrey!

Same

I know about Bill's mother but only because | had a Brummie boyfriend who taught me some local lingo!

I don't know where his mother lives, but it's often black over Bill's house.

I now live in the North where people don't know what this means, but my southern mum says it all the time.

I'm in Yorkshire & have absolutely no clue what you're on about. But as my son is called Will, I can claim the title of Wills mother, so yes I do know where I live 🤣🤣

"All the way around the Wrekin." I love that expression, not least of all because the Wrekin sits in my county. What is wonderful I have heard the expression all around the country.