up the wooden hill to bedfordshire?

[shanx]

me and mr shanks were the siblings of our family.and when the men of the family were ready for bed would say eg dad the above and dad-inlaw like your company but dont like your hours,do you think they were trying to tell us something lol [god bless them]

[jno]

just telling you they were tired most likely

[shanx]

lol worked that one out at the time,think they were a bit old when they had us,and realised they couldnt cope but we had the highest respect for them and loved them to bits,and still do even they have gone

[CheekyChops]

Ha ha, my mum and dad used to say that to me when I was small!

No idea where the saying actually comes from, maybe because Bedfordshire is just a place that fits with 'Bed'?

[shanx]

always thought that, my dad was a long distant lorry driver probably visited bedfordshire,probably knackered after a long day driving

[Quizmonster]

'Bedfordshire' as a humorous form for 'bed', has been in use since the 1600s! Jonathan Swift, in his Polite Conversation published in 1706, has someone say, "Faith, I'm for Bedfordshire" to indicate that conversation was over for that evening.

[shaneystar2]

Up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire and down sheet lane to blanket fair was a popular nursery rhyme as well ....years ago !
I think Vera Lynn sang a song with that title too.
My mother always used to say "Up the Dancers " when it was time to go to bed .....now I wonder where that came from.

[Quizmonster]

Strangely enough, Shaney, 'dancers' has also been in use to mean 'stairs' since the 1600s!

[shaneystar2]

Well QM you learn something new everyday !
I was often told this as a child ....it was always closely followed by mother's slipper if I hung around too long ! She always missed though !

[Springdouble]

Could it be that "Bedfordshire" sounds a bit like "Bed for sure"?