Well I'll go to Stoke

[woofas]

This was a favourite expression of my mother when something surprised her. Anyone else heard this or can suggest the origin? My mother grew up in Lichfield if that has any bearing.

[Count-A-Strong]

Years ago a trip to the nearest 'big' town was an event worthy of remark therefore if anything surprising happened it was appropriate to liken it to a big event.

[valerieb1254]

The ones we always said was.
Well,I'll go to our house......or
Well I'll go to foot of our stairs.

[fredpuli47]

Yes, Count Arthur has it (and his is a great act, well worth listening to, as well). Any big town in the area would serve for such a saying.Stoke is only about 40 miles from Lichfield but that's far enough to be quite a journey for any ordinary person, years ago.

Around here in Cambridgeshire, many years ago, I once heard two old men talking of Saffron Walden as though it was unimaginably far and foreign. It was all of 12 miles from where they were talking ! But, it is in another county,Essex, it was not the market town for where they were, there was no 'common carrier' years ago running regularly to there and therefore they'd come to see it as unthinkably distant.

[Quizmonster]

It all sounds like my annual childhood family trips to Aberdeen in the 1940s, though I don't recall anyone ever saying, "Well, I'll go to Aberdeen!" as an expression of surprise.

[fredpuli47]

Well QM, it must be that your trips to Aberdeen were seen as pleasure ! There's a slight suggestion that whatever place is chosen is somewhere which you could go to, is perceived as far, yet would not visit for the fun of it. [Or maybe not : I'm sure visiting Stoke is always a pleasure however far it is! (He adds quickly).]