There's sort of clear answers now as to who wrote certain versions, but the origins of the idea will probably be forever subject to speculation.




"Subject: RE: Paddy's Excuse Note; who when wh???
From: Bill D - PM
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 07:56 PM

I saw it published in a magazine..(like Readers Digest?) saying it 'had happened' to an apple farmer in Nova Scotia...and involved apples...

This one is worse than the alligators in the sewer story, or the Jeeps packed in cosmoline rip-off...or the iron lungs for cigarette packs tale...."