Momentous day. It took many rounds of twice-a-month cardboard recycling pickup, including a few weeks we missed because our bin was accidentally held prisoner by our nextdoor neighbor, but for the first time since we arrived here there is no pile of flattened cardboard in our home.

As the time passes, there are fewer people I need to give my spiel about who we are and why we're here but it's still at least a few times a week. I'm thinking of making a printout:

1. We’re here for a year.  My husband is a physics professor spending his sabbatical at the University of Manchester.

2. Yes, our kids are in school here and like it very much [insert anecdote about N’s struggles with cursive/shockingly early school Christmas fair/Dress Like Samuel Pepys Day]

3. The rain here doesn’t seem so bad to us because at home it is [very cold/very hot].

4. About twenty minutes outside of Boston.  Yes, with the tea party, haha no we like tea now!

5. [If Irish] The town where your cousin lives is like [XX] minutes from us.

6. [If applicable] You mentioned you have visted [XXXXX] in America. [So gorgeous out there/I’ve never been but I’ve heard it’s awesome/Wow ok uh…what did you think?]

7. You are correct in assuming that I know nothing about your football. I also know nothing about our football.

8. No, he sucks

9. Seriously I would love to talk about absolutely anything other than him.  What’s the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?