![File 13-05-2019, 3 52 43 PM.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPAgj9pEAqJ9iCUSwxHuTXsShRCwNodkWLmMf77CVgD8Q/File%2013-05-2019,%203%2052%2043%20PM.jpeg)

#### This morning, when I was just about to have coffee and breakfast, a little white car drove up to the gate of my twin sister's land. I knew it was the contractor, who is working on a guest house on her land, as well as on the renovation of my house in Monte Frio.

<br> I also realized that I was supposed to have lunch with him, around noon, something I wasn't necessarily looking forward to. My brother-in-law had told me earlier that morning, that he had seen the builders driving towards my house. So we really expected them to finally start working on the removal of my house's old roof and, later, installation of a new roof. 

( FYI: It was supposed to happen 6 weeks ago, at the end of March and then the weather changed and the construction of a guest house on my sister's land -  I'm sitting there, right now - as well as other projects started happening. And now it's Mid May.

**CUT BACK TO the arrival of the contractor**

Although I really expected the workers to finally start on my roof today, there was still this nagging feeling in the back of my mind. I had seen the weather predictions and - even though it's like summer now, 31 degrees Celsius in the shade ) - there's plenty of rain predicted in a handful of days. I just hoped that they would be able to do the job quickly. Perhaps removing the old roof and covering the house with some kind of plastic, until the rain stops and the new roof can be placed? It was all wishful thinking.

The contractor, a guy my age, walked up to me. We shook hands ( it had been a hug previously ) and he started talking...      

*A couple of minutes later, I started feeling like Bill Murray's character in the 1993 dramedy Groundhog Day.*

For those of you who haven't seen that movie,  a guy named Phil, who's a weatherman, relives the same ( annoying ) day again and again. 

<iframe width="680" height="510" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rQ4IqfQ-gkM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ4IqfQ-gkM)

In my case, it isn't the exact same day that I am re-living. It just seems like my Mondays ( over the last 6 weeks or so ) have been the same story:

> Sorry, we can't work on your roof this week. The weather is too unpredictable ( there might be rain and wind ). 

Today though, there was a little change. The contractor informed me that they were taking the scaffolding around my house away, as they would need it for another project and wouldn't be working on my roof this week.

My twin sister, who was part of the conversation, asked him if they could at least finish the inside of my house ( it's full of my things, collecting dust, with unfinished new floors but - aside from that - everything is working;  water, electricity. internet, gas and so on ).   

He answered that he could tell his workers to do this, to make the place livable for me, for the time being, until they can finally start on the roof.

**Long story short:** 

It seems like, in less than a week, I will be able to at least sleep, cook and shower in my house again, for the first time in over three months. I am looking forward to this, even though I have enjoyed most of the time camping - and later 'bungalowing' - at my sister's place, for the last two months or so.

After the talk with the contractor, I went for a walk in my sister's huge garden, I meditated near the river and - when I was about to return from my walk - I thought I heard the voices of my sister and my 3 year old niece calling me. I approached them and asked if they were calling out for me?

They answered that they were. If I would like to go to the river beach with them?

I said that I felt like it and - a little later - we went on our way.

I wanted to be in the now as much as I could, so I didn't use my phone. Not even to take pictures, something people often ask me to do ( as I apparently take decent pictures ). I spent most of the time in the water, with my niece and my sister snapped some pics, for a change. 

![river beach avo 2.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYNBijfsuK3dEB3jwk9u1N7NJbkxSPAuRttQ8W7XYH2M4/river%20beach%20avo%202.jpg)

<br>

![riverbeachavo.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQ7DMctynYMRoyWEvhrGKXZzvjxLgGsVUqzh6WUa9BhNK/riverbeachavo.jpg)

#### I'm not sure if it's the daily meditation that I've been on for about half a year now, combined with the many mindful moments that I consciously experience throughout the day  but one thing is clear: I am able to deal with what I might have called a disappointment in the past, easily these days.

<br> P.S. I expect that my house will be finished in a month - or, preferably, earlier - when my parents plan to visit my twin sister, her family and me, here in Portugal.

### What about you? How do you deal with difficult situations? What role plays mindfulness in your life?  

<br> Earlier related posts you might like:

[Today I revisited Monte Frio - An Update on my Portugal Adventures](https://steemit.com/life/@vincentnijman/today-i-revisited-monte-frio-cold-mountain-an-update-on-my-portugal-adventures)

[Mindful Monday - Kayaking with my Twin Sister and 3 year old niece](https://steemit.com/health/@vincentnijman/mindful-monday-first-time-kayaking-with-my-twin-sister-and-my-three-year-old-niece)

[Back to the Camping Life](https://steemit.com/portugal/@vincentnijman/back-to-the-camping-life-an-update-on-my-portugal-adventures)