Can someone hold the time for me please?

I need for the rest of the world and time to stop a little while, so that I can catch up. Is it really December? There must be some mistake... my calendar says it is October still. I had big plans for a Thanksgiving dinner and inviting people who don't know TG. But unfortunately none of it happened. May I blame it on my painter? That nice man who practically has been been living with us for weeks now (again!). Do any of you remember the TV show "Murphy Brown"? If you do, well, then you know what I mean. Our painter is less gruffy and doesn't wear overalls, but the idea is the same. He nearly lives with us. He has a key and lets himself in around 8 am, brings his coffee but never says no when I offer him a freshly brewed one... I know about his kids, family, house, etc. And obviously he sees how we live and knows every room of our house. And yes, he does paint too, and he does it well, but not fast. That probably IS a good thing. Except for the fact that he now has been behind on 2 deadlines. The first one was our move-in date. Ha, I laugh at that now! And the second one was Thanksgiving.... And instead, he is off painting somewhere else this week and will come back next week "to finish up" but god only knows how long that will take still. ARG. I guess because he is nice and friendly that I haven't gotten angry at him yet. I've yelled at the contractor, at the architect, at the plumber, at the wall-plasterer.... but not at the painter (YET!) I have a whole week now to be bothered by and to let it fester.

Today is actually the first day in what seems a long time that I am not working (on translations, applications,tutoring ...) and not hopping on a train to Brussels or Gent to meet professionals and academics in my quest towards ... well, what? Something. Anyway, it feels weird almost to be in an empty house, alone. (See, the painter isn't here!) Hence this short update. There is cleaning to be done, so I don't have time for pics now. But I hope to be back this week with some. This is an exciting week for Evelina. Her first experience with St. Nick (Sinterklaas)! He has been at our house twice already, in the night, quietly... leaving gifts in her shoe. And he has collected her drawing and the letter she dictated to me with the list of items she would like him to bring her next weekend. More on that later!

Greetings from a cold Antwerp.