Mika Lappalainen | Friday, 23 October 2026
New week, same bubble, same work, different shit. Normally we say same shit in different package. That means that you are not totally happy with your life, same work, same routines, just different day and week. I would say new package in different shit. That describes last few weeks well.
So this week has been reindeer work, out when dark, back home when it is even darker. Few beautiful sunny days if I recall right, few nights with beautiful northern lights. Some new views, mostly same old ones. Driving ATV hours in shitty terrain, gathering reindeer , talking bullshit on whatsapp calls when doing work and using it as communication instead of walkie talkies.
Life is pretty good, except I miss fishing and casting. Last Saturday I was again helping to build new fence. Before going there I checked one reindeer which was notified as dead, well it truly was as lynx has had some quality meat. Then end of day went check other one which, I thought that gps has dropped as it happens sometimes when boys fight about girls. This time something went wrong during fight and other male killed one of ours.
Sunday some car issues which we got fixed on Thursday, nothing major, yet costly ones still. And every day sitting on atv, move reindeer, same terrain as last year when I decided not to go on that area never again.... And here we are. :D Life is good when you live it. I miss some snooker games also.
Thursday we got some handsome boys in fence and home. For some it has been tough season. Prince Albert had bad luck. He didn't have proper front blind antler so his protection hasn't been perfect. Other male has cut off antler which should protect muzzle. It is like shield when good one. Now looks like that front blind has been cut off and same time it has turned like spike which went under the skin in muzzle. It is festering with green sticky stuff. I tried area and it feels that there is piece of antler.
We need to get vet to check and probably he needs surgery. We know on Friday or no later than Saturday. I was happy to found him as his gps was broken and it was pure luck that we met him during moving other reindeers. He is still in good shape so it is not so old fighting wound, yet if we wouldn't found him... Nature selection would have done it's work.
It is not childish game when boys are after girls. It is furious game, sometimes fight until someone dies. Sunday we had close call when boys started to fight, antlers got locked to each other and one male lost balance and other one kept pushing, almost breaking neck from other. It luckily happened on fence when we were in, we helped them out, saved life just to see that Panda (reindeer who almost broke his neck) challenged new male just minute or two after surviving from death. Hormones leads us. They are tough guys with adreline rush. You have to admire them.
Those boys live with fullest and it is furious game.
Have a nice weekend and go fishing
Mika the Legend