Road tragedy

Yesterday when I was driving back to the cottage from Henån, our closest small town where we go for shopping, post-office stuff, library, and last but not least wine and beer shopping, I saw something very sad.

I was driving behind a slow-moving car when I saw an elk coming down a slope, ready to cross the road. The people ahead obviously didn't see her (it was a female elk). They collided with her and she flew onto their windscreen,, and then up on top of their car and rolled off, falling down on the side of the road. She was still alive when I jumped out of my car and just lay there so stoic and beautiful even though her two hind legs were clearly broken and pointing any which way. She must have been in so much pain. The elderly couple were fortunately fine though a bit shaken up. They had been driving quite slowly which might have reduced the impact. We had to wait quite a while for a hunter from the hunting team responsible for that specific area to arrive and shoot the elk.

The incident stayed with me all day. I was wondering if she had a young one back in the woods somewhere who was waiting for her.

On to happier things...

There is a heat wave here in Sweden right now. It is almost +30°C in the whole country.

We have been going for dips in the sea, especially to a place called Ellös where there is a ramp to get into the water. It makes it easier for a soon-to-be-ninety-year old to get in. No, I am not talking about myself! It is about my mother who is staying with us for a few weeks.

Last night after dipping we went to an auction at Tofta Gård. It was good fun and you could probably find good bargains. However we don't have space for anything so I held myself back. It was the first auction for elder daughter so I gave her strict warnings not to gesticulate or scratch her face or ear. This can be taken for a sign to raise the bid and you can end up with something very expensive and unwanted, if the auctioneer decides to accept that as the last bid.

A funny detail showing the difference between generations. A teenage girl asked her mother after having spent an hour in the sweltering heat of the barn where the auction was held: "Why don't they just sell the stuff on e-bay"? Yes, indeed, why don't they?