We feel priviliged spending New Years Eve at Märket. When we were waiting for the transport in Eckerö a man came to talk to us telling he had spent the New Year at Märket in 1961. Many things has happened here since those days.

In the stormy weather we can feel the uncertainty that for sure the lighthouse keepers felt here in the old days not knowing when it would be possible to reach the mainland. Luckily we found some potatoes and onions in the cellar in case our stay here will be prolonged.

The last lighthouse keepers left Märket in 1976 and for many years there was no life at Märket. It has been great being involved bringing life back to Märket. The input of the volunteers of the Lighthouse Society has been remarkable and the work continues. The lighthouse and the rest of the buildings were painted during last summer and the 125 years anniversary of Märket is about to begin in a couple of hours.

We need to be ready to leave Märket on short notice if the sea calms down so we have made some preparations already. The Christmas tree was undressed and we made a checkinglist of things that need to be done before leaving. Probably the next crew will not arrive before June.


Goodbye to the christmas tree

Today the reef has felt much smaller than the other days as water has taken over big parts of it. A proper snowstorm is still to come. Despite the risk of getting our shoes wet we have been out watching the sea that rolls into the reef. A video documentary is being made of the days here around Christmas and years shift.


Snow brought the history visible

We are starting to get ready to celebrate New Year and lighting up the candles. There´s not going to be any fireworks here but we´re trying to see if they shoot any from Understen. We doubt it though.... But definetely this going to a New Years Eve that we all will remember.

So, for all members of the Lighthouse Society and everyone reading this diary we wish you all Happy New Year 2010!

Seija, Sari, Päivi and Jake