040508 A new shift at work

 

Second week of this summer 2008 in Märket began. Today was the change of watch. We arrived in a splendid weather. Sunny, warm and no wind at all. Unusual for this stormy location.

The first watch couple had cleaned the lighthouse after the winter and we were lucky to find for ex. a nice and cozy kitchen. It is a year ago that we were here to start the project.

Now it is fantastic to see how much has happened last summer. A lot has been done. The ”restauration boss” Ville gave us a list of things to do so let´s see what two women can get done in a week.

First we made fish soup! Then we got a big group of visitors. The seals howl but we don’t see them. It feels magical to be back on Märket.

Kikka and Satu

 

050508 Gray and windy day

 

A grey morning. Wind had picked ud about 8-10 m/s. We slept in the small room in the attick. Sleeping bag was enough for heating. And the ventilation built in the windows garanteed the fresh sea air for us.

Around noon the clouds spread and the sun came out. Today´s task was to clean walls of the old concrete toilet from the orange growth and the ancient painting. The idea is to test the paints that will be later used to paint the outside walls of the lighthouse. We brushed until the iron brushes were through. It sure was a great workout. No gym hall needed.

In the evening the wind calmed down. We decided to test the little dinghy so we know how it works if we need to pick up visitors. All is well. Fish soup and crepes for dinner. We saw an eagle!

Satu & Kikka

 

060508 Cold from the North

 

Fantastic weather invited us to work outside today. One of the tasks given to us was to dig out the grass and other growth from the roof of the storage building in order to build handreilings on it for safety reasons. We secured ourselves with lifelines and began a fight against nature. The grass and trees had spred their roots under the concrete and created a secret world there.

The wind shifted to northeast just 3-5 m/s but it felt arctic. Satu started the day with shorts on and ended with 2 woolcaps on top of each other. By the evening the wind was from east. We grilled chicken for dinner and warmed water for dishes. The sea keeps going with the roaring sound even with no wind.

Greetings, Satu and Kikka

 

070508 Another cool day

 

Hrrrr. It’s been a cool day. A taste of what the winter might be here. Wind from northwest 8 m/s at the most. Dark clouds keep surrounding us but so far we have got rain only for five minutes.

We slept well in the little room in the attick. Satu made fire in the old stove in that room and the place was quite warm for the entire night. Nevertheless we felt somewhat tired. Perhaps the cool weather and the physical work for the office ladies from urban world had taken over our bodies. Anyway we were in a great mood and happy to be here.

We had breakfast inside in the kitchen and deciced to finnish today the tasks that we had started earlier. No morning swimming today! With ladders and safetygear on we climbed on the roof of the outdoor toilet building and scrubbed the rest of the growth for the painters. Now there is only one iron brush left! Then we continued digging the grass and tree roots from the roof of the warehouse thinking that if the sea and the ice doesn’t destroy the 127 year old building then it is the grass that spreads in every tiny little hole and cravass popping up the concrete.

For supper we took the grill out and made chicken and vegetables in a foil bag. And pampered ourselves with crepes and raspberry jam. Delicious! Despite of the cool weather we ate outside. It’s one of the treats in this extraordinary place to have the most magnificent view from your meal seat. The allways changing colors of the horizon.

The wall of lighthouse offered a good shelter from the wind and there Kikka took a 10 min nap after the supper. A squiking sound took our attention. The camera of the cost guard standing on the warehouse roof turned. Usually it looks to the west or east. Now it turned totally around pointing at us sitting in the inner corner of the lighthouse wall. We toasted towards the camera and what happened! The camera bowed down and up a couple of times and then turned to the regular position. We were thrilled. We are not alone. In fact we are very safe.

In the evening we made some firewood and heated water in the big stove outside. Then we took a walk around the island. The sea level is so low that the old marks on the rock can be easily seen. Also we admired historic carwings made on the south side. We heated up the kitchen stove and enjoyed the feeling of Märket with a thought: we are lucky ladies to be able to experience this.

 

080508 Surprice visitors

 

Last night was cool, very cool. For some reason we couldn’t get the woodstove in the attick room work. It pushed all the smoke inside even though the other stove in the kitchen functioned well. So our little room was rather arctic even in the sleeping bag. Only our noses were peeking out of the bag and felt like freezing.

The morning was awsome. Blue sky and beautiful sunshine. We took breakfast outside and decided that this is a perfect day to wash hair. Sounds like a nothing unusual but here on a rock island it means an effort. First we saw and chopped some firewood. Then heated the water in the stove outdoors. Then we chose a warm spot where the cool wind from the sea doesn’t get and built a washroom. Then buckets full of warm water and head in it. Luxury! What a pleasure to get hair cleaned after having a woolcap on day and night for 4 days in a row. The operation was possible because of the sunshine that dries things fast.

 

We had just prepared to start our tasks for the day when we saw a boat anchoring in the south cost. Kikka rowed the dinghy and picked up two visitors. Our guests were from Jomala and Espoo making their firs visit to Märket. We were delighted to give them a guided tour. We gave our best to make a visit to the lighthouse unforgettable. The fantastic weather accompanied us. Our guests were impressed and became Märket supporters. Next year, the same time, we’ll be back they said when leaving the island.

 

We had hardly fixed some food for us when we got next visitors. Reporter Mervi and photogrpher Tiina from Anna magazine came to Märket in order to make a story of the place. Satu picked them up from the charter boat and we wellcomed the ladies to stay with us for the next two days. We grilled together, got aquainted, showed the lighthouse around and enjoyed the warmth of the sun by the corner of the lighthouse wall. Wind died totally and we could enjoy the fantastc scenery from the top of the lighthouse tower with our new fellow watches.

Greetings from Satu and Kikka

 

090508 A surprice cake!

 

Last night we got a surprise. Sun was about to set down when a boat came and moared in the north side of the island. It was a coast guard officer. In fact the same person that we had met allready last year in Märket. We cooked coffe and invited him for a cup with our guests Tiina and Mervi. And for our great surprise he had brought a self made cake with him!

 

We set ourselves on the prime seats by the the sea and the most beautiful red sunset and enjoyed the peaceful life in the middle of the sea. We found out that it was him who had been using the camera earlier. He bought us also fresh newspapers to read. How thoughtful!

Before dark our guest left and we digged in our sleeping bags. Mervi and Tiina decided to sleep in the room in first floor. The night had been quite cold for Mervi. But the sunsihe ine the morning melted the frozen bones. It was so calm that we went for a swim. Refreshing! We had a nice breakfast outside and heard very interesting stories of Tiina’s experiences in Greenland with a photo project.

We set the big aggregate on to create some power for batteries of cameras and phones. One big Finnish boat with scuba divers came and anchored on the west side of the island. Several divers went under and the boat stayed on the coast for a long time but did’t land.

We started our task in the basement. We took photos of the sauna and storages because all the rotten wooden structures will be teared off. Then we sorted out things that should be saved and trash. We found all kinds of interesting treasures. Then we carried out building material from the room in the first floor.

For supper we fixed grilled meat and fish, sallad and potatoes. The food keeps well fresh because inside of the lighthouse it is ”fridgerator cold”. By the evening the wind died again and a lonely seal landed on the south shore. It slept here and didn’t get disturbed from us taking pictures.

Now we are expecting a group of visitors that should come here for an evening visit. The sun shines, sea is calm, ships keep passing by on the west side. It is phantastic. Like a dream. So beautiful. Four women and the lighthouse in a spectacular scenery.

 

Unbelievable.

Satu & Kikka (with the visiting journalists Mervi and Tiina)