Week 24: Henri, Jaakko, Jari, Jari, Jussi, Marcus, Päivi

 

Saturday 7.6.2014

 

The day of the crew change. Memma, Pasi and Reijo left, Jari, Päivi and Marcus arrived with Mats for coming week. Also Pekka, Sakke and Ilmari came. They stay only two days, Sakke studies fishing possibilities on Märket, Ilmari shoots film for the Society.

It was a sunny day on Märket and quite warm at midday. Towards the evening the wind rose to some 8–10 m/s and the weather turned chilly again. But the sun shined like the midsummer sun should do.

Voices of work was heard here and there. Jari and Jussi worked with the new sauna, two guys from the Toiminimi Uunimuuraaja Jaakko Moilanen worked in the attic with a new oven, namely Jaakko himself and his employee Henri.

Sakke was very successful in fishing, He got some cod (first cods in Märket’s new history!) and smaller fish. A very good start.

Jari and Jussi did finishing works in the new sauna. It will be ready soon.

Jaakko and Henri worked with the new oven in the small attic room. Soon there will be again heating in all of the sleeping rooms.

 

Sunday 8.6.2014

 

Hectic business

At Sunday Märket was working hard around the clock: Jari and Jussi continued with sauna, Henri with upstairs oven and Marcus with electricity. Two of our guests went fishing right after morning-porridge and Pekka wandered around the islet with the cameraman trying to get all the important things stored for the becoming Märket-film. Päivi tried to maintain the troops with some mashed potatoes, sausages etc.

In the afternoon we got some important visitors. Former light housekeeper Kee Eriksson came with his entourage from Åland to see Märket and share his memories for the film.

The weather was gracious, so despite of little hurry everybody got their duties done and a boatful of happy people left Märket in the evening sun. There were just 5 of us left here.

Henri, Jaakko, Jari, Jussi, Marcus and Päivi

 

Monday 9.6.2014

 

Peaceful and quiet morning, sunny weather and sea so calm as there were no wind at all. All the works continued as yesterday, except not that many people around. In the afternoon some dark clouds gathered up, and we saw a few lightning and heard mighty thundering. Still there wasn’t any wind at all.

Luckily the thunder and the rain quietly passed us by and only a short shower washed Märket. So the boys went back to work right after the roof was dry enough to continue.

Today Åland celebrated its Autonomy Day, so we also had the flag on. It would have been nice to get some visitors too, but no tourists for today. Maybe tomorrow, then?!

 

Tuesday 10.6.2014

 

The Inspection Day

It was about five o’clock in the morning, when first of us woke up. Sooner or later everyone had started their work; we had to have everything ready for the inspectors. And at about midday Mats brought building- and fire inspectors here to see what the Lighthouse Society and all its brave volunteers have been built. Anne from the Society came with the inspectors, and we also had one visitor joining the group.

Of course, first we settled down and had a lunch. After that the group carefully examined the buildings and the papers, too. Then it was time for a coffee break, and soon they had to leave the islet.

Marcus left with the inspection-group, so he took the Åland’s flag down. Now who’s going to help us with the electricity and Swedish-speaking guests?

Again, the weather is so sunny and nice; that the team would not like to stop working even the clock is turning closer the night.

Henri, Jari, Jussi, Marcus and Päivi

 

Wednesday 11.6.2014

 

The photo diary of the day begins with inside-view of the becoming oven in the upstairs bedroom. The oven is almost ready, but still needs to have a new chimney and then to dry few weeks before warming up.

Here you can see the fancy oven front and beside it our hard-working oven builder Henri.

Meanwhile elsewhere there was a water-pipe filter renovation going on. The rusty filter on the right is made of stainless steel, and this is what happens to it in the seawater in just 4 weeks. Filter is now replaced by a new one made of acid-proof steel. We’ll wait and see how long it will last.

For a dinner we barbequed some things to eat, and also enjoyed some pancakes for dessert. Here you can see animal-free-pancake on the left and ordinary milk-egg-pancakes on the right.

Last but not least there is a little mystery for you to solve: Guess what happened about an hour after this photo was taken…??

 

Thursday 12.6.2014

 

Märket Wildlife

Today I’d like to introduce three new wildlife species I’ve found here in Märket. I have been watching them for a week now, and noticed some individual habits they have.

One of them is spending most of his time on the rooftop doing some kind of nest building. He only comes down for eating or sleeping. That one also seems to be a real meat-eater.

Next one is rarely seen outside. He has a kind of bird-box on the attic, but is also often seen on the rocks collecting material for his nest. In the picture below you can see what this tireless constructor have produced.

The third specie hides in the most peculiar places. As you can see from the pictures, it is a cavity- or a hole-nesting type. He is bustling and fast-moving, and only settles down when eating vegetable food or sleeping.

 

Friday 13.6.2014

 

A laboratory day

Smoke gets in Märket kitchen! Today we made all kind of interesting experiments. Jari had different smoke-effects with him and we tested how the ventilation and chimneys worked. This one shows if the air is moving or not, and which direction.

Then this huge holy-smoke tells you, where the smoke comes out when it first has gone in… Yes, we had a lot of fun with those smoking things!

Then our laboratory testing continues. There is a water-cleaning system ”Willa” here in Märket, and from Willa the cleaned water goes back to the sea. So we needed to ensure, that water really is ok when we release it back to the nature. The test shows, that pH-value is very ok, so Willa-cleaner does its duty very well.

Well, seems that we’ve got a smoke-machine. Then there is also a round ”thing”, which looks and shines like a mirror-ball. I think the empty basement could turn tonight into Märket Disco!

 

Saturday 14.6.2014

 

Sea and Sun

Yesterday evening the sea started to rise to our yard. The waves grew bigger and bigger, and the wind was even 21 m/s. Still the sun was shining, and as we are close to the midsummer, there is quite sunny in the night-time, too.

In the morning we had lost our front- and backyards to the sea, so all the works had to be done inside. Still, it was awesome to watch the stormy sea.

Märket-shop is prepared to serve visitors: new t-shirts, postcards and other souvenirs are waiting for someone to take them home. But as you may guess, no guests for today because of the weather.

All our tasks for this week are now ready and done. In the picture below you can see the new oven. The storm delayed our return home, and we will stay here for another night waiting the sea to calm down a bit. That’s not a pity at all, the huge waves looks wonderful!

Henri, Jari, Jussi, Päivi