220608 A new start

 

At this point we must tell the truth: Märket was empty from Tuesday to Sunday for five days. Why? Because most volunteers want to come to Märket in July (specially the second week) or in September (when the season is already over)!

We have promised to keep Märket manned through the summer, but we didn’t manage to keep that promise. Our deepest apologies. This will not happen again.

So folks, if You want to help Märket and not to think the best holidays, take Märket’s needs into account! We faught until the last moment to keep Märket manned through last week, but that was not enough. The last guards wake taken home on Tuesday. And there was no reserve.

Finally today it was time to take the brave new shift to Märket. Again Mr. Granbergs help was crucial: there was swell and some 7 ms southern wind, when he managed to drive the boat to the Eastern lagoon. In other case Pekka had promised to swim to Märket to get a rowing boat to get the ladies on land. He didnt need to do that!

Aino, Emmi and Riikka were the new lighthouse keepers, ready to start work. But before that they plus Pekka and a member guest, the legendary cycling encyclopedia of sea life, Mr. Mikko-Oskari Koski carried the heavy new gas driven fridgerator from the southeastern point of the island to the house. Uh, what a task, but it was done.

Luckily there was no signs of vandalism on Märket. Maybe that is to thank the watching eye of the frontier guard on the roof…

After a furious breefing by Pekka the ladies were left alone. Their first night was to become warm and the dinner was coming ready in the grill. New dirty and other tasks were waiting them in the morning.

Greeting from Märket again

by Pekka V

 

230608 Steven Seagull

 

Yesterday night we worked hard with the fridgerator. And now it is in function!

We slept well even the night was really windy and rainy. In the morning the clouds were still low and the wind blew hard from the south. By midday, however, we got to enjoy the sun and the wind also started to calm.

We got to do the dirty business. We emptied the toilet. Recycling place is in order and most importantly, the kitchen is now very cosy. Also the poles for the danger zone were brought out.

Todays biggest wonder has been our only visitor, a dead seal in one of our lagoons. We named it Steven Seagull. Pekka wanted us to pull it to the land, to get the skeleton later, but we don’t want to touch it.

After hard work we heated up the grill for the pork. We really deserved it! And now, in the evening, the wind is also stronger again.

”Lighthouse keeper maidens” Aino, Riikka & Emmi

 

240608 Storm rising

 

Early in the morning we had new visitors. What a lovely couple! We saw two seals on the neighbouring islet on the west side of Märket. They were enjoying early morning just like us. We had a private seal safari just for us. We took many pictures and videos of them.

We had a delicious breakfast: ecological porridge and ”åland” sandwiches with tea, coffee and apple juice. And of course, dark chocolate as a dessert for us, the unforgettable ladies…

As we looked out from the kitchen window, it seemed that the storm was rising up. Then suddenly we noticed that Steven was swimming aroud the lagoon ”wondering” what to do. ”Should I stay or should I go”. Then he decidied to leave us with the help of the storm.

We wondered about the storm around the islet. Again one wish was fulfilled. We took a great number of photos, enjoying the natures power and those magnificent waves on the rocks. Sun was shining and it was warm, despite the wind.

Then we got the most wonderful idea of swimming and freshing up. We decided to swim in the pool. We had a chance to enjoy waterfalls made for us by the waves. Swimming made us feel new, free and reborn!!! Now we are ready to receive boatloads of guests during the rest of the week. Hopefully the weather will improve for sailors and other visitors.

Suddenly we noticed that we hadn’t eaten almost anything since the breakfast. We ate a lot and it felt great!!

Bye for now and good night. See u all tomorrow when its not so windy,

hälsar the maidens.

 

250608 An Unexpected Flying Guest

 

Yesterday night we enjoyed a very beautiful sunset on the west of the islet. And again we took out our cameras and photographed a lot.

Riikka woke up 3.42am this morning and wondered when the sun will rise. Aino woke up too and they decided to wait for the sunrise. They went out to see it and took surprisingly lot of pictures.

Today the weather was still very windy.

When we were finishing our breakfast we suddenly heard some noise from downstairs and were quite sure that we were finally getting some visitors. But it was only a little bird, a wagtail.

A rescue mission was set up for the flying guest. At first, we tried to catch it in a plastic basket, but it was too quick for us. In the end, however, the poor thing became really tired. Riikka was quick enough to take it into her hand and safely carried the bird out into the freedom.

One of our missions today has been to make the souvenir shop to look nice and cosy. We put out some of the new calendars for sale. And some of the t-shirts on display were also changed. We also decorated the room a bit more, and now it looks even nicer than it was before.

So everything is ready for the visitors! Welcome!

Another mission today has been chopping wood to warm the water for the shower and dishes. We where really delihgted when we found more saws. Now there’s certainly enough wood even for the next keepers.

Energetic Aino has also been scraping the cealing downstairs. She really needs a nice and long bath! Who knows, maybe we will take a evening swim because is has also been almost hot to lay in the sun. And it seems now that the wind and waves are calming down. And most likely, the sun will shine for us the whole evening – now it’s almost cloudless. Tomorrow will be even more sunny and calm day. Hopefully!

We are eagerly waiting for visitors tomorrow

Emmi, Riikka and Aino

PS. We like chocolate ice cream!

 

260608 Visitors!

 

We woke up early in the morning because the weather was favourable for guests to arrive. Sun was shining brightly and the sea was much calmer than earlier this week.

For the first time we took down the rowing boat, hoping that we would actually need it today.

The whole ceiling is now scraped clean in the first room of the first floor. Perhaps tommorrow we will move to the next room. Also the sauna needs to be torn down.

After the hard work the girls needed to take a swim in the pool. Suddenly we noticed a boat north of the islet. It was impossible for the boat to come to the shore in this weather. The eastern harbour was difficult enough too. But happily we had taken the dinghy to the old harbour so Emmi rowed to meet the boat to the buoy. There were four adults and the cutest one year old, Arvid, who wanted to visit us and Märket. Emmi bravely rowed them to the shore. We showed our guests around the lighthouse and made some coffee and tea. Arvid really liked raisins.

Our visitors told us that they had read the internet diary earlier today. They had wanted to bring us some chocolate ice cream, but that was quite impossible with their boat. They brought us some other delicious offerings, however. We were very excited and happy about this lovely surprise. Thank you so much again! Hopefully our guests had a nice visit too.

We had a little tea party after our visitors left!

Today has been almost perfect. Work done, lovely bath taken, nice vicitors received and, of course, wonderful food enjoyed. Not to mention the incredible weather.

In the hopes of more visitors for tommorrow

Aino, Riikka & Emmi

 

270608 Visitors from Germany

 

We have slept really tightly here. It has been so nice.

Today, the weather has been warm but windy. Just like usual.

When we were talking to Ville on the phone about tearing down the sauna, we saw quite a big boat closing up. We ran out to see who it was. But they were divers who only wanted to see the wrecks around Märket. We were watching them with interest. One by one they disappeared into the water.

Later, when we already thought that the group had left, we suddenly noticed a little rubber boat landing to the northern harbour. At first, we saw a woman with a huge camera. The whole crew turned out to be a German tv group. They had been filming the group of divers we saw earlier and were really eager to see and hear about this beautiful lighthouse.

We have been busy with the daily duties and also painting the border line spots and tearing down the sauna in the basement. Now we only want to enjoy our last evening here. Go for a swim. See the sunset. And say goodbye to this amazing lighthouse. Maybe we come back next summer. This has been wonderful. Thank you Märket! We will meet again!!

 

Puss & kram till alla

Emmi, Aino & Riikka