Saturday 15.8.2015
Sunny Saturday. ”Girlpower” arrived on the islet exactly after one year, eagerly starting a week together like last 4 years.
Our day started at Christiansund, where we always spend the night. Such a lovely couple offering a bed and breakfast with sea view.
Our groups first time with the new boat – WHAT A RIDE!
Cute seals on cliffs nearby were curious and surrounded us when we stopped to admire them.
One full boat from Sweden came on ”Tour de Märket” and enjoyed their visit.
Huge waves on the northern harbour when they took off, small boat jumping up and down, but nicely managed to continue their trip back home with help off volunteers of the lighthouse. Thank God nobody hurt himself or herself. Still one more boat tried to come ashore, but sea was too hard.
It was time to relax after a demanding journey to the islet. Just enjoying the sound off the rough sea, birds and everything surrounded.
”They were always doing something.
Quietly, without interruption, and with great concentration,
they carried on with the hundred-and-one small things that made up their world.”
Tove Jansson / Moominpappa at Sea
Sunday 16.8.2015
An International Day for the Lighthouses!
Sunny, + 17, wind… and more wind…
The situation at northern harbour…
Low water at the southern harbour…
No one can be fastened to the buoy either…
After the ship Brahe finished cruising to lighthouses, there has been no tourists here on Märket on the Day of lighthouse. Small boats just can’t come ashore under prevailing circumstances.
Somebody…! We are waiting…!
We started to move some firewood downstairs from the magazine.
Did also the 5000 km service to the wheelbarrow…
Did some sailor jobs to help carrying water.
Good food is always available when Paula is on the islet!
Some dunlings, ringed plovers and one green shank scampering on the cliffs.
As 4 girls too… it is time to take a sauna tonight!
Monday 17.8.2015
H edda, E lna, L eena and P aula
Beautiful morning, still quite windy.
Little fishes swimming in the ponds just waiting for a good storm to be moved into another pond.
Time to start the real tasks!
Rafters off ceilings are badly rusted, they have to be repainted.
After morning swim in the lagoon and nice breakfast we started to cover the dining room.
Two off us scratched the ceiling, one scratched outdoors the magazine wall.
We painted the corrosion treatment and that really smelled! Headache was not far away…
Luckily we had salmon soup for treatment and PANCAKES!
A beautiful evening, sunset here is just stunning!
Tuesday 18.8.2015
Beautiful, beautiful morning without almost any wind at all.
On the mainland terribly hot I suppose.
We had breakfast on the terrace, seals lying on the cliffs far away – with a telescope we could see them bathing in the sun.
No time for sunbath! The dining room ceiling and the magazine wall are waiting.
Painting in the terrible smell again, carrying pieces of scaffoldings ready to be built.
While the paint was drying, we built the scaffoldings out on the south side of the magazine.
On that playground was most likely +60 C…
Didn’t have to ask twice to jump in the sea…
Only clothes were left on the rock…!
After lunch working again in the heat.
But, yes, we enjoy every task we have been given, so fun to work together.
A good team, good food and nice weather – what do you need more!
Some can find this islet barren, some can call this rough – but we just love it!
On the moon?
Wednesday 19.8.2015
Someone woke up 5.00 and wonderful colours waited outside. Couldn’t go back to sleep without taking some photos.
We were waiting for Swedish tourists to come on a visit at 11.00 and when Hedda woke up, she started to study Märket’s history again.
It was so calm, that anyone off us has never seen such weather out here!
Blue-green algae liked this weather too and the northern harbour was like porridge.
The boat circled the islets and came ashore with full speed.
It showed to be full of people from the Swedish Lighthouse Society! Such charming ladies and gentlemen admiring our lighthouse, enjoying their stay with cup of coffee on the very warm yard.
After we have waved them goodbyes, we started to paint the dining room ceiling ready. The third layer of paint really did the thing, it looked so nice.
Hopefully it lasts for more than one year…
We are so happy! Dinner inside in ”new room”, wind is raising and it’s very cold on the rocks.
Now it’s blowing from south, straight through the lighthouse door – first time this week we have to close the door.
We had a new chef this evening, Enna made delicious beet soup.
Thursday 20.8.2015
Weather still sunny, in the morning the sea quite calm.
When you hear the sound of the sleeping bag zipper, you certainly see a jump in sea in some minutes.
It’s so refreshing to start the day with morning swim in the lagoon. Now the water is warm, because of the low waters – it’s not changing at all, only the night temperature cools it a little bit.
Every day job is an every day job.
The ”mason” started her work; a lot of loosen concrete on the south side of the magazine.
It’s not possible to plaster now, the temperature is +34 C on the site and windy, the plaster dries too quickly.
Hedda painted the Little Märket’s doorframes, which were totally out of paint already.
We cleaned the warehouse for firewood to come with the next crew.
This is the second sauna evening of this crew. We started eagerly pump water upstairs…. no water coming! The sea level is so low, that the water hose is hanging upon the water line…
But when a Finn wants to take a sauna, she solves the problem!
We filled a bucket by hand and pumped water upstairs of it. Other ways it has to be carried up on the first floor – too heavy!
The wind is rising, the best TV-program directly from the window in sauna! What else do you need?
Friday 21.8 .2015
The Last Day.
No words.
One group of pensioners of Åland came on visit with Mats. First aid was needed immediately; some wounds were cleaned and tied and guiding continued again.
Cleaning and packing.
Quiet crew. Sadness, missing Märket already.
Windy. Sunny. But sad.
No words.
Leaving the hunting sparrow hawk behind.
Leaving the colours behind.
The state of mind.
See You next year!
“It’s strange.” Moominmamma thought.
“Strange that people can be sad, and even angry because life is too easy.
But that’s the way it is, I suppose.
The only thing to do is to start life afresh.”
Tove Jansson /Moominpappa at Sea
From the crew HELP = Hedda, Elna, Leena and Paula, who wants to live here where life is not too easy.