First morning at the lighthouse. The diesel engines of the passing ships feel like heartbeat of the sea. Oatmeal porridge tastes like heaven.
Our new group places theirselves round the kitchen table to discuss who will row if somebody comes over; the sea was quite impressive on arrival the previous evening.
"Hey! It's a boat!"

The bunch electrifies, hurries down the steep iron steps out of the lighthouse and tries to look professional.

The two visitors come in a Buster metal boat; they arrive from South.
A woman in a yellow overall has a microphone ready and earphones on as well.

"Why did you come to work on Märket for your vacation?"
I would have liked to ask: "Are you a journalist or just keeping a personal journal?" (I'm a journalist and knew better so I just played along not to ruin the show in case...)

"I think somebody has to take a little responsibility on this architectural sight. Preferably, the officials but if not, we at the Finnish Lighthouse Association can do a bit."

The woman is Riitta Vauras, a reporter from the Finnish Broadcasting Company, YLE.
She asks a lot: "What is the first thing you lot would do for savekeeping this place?" "Which side is Sweden?" "Have you found the rumoured porn magazines from the past decades?"

Then comes the philosophical part. JP, one of the crew here this week, studies Religious Studies at the University of Turku.
"Do you have good ideas on God and the sea for Yle's radio programme next month?"
JP promises to think of something for a whole hour.

The other visitor, Antti Halkka, is working on a doctoral thesis on seals and the climate change.
He thinks the seal that comes on the Northern end of the island might be sick.

Everyone looks disturbed, not our friendly seal that waves to us...
Antti has been on Märket several times; he finds his own signature from twenty years back on the lighthouse diary.
We are all impressed; the lighthouse has not been abandoned during the 30 year silence.
After the visit, we are happy to have found out that the word on the Association being here has spread and will continue to spread when the radio programme comes out in the near future, Kultakuume is the name on YLE Radio 1.



Märket over and out! Will get back to you tomorrow.

(See also the Midsummer report) Dagbok 230607