Another Year on the lights 2006

Well here we are the dawn of the next yr. I am sitting here in my wee office wondering what the next yr will bring. This yr has been and interesting one for me personally and on the lights as well.

This winter has been that bad one not like this last one. Between the early snow and winter thunderstorms. Some of the lights have had serious damage as well chopper pads eroded away, wood through windows, parts of roofs taken off, and one hit by lighting. Along with the commuciations down most of the time. I feel that the storms have come faster than "they" can repair them. Also a lot of the equipment for the com's is rather old and I would think that parts are hard to find. And trying to know which part is gone as well so they will have to bring all.

So we have all pulled and got the weathers in with our own stuff like internet and phones. Not sure the office knows that is how it is being done but we out here do not like the idea that vessels are out there not knowing the conditions. As it is our job.

So here is hoping the next year will bring new equipment,and things fixed and ready for the next yr. On a personal note I know the next yr will be all we can make it and enjoy or at least try and enjoy what comes our way. May you all have a good evening. I myself will be doing the usual which is a phone call from a radio station in Montreal speaking to people who are working on this fine evening. They have been doing it for yrs now so I am not the first keeper they have spoken to nor will I be the last.(I hope) So have a great one and may the next yr be all you hope or make it..Whistle, noise makers, and rain out here have from the Bluff

What A Christmas

Lets just say that it was interesting on Christmas Eve we had thunder and lightening which seemed to go on for 3 hours. It was so loud woke up the whole station and shook the houses. Both myself and the other family thought we would get hit. That was the start to our Christmas Day. Which was not much better up and down the coast. Windows taken out, roofs blown away, a lightstation hit by lightening and heard that was a mess. All the commucations are down along the coast as well.. Thank heaves for the few of us that still have internet and the three homes with real or cell phones. We are then able to pass the weather that way.

Boxing day today and it was a bit better colder but not as wet, no ice pellets, just a bit of snow slush first thing and then gone. Yet the boardwalk was slippery to say the least. Could have been interesting if one of us fell.

But over all the Christmas day was alright for me I had calls from my Family and the neighbours brought part of the dinner over like and old fashion pot luck. I just had to remember that there are so many out here far worst than I was alone here in my house. I did have a house, warm , food and my dog, and there are neighbours, along with our phone. So many have no home, no warmth, no food and no place to go a get a call or even make one. And who knows if they even had family that cared that they had none of that. So when things seem so down I just remember what I was I was lucky to have in my life as a child and now as an adult. My parents always taught us that when we feel like our life is bad just remember those children who where starving and where not that lucky to have dinner to eat. We may not have understood to much what they where getting at then but sure do now. And we are blessed to have been taught that.

So to everyone or anyone who might be reading this.. know that it is not really romantic out here on days like that but it does allow us time to reflect on how good we do have it even out here. I hope the season has been all you hoped. See you later from the Bluff.

Wave Damage at another light

I received this photo along with others from hubby. Seems a few storms ago he had wave damage. Not just to the trees but to sat dishes for internet and tv along with water in a out building,and of course it was strong enough to toss a large metal tank into a lovely area . There was an old footed bath tub that was pushed over as well along with these trees. While there I had thought they needed to go but some how having a wave take them out was not what I had in mind. Besides they are usually left to be a wind break. There was a what I call a wash wall (breaker wall) and the wave still made it over. Some wave.

It is winter for sure we are to get another storm today ,, yesterday was lovely. Sunny and clear. But then we are expecting a chopper today so of course the weather would go for a chop. Oh well maybe Santa will still make one last run before Christmas day. We hope.

The other day we had 122.5 mm of rain in 24 hours. That is a lot of rain but the Bluff is known as the wettest light on the coast.

On another note our phone is finally working!!! Well coffee time ,, have a good day to every and anyone who reads this. Good day from the Bluff

No Phone, Wet and Windy

Well now we are really isolated no phone and no Guard phone. And who knows for how long this will be. The Guard phone system has been out now for about a month well sort of out. And our phone went out yesterday and we have had it out for as long a month before (they) who ever they are can get out to fix it. There are two native villages that rely on it as well for being connected to the outside like I do . And for them even more so they use it for finding out about the ferry that comes once a wk or not coming depending on weather and stuff. For that they have to call so this means that some of them can not get off to Christmas shop, or get out to see family on the main land. For me it is losing contact with those who do not have internet and I have family who do not have it.. so that makes it a bit hard on them as well as me.

We had snow the other day but gone now thanks to the rain and wind. All gone as the saying goes. Dark and isolated is the feeling one can get out here on days like today. But thank heavens for the sat tv and sat internet. It is very helpful to chat with those who have it and receive email and of course SHOP.

I was not feeling very Christmasy but a friend is sending a package so I decided that if she could go to all that trouble to see that I have something here on the day that the least I could do was have a tree for it to go under as well it will be nice to have a few gifts to open as I am here alone this yr. Hubby is working else where and he is right not like we have not spent Christmas apart before only I had our son and friends about. My neighbours will have me over for Christmas dinner with will be nice and I will see what I can add. It is nice to have friends out here they are great people and we are blessed to have them here. As there have been times on other lights where we did not get on with the other couple.

Up above is the photo of one of the many tugs that pass us .. thought it was a neat photo on our snowy day. Well lets hope that (they) will get out to fix the phone lines before Christmas day. Getting on to weather time so I have to get ready like I said we do it every three hours.. no matter how much we dislike the weather and get soaked just doing it.. that is what we are here for and get paid for. Take care from the Bluff and hope everyone is happy getting ready for the Day. Oh yes for me putting up the few lights and the wee tree has helped get me in the Christmas mood.. so great to have friends that care.. from the Bluff

No choppers today the wind is in the way!!

Two choppers today where expected what joy.. and the winds arrived. Seems this is the yr for Hurricane force winds, rain,and of course that sort of swear word out here called snow. And we understand that this will hang around for a few days so looks like it will next wk that we see them which was the case anyway. Today was the Santa run for the children on the lights. Not that there are many left these days. Yet the few who are around still like to see him fly in but with a chopper not his sleigh and reindeer.

There is to be one last day 20th of Dec for what they call the box run. So that is the hope that everyone who has send a gift or card will have sent and the keeper and family will be able to get them for the day.

Christmas at the Bluff will be a quite one here only the two of us.. and the dogs More later from the Bluff

Here we go again....ohohoh fix us if you can

So another grocery and mail day has come and gone. As has the chopper we are now into day two and it is still grounded. And tomorrow is looking like a no go as well with the weather. One fixed chopper and the weather will go it is a Bob's your Uncle sort of thing.

But had to be as hubby is trying to get to Ivory to relief keep there and the lady there is trying to get out. And further North we have another keeper trying to get out as well. Looking like it will be next week before anyone moves around here. High winds and more rain so it will be to bad to fly. It is winter and is to be expected. Strangely all three choppers have problems humm is there a ghost a foot. Just heard that the large chopper is up and running.. So if the weather would just hold off tomorrow boxes, food and what ever else is coming. Like Christmas goodies from our favorite Baker at our grocery store.

Just took a peek out my window and noticed a nice piece of log floating by would make a lovely piece of wood sculpture in a large house. We also have had interesting duck white and black. Should see if I can find out what type they are.

Well not much else happening here at the Bluff so I will sign off for now. May everyone be busy getting ready for the jolly man and the sugar plums, along with gingerbread men dancing in our heads..

Winter came early

As you can see our winter came early this yr. What a mess it has been the last few days and not having a plow that is a lot of snow to shovel by hand. Must have a weight of 20lbs per shovel. My guess would be that this is a way of seeing if you are fit or will have a heart attack!

As well it has it must come off our balcony (oops sorry Workdeck) as we are not sure it will hold that much weight. And wish we had a side door to go and keep the sat dishes clean. Boy are they missed when they are out!! And everyone is not happy as when the aln is down this is our only means of chatting to each other. They are trying to fix the aln again in this cold weather it seems to be having a hard time staying on line. Oh well such is life on the lights..

We are getting ready for Christmas so it is nice to see the chopper come means mail and getting boxes out.. which is great. We still have to get the lights up for outside and light up the station like every yr. It must be something to come upon colour lights in the middle of no where. It is our hope that it adds some bit of cheer to those who have to work in the isolation like us. So off I go to get a few more things ready for the chopper.. Take care all later from the Bluff