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A few weeks ago I got news that my dear Aunt Sandy passed away and went to be with the Lord. It didn’t take me by surprise. She had the worst case of brain cancer of the worst kind. Outside of a miracle, there simply was no chance of recovery. What did surprise me was that she developed cancer at all. Just a month and a half ago, Aunt Sandy was living a normal life with no problems and no signs of cancer. Fast forward two weeks and she’s lying on a hospital bed immobilized and virtually unresponsive. It all happened so fast and it came out of nowhere.
The recent passing of Aunt Sandy reminds me that dying could happen sooner rather than later. In fact, I have a chronic G.I. disorder that’s eluded diagnosis. It’s not a stretch for me to imagine it turning terminal at some point (not that I’m in any perceivable danger at the moment).
But my own health struggles coupled with the loss of my aunt has forced me to think a lot about my own dying. Bear in mind, I’m not talking about death. I’m talking about dying. There’s a difference. Death is the cessation of life that ushers you into the next. Dying is the duration of time that precedes death where your body is an observable state of accelerated decline. Put more simply, dying is having one foot in the grave; death is having both. I’ve thought a lot about death before and what awaits me in the next life. But until now I’ve given little thought to what my own deathbed experience will look like (assuming, of course, God chooses to give me one). What will happen in those final moments as I wait for death to come? And what do I want those precious last minutes to look like?
I’m thankful that the deathbed doesn’t have to be a terrifying, lonely, or depressing ordeal. The Apostle Paul says as much in a little known part of a well known verse, “For to me to live is Christ, and TO DIE is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He doesn’t say death is gain, which is what I know we’re all tempted to make him say. Death certainly is gain because pain stops and eternal bliss begins. But Paul says “to die is gain.” Dying—the process that leads up to death, however short or long it may be—that is gain. It is gain for the believer to go through those last moments, however long and agonizing they may be. It almost sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? To experience gain on your deathbed. I don’t know about you, but I want a little piece of that pie. I want to be able to say on my deathbed along with the Apostle Paul, “Dying is gain.” So I decided to put together a small wish list for what I would like any dear family and friends to do for me when that day comes. Here’s how you can make my deathbed experience gain. And I hope this will serve as an encouragement to you when you have to be the one sitting by someone’s bedside or actually in the bed yourself.
Read me the Gospel. Reading Scripture to a dying loved one is very common for Christians, so I don’t necessarily want to state the obvious or beat a dead horse, but I would feel irresponsible if this wasn’t on at the top of my list! And yet while this is standard for any Christian deathbed experience, I do have a special request here. I love familiar deathbed passages like Psalm 23, John 14:7, Revelation 22:1-5, Romans 8:38-39, and a host of other promises and reassurances about my passing and soon-to-be reunion with Jesus. But I don’t just want to hear about “what will be.” I’m actually more interested in “what has been.” No offense, but I’m about ready to experience “what will be” for all eternity. But what I want to remember is why I get to experience “what will be” in the first place. Take me to the gospel. Talk to me about the work of Christ. For example, don’t just encourage me with the wonderful truth that I can’t be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). Give me the basis for why God will never forsake me (Romans 8:31-34), that it’s based on a zealous and concrete act of God to justify me through His heroic Son Jesus Christ. Rehearse for me the doctrines of predestination, imputation, substitutionary atonement, redemption, adoption, and union with Christ by reading for me those Scriptures that illuminate these profound truths. Take me to Ephesians 1:4. Guide me through Romans 5:12-21. Put on repeat 2 Corinthians 5:21. Preach to me 1 Peter 1:18–19. Recite John 1:12. Pray me through all of John 17. Scratch that. Expand it to John 14 through 17. I won’t care that it’s long. I don’t have anywhere else I need to be at that point. I’m not going anywhere. The single greatest way you can make my deathbed gain is to give me the gospel one more time.
Pray with me. I love watching Christians encourage dying saints with statements like, “Praying for you!” or “You’re in my prayers!” It’s great to watch the body of Christ encourage one another with these assurances. But when I’m dying, I personally don’t just want to know that you’re praying for me. I want to know what you’re praying for me about and, if given the opportunity, I even want to hear you pray. It’ll be nice to get a message like, “You’re in my prayers, James.” But it’ll be music to my ears when I hear you say, “I’m praying that your faith remains strong, James, and that the Lord will keep you secure until you rest safely in His arms.” You want to thrill my heart and send shivers down my spine? Explain to me what you’ve been praying or just take the time to pray with me. The more specific you can get with me about what you’re praying and how you’re praying, the more encouraged I know I’ll be. Telling me you’re praying for me reminds me that you love me. But praying for and sharing your requests with me reminds me how God loves me. I want both, don’t get me wrong. But (don’t take this personally) I want the latter more. So let me know what you’re praying. You and I will be better off for it!
Raise the roof with theologically rich music. You heard me. Let’s rock the hospital halls with great hymns of the faith and deep modern worship music. Give me a balanced combination of older classics and newer stalwarts. So, that rules out the old timey stuff, like the “I’ll Fly Away” songs—as fun and apropos as those may be. Give me, instead, the “Be Thou My Vision’s.” Give me the “How Firm A Foundation’s.” And while you’re at it, give me 2.0, “Jesus Firm Foundation.” Give me the Getty’s “By Faith” or Enfield’s version of “Lead On, O King Eternal.” And on a purely personal note, please don’t go for the slow, melodic songs that everyone wants to associate with death. Pick some upbeat ones. Just because you’re sad doesn’t mean you have to make me sad too on my way out. I’m headed for paradise, people, and I don’t want to have to explain to my eternal Champion why I have a frowny face for my first few seconds of glory. I want my first encounter with my Savior to be pure elation! So make it a seamless transition. Obviously, I’m speaking a little tongue-in-cheek here. There’s an appropriate amount of grief that’s expected and needed. But please don’t make me depressed in my final hours! I fail to see how that’s Philippians 1:21 gain.
Be sensitive to everyone else. When a traumatic event takes place in the life of a family, it’s inevitable that emotions will be all over the place and tensions are going to run high. Often the person on the deathbed’s the most calm and relaxed of the bunch. But those of us beside the deathbed can quickly develop a sinful tendency that redirects our grief and frustration into anger and backbiting towards others. We’re careful with what we say to the dying, but then take out our frustration on everyone else. But when I’m on my deathbed, I don’t just want you smiling at me. I want you smiling at everyone else. There’s got to be nothing more discouraging for the bed-ridden on his last leg than to watch the most precious people in his life squabbling. I actually don’t think this will be a problem for the people in my life at the moment, but I realize that’s not always the case with every family. Be sensitive to others and put the same kind of energy into your relationships with them as you do with the person on his deathbed.
Get some sleep. If you’re the type who’s deeply relational and loves to worry, this is gently meant for you. I know you love me, but God loves me too. Please get some sleep. You don’t need to worry. He’ll take care of me when you drift off. If I’m on my deathbed, I’m not getting any better and I probably don’t want to be. So please don’t concern yourself too much with me. Take care of yourself. You obviously still have more life to live than I do and I don’t want my last picture of you to be one of a worried wreck. Believe that God’s in control, because He is, and that you’re not, because you aren’t. There’s nothing you can do to change my situation by losing sleep. So do you and me a favor and get some rest. Your healthy rested face just might bring a bigger smile to mine.
This entry was posted in Theology by James Street. Bookmark the permalink.

tokenized:
A few weeks ago I got news that my dear Aunt Sandy passed away and went to be with the Lord . It did n’t take me by surprise . She had the worst case of brain cancer of the worst kind . Outside of a miracle , there simply was no chance of recovery . What did surprise me was that she developed cancer at all . Just a month and a half ago , Aunt Sandy was living a normal life with no problems and no signs of cancer . Fast forward two weeks and she ’s lying on a hospital bed immobilized and virtually unresponsive . It all happened so fast and it came out of nowhere .
 The recent passing of Aunt Sandy reminds me that dying could happen sooner rather than later . In fact , I have a chronic G.I. disorder that ’s eluded diagnosis . It ’s not a stretch for me to imagine it turning terminal at some point ( not that I ’m in any perceivable danger at the moment ) .
 But my own health struggles coupled with the loss of my aunt has forced me to think a lot about my own dying . Bear in mind , I ’m not talking about death . I ’m talking about dying . There ’s a difference . Death is the cessation of life that ushers you into the next . Dying is the duration of time that precedes death where your body is an observable state of accelerated decline . Put more simply , dying is having one foot in the grave ; death is having both . I ’ve thought a lot about death before and what awaits me in the next life . But until now I ’ve given little thought to what my own deathbed experience will look like ( assuming , of course , God chooses to give me one ) . What will happen in those final moments as I wait for death to come ? And what do I want those precious last minutes to look like ?
 I ’m thankful that the deathbed does n’t have to be a terrifying , lonely , or depressing ordeal . The Apostle Paul says as much in a little known part of a well known verse , “ For to me to live is Christ , and TO DIE is gain ” ( Philippians 1:21 ) . He does n’t say death is gain , which is what I know we ’re all tempted to make him say . Death certainly is gain because pain stops and eternal bliss begins . But Paul says “ to die is gain . ” Dying — the process that leads up to death , however short or long it may be — that is gain . It is gain for the believer to go through those last moments , however long and agonizing they may be . It almost sounds too good to be true , does n’t it ? To experience gain on your deathbed . I do n’t know about you , but I want a little piece of that pie . I want to be able to say on my deathbed along with the Apostle Paul , “ Dying is gain . ” So I decided to put together a small wish list for what I would like any dear family and friends to do for me when that day comes . Here ’s how you can make my deathbed experience gain . And I hope this will serve as an encouragement to you when you have to be the one sitting by someone ’s bedside or actually in the bed yourself .
 Read me the Gospel . Reading Scripture to a dying loved one is very common for Christians , so I do n’t necessarily want to state the obvious or beat a dead horse , but I would feel irresponsible if this was n’t on at the top of my list ! And yet while this is standard for any Christian deathbed experience , I do have a special request here . I love familiar deathbed passages like Psalm 23 , John 14:7 , Revelation 22:1 - 5 , Romans 8:38 - 39 , and a host of other promises and reassurances about my passing and soon - to - be reunion with Jesus . But I do n’t just want to hear about “ what will be . ” I ’m actually more interested in “ what has been . ” No offense , but I ’m about ready to experience “ what will be ” for all eternity . But what I want to remember is why I get to experience “ what will be ” in the first place . Take me to the gospel . Talk to me about the work of Christ . For example , do n’t just encourage me with the wonderful truth that I ca n’t be separated from the love of God ( Romans 8:38 - 39 ) . Give me the basis for why God will never forsake me ( Romans 8:31 - 34 ) , that it ’s based on a zealous and concrete act of God to justify me through His heroic Son Jesus Christ . Rehearse for me the doctrines of predestination , imputation , substitutionary atonement , redemption , adoption , and union with Christ by reading for me those Scriptures that illuminate these profound truths . Take me to Ephesians 1:4 . Guide me through Romans 5:12 - 21 . Put on repeat 2 Corinthians 5:21 . Preach to me 1 Peter 1:18–19 . Recite John 1:12 . Pray me through all of John 17 . Scratch that . Expand it to John 14 through 17 . I wo n’t care that it ’s long . I do n’t have anywhere else I need to be at that point . I ’m not going anywhere . The single greatest way you can make my deathbed gain is to give me the gospel one more time .
 Pray with me . I love watching Christians encourage dying saints with statements like , “ Praying for you ! ” or “ You ’re in my prayers ! ” It ’s great to watch the body of Christ encourage one another with these assurances . But when I ’m dying , I personally do n’t just want to know that you ’re praying for me . I want to know what you ’re praying for me about and , if given the opportunity , I even want to hear you pray . It ’ll be nice to get a message like , “ You ’re in my prayers , James . ” But it ’ll be music to my ears when I hear you say , “ I ’m praying that your faith remains strong , James , and that the Lord will keep you secure until you rest safely in His arms . ” You want to thrill my heart and send shivers down my spine ? Explain to me what you ’ve been praying or just take the time to pray with me . The more specific you can get with me about what you ’re praying and how you ’re praying , the more encouraged I know I ’ll be . Telling me you ’re praying for me reminds me that you love me . But praying for and sharing your requests with me reminds me how God loves me . I want both , do n’t get me wrong . But ( do n’t take this personally ) I want the latter more . So let me know what you ’re praying . You and I will be better off for it !
 Raise the roof with theologically rich music . You heard me . Let ’s rock the hospital halls with great hymns of the faith and deep modern worship music . Give me a balanced combination of older classics and newer stalwarts . So , that rules out the old timey stuff , like the “ I ’ll Fly Away ” songs — as fun and apropos as those may be . Give me , instead , the “ Be Thou My Vision ’s . ” Give me the “ How Firm A Foundation ’s . ” And while you ’re at it , give me 2.0 , “ Jesus Firm Foundation . ” Give me the Getty ’s “ By Faith ” or Enfield ’s version of “ Lead On , O King Eternal . ” And on a purely personal note , please do n’t go for the slow , melodic songs that everyone wants to associate with death . Pick some upbeat ones . Just because you ’re sad does n’t mean you have to make me sad too on my way out . I ’m headed for paradise , people , and I do n’t want to have to explain to my eternal Champion why I have a frowny face for my first few seconds of glory . I want my first encounter with my Savior to be pure elation ! So make it a seamless transition . Obviously , I ’m speaking a little tongue - in - cheek here . There ’s an appropriate amount of grief that ’s expected and needed . But please do n’t make me depressed in my final hours ! I fail to see how that ’s Philippians 1:21 gain .
 Be sensitive to everyone else . When a traumatic event takes place in the life of a family , it ’s inevitable that emotions will be all over the place and tensions are going to run high . Often the person on the deathbed ’s the most calm and relaxed of the bunch . But those of us beside the deathbed can quickly develop a sinful tendency that redirects our grief and frustration into anger and backbiting towards others . We ’re careful with what we say to the dying , but then take out our frustration on everyone else . But when I ’m on my deathbed , I do n’t just want you smiling at me . I want you smiling at everyone else . There ’s got to be nothing more discouraging for the bed - ridden on his last leg than to watch the most precious people in his life squabbling . I actually do n’t think this will be a problem for the people in my life at the moment , but I realize that ’s not always the case with every family . Be sensitive to others and put the same kind of energy into your relationships with them as you do with the person on his deathbed .
 Get some sleep . If you ’re the type who ’s deeply relational and loves to worry , this is gently meant for you . I know you love me , but God loves me too . Please get some sleep . You do n’t need to worry . He ’ll take care of me when you drift off . If I ’m on my deathbed , I ’m not getting any better and I probably do n’t want to be . So please do n’t concern yourself too much with me . Take care of yourself . You obviously still have more life to live than I do and I do n’t want my last picture of you to be one of a worried wreck . Believe that God ’s in control , because He is , and that you ’re not , because you are n’t . There ’s nothing you can do to change my situation by losing sleep . So do you and me a favor and get some rest . Your healthy rested face just might bring a bigger smile to mine .
 This entry was posted in Theology by James Street . Bookmark the permalink .


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The Chinese Elm Bonsai kit is a thoughtful gift for loved ones in need of condolences.
This kit comes with a humidity/drip tray, pruning scissors, bonsai food and a 'Thinking Of You' foil balloon. All of these supplies, along with the free care leaflet, make it very easy to care for as well as a beautiful gift.
The Chinese Elm Bonsai has a delightful twiggy structure, and is perfectly proportioned. It is very reminiscent of a woodland tree, and easily adapts to its surroundings.

tokenized:
The Chinese Elm Bonsai kit is a thoughtful gift for loved ones in need of condolences .
 This kit comes with a humidity / drip tray , pruning scissors , bonsai food and a ' Thinking Of You ' foil balloon . All of these supplies , along with the free care leaflet , make it very easy to care for as well as a beautiful gift .
 The Chinese Elm Bonsai has a delightful twiggy structure , and is perfectly proportioned . It is very reminiscent of a woodland tree , and easily adapts to its surroundings .


text:
In our information technology-based world, the desire to experience pleasure or fulfillment without delay predominates. There are probably a few things you “gotta have” and can’t be without. High on the list is the latest iPhone, anything Bluetooth, and Alexa-powered speakers.
In the realm of rare coins, there are a handful of coins that you need to have right now. I’ve selected and described five affordable coins that you can’t afford to be without. My short list spans the basic coinage metals: copper, nickel, silver, and gold. The coins here that are on my “gotta-have” list gotta have green grade-verification holographic stickers from my company, the Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC), based in Bedminster, New Jersey, and be certified by grading services Numismatic Guaranty Corporation or Professional Coin Grading Service. Coins that CAC deems high-end or solid for their grades receive green stickers. My firm’s website, caccoin.com, maintains a free serial number verification service, which helps deter CAC sticker counterfeiting, and population report, which assists in determining coin rarity.

tokenized:
In our information technology - based world , the desire to experience pleasure or fulfillment without delay predominates . There are probably a few things you “ got ta have ” and ca n’t be without . High on the list is the latest iPhone , anything Bluetooth , and Alexa - powered speakers .
 In the realm of rare coins , there are a handful of coins that you need to have right now . I ’ve selected and described five affordable coins that you ca n’t afford to be without . My short list spans the basic coinage metals : copper , nickel , silver , and gold . The coins here that are on my “ gotta - have ” list got ta have green grade - verification holographic stickers from my company , the Certified Acceptance Corporation ( CAC ) , based in Bedminster , New Jersey , and be certified by grading services Numismatic Guaranty Corporation or Professional Coin Grading Service . Coins that CAC deems high - end or solid for their grades receive green stickers . My firm ’s website , caccoin.com , maintains a free serial number verification service , which helps deter CAC sticker counterfeiting , and population report , which assists in determining coin rarity .


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KindGeek Earns Spot on "The Clutch 1000"
We are excited to announce that our long-time partner and B2B market research firm, Clutch.co, has recognized KindGeek on a global level for our ability to provide excellent service. We have not only been highlighted for our work in the app and software development space but also spotlighted as one of the top WEB development companies in Ukraine.
Moreover, we have recently received a new and exclusive honor: a spot on The Clutch 1000. The firms in this group are top performers on the platform that go above and beyond for their clients to deliver measurable results.
KindGeek joined Clutch in 2015, and since then, Clutch analysts have collected 16 positive reviews of our company. The resulting insights have helped us not only understand our strengths but also how we can improve as a company.
“They didn’t just provide a paid service; they also helped our product and company grow.” –Former Project Manager, Retail Startup.
You can read the reviews in depth on our Clutch profile and learn more about our past projects on their sister website, the Manifest.
Our team is proud to be among good companies on the Clutch. All the companies in this report are united by their excellent performance on Clutch, stemming from a commitment to transparency and building long-lasting partnerships with their clients.
As we wrap up 2018, we are thrilled by this achievement and look forward to making even greater strides in 2019. We are thankful to our clients, Clutch, and our team for recognizing us as an outstanding company!
Translation of the Article "Marketplace for professional fashion and style advice"

tokenized:
KindGeek Earns Spot on " The Clutch 1000 "
 We are excited to announce that our long - time partner and B2B market research firm , Clutch.co , has recognized KindGeek on a global level for our ability to provide excellent service . We have not only been highlighted for our work in the app and software development space but also spotlighted as one of the top WEB development companies in Ukraine .
 Moreover , we have recently received a new and exclusive honor : a spot on The Clutch 1000 . The firms in this group are top performers on the platform that go above and beyond for their clients to deliver measurable results .
 KindGeek joined Clutch in 2015 , and since then , Clutch analysts have collected 16 positive reviews of our company . The resulting insights have helped us not only understand our strengths but also how we can improve as a company .
 “ They did n’t just provide a paid service ; they also helped our product and company grow . ” – Former Project Manager , Retail Startup .
 You can read the reviews in depth on our Clutch profile and learn more about our past projects on their sister website , the Manifest .
 Our team is proud to be among good companies on the Clutch . All the companies in this report are united by their excellent performance on Clutch , stemming from a commitment to transparency and building long - lasting partnerships with their clients .
 As we wrap up 2018 , we are thrilled by this achievement and look forward to making even greater strides in 2019 . We are thankful to our clients , Clutch , and our team for recognizing us as an outstanding company !
 Translation of the Article " Marketplace for professional fashion and style advice "


text:
Living overseas as an American has it’s great points but sometimes it has a lot of challenges that you don’t think about. For instance, most of the rest of the world uses the Metric system. Which makes a lot of sense as the Metric system is much simpler and easier to remember.
That said, if you grew up in America, you likely don’t have the foggiest idea how hot or cold it is when someone gives you a temperature in Celsius. Stay with me here and we’re going to have a quick math lesson so that you can do a basic conversion in your head. Then you won’t look silly having to ask if it is hot or cold the next time someone gives you a forecast.
Double the temperature in Celsius and add 30.
If someone says it was 30 degrees Celsius then you simply double it (to 60) and add another 30 to get 90. 30 degrees Celsius is pretty hot.
If it’s only 10 degrees Celsius then double it (to 20) and add another 30 to get 50. A bit chilly.
If you’re like us and live in the frigid North and someone tells you it’s going to be -30 degrees this weekend, double it (-60) and add 30 to find out it’s…really stinkin’ cold outside.
Incidentally the further you get from freezing the less accurate this is so don’t use this rule for cooking unless you want some unpleasant surprises.
Asking questions of those who have “been there” is a great way to prepare yourself for the crazy adventure that is moving to China. Even though you can never be completely prepared for such a drastic change, knowing what to expect goes a long way to making the transition much smoother. I was so thankful to have a fellow expat friend who generously fielded numerous questions before our move. It was such a huge help to us, and one of the main reasons I decided to start this blog. I recently received a question from a reader, and I thought I’d share the questions and response in case it helps someone else in a similar situation.
My family has LOVED all the information we have learned from reading all of your posts. I’m sure we haven’t gotten through everything yet, but we are learning from it. If all goes according to plan we (my husband and I, as well as our 3 kids) will be moving to Shenyang the beginning of 2012. I was hoping that ya’ll could help me with a few questions. For one, I wondered what host site you use for your blog? The one you guys have set up is exactly what we would like to have in place.
Second, how hard has it been to stay connected technology wise? Like I said, we have 3 kids. I have read that there are ways around the government blocks online, but I have read so many positive and negative things now that I’m just confused. It is very important to us to try to keep our technology connections so that our kids don’t feel completely cut off. At this point we don’t even know whether to purchase computers from the US before we leave or China once we get there. We really want to be able to contact family and share all the adventures they are having.
Again, we have really enjoyed reading about all of your experiences (although I gotta say I literally gagged last night reading about the taxi driver chewing on his hack!!! I already know that the first time I hear that sound and realize what it is….I will most likely puke! Oh well, that will just be another story to share, lol) We look forward to any future posts and any information you guys can share with us.
I recently received a question from a reader asking for advice and insight on their upcoming move to Shenyang. I thought the question and response might be helpful for someone else as well, so with permission I’ve posted our correspondence. If you’re currently on expat assignment and have something else to add, I’d love for you to chime in on the subject in the comments. If you’re not yet an expat but also have questions, feel free to ask away and I or my fellow expats will try to fill in with what we’ve learned so far.
The more information we can share, the better off we’ll all be.
Hi. My husband and I just returned from a job interview in Shenyang. The company flew both of us over for a look-see and interview. We were there for 3 days. (I know, who goes all the way to China and stays for just 3 days?) The work would likely be in both Shenyang and Yingkou, or perhaps mainly in Yingkou. It would be a 2-3 year contract.
I’d appreciate any advice you’d like to share. My husband is supposed to let the company know what he wants for compensation and benefits. Are there benefits you’d recommend asking for? What about Chinese taxes? Are there employers who pay taxes for their employees? We saw that the marginal rate goes up to 45%, and then we would owe US taxes as well. I read in China Daily while we were there that foreign workers will now be covered by the Chinese social security, medical and unemployment insurance, to the tune of an additional 11% payroll deduction. That wouldn’t leave much for us!
We recognize the challenges we’d face living in China, and think that we can not just manage, but truly come to enjoy the adventure. I’ve enjoyed reading about your experiences, and look forward to having our own China stories to share.
LB and I finally got the chance to go through some of your questions (I have no idea about a lot of the details like taxes and stuff.) We had a few thoughts on the subject between us. Not sure how it works out with you, but we were pretty fortunate to be sent by an international company who has quite a few expats here already. It was NOT a perfect process by any means (get ready to be flabbergasted over and over… and make sure you throw any expectations you have out the window. You’ll be much better off for it.) but they do take care of us pretty well. Will you be working for a Chinese company as a foreign expert? Not sure how that will change the process, but it surely will. It is a different culture for sure. Make sure you get it all in writing, but realize even then, that doesn’t always mean a whole lot when you’re dealing with this culture. You’ll still have to ask for things even if they’re in the contract.
You’ll want to keep these things in mind at the very least.
1. Housing: Make sure they are providing you with housing. Most companies do. A budget of 15,000 – 20,000 RMB per month should be sufficient for a furnished apartment or, in some cases a townhouse, in a nice complex/neighborhood although that will likely vary a lot depending on what city you’re in. That will get you a very nice apartment in Shenyang.
Another option would be to negotiate a smaller monthly allowance for an unfurnished apartment plus a stipend for purchasing furniture or shipping your own furniture from the States. This was actually the option we chose, and I was really glad we did. It was great to be able to choose my own furniture and design my own home rather than feeling like I was living in someone else’s house. I will say that if it hadn’t been for the new Ikea in Shenyang though, I doubt this option would have worked out as well. Also, I don’t think this is very common in China. Most apartments come furnished, I believe, but it worked out really well for us.
Our company goes through a realty company who specializes in placing expats (We used KELT. There is alsoCentury 21 in Shenyang). It was a big help dealing with people who speak English and who’s job it is to take care of the lease, dealing with the landlord, getting your proper permits, etc. We also don’t deal with paying the rent at all. That is paid directly by the company. We do pay for utilities though. We’ve been here almost a year and still occasionally contact them with any issues we have with our apartment (like yesterday, when we woke up to no electricity). Our realtor has become a great friend who I call on for all kinds of questions and translating. She was indispensable in the beginning when we were just learning to function here.
If they do agree to pay for your housing, make sure you are able to pick your apartment, or at least see where it is they want to put you. The exact apartment. Most apartments are privately owned and one building can have several levels of quality. I would suggest negotiating a “housing allowance” and then shopping for your own place. To me, it is the most important part about making this place feel like home. Especially for you as the wife since you’ll be spending a lot of time there.
2. Car and driver: I’m not sure how you’ll work out working both in Yingkou and Shenyang but google maps says it is about 2.5 hours drive. If you’ll have to do a lot of commuting back and forth I would definitely make sure you are provided with a car and driver. Inside Shenyang, it is no problem getting around with the buses and plenty of taxis. We don’t have a car and do fine without it, but I think if you’ll be outside the city then you’ll need one.
3. Language lessons: You need to learn Chinese to really have a good experience here. It’s a difficult language and some people don’t bother learning it but I think you have a much less frustrating experience when you can break down the communication barrier even just a little. I would suggest asking for a set language budget or set number of hours of tutoring for both you and your husband. I think the companies I’ve heard of usually offer 100 hours.
4. Moving costs: Negotiate your shipping and moving costs. You’ll probably need at least an air freight container. They come in several sizes. Another option is a sea freight container. They are much larger and are typically used if you want to bring your furniture from home. They take much longer to arrive however.
5. Vacation time: This one has been a big issue for us. If you’re going to want to travel a lot (and there is so much to see in Asia!) make sure you have enough time to take off to do it. I think you need at least 20 days, probably 25 would be better.
6. Home flights: Will they pay for you to take a trip home once a year or twice a year? For both of you? If so, do you get extra days to compensate for the travel time or will you have to take vacation days? Something to think about considering it takes 3 days of traveling to get to the States and back.
7. Taxes: This is the one I’m not so sure about. You are responsible for taxes in both China and the US. You’ll definitely need to hire a professional to take care of all the taxes. I would make sure that is also paid for by the company. Most companies here take responsibility for paying the Chinese taxes. (I’m not sure about the China Social Security thing, haven’t heard anything about that.) Our company takes care of all the taxes here and our pay stays the same. They also offset the taxes in the US so that we pay the same as we would if we were still employed in the US. One other thing to remember is that all of the benefits they pay for such as your car and driver, your housing, etc. is considered taxable income by the US government even though it isn’t showing up in your bank account. Add it all up and that first tax bill will make your eyes pop out of your head.
8. Getting paid: You want to get paid in the US if possible. There are two ways it is done here. One company that I know of pays 75% of your income in the US and 25% in Chinese RMB. Even at 25% most people don’t spend that much and end up with lots of RMB left to change at the end. It is a real pain and quite difficult to change money back from RMB to US dollars. Our company pays 100% of our paycheck in to our US account and we then make a wire transfer (reimbursable at 1 per month) to our Chinese bank account in the amount we need. Either way works fine I think. Getting paid 100% in China is usually a huge hassle so I’ve heard.
Salary: Obviously it depends on the company, but generally, if you work as an expat for a foreign company you can expect your previous salary + 30-50% increase (b/c you have to live without Dunkin Donuts whole bean coffee and JIF peanut butter.) + cost of living adjustment + additional compensations listed above. I would say that most expats come to China for the money. But it is a GREAT experience even without the padding of the bank account!
I really enjoyed hearing your guesses for the pop quiz. Thanks for playing along!
We had a few guesses on the original post, and a few more posted on Facebook.
Pop quiz… What is this?
Found this taped to my door.
What is it? What am I supposed to do with it?
Just a little taste of what it’s like living in a foreign country where you can’t read or speak the language. Every day is an adventure. And the littlest simplest tasks become difficult.
Hint: You get something similar in the US and if I don’t deal with it soon I’m in trouble.
1. Find the largest pot you have. If you have 2 or 3 large pots it works even better.
2. Fill the pots with water and place them on the stove.
4. Heat the water until you start to see bubbles.
5. Using potholders (or folded up dishrags if like me you still don’t have potholders), carry the pots of water one by one into the bathroom.
6. Dump the hot water into the tub.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 until you have enough water in the tub to bathe with. Turn on the faucet to add cool water if the water is too hot.
Hi. Just wanted to let you know we are having a problem with the hot water in the showers. Neither get hotter than luke warm. Definitely not hot enough to take a comfortable shower. The water in the kitchen sink gets quite hot, just not the bathrooms. Can we get this fixed soon?
I just contacted with the management company and the staff told me the problem has existed about year.
After the management company transformed the pipe system in Wulihe Plaza.
And the problem extensively exist in the Wulihe Plaza.
Before the management company transform the pipe system again the problem canâ€™t be solved completely.
But there is a temporary solution is before you do the shower please call the management company 2388****, they will send a worker to make the water warmer.
Really? You just want me to call you before I want to take a shower? Every day?
And wait? This is the solution for the WHOLE building? 24 floors of apartments.
Is there a guy whose sole job is to come heat up the water every time anyone wants to take a hot shower? There has to be. And how does he do it?
And when that doesn’t work: Refer to steps 1-7 above.
Soâ€¦ I’ve been trying to get out of posting this little story. I mean, you don’t really care to know EVERYTHING that happens to us on this little adventure, do you? Actually, I’m not really sure you care to know any of it, but I’m writing it down just the same. I was going to skim over this tidbit, but I realized… I just need to keep it real. Most of you already know what a dingbat I am anyway, and it’s probably unlikely you’ll even be surprised I’d do something like this.
On Thursday morning, we met the realtor, Echo, at the apartment. She is Chinese, but speaks English ok and was appointed to answer questions and translate for us. When we arrived, a friend of the landlord was also there getting things ready, setting up the phone and internet, etc.
I went to the kitchen first to check out the appliances and make sure everything was in working order. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this apartment, like the first, had a little TV in the kitchen. Both times, the realtor seemed really excited to show us this. To be honest, the first time I was unimpressed. Who has time to watch TV in the middle of cooking anyway? Besides that, most of the channels are in Chinese and the screen is only 6 inches across. Tiny.
However, I knew from the first apartment that the TV wasn’t just a TV. It was also a security camera! So cool! I know it may not be that exciting to you. But I was impressed.
When I asked Echo about it, she mentioned that this one also had that capability, but she wasn’t quite sure how to work it. She pushed a few buttons and we never could quite figure it out. I got bored for the moment and moved on. When I got back out to the living/ dining area, I noticed another screen mounted on the wall next to the door. I was sure this was a camera too. And I was determined to figure out how to use this thing. Not that I ever think we’ll need it. I don’t. But still, I must know how it works. It’s just the way I am. No gadget can be left untouched.
There are 6 buttons on the panel. One of them has to work the camera, right? They are all labeled with Chinese characters, which I can’t read of course, so without rhyme or reason I just decided to push them all until the camera came on. Easy enough.
The very first button on the right has red writing, looks the most to me like it would be a power or “On” button. Wrong! As soon as I pushed it, it starts blinking red and a deafening alarm starts going off. I’m in total “Oh Crap” mode and start going down the line pushing every button on there to try and get it to stop. Well, Echo walks up beside me at that point and as I’m going back down the line of buttons, frantically trying to find a combination that would shut the thing up. I start to push the same red button again, and Echo stops me.
Ummm, WHAT?!? Did you say police??
So, I really didn’t know much about China before we moved here (still don’t, as a matter of fact), but the one thing I do know, is you want to steer clear of the police. (That really goes in just about every country, I think.) And I’m pretty sure, you definitely don’t want to call them to you, with a flashing red light and a blaring siren loud enough to wake the dead, for NO REASON! At this point, I’m pretty much mortified. All the while trying to play it off like the siren just started going off by itself or the guy messing with the wiring set it off, and I was just “helping” by pushing buttons to try and shut it off.
As it turns out, I had very little to worry about. The alarm continued to go off for over an hour with no sign of the police. The landlord’s friend did manage to reduce it to an intermittent blaring somehow. But it would only stay quiet for about 2 minutes before it would start again. I have to admit, about 45 minutes in, I’m over the panic and getting a little annoyed. What if there really was an emergency? What good is that stupid little thing, except to trick button-happy foreigners into bursting their ear drums?
Well, someone did eventually come and turn off the alarm. I was conveniently in another room at the time so I didn’t get to see them fix it. I’m not sure exactly how Echo explained the situation but it probably went something like: “That crazy white woman in there got all geeked out over the security camera. Apparently they don’t have those in Iva.” Yeah well, maybe not. But we have tractors. And cows. Where are your cows?
On a side note, none of the buttons actually turned on the security camera. We found out later, it comes on automatically when someone pushes the doorbell.
So how do you translate… ummm, oops?

tokenized:
Living overseas as an American has it ’s great points but sometimes it has a lot of challenges that you do n’t think about . For instance , most of the rest of the world uses the Metric system . Which makes a lot of sense as the Metric system is much simpler and easier to remember .
 That said , if you grew up in America , you likely do n’t have the foggiest idea how hot or cold it is when someone gives you a temperature in Celsius . Stay with me here and we ’re going to have a quick math lesson so that you can do a basic conversion in your head . Then you wo n’t look silly having to ask if it is hot or cold the next time someone gives you a forecast .
 Double the temperature in Celsius and add 30 .
 If someone says it was 30 degrees Celsius then you simply double it ( to 60 ) and add another 30 to get 90 . 30 degrees Celsius is pretty hot .
 If it ’s only 10 degrees Celsius then double it ( to 20 ) and add another 30 to get 50 . A bit chilly .
 If you ’re like us and live in the frigid North and someone tells you it ’s going to be -30 degrees this weekend , double it ( -60 ) and add 30 to find out it’s … really stinkin ’ cold outside .
 Incidentally the further you get from freezing the less accurate this is so do n’t use this rule for cooking unless you want some unpleasant surprises .
 Asking questions of those who have “ been there ” is a great way to prepare yourself for the crazy adventure that is moving to China . Even though you can never be completely prepared for such a drastic change , knowing what to expect goes a long way to making the transition much smoother . I was so thankful to have a fellow expat friend who generously fielded numerous questions before our move . It was such a huge help to us , and one of the main reasons I decided to start this blog . I recently received a question from a reader , and I thought I ’d share the questions and response in case it helps someone else in a similar situation .
 My family has LOVED all the information we have learned from reading all of your posts . I ’m sure we have n’t gotten through everything yet , but we are learning from it . If all goes according to plan we ( my husband and I , as well as our 3 kids ) will be moving to Shenyang the beginning of 2012 . I was hoping that ya’ll could help me with a few questions . For one , I wondered what host site you use for your blog ? The one you guys have set up is exactly what we would like to have in place .
 Second , how hard has it been to stay connected technology wise ? Like I said , we have 3 kids . I have read that there are ways around the government blocks online , but I have read so many positive and negative things now that I ’m just confused . It is very important to us to try to keep our technology connections so that our kids do n’t feel completely cut off . At this point we do n’t even know whether to purchase computers from the US before we leave or China once we get there . We really want to be able to contact family and share all the adventures they are having .
 Again , we have really enjoyed reading about all of your experiences ( although I got ta say I literally gagged last night reading about the taxi driver chewing on his hack ! ! ! I already know that the first time I hear that sound and realize what it is … .I will most likely puke ! Oh well , that will just be another story to share , lol ) We look forward to any future posts and any information you guys can share with us .
 I recently received a question from a reader asking for advice and insight on their upcoming move to Shenyang . I thought the question and response might be helpful for someone else as well , so with permission I ’ve posted our correspondence . If you ’re currently on expat assignment and have something else to add , I ’d love for you to chime in on the subject in the comments . If you ’re not yet an expat but also have questions , feel free to ask away and I or my fellow expats will try to fill in with what we ’ve learned so far .
 The more information we can share , the better off we ’ll all be .
 Hi . My husband and I just returned from a job interview in Shenyang . The company flew both of us over for a look - see and interview . We were there for 3 days . ( I know , who goes all the way to China and stays for just 3 days ? ) The work would likely be in both Shenyang and Yingkou , or perhaps mainly in Yingkou . It would be a 2 - 3 year contract .
 I ’d appreciate any advice you ’d like to share . My husband is supposed to let the company know what he wants for compensation and benefits . Are there benefits you ’d recommend asking for ? What about Chinese taxes ? Are there employers who pay taxes for their employees ? We saw that the marginal rate goes up to 45 % , and then we would owe US taxes as well . I read in China Daily while we were there that foreign workers will now be covered by the Chinese social security , medical and unemployment insurance , to the tune of an additional 11 % payroll deduction . That would n’t leave much for us !
 We recognize the challenges we ’d face living in China , and think that we can not just manage , but truly come to enjoy the adventure . I ’ve enjoyed reading about your experiences , and look forward to having our own China stories to share .
 LB and I finally got the chance to go through some of your questions ( I have no idea about a lot of the details like taxes and stuff . ) We had a few thoughts on the subject between us . Not sure how it works out with you , but we were pretty fortunate to be sent by an international company who has quite a few expats here already . It was NOT a perfect process by any means ( get ready to be flabbergasted over and over … and make sure you throw any expectations you have out the window . You ’ll be much better off for it . ) but they do take care of us pretty well . Will you be working for a Chinese company as a foreign expert ? Not sure how that will change the process , but it surely will . It is a different culture for sure . Make sure you get it all in writing , but realize even then , that does n’t always mean a whole lot when you ’re dealing with this culture . You ’ll still have to ask for things even if they ’re in the contract .
 You ’ll want to keep these things in mind at the very least .
 1 . Housing : Make sure they are providing you with housing . Most companies do . A budget of 15,000 – 20,000 RMB per month should be sufficient for a furnished apartment or , in some cases a townhouse , in a nice complex / neighborhood although that will likely vary a lot depending on what city you ’re in . That will get you a very nice apartment in Shenyang .
 Another option would be to negotiate a smaller monthly allowance for an unfurnished apartment plus a stipend for purchasing furniture or shipping your own furniture from the States . This was actually the option we chose , and I was really glad we did . It was great to be able to choose my own furniture and design my own home rather than feeling like I was living in someone else ’s house . I will say that if it had n’t been for the new Ikea in Shenyang though , I doubt this option would have worked out as well . Also , I do n’t think this is very common in China . Most apartments come furnished , I believe , but it worked out really well for us .
 Our company goes through a realty company who specializes in placing expats ( We used KELT . There is alsoCentury 21 in Shenyang ) . It was a big help dealing with people who speak English and who ’s job it is to take care of the lease , dealing with the landlord , getting your proper permits , etc . We also do n’t deal with paying the rent at all . That is paid directly by the company . We do pay for utilities though . We ’ve been here almost a year and still occasionally contact them with any issues we have with our apartment ( like yesterday , when we woke up to no electricity ) . Our realtor has become a great friend who I call on for all kinds of questions and translating . She was indispensable in the beginning when we were just learning to function here .
 If they do agree to pay for your housing , make sure you are able to pick your apartment , or at least see where it is they want to put you . The exact apartment . Most apartments are privately owned and one building can have several levels of quality . I would suggest negotiating a “ housing allowance ” and then shopping for your own place . To me , it is the most important part about making this place feel like home . Especially for you as the wife since you ’ll be spending a lot of time there .
 2 . Car and driver : I ’m not sure how you ’ll work out working both in Yingkou and Shenyang but google maps says it is about 2.5 hours drive . If you ’ll have to do a lot of commuting back and forth I would definitely make sure you are provided with a car and driver . Inside Shenyang , it is no problem getting around with the buses and plenty of taxis . We do n’t have a car and do fine without it , but I think if you ’ll be outside the city then you ’ll need one .
 3 . Language lessons : You need to learn Chinese to really have a good experience here . It ’s a difficult language and some people do n’t bother learning it but I think you have a much less frustrating experience when you can break down the communication barrier even just a little . I would suggest asking for a set language budget or set number of hours of tutoring for both you and your husband . I think the companies I ’ve heard of usually offer 100 hours .
 4 . Moving costs : Negotiate your shipping and moving costs . You ’ll probably need at least an air freight container . They come in several sizes . Another option is a sea freight container . They are much larger and are typically used if you want to bring your furniture from home . They take much longer to arrive however .
 5 . Vacation time : This one has been a big issue for us . If you ’re going to want to travel a lot ( and there is so much to see in Asia ! ) make sure you have enough time to take off to do it . I think you need at least 20 days , probably 25 would be better .
 6 . Home flights : Will they pay for you to take a trip home once a year or twice a year ? For both of you ? If so , do you get extra days to compensate for the travel time or will you have to take vacation days ? Something to think about considering it takes 3 days of traveling to get to the States and back .
 7 . Taxes : This is the one I ’m not so sure about . You are responsible for taxes in both China and the US . You ’ll definitely need to hire a professional to take care of all the taxes . I would make sure that is also paid for by the company . Most companies here take responsibility for paying the Chinese taxes . ( I ’m not sure about the China Social Security thing , have n’t heard anything about that . ) Our company takes care of all the taxes here and our pay stays the same . They also offset the taxes in the US so that we pay the same as we would if we were still employed in the US . One other thing to remember is that all of the benefits they pay for such as your car and driver , your housing , etc . is considered taxable income by the US government even though it is n’t showing up in your bank account . Add it all up and that first tax bill will make your eyes pop out of your head .
 8 . Getting paid : You want to get paid in the US if possible . There are two ways it is done here . One company that I know of pays 75 % of your income in the US and 25 % in Chinese RMB . Even at 25 % most people do n’t spend that much and end up with lots of RMB left to change at the end . It is a real pain and quite difficult to change money back from RMB to US dollars . Our company pays 100 % of our paycheck in to our US account and we then make a wire transfer ( reimbursable at 1 per month ) to our Chinese bank account in the amount we need . Either way works fine I think . Getting paid 100 % in China is usually a huge hassle so I ’ve heard .
 Salary : Obviously it depends on the company , but generally , if you work as an expat for a foreign company you can expect your previous salary + 30 - 50 % increase ( b / c you have to live without Dunkin Donuts whole bean coffee and JIF peanut butter . ) + cost of living adjustment + additional compensations listed above . I would say that most expats come to China for the money . But it is a GREAT experience even without the padding of the bank account !
 I really enjoyed hearing your guesses for the pop quiz . Thanks for playing along !
 We had a few guesses on the original post , and a few more posted on Facebook .
 Pop quiz … What is this ?
 Found this taped to my door .
 What is it ? What am I supposed to do with it ?
 Just a little taste of what it ’s like living in a foreign country where you ca n’t read or speak the language . Every day is an adventure . And the littlest simplest tasks become difficult .
 Hint : You get something similar in the US and if I do n’t deal with it soon I ’m in trouble .
 1 . Find the largest pot you have . If you have 2 or 3 large pots it works even better .
 2 . Fill the pots with water and place them on the stove .
 4 . Heat the water until you start to see bubbles .
 5 . Using potholders ( or folded up dishrags if like me you still do n’t have potholders ) , carry the pots of water one by one into the bathroom .
 6 . Dump the hot water into the tub .
 7 . Repeat steps 1 - 6 until you have enough water in the tub to bathe with . Turn on the faucet to add cool water if the water is too hot .
 Hi . Just wanted to let you know we are having a problem with the hot water in the showers . Neither get hotter than luke warm . Definitely not hot enough to take a comfortable shower . The water in the kitchen sink gets quite hot , just not the bathrooms . Can we get this fixed soon ?
 I just contacted with the management company and the staff told me the problem has existed about year .
 After the management company transformed the pipe system in Wulihe Plaza .
 And the problem extensively exist in the Wulihe Plaza .
 Before the management company transform the pipe system again the problem canâ€ ™ t be solved completely .
 But there is a temporary solution is before you do the shower please call the management company 2388 * * * * , they will send a worker to make the water warmer .
 Really ? You just want me to call you before I want to take a shower ? Every day ?
 And wait ? This is the solution for the WHOLE building ? 24 floors of apartments .
 Is there a guy whose sole job is to come heat up the water every time anyone wants to take a hot shower ? There has to be . And how does he do it ?
 And when that does n’t work : Refer to steps 1 - 7 above .
 Soâ€ ¦ I ’ve been trying to get out of posting this little story . I mean , you do n’t really care to know EVERYTHING that happens to us on this little adventure , do you ? Actually , I ’m not really sure you care to know any of it , but I ’m writing it down just the same . I was going to skim over this tidbit , but I realized … I just need to keep it real . Most of you already know what a dingbat I am anyway , and it ’s probably unlikely you ’ll even be surprised I ’d do something like this .
 On Thursday morning , we met the realtor , Echo , at the apartment . She is Chinese , but speaks English ok and was appointed to answer questions and translate for us . When we arrived , a friend of the landlord was also there getting things ready , setting up the phone and internet , etc .
 I went to the kitchen first to check out the appliances and make sure everything was in working order . I was pleasantly surprised to see that this apartment , like the first , had a little TV in the kitchen . Both times , the realtor seemed really excited to show us this . To be honest , the first time I was unimpressed . Who has time to watch TV in the middle of cooking anyway ? Besides that , most of the channels are in Chinese and the screen is only 6 inches across . Tiny .
 However , I knew from the first apartment that the TV was n’t just a TV . It was also a security camera ! So cool ! I know it may not be that exciting to you . But I was impressed .
 When I asked Echo about it , she mentioned that this one also had that capability , but she was n’t quite sure how to work it . She pushed a few buttons and we never could quite figure it out . I got bored for the moment and moved on . When I got back out to the living/ dining area , I noticed another screen mounted on the wall next to the door . I was sure this was a camera too . And I was determined to figure out how to use this thing . Not that I ever think we ’ll need it . I do n’t . But still , I must know how it works . It ’s just the way I am . No gadget can be left untouched .
 There are 6 buttons on the panel . One of them has to work the camera , right ? They are all labeled with Chinese characters , which I ca n’t read of course , so without rhyme or reason I just decided to push them all until the camera came on . Easy enough .
 The very first button on the right has red writing , looks the most to me like it would be a power or “ On ” button . Wrong ! As soon as I pushed it , it starts blinking red and a deafening alarm starts going off . I ’m in total “ Oh Crap ” mode and start going down the line pushing every button on there to try and get it to stop . Well , Echo walks up beside me at that point and as I ’m going back down the line of buttons , frantically trying to find a combination that would shut the thing up . I start to push the same red button again , and Echo stops me .
 Ummm , WHAT ? ! ? Did you say police ? ?
 So , I really did n’t know much about China before we moved here ( still do n’t , as a matter of fact ) , but the one thing I do know , is you want to steer clear of the police . ( That really goes in just about every country , I think . ) And I ’m pretty sure , you definitely do n’t want to call them to you , with a flashing red light and a blaring siren loud enough to wake the dead , for NO REASON ! At this point , I ’m pretty much mortified . All the while trying to play it off like the siren just started going off by itself or the guy messing with the wiring set it off , and I was just “ helping ” by pushing buttons to try and shut it off .
 As it turns out , I had very little to worry about . The alarm continued to go off for over an hour with no sign of the police . The landlord ’s friend did manage to reduce it to an intermittent blaring somehow . But it would only stay quiet for about 2 minutes before it would start again . I have to admit , about 45 minutes in , I ’m over the panic and getting a little annoyed . What if there really was an emergency ? What good is that stupid little thing , except to trick button - happy foreigners into bursting their ear drums ?
 Well , someone did eventually come and turn off the alarm . I was conveniently in another room at the time so I did n’t get to see them fix it . I ’m not sure exactly how Echo explained the situation but it probably went something like : “ That crazy white woman in there got all geeked out over the security camera . Apparently they do n’t have those in Iva . ” Yeah well , maybe not . But we have tractors . And cows . Where are your cows ?
 On a side note , none of the buttons actually turned on the security camera . We found out later , it comes on automatically when someone pushes the doorbell .
 So how do you translate … ummm , oops ?


text:
ABOUT Loch Lomond I can claim one unwanted distraction. I know it from within as well as without, for with a friend, I’ve been overturned in the 600ft-deep middle stretch between Rowardennan and Inverbeg, clinging desperately to an upside-down canoe and buffeted by a June north-easter.
The story, which happened about 20 years ago, could be called “How to Lose £250 of Cameras,” and I would have left them ashore had I known then that the easterly airt is the dangerous one for canoeing on Loch Lomond. My companion had just told me to stop worrying about the squalls that were rocking the canoe, when an arrowhead of advancing rain and wind struck. I remember the canoe sliding into a trough, being lifted on to the crest of a wave, and then neatly turning over.
There was no time for fear as I strove to break free from a canoe which was holding me like a cork in a bottle. I had the strange vision of being in a dream, watching myself drown when my body was suddenly released and I felt myself going down and down into darkness. Again I had the feeling of seeing myself as on film turning over in the water like a seal in a tank and breaking through a greenish roof into daylight.
In front of me was the upside-down canoe with my companion clinging to it, shouting my name. A few strokes and I was beside him, trying to get a grip as it spun awkwardly under our combined weight. “I was getting worried – you took a long time to come up,” he said, I said it must have been my camera bag jamming my knees against the deck, acting as a plug.
The loch was so choppy we felt hidden by the waves, nor had we much hope of our cries being heard. On the credit side, however, was the certainty that we must be cast up on the far shore of the loch if only we could hang on long enough.
After half an hour the cold was having a weakening effect on hands and arms. But we were lucky. We were spotted by two of our friends in single canoes. They came alongside and we transferred our grip from the over turned canoe to their sterns and were towed ashore by hard paddling.
To get warm, we ran up and down while our companions lit a bonfire on the beach. Clothing was wrung out, dry garments offered and a phone call was put in to Rowardennan to summon a vehicle to drive round the loch and take us back to the Youth Hostel.
This is what you call paying for your experience the hard way, and I felt lucky to have paid no more for it than a steep rise in insurance premium for the new cameras I’d bought. Our accident had occurred because neither of us possessed any practical experience of canoeing. My friend admitted afterwards that his knowledge was mainly theoretical.
Just how dangerous is Loch Lomond to people in small boats? Well, just over a hundred years ago Sir James Colquhoun, fourth Baronet of Luss, went over to shoot fallow deer on Inchlonaig with his keepers. It was December, and the venison was to be distributed among the people of the village. At the end of the day, the loaded boat was seen passing Inchconnachan only a mile and a bit from home at Rossdhu, but neither the boat nor its occupants were ever seen again.
To form an opinion about Loch Lomond you have to be out in it in all weathers. I asked my friend John Groome, who for nine years has lived on the lonely Craig Rostan shore and has to depend on a boat to collect mail, provisions, fuel and other necessities of isolated living.
I’d say it is a wicked loch,” lie told me. “It looks O.K. until you try to cross. I’ve been in real danger many times. I’ve been lost for an hour in freezing fog, and it was not until I saw the lights of a car that I realised I was close inshore on the wrong side of the loch. I tried again, and found myself at Rowchoish, too far south — but at least I knew where I was. 1 was absolutely chilled when I got in. My boat now carries a compass.
The month is May. It is nearly two o’clock in the morning and we have been tramping since 10 p.m. Marvellous at last to spread our sleeping bags under a sheltering rock on a grass shelf above the burn. Bliss to be here after the big effort of catching the last bus to Balmaha with a 10-hour working day in Glasgow shops behind us.
Later that morning wood-smoke and the smell of frying bacon brings me to pleasant consciousness. Around me I can hear a tinkling of willow warblers, the trills of wrens, the jangle of redstarts and the hum of a Gaelic song from Matt, in his element cooking over a wood fire.
From our eyrie on the MacGregor shore we feel as free as Rob himself, wage-slaves no longer, but with hearts light as the blue sky as we set off along the high contouring path in a scent of bluebells and rowan blossom. Below us, oak woods plunge to the shore and soon we are on the edge of the Cuilness gorge in a stronghold of the pied flycatcher.
Great views open behind us as we climb. Down across the loch is Inveruglas Isle, with the ruin of the McFarlane castle sacked by Cromwell. Beyond the plunge of the gorge are the rocks of Craig Rostan, peppered with MacGregor ruins. Among them are some old charcoal- burning ” bloomeries ” for smelting iron. We throw ourselves down, necks reclining on rucksacks.
” You canny beat it,” says Matt as hee identifies the snow-veined peaks forming the headwall of Glen Falloch.
We can see the passes of the Lairig Arnan and the Dubh Eas which lead from Loch Lomond through to Loch Fyne, ancient cattle-droving routes which brought easy booty to the reiving MacGregors and McFarlanes, whose forays persisted long after they had died down in other parts of the Highlands.
The Government built a barracks at Inversnaid to contain Rob Roy, but he destroyed it before it could be completed—a far-seeing chief .
On again we strike east for the twisting north ridge of Ben Lomond, crossing a big, peaty hollow where red deer rise from the hags and race for a rock outcrop to stand in elegant grace looking down on us.
This remotest bit of the Ben is, alas, coveted by hydro-electric engineers, who see in it a site for a reservoir. The plan is to build a big wall of concrete to seal the hollow so that water can be pumped 1200 feet from Loch Lomond into it. As on Ben Cruachan, the water could then be brought down to an underground power-house to make it one of the largest pumped storage schemes in the world, providing up to 2000 megawatts of electricity in its finished form.
We revel in the totality of the natural world around us as we dump our bags on the Cruinn a’ Bheinn- Ben Lomond col, and fairly dance up the airy ridge curving to the top of the most southerly Munro in Scotland.
The view is all we hoped for. Yonder, Ailsa Craig and the “Sleeping Warrior” of Arran, with, behind it, the dark outline of the Antrim coast from whence came the Celts who gave Scotland its name. Below us is the dark corrie of the Ben, with a wee burn tumbling out of it—the beginning of the River Forth. Its course is signposted for us by the crag of Stirling Castle and the chemical retorts of Grangemouth where it reaches the sea. Westward lie Jura and Mull.
From up here we can see clearly how man had such easy access to the Highlands from the Firth of Clyde, with Loch Long threading inland for 16 miles to end below the rock prongs of the Cobbler, an invitation to the Vikings to sail in, haul their longships two miles overland from Arrochar to Tarbet, relaunch in Loch Lomond and sack the shore and island settlements. Nor did they have to retrace to Loch Long after their raids, since they could navigate down the Leven, regain the Clyde below Dumbarton Rock, and join the main licet for the Battle of Largs where retribution was meted out to them.
It would be illuminating to know what the human population around Loch Lomond was like in those Viking times. It would be even more so if we could look back another 5000 years to the sight that met the eyes of the first Stone Age men to paddle their dug-out canoes on the loch, bows and arrows at flic ready, against human enemies or dangerous animals.
Perhaps these Baltic colonists numbered only a few dozen. Certainly they settled at Balmaha, at Luss and at Inchlonaig as we know from the stone tools they left behind. Probing forward would be a cautious affair, with 27.45 square miles of water and 3-5 islands to explore. The woods would be dangerous, with brown bears roaming, and wolves preying on elk and reindeer. The tree-line would be much higher than we know now, and the red deer would be larger and more heavily-antlered animals than those of today.
Why is Loch Lomond so narrow and ravine-like in the north and so wide at its southern base? The answer is in the rock structure. The unyielding Highland schists would not be pushed apart, so the compressed and moving mass of ice dug deep since it couldn’t expand. This is why the bed of the loch is 600 feet below sea-level between Tarbet and Inversnaid. But when the 2000 feet thick bull-dozer of ice got to Ross Point it met softer rocks and was able to push them aside and spread out. The islands of the south, which are the glory of Loch Lomond, are the gritty masses which withstood the passage of the ice.
One fish reflects the ice-age past, the powan, called the freshwater herring because it looks so much like one. The theory is that this plankton- eating white fish was forced to adapt to a freshwater existence when the land level rose with the removal of the great weight of ice as it melted. Thus, when the salt water hollow of Loch Lomond became fresh the powan adapted to its new way of life by spawning in the part of the year closest to Arctic conditions— midwinter.
Powan are the commonest fish in the loch and are good to eat when freshly caught, but to get them you have to use a net since, being plankton eaters, they rarely accept a fishing line. Pike, on the other hand, give good sport, the British record being a Loch Lomond fish that weighed 47 lb. n oz. The roach reaches its northern limit here, but for the game fisherman the real challenge are the salmon and pink-fleshed sea trout which enter the streams from the loch to spawn.
No other Scottish loch can list so many species of fish as Loch Lomond with sea lamprey, lampern, brook lamprey, brook trout, minnow, perch, loach, eel, three-spined and ten-spined stickleback, roach and flounder. Small wonder that the odd individual has been able to support himself on catches from the loch.
One of the special pleasures of living on Lomondside is that there is no end to discovery. Look at the colour photograph of the Fairy Loch. How many people have been to this enchanted spot, easily visited from a roadside ruin a mile north of Inverbeg ? After a steep climb up the burn you enter a reedy recess with a lochan so enchantingly beautiful that you can almost believe the story that the fairies put their special dye into it.
Or what about the Black Village on the steep hillside above Stuckgowan House Hotel ? Follow the drystane dyke uphill then climb obliquely left where the dyke makes a right-angled turn. The ruins look across to the white house of Cuilness and the sharpest impression of Ben Lomond. The people who lived on this lovely shelf high above the loch died in a plague.
Motorists should take the chance of visiting Loch Sloy, by stopping-off at Inveruglas and asking for a permit to use the high-climbing hydro-electric road.
“Loch Sloy ” was the war cry of the McFarlanes, and their pipe tune was appropriate to them, Togail nam Bo — the lifting of cattle. The rocky corrie encircling the loch was their gathering place. This wild clan were not mere reivers, but took honours at Flodden, at Pinkie, and they saved the day at the Battle of Langside. Like the MacGregors their name was outlawed for a time. Some were exiled in Strath ‘Aan and took the name of Allan or MacAllan. According to Seton Gordon their descendants are still distinguished by their Highland courtesy.
Loch Sloy is in greater use today than at any time since it was built at the end of the war, and produces electricity seven days a week, not just at peak load. Up there, one inch of rain produces one million units of electricity as the water rushes through the mountain by tunnel to discharge to the power house through four big ugly pipes which should have been landscaped years ago. Ten years ago there was talk of converting it to a pumped storage system like Ben Cruachan, but, if the plans for Craig Rostan go ahead, we are to have two power schemes facing each other across the narrow loch.
In peace, perchance to dream.
John did not write his poem from the standpoint of a selfish man who wants the Craig Rostan shore to himself. Far from it. He was a weekender himself until he retired from being an executive engineer in the Post Office in 1967 and found this place. Few men over 60 would have moved from Glasgow into a house badly in need of attention, since it meant hauling everything he needed across the loch by boat.
John would list his pleasures over the last nine years of retirement as having time to listen, look and observe the pattern of thee year in very beautiful spot with three levels of appeal—the water, the natural woodlands and the rugged hillsides, each of them offering big rewards for very little effort. He has got to know Cuilness in the way I try to know my own homestead country around Gartocharn.
Except that he has gone further— by becoming a practical conservationist for the benefit of others. Take the boat to Inversnaid for the magical walk to Cuilness and you will find the path gets better and better as you go down. Where there used to be head-high bracken there is now springy turf. Burns that can be difficult have aids to make crossing them easier. In discreet corners there are grassy flats that are invitations to campers.
There is also a little message or two for those who can read and take a subtle hint. How’s this for a hint?
They keep down mice and Marauding dogs.
Pregnant ewes are Not used to youse. Be considerate.
Changes go on all the time on Loch Lomondside. The latest is the new Alexandria by-pass, which misses out Balloch and sweeps from a height down on Duck Bay for a superb first impression of the broad loch with Ben Lomond dominating the islands over a wide sweep of open water.
The old shore road is a layby now, providing ample grass space for people to picnic and enjoy the sight of water-skiers and power-boats.
Loch Lomond, considering all the pressures put upon it, remains a modern miracle as well as a place vital to our future economy, since one foot of depth supplies 5000 million gallons of water for drinking and industrial purposes. Yet you would never know it was a reservoir, thanks to good planning and the unobtrusive intake pipes 250 yards out from the pumping station at Ross Priory. Who would know that the level of the loch is controlled by barrage gates on the Leven?
Today Loch Lomond is valued and used by more folk than ever before. Managing them is beyond the scope of the landowners. We have still to find the right balance between preservation, conservation and exploitation. At the end of the day the wondrous beauty of Loch Lomond is a public responsibility in which all of us must play a part.
You can read more of Tom Weir’s escapades here, where a new column is published online every Friday.

tokenized:
ABOUT Loch Lomond I can claim one unwanted distraction . I know it from within as well as without , for with a friend , I ’ve been overturned in the 600ft - deep middle stretch between Rowardennan and Inverbeg , clinging desperately to an upside - down canoe and buffeted by a June north - easter .
 The story , which happened about 20 years ago , could be called “ How to Lose £ 250 of Cameras , ” and I would have left them ashore had I known then that the easterly airt is the dangerous one for canoeing on Loch Lomond . My companion had just told me to stop worrying about the squalls that were rocking the canoe , when an arrowhead of advancing rain and wind struck . I remember the canoe sliding into a trough , being lifted on to the crest of a wave , and then neatly turning over .
 There was no time for fear as I strove to break free from a canoe which was holding me like a cork in a bottle . I had the strange vision of being in a dream , watching myself drown when my body was suddenly released and I felt myself going down and down into darkness . Again I had the feeling of seeing myself as on film turning over in the water like a seal in a tank and breaking through a greenish roof into daylight .
 In front of me was the upside - down canoe with my companion clinging to it , shouting my name . A few strokes and I was beside him , trying to get a grip as it spun awkwardly under our combined weight . “ I was getting worried – you took a long time to come up , ” he said , I said it must have been my camera bag jamming my knees against the deck , acting as a plug .
 The loch was so choppy we felt hidden by the waves , nor had we much hope of our cries being heard . On the credit side , however , was the certainty that we must be cast up on the far shore of the loch if only we could hang on long enough .
 After half an hour the cold was having a weakening effect on hands and arms . But we were lucky . We were spotted by two of our friends in single canoes . They came alongside and we transferred our grip from the over turned canoe to their sterns and were towed ashore by hard paddling .
 To get warm , we ran up and down while our companions lit a bonfire on the beach . Clothing was wrung out , dry garments offered and a phone call was put in to Rowardennan to summon a vehicle to drive round the loch and take us back to the Youth Hostel .
 This is what you call paying for your experience the hard way , and I felt lucky to have paid no more for it than a steep rise in insurance premium for the new cameras I ’d bought . Our accident had occurred because neither of us possessed any practical experience of canoeing . My friend admitted afterwards that his knowledge was mainly theoretical .
 Just how dangerous is Loch Lomond to people in small boats ? Well , just over a hundred years ago Sir James Colquhoun , fourth Baronet of Luss , went over to shoot fallow deer on Inchlonaig with his keepers . It was December , and the venison was to be distributed among the people of the village . At the end of the day , the loaded boat was seen passing Inchconnachan only a mile and a bit from home at Rossdhu , but neither the boat nor its occupants were ever seen again .
 To form an opinion about Loch Lomond you have to be out in it in all weathers . I asked my friend John Groome , who for nine years has lived on the lonely Craig Rostan shore and has to depend on a boat to collect mail , provisions , fuel and other necessities of isolated living .
 I ’d say it is a wicked loch , ” lie told me . “ It looks O.K. until you try to cross . I ’ve been in real danger many times . I ’ve been lost for an hour in freezing fog , and it was not until I saw the lights of a car that I realised I was close inshore on the wrong side of the loch . I tried again , and found myself at Rowchoish , too far south — but at least I knew where I was . 1 was absolutely chilled when I got in . My boat now carries a compass .
 The month is May . It is nearly two o’clock in the morning and we have been tramping since 10 p.m. Marvellous at last to spread our sleeping bags under a sheltering rock on a grass shelf above the burn . Bliss to be here after the big effort of catching the last bus to Balmaha with a 10 - hour working day in Glasgow shops behind us .
 Later that morning wood - smoke and the smell of frying bacon brings me to pleasant consciousness . Around me I can hear a tinkling of willow warblers , the trills of wrens , the jangle of redstarts and the hum of a Gaelic song from Matt , in his element cooking over a wood fire .
 From our eyrie on the MacGregor shore we feel as free as Rob himself , wage - slaves no longer , but with hearts light as the blue sky as we set off along the high contouring path in a scent of bluebells and rowan blossom . Below us , oak woods plunge to the shore and soon we are on the edge of the Cuilness gorge in a stronghold of the pied flycatcher .
 Great views open behind us as we climb . Down across the loch is Inveruglas Isle , with the ruin of the McFarlane castle sacked by Cromwell . Beyond the plunge of the gorge are the rocks of Craig Rostan , peppered with MacGregor ruins . Among them are some old charcoal- burning ” bloomeries ” for smelting iron . We throw ourselves down , necks reclining on rucksacks .
 ” You canny beat it , ” says Matt as hee identifies the snow - veined peaks forming the headwall of Glen Falloch .
 We can see the passes of the Lairig Arnan and the Dubh Eas which lead from Loch Lomond through to Loch Fyne , ancient cattle - droving routes which brought easy booty to the reiving MacGregors and McFarlanes , whose forays persisted long after they had died down in other parts of the Highlands .
 The Government built a barracks at Inversnaid to contain Rob Roy , but he destroyed it before it could be completed — a far - seeing chief .
 On again we strike east for the twisting north ridge of Ben Lomond , crossing a big , peaty hollow where red deer rise from the hags and race for a rock outcrop to stand in elegant grace looking down on us .
 This remotest bit of the Ben is , alas , coveted by hydro - electric engineers , who see in it a site for a reservoir . The plan is to build a big wall of concrete to seal the hollow so that water can be pumped 1200 feet from Loch Lomond into it . As on Ben Cruachan , the water could then be brought down to an underground power - house to make it one of the largest pumped storage schemes in the world , providing up to 2000 megawatts of electricity in its finished form .
 We revel in the totality of the natural world around us as we dump our bags on the Cruinn a ’ Bheinn- Ben Lomond col , and fairly dance up the airy ridge curving to the top of the most southerly Munro in Scotland .
 The view is all we hoped for . Yonder , Ailsa Craig and the “ Sleeping Warrior ” of Arran , with , behind it , the dark outline of the Antrim coast from whence came the Celts who gave Scotland its name . Below us is the dark corrie of the Ben , with a wee burn tumbling out of it — the beginning of the River Forth . Its course is signposted for us by the crag of Stirling Castle and the chemical retorts of Grangemouth where it reaches the sea . Westward lie Jura and Mull .
 From up here we can see clearly how man had such easy access to the Highlands from the Firth of Clyde , with Loch Long threading inland for 16 miles to end below the rock prongs of the Cobbler , an invitation to the Vikings to sail in , haul their longships two miles overland from Arrochar to Tarbet , relaunch in Loch Lomond and sack the shore and island settlements . Nor did they have to retrace to Loch Long after their raids , since they could navigate down the Leven , regain the Clyde below Dumbarton Rock , and join the main licet for the Battle of Largs where retribution was meted out to them .
 It would be illuminating to know what the human population around Loch Lomond was like in those Viking times . It would be even more so if we could look back another 5000 years to the sight that met the eyes of the first Stone Age men to paddle their dug - out canoes on the loch , bows and arrows at flic ready , against human enemies or dangerous animals .
 Perhaps these Baltic colonists numbered only a few dozen . Certainly they settled at Balmaha , at Luss and at Inchlonaig as we know from the stone tools they left behind . Probing forward would be a cautious affair , with 27.45 square miles of water and 3 - 5 islands to explore . The woods would be dangerous , with brown bears roaming , and wolves preying on elk and reindeer . The tree - line would be much higher than we know now , and the red deer would be larger and more heavily - antlered animals than those of today .
 Why is Loch Lomond so narrow and ravine - like in the north and so wide at its southern base ? The answer is in the rock structure . The unyielding Highland schists would not be pushed apart , so the compressed and moving mass of ice dug deep since it could n’t expand . This is why the bed of the loch is 600 feet below sea - level between Tarbet and Inversnaid . But when the 2000 feet thick bull - dozer of ice got to Ross Point it met softer rocks and was able to push them aside and spread out . The islands of the south , which are the glory of Loch Lomond , are the gritty masses which withstood the passage of the ice .
 One fish reflects the ice - age past , the powan , called the freshwater herring because it looks so much like one . The theory is that this plankton- eating white fish was forced to adapt to a freshwater existence when the land level rose with the removal of the great weight of ice as it melted . Thus , when the salt water hollow of Loch Lomond became fresh the powan adapted to its new way of life by spawning in the part of the year closest to Arctic conditions — midwinter .
 Powan are the commonest fish in the loch and are good to eat when freshly caught , but to get them you have to use a net since , being plankton eaters , they rarely accept a fishing line . Pike , on the other hand , give good sport , the British record being a Loch Lomond fish that weighed 47 lb . n oz . The roach reaches its northern limit here , but for the game fisherman the real challenge are the salmon and pink - fleshed sea trout which enter the streams from the loch to spawn .
 No other Scottish loch can list so many species of fish as Loch Lomond with sea lamprey , lampern , brook lamprey , brook trout , minnow , perch , loach , eel , three - spined and ten - spined stickleback , roach and flounder . Small wonder that the odd individual has been able to support himself on catches from the loch .
 One of the special pleasures of living on Lomondside is that there is no end to discovery . Look at the colour photograph of the Fairy Loch . How many people have been to this enchanted spot , easily visited from a roadside ruin a mile north of Inverbeg ? After a steep climb up the burn you enter a reedy recess with a lochan so enchantingly beautiful that you can almost believe the story that the fairies put their special dye into it .
 Or what about the Black Village on the steep hillside above Stuckgowan House Hotel ? Follow the drystane dyke uphill then climb obliquely left where the dyke makes a right - angled turn . The ruins look across to the white house of Cuilness and the sharpest impression of Ben Lomond . The people who lived on this lovely shelf high above the loch died in a plague .
 Motorists should take the chance of visiting Loch Sloy , by stopping - off at Inveruglas and asking for a permit to use the high - climbing hydro - electric road .
 “ Loch Sloy ” was the war cry of the McFarlanes , and their pipe tune was appropriate to them , Togail nam Bo — the lifting of cattle . The rocky corrie encircling the loch was their gathering place . This wild clan were not mere reivers , but took honours at Flodden , at Pinkie , and they saved the day at the Battle of Langside . Like the MacGregors their name was outlawed for a time . Some were exiled in Strath ‘ Aan and took the name of Allan or MacAllan . According to Seton Gordon their descendants are still distinguished by their Highland courtesy .
 Loch Sloy is in greater use today than at any time since it was built at the end of the war , and produces electricity seven days a week , not just at peak load . Up there , one inch of rain produces one million units of electricity as the water rushes through the mountain by tunnel to discharge to the power house through four big ugly pipes which should have been landscaped years ago . Ten years ago there was talk of converting it to a pumped storage system like Ben Cruachan , but , if the plans for Craig Rostan go ahead , we are to have two power schemes facing each other across the narrow loch .
 In peace , perchance to dream .
 John did not write his poem from the standpoint of a selfish man who wants the Craig Rostan shore to himself . Far from it . He was a weekender himself until he retired from being an executive engineer in the Post Office in 1967 and found this place . Few men over 60 would have moved from Glasgow into a house badly in need of attention , since it meant hauling everything he needed across the loch by boat .
 John would list his pleasures over the last nine years of retirement as having time to listen , look and observe the pattern of thee year in very beautiful spot with three levels of appeal — the water , the natural woodlands and the rugged hillsides , each of them offering big rewards for very little effort . He has got to know Cuilness in the way I try to know my own homestead country around Gartocharn .
 Except that he has gone further — by becoming a practical conservationist for the benefit of others . Take the boat to Inversnaid for the magical walk to Cuilness and you will find the path gets better and better as you go down . Where there used to be head - high bracken there is now springy turf . Burns that can be difficult have aids to make crossing them easier . In discreet corners there are grassy flats that are invitations to campers .
 There is also a little message or two for those who can read and take a subtle hint . How ’s this for a hint ?
 They keep down mice and Marauding dogs .
 Pregnant ewes are Not used to youse . Be considerate .
 Changes go on all the time on Loch Lomondside . The latest is the new Alexandria by - pass , which misses out Balloch and sweeps from a height down on Duck Bay for a superb first impression of the broad loch with Ben Lomond dominating the islands over a wide sweep of open water .
 The old shore road is a layby now , providing ample grass space for people to picnic and enjoy the sight of water - skiers and power - boats .
 Loch Lomond , considering all the pressures put upon it , remains a modern miracle as well as a place vital to our future economy , since one foot of depth supplies 5000 million gallons of water for drinking and industrial purposes . Yet you would never know it was a reservoir , thanks to good planning and the unobtrusive intake pipes 250 yards out from the pumping station at Ross Priory . Who would know that the level of the loch is controlled by barrage gates on the Leven ?
 Today Loch Lomond is valued and used by more folk than ever before . Managing them is beyond the scope of the landowners . We have still to find the right balance between preservation , conservation and exploitation . At the end of the day the wondrous beauty of Loch Lomond is a public responsibility in which all of us must play a part .
 You can read more of Tom Weir ’s escapades here , where a new column is published online every Friday .


text:
Cedar Bend Golf Course - Local "Links"
Cedar Bend Golf Course, located on the Sourthern Oregon Coast, is surrounded by beauty both locally and regionally. Cedar Valley is a stunning valley stretching from the Rogue River to the Pacific Ocean - with the golf course nestled in the heart of the valley. Within just a handful of miles you'll find Gold Beach with many resources available to travelers and residents alike. More distantly, the communities of Brookings, Bandon, and Port Orford are nearby allowing you to experience more of the splendor of the coast as you drive along the scenic byway of Highway 101 experiencing stunning ocean vistas.

tokenized:
Cedar Bend Golf Course - Local " Links "
 Cedar Bend Golf Course , located on the Sourthern Oregon Coast , is surrounded by beauty both locally and regionally . Cedar Valley is a stunning valley stretching from the Rogue River to the Pacific Ocean - with the golf course nestled in the heart of the valley . Within just a handful of miles you 'll find Gold Beach with many resources available to travelers and residents alike . More distantly , the communities of Brookings , Bandon , and Port Orford are nearby allowing you to experience more of the splendor of the coast as you drive along the scenic byway of Highway 101 experiencing stunning ocean vistas .