We pubbed authors sit a lot. When I need a break, I mostly go out for a ride on my wonderful green bicycle.

Such a ride kills two birds with one stone. I prevents me from getting fat :-) and it provides me with some highly needed fresh air.

Riding through the woods I can smell the blooming heather and the spicy scent of thousands of pine trees.

But good things always seem to be over too soon. Approaching the village, busses and trucks thunder by every two minutes, and cars speed past me every second.

Sigh. My relaxed feeling subsides almost immediately.

When I enter the 18 miles zone I take a relieved breath. Here, those darned busses and trucks have to limit their horrible speed!

Only one second later another huge colossus scoots by, and litterally blows me off the road.

Good grief! That rotten thing knocked me down!

I stumble to my feet, pull my bike upright again, and take a glance at the road sign.

"18 Miles zone," the black characters say. "Bikers go first."

Well, it's clear the sign doesn't work at all.

I mount my bike again, and drive on, a bit shivery though.

All of a sudden, I see a police car standing next to the road.

Great!

The next road hog will pay for his crime. That'll teach the jerk!

But my good mood doesn't last. The car is empty and I can't discover any hidden camera.

Father on, I spot a police officer, sitting on a wooden bench near the road, enjoying a sandwich while his dog answers the call of nature.

The next truck booms by. Freely...

Sigh...

I ride on, my feelings of justice violated.

After a while I reach the Shopping Mall, and find another patrol car parked next to a red convertible.

Two cops are talking to the driver.

Hmm, that looks interesting.

Jumping from my bike, I take a look at the drugstore shop window, pretending I'm very interested.

In the huge window pane I can easily witness the events behind my back.

Yes, I have to admit it. I simply love eavesdropping. :-)

"But I was inside the liquor store for one minute only," the unfortunate driver says in a begging manner, showing the officers a bottle of red wine to prove his statement.

I can't hear the officer reply, but he's writing so eagerly, I can predict what's in store for the poor man.

"Oh please, officer! I just forgot to fill the parking meter," the driver calls out, despair in his voice.

The heartless cop however, is not moved by the man's pleas, and gives the poor soul a ticket.

His hands shaking, the driver stares at the white paper, while the cops step into the patrol car, their smiling faces glowing with satisfaction.

Well, they definitely can be proud of themselves.

They have fined a real criminal!

What was the man thinking? That he could go shopping for a complete minute and forget about the parking meter?

No way!

Yes, in my home town, we citizens can rest assured. Here, the police officers definitely know the ropes!



Greetings from The Netherlands,