Thursday 10 July 2008

Downward slope

Referring to the weather over the last two days. Yesterday, cloud gradually increased over our neck of the woods, to end in rain. At 3pm, my dad and myself went off for an amble over to the Heathlands, as I call them. Just as we reached the highest point (100 metres or 330 feet above sealevel), a pall of grey cloud could be seen moving in from the southwest. Not hurrying, we continued to the Watchtower (where a watchman would keep a lookout against any heathland fires until the 1960s) and back home. Just as we walked up our street (it is the second steepest in town) spits and spots of rain started. And just as we sat down for a glass of juice, it poured.

Today is just plain miserable and wet. It is reported from Amsterdam that a woman police constable was shot at point-blank range last night. The WPC was on her way to the station in her private car, when she noticed a vehicle being driven erratically. She contacted her station to say she was going to speak to the driver. When she walked up to the vehicle, she must have identified herself as police, upon which the suspect immediately opened fire. He fled into a nearby house, where he was later apprehended. The police woman died of her injuries. It has since become clear that the man had opened fire on a house elsewhere in Amsterdam earlier that evening. The WPC was not aware of this.
Fewer than half a dozen police constables have been killed in Holland in the line of duty over the last 30 years.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

So sorry for the young policewomans family.  what a way to go..all for no reason.

Sorry you nearly got wet!! if you had been here there would have been no nearly about it,  you would have been well and truly SOAKED...it never stopped from around 6am till at least 7.30 last night...I don't think I have ever had such a long wet day for a long long time.  My neighbour took her dog out twice and was twice soaked right through her heaviest rainjacket and trousers !!   Love Sybil xx

Anonymous said...

I've aways said that police officers put their lives on the line each time the report to work.  What a sad event....I hope this man is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.  Linda in Washington

Anonymous said...

We've had some very welcomed rain the past few days here in Texas.  I do love it here, but all the sun and minimal rain does not do well for my mood.

~Amy

Anonymous said...

How sad about the WPC. Just doing her job.
Sounds like you were lucky not to get wet.  It's been raining forever here.!!!!
Hugs
Carolxx

Anonymous said...

How very said for the policewoman.  We had severe thunderstorms here today.  My poor dog was shaking like a leaf.  Lightening must have hit one of my phones.  Just discovered it isn't working after the storm.  Unfortunately, it is a dictaphone that I use for my medical transcription job.  It costs about $900.00.  ::sigh::

Blessings!~

Susan

Anonymous said...

That was certainly a tragedy.  I hope they caught the man.
Lori

Anonymous said...

hi Guido!
wowie it's that Dutch weather again!
hugs,natalie

Anonymous said...

how terrible, i hope he gets what he deserves. going to look for our summer, it must be hiding somewhere..... take care mrs t xx

Anonymous said...

What a terrible tragedy, I hope he gets what he deserves. I'm glad you got your walk in before the rain came. Jeannette xx  http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels/  

Anonymous said...

Guido.......what sad news, you never know what is waiting for your around the corner. My heart goes out to her family.

The weather here is London is odd again today, doesn't seem to know what it wants to do.
Hugs Jayne