Reflections... and Action

Driving along the road today, returning from the market, a Red Admiral butterfly flew past the windscreen and I reflected on the fact that I see fewer and fewer butterflies every year. The first truly incredible butterfly I saw was a Swallowtail butterfly resting on some grass at a Chateau somewhere in France or Germany. It was very docile and obviously not in an ideal position, so my Dad picked it up and placed it out of harms way. Now my Dad had large hands and I remember that the Sallowtail filled his hand so it was a magnificent specimen. Somewhere in the family archives I am sure there is a photograph of said beautiful creature.

​I cannot remember if I have seen one recently, so I figure that if I cannot remember then I probably haven't. I wonder if anyone else has seen one fluttering about in their back garden?

We do see the odd Peacock butterfly, the small blue ones and the white ones but not nearly in the same quantity as we used to. I remember my Grandmother saying the same things to me about the reduction in numbers of butterflies and other insects since she was a child, so my Sherlock Holmes deduction is that in 80 years we have not learnt very much about anything.
It is a wonder that we have not managed to reduce our own population by the same quantity, as we are evidently intent on self destruction at some point or another, by some method or another.....

So the question is what are we going to try and do about our own lifestyles to help curb our impact on the environment? Many of you are probably thinking vote for the right people to put them into the power positions on the planet where the decisions are made, but seeing as we don't seem to have a very good track record for that currently, we may need to come up with an alternative.
Any little thing no matter how small you may think it is can help, remembering to take a shopping bag to the market, starting a compost bin then putting that compost on your own garden, shopping locally from local producers to reduce food miles or in fact any product miles. There are many local people who make things that we use every day without us having to resort to products made in China every single time we go to the shops. I expect if you sat down and thought about it you would know plenty of people.
Or if you are having a wealthy moment in your life install a solar panel (on my list of things to do), buy an electric car, which by the way saved us 2000 euros on fuel last year. Now that is a lot of money and a lot of clean air in Eygurande et Gardedeuil.

On a more personal business level, I have a client who has decided to buy in bulk at the market. She provides me with an order, a cooler box, blocks and containers, if required for things like minced meat. She took responsibility for the cleanliness of her own equipment and packed and froze the items to her own requirements when she returned home.
All things are possible one just needs to think outside the box and then have a conversation/heated debate with someone about the possibilities/practicalities.
It is long past time to be motivated and to hold yourself accountable for your own life and I am no saint myself, however, we do need to change and we need to do it soon. Below is commuter parking in Holland at the train station. And what a gloriously quiet town Tilburg was without all the cars rushing everywhere.
See you all soon
​Helenx