Another climate change protest for worthy activists, one more uncomfortable hair shirt day for the rest of us. Nowt much changes, eh?

People of all ages and backgrounds are demonstrating for change today. They’re striking and shouting, singing and riding their bikes – slowly - into Carlisle for the future. Because that’s how you rescue a doomed future, right? With a day out. On a bike.

“Hang on a bit,” I hear you say. “She’s soon changed her tune. It’s not that long since she was singing high praise of pint-sized heroine Greta Thunberg.”

And you’d be right. Well, nearly. I haven’t so much changed my tune as found the correct key. My key. And now I hum it quietly, rather than belt it out.

That’s because like most people, I’ve identified finally as a product of the First World. Yes, I want the planet saved. I do hope for a cleaner, greener, safer Earth for all. But if all that could be achieved without disrupting my life, turning me vegan or confiscating my car, I’d very much appreciate it.

Hypocrite? Moi? Probably.

The light bulb flashed on as I prepared to return from holiday and an email alert warned climate change protesters were planning to shut down Heathrow Airport by flying their drones within its exclusion zone.

My reaction was as sympathetic as I could manage.

“What? Blooming idiots! How do I get home? They should all be arrested, locked up and given a good wash.”

Which wouldn’t have been Greta’s response, I’m sure.

Understandable though – at least to me. Heathrow is bad enough when it’s open and hosting striking pilots. But the worthies insisted, puritanically, that we travellers should learn how to make sacrifices in defence of an endangered planet.

Well, yes. But why me? I only fly once a year. Twice at best... or worst, depending on your point of view.

I can’t be alone in habitually paying polite, admiring lip service to campaigners with good intentions and disruptive behaviour. In fact, I know I am not.

The truth of the matter is, in common with most others, I want to have my cake, eat it and take a slice of yours too, if at all possible.

Might as well be honest, now the dim, energy-saving light bulb is still shining (just), I’m not keen on having my life turned upside down by drones, days out or crusading cyclists. There – it’s said.

By my reckoning, that’s more selfish than hypocritical. And let’s be fair, we’re all a bit guilty of selfishness.

I want to eat beef and lamb, locally sourced from Cumbria’s fab farmers. I like dairy and have no ambitions to learn how to milk an almond. I prefer my sausages to be made with pork and since private jets are beyond my means, I look forward to flying out of this country commercially once a year - striking pilots permitting.

I’m not getting into how governments across the world are making few (or no) efforts to limit climate change – because they are not my main point here. I am. You are. We, who are products of the First World, are doing what we can to give up plastic but that – if you’ll pardon the pun – is a drop in the ocean.

It’s a conundrum, eh? While cheering on stalwart activists, young and old, who want only the best for us, aren’t we secretly hoping our comfortable lives won’t be impacted too much as they crusade on our behalf?

I tip my hat to them – I really do. Such devotion to passionate belief is beyond laudable and I wish them all the luck in the endangered world. I still wonder whether their day out with the likeminded will make a discernible difference, though... or even if I sincerely want it to.

Those air space drone flyers, by the way. They were rounded up, arrested and polluting travel was resumed with barely a hitch or lost take-off slot.

See? Action for change can be impressively high-profile. But resistance to change is generally stronger.

Have a good day, guys. But don’t expect miracles. Even when preaching to the lip-serving converted, miracles take a lot longer.