Today is what is affecionately known in America as Groundhog Day, which without having seen the Bill Murray film of the same name, many Britons would not have a clue as to what I typing of.
The groundhog (or woodchuck if you prefer)in question is amusingly called Punxsatawney Phil, and he is 'prognosticator of prognosticators', to his fans he is the ONLY reliable weather 'man'. Every 2nd of February he is brought to Gobbler's Knob in Pennsylvania to make his prediction. If he sees his shadow then six more weeks of winter there shall be, as he has just claimed this very moment which I heard via American radio.
It is brilliant fun, and thousands gather for fireworks and food before the official forecast. Why don't we do something similar in Britain? Afterall we are so animal friendly in this country (where even fox hunting has been absurdly banned), that a celebration centered around a furry critter would be a guaranteed hit. The vegetarians and soppy 'gentle' folk (you know the people I mean, the ones with nervous ticks and feather lined stomachs) would be in raptures over such an event.
And imagine the good it would do: money earned from merchandise could be put to good use in deserving charities.
We ought to immediately create our own version of the cool Punxsatawney Phil. Let me see....Bosherston Bill the badger? Fishguard Joe the fox? Or how does Haverfordwest Glynn the rabbit sound? Heck his job would be easy, he could simply predict rain for the next six weeks.
Its not as if we Brits don't have any experience in humanizing animals, look at Wind In The Willows and Watershipdown for fine examples. (Although every true animal lover knows it was Tarka the Otter who really ruled the river banks). Yes it should be done and with haste. Let us ignore Michael Fish and his ilk and invent fun gimmicks to serve us our weather forecasts. (It could even be a real fish instead of the dour Michael!) Gower Bob the flatfish, he even sounds as cool as Phil.
The woodchuck is king however, all hail Punxsatawney Phil! Seer of seers!
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