I've moved - my blog that is.

I have moved A View from England to a new blog host.

This is the NEW URL:

http://brilliantbritain.blogspot.com/

Please update your bookmarks. Thank you.

Save the Children is promoting an important campaign called, Knitting to save children's lives.

Save the Children provide a free (PDF download) pattern for you to knit a hat (and for those of you who never learned how to knit, there is a beginner's guide included with the pattern) and a printable card for you to fill out that will be sent to the prime minister, Gordon Brown, asking him "to make saving children's lives a priority today".

Send both the hat and the card to Save the Children and they will send the hat to mothers and babies in developing countries, and the messages to Gordon Brown.

Send your hat and message to:

Save the Children
1 St John's Lane,
London EC1M 4AR

I wasn't planning to write about the American TV series, Pushing Daisies, that started showing in the UK last Saturday but I've noticed a lot of conversations in the blogosphere about it so what the heck.

It was heavily promoted by ITV so I'm not surprised the viewer figures were high but I wonder how many people will continue to watch it now that the news is out that The second episode of new hit drama Pushing Daisies is to be dropped by ITV, and viewers will jump straight forward to watching episode three,

(link via timesonline)

I think the show is sweet and charming and I like the upbeat fantasy premise but I found the nearly constant voice-over to be extemely irritating. I'm not sure if I will continue watching it Jim Dale's voice is going to be heard all the time. It's not necessary! I'm also not happy that ITV is skipping episode two. It's a bit annoying that they treat the audience that way after promoting the new series so much. I think fans of the show will be wondering what they are missing.

And finally, did anyone else think the idea about bringing a person to life for one minute (by touch) is very similar to the resurrection glove in Torchwood?

If you ever watched The Good Life, a classic British sitcom about a couple trying to live a self-sufficient lifestyle in a London suburb, then you will understand the reference to it in this Daily Mail article entitled, The real Good Life: An entire village turns against supermarkets and grows its own food.

The villagers grow 45 types of vegetables (and raise chickens and pigs too) and every Saturday the produce is sold at the village hall  The green scheme had a turnover of £27,000 last year! Good for them. It's a fantastic idea. I'm very impressed.

As of  April 1st. 2008 everyone aged over 60, or eligible as disabled, can get free off-peak* bus travel on local buses anywhere in England. (Over 60s in Scotland and Wales already get free national bus travel at any time of the day)

*Off-peak is travel between 9.30am and 11pm weekdays and anytime during the weekend.

Free bus pass: 20 great bus routes

(link via telegraph.co.uk)

Thanks to better management of our local waterways and habitat one of London's most spectacular birds is making a remarkable comeback.

(link via The Londoner - news from the mayor of London)

Read about the Kingfisher (link via The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds or RSPB)

A radio station that broadcasts the sound of birdsong from a British country garden has become an unlikely hit.

(link via telegraph.co.uk)

Birdsong station