When I was oh-so-very small, I was taken to the Natural History Museum in London. I remember only one thing about that day – standing in the great hall with the Blue Whale sailing over my head. I stood – and I gazed (probably open-mouthed). Utterly transfixed by its beauty, and the sheer size of this creature that Really Swam In The Sea.
It’s a moment that has never left me, and I must admit to be being very concerned when I returned to the museum as a grown up with my own children – would the years have diminished my whale? Would he seem smaller? More ordinary? Somehow less than he was in my mind?
No. Again I stood, and again I gazed, and once again my mind was thrilled with him. Hello, I said to my whale. It was nice to meet him again.
Little wonder, then, that near the top of my List of Things To Do In Life is to see a blue whale, swimming in the ocean. But I know I’m not alone – what is it that whales capture within us? Why do we love them so?
Back in 1988 a family of majestic grey whales were trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle. The Blu-ray and DVD release of Big Miracle on 4 June tells the true story of a local news reporter and a Greenpeace volunteer who are joined by rival world superpowers to save them. Starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski, it’s an inspiring story of ‘a small town caught up in a big adventure’.
To celebrate the release on Blu-ray and DVD on June 4th, the Tots100 has joined up with Universal Pictures to offer you the chance to win something really special. Seriously, properly, amazingly, brilliant-special.
How would you like to win a Four Day Whale watching cruise to Spain for the whole family?
We KNOW! What an unforgettable opportunity for your whole family to discover and learn more about whales and dolphins in one of the world’s most renowned whale watching locations, ‘The Bay of Biscay Triangle’.
ORCA, one of the Europe’s leading whale and dolphin conservation charities, has teamed up with Brittany Ferries as part of ORCA’s Whales in our Waters programme to inspire, educate and engage people to go and see whales and dolphins. On board the Brittany Ferries’ flagship the ‘Pont Aven’, you will be voyaging through the English Channel and the deep waters of the Bay. You will be guided by ORCA experts conducting deck watches as you stay on the lookout (one trip last year even got to see a blue whale *sigh*). Their experienced and friendly guides will also give on-board wildlife presentations.
To be in with a chance to win this spectacular prize, we want your family to get creative (don’t worry, it’s not hard!). We simply want your child to draw us a picture of a whale – and then for you to upload it to Big Miracle’s Facebook page. Closing date is 18 June, the winner will be selected by Universal Pictures and announced on 18 June. Once you’ve uploaded your entry, just sign in using your email or Facebook account to the Rafflecopter widget below – this is so we can identify your entry on the Facebook page. Extra entries are also available once you’ve signed in.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Terms & Conditions:
- Prize must be taken between 10-12 or 17-19 July or 14-16 or 21-23 August or 11-13 September or 18-20 September 2012
- Dates and accommodation are subject to availability, excluding Bank Holidays.
- Prize is for up to 4 people
- No cash alternative
- Break is on a full board basis.
- Travel expenses to Portsmouth will be paid up to the value of £100
- Entry is restricted to Tots100 registered bloggers
- Full terms/conditions available here
About Sally
Sally Whittle is founder of the Tots100, Foodies100, BlogSummit and the MAD Blog Awards. When she's not working, she can be found blogging at Who's the Mummy, or having fun with her 7 year old daughter, Flea.
Wow, amazing prize!
AMAZING PRIZE!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to get the kids to enter!!
what an amazing prize. will get them drawing tomorrow
Is it one entry per family or can each child enter?
Emma – one entry per child.
Thanks Laura.
Brilliant competition and what an excellent prize. Love these creative comps, thank you
Sorry I have ticked the box to share with google + but I can’t work out how to do it! It won’t let me cancel my entry either.
Isaac has shared his picture – we had great fun doing it!!
What a super duper competition, Miss. & Master Poppins have both drawn their special whale’s! Good luck to all the little ones! x
Fab competition. Girls have had a blast!
Thanks- we’ve had a whale of a day today thanks to this comp- watched Free Willy, then did some painting and played with our toy whales and dolphins well into bathtime. Bedtime story was the Whale and the Snail.
What an awesome competition!! I’ve entered thanks.
I am so excited about this!
Oh no! The closing date for entries says 11th June and it the rafflecopter says the competition has ended.
Have I misread it? My son would really like to enter. Can someone please get back to me with what I can do?
I’m going to try and post the picture on the fb page.
Madison
This should be fixed now – we’ve extended the deadline to next Monday!
What a fab prize and L really enjoyed doing this
Great prize, plus it kept the kids quiet for quite a long time when they did their whale pictures!
Wow amazing prize. How fantastic!