How one fabulous prize can lead to EVEN MORE...

Nicola won a weekend break in Munich, staying in a plush hotel with tickets to see the BUGA National landscape and garden exhibition.

Nicola and her husband were asked when they would like to take the prize and so chose their wedding anniversary, 22 July. “It all sank in when our dates were confirmed,” said Nicola “I was absolutely thrilled”.

Flying from Birmingham regional airport near to their home and having free rail travel and underground passes in Munich meant that Nicola and Dave did not have to pay for additional transport costs or worry about how they would get around as everything was taken care of.

Never missing a chance to enter more competitions, Nicola managed to find five comps in the airport; two in the Lufthansa inflight booklet, two in the Birmingham Airport brochure and one in a shop in the departure lounge! Once your mind is set on finding comps, it is amazing how many more you will spot!

Nicola and her husband touched down at Munich airport alongside another plane on the dual runways, and boarded the train (using their free rail tickets) to reach the lovely Maritim Hotel.They were given a luxury en suite room and use of the hotel’s upstairs swimming pool and piano bar (which according to Nicola served up amazing cocktails). “

We spent the first evening enjoying a meal in a German beer garden”, Nicola enthused, “taking in the superb architecture and eagerly discussing the following days activities.

In the morning, after a huge breakfast (the choice was immense) we headed off to the BUGA exhibition.What a day that was! It was vast: over several hundred acres covering all sorts of horticulture, this being particularly interesting to Dave who is a crop inspector! We saw so much by foot, but then took the cable car and looked down on the whole area from above.”

The festival combines displays of working gardens (exploring plants’ role in medicine, the environment and food - our beloved chocolate bars come from the cocoa plant, so next time you are munching on a bar of Green and Blacks you can thank the plant world!) and models of landscapes for the future (what we’ll be seeing in the next decade).

“We were enjoying a German beer and sandwich in the grounds when we found ourselves being asked to buy a ticket for a draw. I couldn’t resist. And to my delight, I won a plant of my choice.

Deliriously happy I picked a purple flowering plant (which I managed to get back through customs without any questions - I think they realised I had been at the exhibition – and now this plant takes pride of place in my garden).”

It is fantastic how once you start winning prizes, more and more opportunities come your way! Nicola’s wonderful win to Munich led her to find five more competitions in Birmingham airport, and then win a prize draw in Munich! Once your eyes are open to competitions, you’ll be amazed at how many you will find in the most unusual places.

After winning a plant at the BUGA exhibition, Nicola and Dave had time to go back into Munich and explore the amazing buildings and pavement cafes before heading out for their anniversary meal - and a glass of champagne to celebrate a fantastic weekend! “Cheers to winning more prizes like this – Nicola xx”