Just before Christmas my mother and I were having a discussion about what to buy the boys for presents. My mother then came up with the brilliant idea of buying a climbing that we could add extra things to for their birthdays/Xmas etc. I say brilliant but as you read on you'll know that I begin to change my mind!

So apart from I had it as a child what were the other reasons for plumping for this over the explorer or a wooden one. Firstly the wooden ones are so expensive, they didn't even factor into the equation. So it was a straight decision between the challenger and the explorer.

Due to the wider range of accessories and the extra climbing challengers we opted for the challenger. TP Toys have many stockists all over the country; we located one close to home and order the challenger frame, the rapide slide and the split level platforms. This cost £345, (£175 for the frame, £115 for the slide and £55 for the split level platforms). The order was processed online and within 24 hours all the items were delivered to my home. This was greeted by two very excited little boys who insisted that the climbing frame was built there and then.

Two hours in with 2 adults building this thing we finally manage to get it to toddler height. Another hour goes by and yes we have a full sized climbing frame on our patio, not the grass! No idea why we didn't build it situ but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Now this climbing frame is quite lightweight so not too difficult to pick up, manoeuvring it on the other hand is another story. As we were walking down the garden the top half of the frame was wobbling and at one stage nearly toppled us. After five minutes we finally had the frame in place. Here is where we now have to stake it into the ground. The stakes that are provided are really long, which is great on the stability side of things, but not when you're trying to get the things in place. Another hour passes by and finally we have a climbing frame in the correct place and staked into the ground. It's now five o'clock and dark, Mum and Dad are exhausted and the boys are donned in wellie boots and coats happily climbing all over the frame. Yea, a success! So we sit in the garden watching the boys playing happily while drinking cups of tea. We decide to leave the slide and platforms until the next day.

Next came the platforms, now I really wish we had put these on whilst building the initial frame. We had to remove eight poles from the climbing frame to insert into these platforms and then do them back up. Not so easy now we've attached the slide as one of these poles has the slide attached to it. So we eventually get these platforms on and again sit back and watch the boys and my neighbour's daughter play of the slide and climbing frame. Ah, just realised slide and wet grass not ideal, three very wet and muddy children.

Having done all of this my Mother rang to inform me she had ordered James' birthday present. A basket ball net (£40 plus the attachments - £20) and the triangular scramble net (£35), and these would be arriving this week. So I guess next weekend I'll be doing yet more construction work to this climbing frame.

***** Where to get it *****
Website: www.tptoys.com
Email: customerservices@tptoys.com
Telephone: 01299 872803