I picked this bucket set up the day before we went on our holibobs to Egypt in May this year. I don't make a habit of visiting Matalan as I don't have one locally to me and, well, I don't like it much as a store generally- it's just not my bag! However, I was pottering with my mother in law who was picking up last minute bits before we flew to sunnier climes, and I spotted this little play set hanging on the displays that line the airport style queing system before you get to the till. As I was feeling a touch of pre holiday high jinx, I thought, ah what the heck- let's live on the edge and splash out the 3 quid or so on a bucket and spade for beach time revelry. I have got a child by the way...it wasn't for myself...

**What's Included?**

I'm pretty sure this was £3 or a bit less, which to be honest is why I bought it, as I was going to wait until we arrived in Egypt and get one there. The odd one that I'd seen in other shops had been more than £7 which I thought was a bit of a rip off for a couple bits of plastic (that's also what my husband said when I got a boob job, but that's another story). Included in the set is a blue bucket which takes the shape of a castle (again- some of the others I'd seen were just squared off and wouldn't have made a very exciting shape). Theres a little spade and a fork for digging purposes, a hollow crocodile and dinosaur for making models with the sand, and last but not least, a little watering can.

**Did My Son Play With a £3 Toy Every Day for a Week?**

Yes. So I'm selling his train set, bike and garage on ebay and we're all off to the pub! Well maybe not- as we don't have a beach in our house to take full advantage of the bucket set. But crikey, what a splendid purchase this was! Every morning, he routinely gathered up his little set of plastic wonders ready for his day by the pool. He mainly played in the pool with his new favourite toys as he doesn't really like the sand too much, but to be honest, although the bucket and all its bits (with the exception of the watering can) are designed for modelling primarily, he had massive amounts of fun digging the water and drowning the dinosaur. Hours passed with him sprinkling water from the can into the bucket, and erm, pouring water from the bucket into the can. Some highlights of playtime included 'watering' Grandad and doing a bit of very sweet sharing of toys with other little children. Then a whole bunch of kids watered Grandad. The one occasion the set was used on the beach- it was most fit for purpose, the spade transferring a little sand at a time accordingly and each moulding toy producing pleasing models. The toys are lovely bright colours and nice and chunky for toddler hands such as my son's. That said- I'm sure a child of any age would appreciate this toy up until the point when they no longer play on the beach, preferring to wear black, eat chips and sulk on holiday. The set is made well enough for the price. It's fairly lightweight, so travelling with it is no major drama and your little one will be able to manage transporting it around as they play. It's not the thickest, most robust plastic in the world- but like I say, it does what it's designed for as long as it's treated properly. I imagine the bucket's handle might snap if it was swung around and stamped on- but provided you don't partake in such a carry on in a moment of holiday madness, I'd think it will last for the duration.

**Back Home**

We still have the set. It now lives in various boxes in various rooms. I've not seen the watering can for a while but I did step on a crocodile earlier. The holiday magic is over and poor old bucket set has been cast aside for now. However, fear not, as it's waiting in the side lines to get involved in paddling pool fun just as soon as summer arrives...
So glad I bought this set. It provides as much bucket and spade set fun as you can possibly have for an absolute snip of a bargain! Bargain bucket! Definitely worth shoving it into the suitcase- you can even stuff socks inbetween the plastic toys to save on space! ;-)