It was actually a really nice day, not too promising to look at early on, but the sky cleared and the sun came out by the time we were out for a walk. So, wondering whether the washing would be dry or rewashed when we got back we headed off for a coastal potter around the Dalmeny Estate. The drive to the house seemed to be closed, so we went round and parked at South Queensferry. From there you can walk (under the Forth Bridge) in to the estate along the coast.
There’s a really nice beach with soft golden sand and a great view out across Edinburgh, the Forth isles and Fife at a place marked on the map as 
Fisheries Cottage. By the time we shoogled our way over the, far rougher than we remembered!, estate roads to the cottage, Marcail was due a feed. So we sat, she ate and Doglet had a dose of the rips digging in the sand, play fighting and generally being a hooligan.
The beach was too hot and sandy for a change, but she was probably due one of them too. so we retreated to the shade of the trees. It’s not so bad really, pretty much the same as a change in doors, just you get a better view.
So far the walk had been through the trees, so apart from the time on the beach we had been sheltered from the sun which by now was beating down quite ferrociously for these latitudes. Not long after the cottage we came out into the sun, and that was pretty much the pattern for the second half of the walk.
We have learned a lesson from Baby Broiler though, so Marcail had no blanket and the top of the pram was wide open. We’d forgotten to grad the parasol from the boot though, so we still weren’t fully equiped. A little later we even took off her long sleeved sleeper so she was just in her little vest. Most of the time the pram hood kept the sun off her head so we wandered on enjoying the interlude of summer weather.
I guess it was dinner that brought it on. Whilst heading up an wide open hillside, the Thunderpants struck. Again, being hardened parents we knew there’s a balance between ‘Quick, get our child out of that toxic ooze‘ and ‘Hang fire chaps, the enemy never stops after just one attack, let them show all their cards before we retaliate‘.
After the change it all turned into a bit of a rout. Marcail was awake, probably over stimulated and wanting cuddles. Cuddles worked to soother her, but had to be in the full sun. In, out, in, out shake it all about… By the time we got out to the main road down to South Queensferry there was nothing else for it. Mummy took Doglet, Daddy took control of the pram and we made a flat dash for cover. By the time we hit the village we’d been on the go for getting on three hours, probably double what we’d expected at the outset.
Shade, cuddles and a cool sea breeze all worked their magic; oh and more nosh from the milk bar of course.