Sailing by...

ON THE hottest day of the year (possibly the century), daughter and I went to the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine.
I'd never been before and happily, an excuse - in the shape of a meeting to discuss a couple of George Wyllie-related matters - presented itself.
Mia and I got there early - not something I can ordinarily lay claim to...
It was nice to wander down to the waterfront and the museum's Puffer's Cafe on the shore to get our bearings.
Beautiful views out to a hazy Arran and a couple of swans paddling on the shore...
I grew up just a few miles away from Irvine and I'd forgotten just how nice it could be on a summer's day.
As we took our drinks outside to the benches, it felt like we were on holiday.
We were joined by my friend and co-author Louise Wyllie, GW Foundation curator, Lynne Mackenzie, and Fiona Carmichael, recently appointed curator of art at the museum.
After a quick chat we headed up to the Linthouse Building, crammed to its red brick and glazed A-listed gunnels with historic ships, artefacts, shipbuilding machinery, machine tools, mastheads and other maritime memorabilia.
The whole building was transported lock, stock and barrel from Govan in Glasgow in 1991.
In a previous life, it was the Engine Shop of shipbuilder, Alexander Stephen and Sons. Quite a building and roasty toasty hot, let me tell you...
We also had a fascinating tour of the nearby WASPS Courtyard Studios with North Aryshire artist-in-residence, Alex Boyd.
It was opened by George back in 1994 and several of artists we met there spoke very warmly of him.
The day was topped off by a pokey hat - an ice -cream cone - at a great new ice-cream parlour which has opened just down the harbour. Scottish Tablet ice-cream anyone? Don't mind if I do...
Before we left, Mia placed a paper boat she'd made from a leaflet in a wee floatation tank in the Linthouse building. She became quite the expert paper boat-maker during The Whysman Festival a few years back.
George's life-sized Paper Boat, pride of the Origami Line, is probably the artwork for which he's best remembered.