As I am writing this column I am about to sail to my happy place, and I can’t wait.

The weather is forecast to be fine.

Once I board the CalMac ferry, and we set off for the islands, I will head straight to the cafeteria to re-acquaint myself with CalMac catering and their much-loved macaroni cheese.

My personal experience of CalMac ferries has been overwhelmingly positive over many years, the staff in particular and the service generally has been great for me.

Now, I am acutely aware that readers of The Herald and most importantly Scotland’s islanders will now be shaking their heads in disbelief at these words.

Almost exactly two years ago Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee prefaced its report into ferries by saying "the people of Scotland and island communities have been badly let down".

Its report exposed "a ferry fiasco riddled with failures in governance, transparency, accountability, communication and record-keeping".

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Seldom, if ever, from manufacturing all the way through to service delivery has a sector been subject to such public scrutiny and criticism.

Maybe it will remain so.

The challenges are manifest.

The collective sigh of relief as the Glen Sannox came into service is tempered by understandable nervousness over further delays in the completion of Glen Rosa.

Delivery dates for the fleet of smaller ferries being constructed by a shipyard in Turkey have been pushed back again due to problems with labour shortages.

Last month it was announced that more ferries are to be manufactured abroad, and that community benefit........

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