“It was such a nice treat. The boys were more chilled out when we got home.”
Paula's Story
For Paula, a city break to Glasgow was a great opportunity to bring her family together for a treat.
Paula’s daughter Zaynab,18, is at university in St Andrews but was able to take advantage of a study break to meet up with her two younger brothers Yunus, 14, and Zayd, 10. Paula and her sons traveled from Edinburgh to meet Zaynab at the Grosvener Hotel.
It was only a short break but the family packed lots in. They loved visiting the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Kelvingrove Museum and exploring the city by foot. But it’s a shared love of Marvel and Anime which brings Zaynab closer to her younger brothers. At home, sometimes the age difference between them means Zaynab’s brothers can annoy her, as younger siblings do! In Glasgow, they went window shopping at Forbidden Planet and Geekaboo where Zaynab, Yunus and Zayd found common ground in their love for Marvel and anime comics.
The holiday to Glasgow came just at the right time for Paula and her children. Paula is a single mum and hasn’t been able to afford a holiday. The COVID pandemic had also been particularly hard on the family. During the many lockdowns, Paula, Zaynab, Yunus and Zayd were confined to their flat without access to a garden. Paula has an underlying medical condition so was extremely cautious about going out, even when the lockdowns started to ease.
I thought I’d never be able to go on a bus again, or to a supermarket. I was scared to get close to anyone in the queues, even outside. I used to have panic attacks in supermarkets before the pandemic, so it was really hard to get out and about.
Coming together in Glasgow was a chance for Paula’s family to have some fun in a new environment. Things are looking up now with Zaynab able to start her new life as a student, and Paula feeling more confident to live a freer life. For Paula it was slightly bittersweet as she knows that Zaynab will likely want to go on holidays with her friends more now she is older, so it was really special to see her children enjoying their time together.
It was nice to get away for a different scene. It helped that the hotel was lovely. Actually my youngest Zayd was most impressed with the breakfast buffet. He loved that he could help himself to the fresh fruit and juice, and he couldn’t get over the toaster which was like a conveyor belt!
Yunus was probably most excited to discover a scarab beetle sculpture in the Kelvingrove Museum as Scarlet Scarab features in Marvel’s Moon Knight series. Both the boys say the best bit was the hotel, and Zayd’s favourite bits were the comfy beds and the breakfast.
Zaynab was happy to spend time with her brothers away from home. Paula says Zaynab appreciates them more now that she has time away at university. Paula particularly enjoyed the Botanic Gardens which were beautiful and peaceful, and will remember some amazing, fancy desserts they enjoyed.
The boys really like Glasgow but this was the first time the four of us were there together. It was just a great experience for all of us. My only complaint is that we could have done with an extra day! We walked so far we were absolutely shattered by the end but it was such a nice treat. I did notice that the boys were more chilled out when we got home - for a few days! We were glad to be home, but happy to have gone.