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My Love For Glasgow Is Bittersweet
When I moved to Pollokshields, I didn’t know anyone in the area. I knew it was a very Muslim area and had no pubs, which suited me fine. I felt safe. There was a lot of rubbish in the streets, but this was mostly from passers through. The neighbourhood was quite nice in most corners but mine!
I lived on the dead end of the very most eastern corner of the area, up McCulloch Street. I had a top floor tenement flat with a stunning view of Glasgow in front of me.
Did I enjoy climbing 72 steps to my flat? Well, yes and no. It was a divine number of stairs to climb, but it made each trip in or out a multitasking exercise. My neighbours were quiet and most kept to themselves.
The wee shop I chose to go to most of the time was Mr. Ahmed’s shop on the Albert Road. It has everything a wee shop should have: wall of crisps <check>, shit you don’t want your kid to eat <check>, dish soap, milk, alcohol <check, check, check>.
Mr. Ahmed and his giant sons run their shop very well and are friendly to everyone. They made me feel welcomed immediately but were never too nosey. Perfect.
The first week I moved to the area, my friend from the States was visiting and popped to the shop for some beer. He said he was chatting nicely with Mr. Ahmed when some teenagers spilled into the shop in mid brawl.