A Glenkens man will finally collect a Ukrainian refugee family today – after an agonising delay in bringing them to Scotland.
Paul Goodwin will greet Anna and her two boys in the arrivals hall at Edinburgh Airport once they clear passport control.
The trio were stuck in Poland for months waiting for visas to be issued by the UK Government.
And it will be an emotional moment for the 68-year-old retired professional whose beloved wife Betty passed away in January eight months short of the couple’s golden wedding anniversary.
Paul has been alone ever since – but now his long wait to share his home with the Kharkiv refugees is almost over.
He said: “The family arrives at Edinburgh on a flight from Wroclaw in Poland at 12.15pm.
“I’ll be there to meet them off the plane and they should be able to spot me – I’ll have a five-foot by three-foot Ukrainian flag wrapped around me like a cape.
“On the way back to Dalry we’ll stop off at Biggar because they will be hungry by then.”
Paul admits to being in a state of nervous excitement as the date of the international rendezvous approaches.
He said: “I’ve got a stomach full of butterflies at the moment.
“I’m just hoping that Anna and hers sons can relax and find this space acceptable as their temporary home.
“You can be a host for six months minimum but in my case that may be longer.”
Paul has kept himself busy preparing the house for the arrival of his guests.
He said: “I’m trying to cope with what I’ve felt like over the last two days.
“I’ve vacuumed the house from top to bottom and done four loads of laundry.
“I’ve even planted two sunflowers in the garden – they’re Ukraine’s national flower.
“There’s beetroot planted in the garden as well which is the main ingredient of borscht soup, a Ukrainian speciality.”
Paul hopes the war will soon be over so the family can go back home.
But meantime the conflict remains a source of constant worry to Anna and her boys.
Paul said: “Anna’s husband is in Ukraine supporting the war effort.
“Recently he saw a rocket land close by and explode close to where he lives in Kharkiv.
“She was very upset to hear that.
“When they’re with me the family will be quite upset at times missing their husband and father, as well as their extended family.
“I can’t take their place – all I can do is provide a safe place and an acceptable standard of life in the new normal.”
Paul urged everyone to do all they can to make the Ukrainians feel welcome – whether they have spare accommodation or not.
He said: “If anybody is thinking about hosting a family they should contact the council resettlement office and make inquiries.
“It’s totally noncommittal at that stage.
“There will be somebody for everybody because not all Ukrainian refugees are mothers with
children.
“And even if you don’t have the space and capability there is something that everybody can do.
“A lot of small things can make people feel really welcome in a community.”
