'I'm a granny at 35 with a Turkish toyboy aged just 19′

When Rachel McIntyre’s daughter had a child at 18, she swore she wouldn’t be a typical gran – and she’s certainly keeping her word

- MEL FALLOWFIELD

Sitting on my sofa at home on a cold October evening, I long to be back in Turkey with my boyfriend Seskan. We met in June when I was in Marmaris on holiday and I yearn to be wrapped in his arms once more as we laugh and kiss in the sunshine.

Ours isn’t the most conventional of relationships – at 19, he’s the same age as my eldest daughter. And to make it even more bizarre, despite being only 35, I’m already a granny. Beth gave birth to my granddaughter Alaia last year.

Even so, my relationship with Seskan soon became serious. And in September, I took my younger daughter Erika, 11, out of school and we went back to see him for a week. It’s a controversial situation. But it’s happened and I’m happier than I could ever have imagined. And though I’m sure I’ll be slated for Erika missing school to visit my young lover, I don’t care.

There’s more to life than text books and learning maths and English. My daughter is having great experiences, discovering a different culture and enjoying the freedom that a family-friendly place like Marmaris can give.

And we’re all getting much-needed sun – it’s a rare sight in Edinburgh where we live! I’ll probably need to take her out again in December as we’re planning a trip to Thailand with Seskan.

‘I BELIEVE WE WILL LAST’

Equally, people will probably say I’m making a fool of myself by falling in love with Seskan, but I believe it will last the distance. And everyone always mistakes Beth and me for twins – so at least I look his age, rather than the granny that I am.

I was a young mum myself, falling pregnant accidentally with Beth in 2005 when I was only 15 and giving birth at 16.