Alex Calder

Hi, I'm Alex Calder. Panic-stricken mum and book cover designer. And I'm asking for your help.

I can not tell you how much doing this gives me the ick. Anyone who knows me in real life knows that I don't ask for help, even when I should. Especially when I should. So this is really hard for me.

This year has been rough. Health-wise, and business-wise. I have seen a sharp decline in my business due to AI image generators, as a lot have. That, combined with a couple of periods of severe ill health, has led to me depleting the small amount of savings I had.

That would normally be fine. I would work harder, push harder, and slowly build them back up again.

However, a new hell has arrived on my doorstep. My landlord of 6 years has just decided that he wants the property back to live in himself. Myself and my son have been given 60 days to vacate the premises.

The costs involved are costs I can not cover now. I need to have the first month, the deposit, and the money for someone to move us. I should, hopefully, get the deposit from this property returned to me, but that doesn't happen until after the premises are vacated and checked - and I have to have it before. Plus, knowing my landlord, I won't get much of it back.

Property rentals in my area average between GBP1200 - GBP1800 pcm for a 2-bed place.

It was completely unexpected. In fact, just 2 weeks prior to him giving us this news, the property agent had confirmed that we would be rolling over the contract for another 6 months. To say it was a shock is an understatement.

If I cannot find this money, we will be evicted, forcibly, with nowhere to go. (He would have to take me to court first and bailiffs would remove us, but that is not something I want to go through, especially with my health problems. It's also just delaying the inevitable.) I won't be able to work. We won't have a home. It is utterly terrifying and I honestly don't know what we're going to do.

My son and I are alone. I have no family. No parents, aunts, cousins, brothers or sisters who could help. It's just us.

None of this is your responsibility or burden. And it is completely unprofessional for me to be making this plea.

At this point though, I have to set my pride aside. Please do not think badly of me. I'm ashamed it has come to this.

If there is anything you can spare to help, I would be incredibly grateful. I know times are really, really tough for everyone right now, so if you read this and want to help but can't, please don't feel bad. I would genuinely hate that. Maybe just send a little word to the man upstairs for us, instead.

Thank you all.

Alex xxxx