Moving the Xylas storage, USA to UK
Donation protected
My name is Joanna, and I am an American living in England with my UK citizen husband, Nick. For the first six years of our marriage, Nick and I lived in the States. Unfortunately, while we were there, Nick was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer, and the cost of his medical treatment forced us into bankruptcy. After a lengthy recovery, we decided to move to the UK, where any future illnesses could be treated free at the point of delivery by the National Health Service (NHS). It is just as well that we did, as Nick subsequently became ill with an auto-immune disease called ITP, for which he is currently undergoing treatment.
When we moved, we sold most of our possessions, but a family member agreed to store some 30 boxes of clothes and personal items of sentimental value in their basement until we could get settled in a place of our own. We were living with Nick’s parents for the first year, but eventually moved into a tiny studio apartment (a “bedsit” in UK parlance), which is all we can afford right now. Both Nick and I are self-employed, me as a piano teacher and Nick as a publisher and freelance writer. Our earnings have forced us into that “doughnut hole” whereby we make too much money to qualify for welfare benefits, but not enough to cover anything more than our most basic living expenses, such as food, rent and utilities.
Due to a falling out with the family member who was storing our boxes, it became necessary to remove them from their home. I decided to hire an international moving company to remove, transport and deliver our belongings. We are now faced with a £1,050.00 ($1,555.00) bill for shipping costs and storage in customs. At the same time, one of my business suppliers has sent me an invoice for £460.00 ($710.00) and our local city council has decided that we owe them £1791.41 ($2,750.00) in back taxes. Our grand total owed at this time is £3,300 or $5015. My father-in-law has been extremely generous in the past, but he is retired, and we cannot keep asking him for money. So we turn to you in desperation, whether you are family, friend or philanthropic stranger. Please help us out of the predicament we find ourselves in. Between us, we have over 500 friends and family members. If each person or family we know would give us £6 or $10, we can easily pay these looming debts. Even if you cannot afford to give at this time, I hope that you will help to spread the word. Thank you.
When we moved, we sold most of our possessions, but a family member agreed to store some 30 boxes of clothes and personal items of sentimental value in their basement until we could get settled in a place of our own. We were living with Nick’s parents for the first year, but eventually moved into a tiny studio apartment (a “bedsit” in UK parlance), which is all we can afford right now. Both Nick and I are self-employed, me as a piano teacher and Nick as a publisher and freelance writer. Our earnings have forced us into that “doughnut hole” whereby we make too much money to qualify for welfare benefits, but not enough to cover anything more than our most basic living expenses, such as food, rent and utilities.
Due to a falling out with the family member who was storing our boxes, it became necessary to remove them from their home. I decided to hire an international moving company to remove, transport and deliver our belongings. We are now faced with a £1,050.00 ($1,555.00) bill for shipping costs and storage in customs. At the same time, one of my business suppliers has sent me an invoice for £460.00 ($710.00) and our local city council has decided that we owe them £1791.41 ($2,750.00) in back taxes. Our grand total owed at this time is £3,300 or $5015. My father-in-law has been extremely generous in the past, but he is retired, and we cannot keep asking him for money. So we turn to you in desperation, whether you are family, friend or philanthropic stranger. Please help us out of the predicament we find ourselves in. Between us, we have over 500 friends and family members. If each person or family we know would give us £6 or $10, we can easily pay these looming debts. Even if you cannot afford to give at this time, I hope that you will help to spread the word. Thank you.
Organizer
Joanna Tsiftis Xylas
Organizer