Paradise found

2002: Life was chaotic to say the least, I had just given birth to my third (and last) child. I was post-partum, on crutches (due to a fall) and nursing a c-section scar. Our house had sold within three weeks and we had nowhere to live. We had rented a house for a few months but the landlord decided not to pay his mortgage,water bill or taxes so, unexpectedly, we found ourselves in dire need of a home. In desperation I went searching online....and there she was, a seventeen room beauty with enough history to suit a transplanted Brit. Best of all, she was within our price range (dirt cheap). For me it was love at first sight - the house had other ideas...