Explanation

Having re-read that last post, it's clear that 1920 and forty years don't add up to 2008. This is what happened: in the communist era, large houses were appropriated by the state and families were sent to live in them, rather like in Dr. Zhivago. My colleague's family were one of many in this ambassadorial residence in Bucarest. As the years rolled on, the others either died or moved out, leaving more and more room to those who stayed. My colleague's father moved there shortly before his son was born and within a short time, had the whole house to themselves. And so it stayed until this summer. Hope that clears it up.