So what’s the takeaway from all this? Besides the fact that Pippa and James have more bricks and mortar than some small countries? It’s that family and home are still the most important things, even when you’re worth millions. She chose to live next to her parents. She gave her kids a countryside playground. She turned a disaster (the fire) into a new adventure.
And here’s the truly uplifting part: you don’t need a Cotswolds manor to create that feeling. You just need a place that feels like yours. A corner of the world where you can run around with your kids, have a barbecue with folks who drive you up the wall, and maybe, just maybe, plant a few tomatoes.
So, here’s to Pippa and James, their new old house, and their sprawling family compound. May their swimming pool be always warm, their tennis balls always fresh, and their Sunday roasts always have enough Yorkshire puddings. And hey, if you ever need me, I’ll be in my garden—which is a pot on my balcony—dreaming of Bucklebury. Cheers! 🥂
