Mountain magic
In 2020, Sarah Cagnacci, Mark Thomas and their three children fled Sydney for their weekender in the Blue Mountains, NSW – and never came home.
“Our 24-hectare property in Kanimbla Valley was our weekender that we never got to spend a weekend at,” says Sarah. “I’m the head of marketing for an asset consulting firm, and Mark is a business consultant in financial services, and it was our dream to spend a few months up here before the kids started school. In March 2020, we made a temporary move to escape the COVID madness in Sydney… Two years later, we’re still here!
“We loved the change of pace and met wonderful people who became our new circle. Before we knew it, we were enrolling Roman, six, into the local school. Cirocco is four and just started kindy, while Luca is three and still at home. We have a growing horde of animals that includes: Bam Bam the bull-mastiff cross staffy; Mouse and Mossip the tuxedo cats; Bobby the rooster; and Sunny, Little Brown and Biggie, who are some of the hens.
“Being two hours from Sydney, we kept our jobs and mostly work from home. The distance is challenging: we have to drive 30 minutes to get to a supermarket now. And you can’t rely on people to drop the kids at their grandparents, as you can in the city. But the people here are amazing. Their hard work, generosity and kindness are second to none.
“We live a simpler life with no TV, and we’re off-grid. I’m trying to master a vegie patch – not very well! I love the view of rolling green hills against the escarpment of the Blue Mountains; I love the daily
