An excellent and straightforward journey by train bus and 'plane got me from Cardiff to Geneva between 9.30am and 3.00pm. Good to be back, catching up with Keith and Claudine again. Their dogs didn't seem to have any trouble recognising me, and incorporating me into their social network after a three month break. Autumn is just a little more evident here than in Cardiff - a sprinkling of snow on the peaks of the Jura, close to, and the deciduous pines have turned yellow, making the great south facing forest slopes a rich tapestry of colour.
After supper we went to a concert at Holy Trinity Church, the excellent local English speaking operatic society choir of fifty giving an hour long concert of English sacred music. Not their usual repertoire by any means, except for a few of them who sing in church as well. They gave an enthusiastic rendering of some quite difficult pieces, and the retiring collection from supporters netted nearly two thousand pounds for a breast cancer charity, from an audience of about hundred and twenty. Generosity and enthusiasm abound here, even in a recession. I was delighted to catch up with several people I had missed when we were here in the summer. I still remember so many peoples' names, to my own amazement. In a way, they've stayed close to my heart over the nine years since we left.
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