Monday we met with Keith and Claudine again at a restaurant lunch in Genthod-Bellevue with Manel, and Gill who was our host. We had that classic genevois version of fish and chips, with filets de perche du lac fried without batter and served with a variety of garnishes and pommes frites. A gastric trip down memory lane in good company. Claudine showed us pictures on her iPad of the infamous Thai river Kwai, and the memorial to prisoners of war lost there during the building of the 'railway of death' over sixty five years ago.
Now that school term is over, Keith has finished teaching as well as his church music job. He's joining Claudine already at work in Bangkok since Easter. She returned this week to complete the home removal formalities and join him for the farewells. After fourteen marellous years at Holy Trinity as organist and choirmaster, he's going to Thailand without work plans, aiming to discover fresh possibilities there. His immense talent as both musician and teacher will soon be put to good use in my opinion.
He's already agreed to go into neighbouring Myanmar, at the invitation of the Burmese Anglican Church, to conduct a summer singing school with refugee childen. He's been doing similar things for many summers for the rich kids of expatriates at the Collège du Léman, where he worked. This'll be an adventure at many levels, as there's little likelyhood that teacher and children will have a common language.
Now that school term is over, Keith has finished teaching as well as his church music job. He's joining Claudine already at work in Bangkok since Easter. She returned this week to complete the home removal formalities and join him for the farewells. After fourteen marellous years at Holy Trinity as organist and choirmaster, he's going to Thailand without work plans, aiming to discover fresh possibilities there. His immense talent as both musician and teacher will soon be put to good use in my opinion.
He's already agreed to go into neighbouring Myanmar, at the invitation of the Burmese Anglican Church, to conduct a summer singing school with refugee childen. He's been doing similar things for many summers for the rich kids of expatriates at the Collège du Léman, where he worked. This'll be an adventure at many levels, as there's little likelyhood that teacher and children will have a common language.
After we'd said our farewells, Manel drove us to Versoix to enjoy a little sunshine on the lakeside beach there. It was quite empty, considering that schools are now on holiday. I took the train back into town on a secret errand to purchase a freshly made tarte aux pommes for supper from the supermarket bakery of Manor department store, yet another gastric memory of la vie genevoise. With a glass of organic wine, a nice lean fruity Gamay de Genéve from the farm shop below the apartment, it went down a treat.
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