Page 1741 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1739

1944

badly dressed in an old check suit, very silent & neither inspiring or
attractive, she is fat, dowdy & ill dressed & rather a cross expression,
the girl is exceedingly plain & spotty. With them Lord Euston - one of
the Grafton lot, another ADC, the new secretary, Jenkins, who I had met
at Carol's & two rather pleasant women, Lady Maxwell & Mrs de Bathe, also
Critchley the ing general & some airways people. They breakfasted
heartily on the pier saying how well Bn was off for food - airways had
imported all of it & then to the Agency where I had some £50,000 worth of
pearls to show, as usual they all looked at them & brought none, I felt
slightly ashamed, Lady W said they were a poor colour. The Shaikhs
called & then the party returned to the boat. Altogether a dull sticky
party.

Monday 18th October

Fort. In court all the morning. Not interesting cases.

Tuesday 19th October

Didnt go to Fort, worked in office. Usual busy day. Shaikhs came in,
discussed various things - as usual the Rattar squabble. A very rushed
morning, saw DI a young Indian. Made arrangements for tomorrow's visit -
receipt as before. An hour's ch in Manama during the morning. Spent
some time at customs discussing food prices. Seems likely we shall have
to raise some things owing to high cost - as usual we do worse when
involved with a Govt Dept - UKCC, when we made our own arrangements all
was well. G.P. called on HH at Rafaa. Suspected case of smuggling by
PCL people.

Hewitt came down after tea & we went out to Mhq to see race course and
then he & Campbell to dinner & Bridge. A pleasant evening, played
outside on the terrace. Before they came I put in more flower seeds,
some, kalpams, are coming up very well already.