Page 351 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

Saturday Christmas Eve [24 December]

Took a day off. The Agency are closing for ten days, I am closing for three. Drove out to Ali Yatim's garden in the morning
after staying in bed very late. Quite hot but just after lunch a shamaal started & it became cold. Went to the garden in the
afternoon & moved a lot of seedlings. The mail came in but too rough to do unloading, except the post which we got in the
evening just before going to the Agency party. Quite a good show, a fair dinner & then games. The mission came in after
dinner. I sat next to Mabel, she was very anxious & so talked very wildly and loudly. The party lasted till midnight, there
were sixteen people there including mission. I got a little bored before it was over.

Christmas Day [Sunday 25 December]

Stayed late in bed, then opened some parcels & then went to church. They annoyed everyone by singing some tiresome
American hymns with no words or tune that anyone had ever heard before. Afterwards went a drive for a few minutes & then
home. Very cold, a strong shamaal blowing. Quite a lot of people in church. The Parkes, Spences, Smith & Armstrong &
Holmes came to tea. Presents arrived all day, lots of fruit & cakes from Arabs & Indians & various small oddments from the
European people. Rather anxious about tomorrow's party. I hope it goes off alright, but the people here are so stodgy.