Page 543 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

men putting in wiring in every room but one, to get it done in time. We sort of camp out. Its intensely
uncomfortable.

Thursday 10th April 1930

Meeting of the Wakf Department in the morning. It lasted the whole morning and I didnt get away till lunch
time. Quite a good meeting. They really do get things done and the money which has been spent on
restoring the wakf property ought to bring an increase of income next year. Drove out to Sakhrir in the
afternoon with Prior and M. We had tea in the car on the way back. We had intended talking to the Shaikh
about his money affairs and my suggestion of changing the Indian Police for Sudanese. The first subject took
so long that we didnt get onto the second one. He got very cross and very obstinate. Eventually we arranged
that the Govt is to lease a place from him on which to build the new Quarantine camp for a quite absurd
amount. Quite late before we got back as after our discussion the Shaikh insisted on showing Prior the litter
of silugi puppies, they are growing up very well, the one which we chose is a brown and white one, a bitch as
I want to try and breed some. Then we went round to look at the ponies, a sorry lot but the Shaikh thinks
them very wonderful merely because they are his. He really has a most inflated idea of the value of anything
that belongs to him. The ponies are half starved and a poor lot to begin with.

Friday [11 April]

Very hot dry day, so was yesterday. Bank in the morning. M and I are very well up in Bridge this month, so
up that other people seem quite annoyed. The house is still being wired for electric light and most
uncomfortable to live in. It is like camping out. The noise is deafening but they are making a very good job of
it. Took James out in the car to Essex Point and sat on the sands there. He liked it very much and was
delighted when I held him over the water and he dabbled his feet in the sea, he had never been so near it
before. No tennis at the Agency which surprised people as Mrs Pam, Prior's sister is going tomorrow so they
expected to be able to say good bye at the tennis. James makes great friends with the workmen who are
doing the wiring.

Saturday [12 April]

Court. The Shaikh came in before breakfast. So awkward when he does this on court days as it delays
everything. He seemed rather cross, he went over to see Prior to say good bye to his sister. The flying boat
arrived in the afternoon with Col. Taylor who came to stay with us as usual, though it was very difficult fixing
him up owing to the workmen being in the house. Motored out to the Quarantine and round about in the
afternoon. Parke came to dinner and we played Bridge. Taylor is the best Bridge player I have ever played
against. Mrs Pam left. Hot dry day, it is getting very like the summer here. Taylor had been down to India,
on the way their machine sprang a leak and they had to get a new engine sent down from Basra. His news of
India was very bad, trade is at a standstill and everything upside down.