Page 546 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Friday 18th, Good Friday [April]

Bank in the morning, the ayah still ill, seems to be worse. Its a very great nuisance. We left James in charge
of the boys who really look after him very well. Played Bridge. Rather warm. Agency in the afternoon. Took
James in his pram, he seemed to like the entertainment very much.

Saturday [19 April]

Parke took the Court for me as I had such an accumulation of letters to get through. Drove out to Essex Point
with James, quite chilly out there, queer sort of day, looked like rain. Holmes came in after dinner to talk
about lending us Armstrong for digging some wells. He stayed very late. We also talked about oil business.

Sunday [20 April]

Office. Went to church with M and then came back to the office. Got very late. The ayah went to hospital, a
great nuisance. She has fever and symptoms of dysentry but that may be caused by some local medecine
which she has been getting. Drove out to Rafaa in the evening, first played a sett in the tennis tournament
against one of the Wireless people and was beaten, brought O'Connor back to tea. He has been staying for
some time at the Agency, he quite a pleasant man, doing a military report of the Gulf.

Monday [21 April]

Court. Sulman talked to me about pay and said that he never knew that D.G. got more than I did, he has
been here much longer than me and so has more increments. He said I ought to ask for more and that The
Shaikh never realised that I had not got more than both the others. Long Court and rather hot. Shaikh
Abdulla called before the Court and talked about oil affairs and also about Parke and the Amir. They are on
bad terms and he suggested that the Amir should be moved before they have a row which is very likely to
occur. The R.A.F. are apparently going to arrange an air mail for letters only between Bahrain and Basra
during three months of the pearl season. I suggested it ages ago. Played tennis at the Agency in the
afternoon as we didnt want to take James to the Mission, the hospital is almost in the tennis court there and
the flies are dreadful. Had quite good tennis at the Agency.

Tuesday, April 22nd 1930

James' birthday one. Meeting of the Manama Biladya. I went late but it lasted till 1.15, much too long. They
were very argumentative and tiresome. Prior got tired of it and left before it was over. Shaikh Mohamed
called before the meeting as he always does now, a tiresome trick as it delays me. They went back on two
points which had been decided on at the last meeting. Several of the members were absent and sent most
incapable substitutes. Had a tennis party. Holmes looked at the cow and said it needed careful diet and