Page 550 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

written. Very pleasant cool day. Went to see the finals of the tennis tournament in the evening at the
Biladya garden and Marjorie gave the prizes afterwards went for a drive with Prior in his car and in the
evening we went over to the Agency and listened to his gramaphone. It is a new one, a very fine machine
and he has a good selection of proper music, not jazz stuff but classical and semi classical. I could have done
with more of it. The weather today could not have been nicer. In the morning I went out for a few minutes
in the oil boat which we have made, just a big sailing boat with a tank on board into which we will pump the
oil from the boat. Really lovely day. I changed into thin clothes for the first time this year. Until now it has
hardly been hot enough to need them. Tiffah, the Jewess who goes out with M when she goes calling on
Arabs, had a son. The Biladya garden is looking very nice this year, full of flowers and flowering bushes.

Friday 2nd May 1930

Went to the Bank. The new ayah seems quite a success with James, she is quite young and far more lively
with him and they play together a great deal. Good Bridge at the Bank, we seem to win every month now a
days, it is quite awkward, some of the people get quite annoyed about it. Very nice weather not too hot.
Tennis and tea at the Agency, stayed very late till a quarter to nine playing Bridge. Very little news these
days. I am beginning on the Budget as the Arabic New Year is at the end of this month.

Saturday 3rd [May]

Court. A great many cases and some very long ones so though we sat till after two oclock we did not get
them all done. Warm day. Major Homes came in to dinner and stayed till after eleven. He is very
interesting, he was telling us about his adventures in Arabia when he went in there to get the concession
from Ibn Saoud. He got it in the teeth of a great deal of opposition.

Sunday [4 May]

Went to breakfast with Major Holmes, a very good meal with bacon and eggs which one does not often meet
here. His cook is a very good one. He insisted on giving us a lot of stores and also lent us a number of books.
The rest of the morning I was with Jordan making a Budget for the electric business. According to him we
ought to just pay expenses the first year, but I am rather doubtful of being able to do so. Motored to Rafaa
in the afternoon to see the work on the road. It is getting on quite well. The boat came in. Played tennis at
the Agency. Took James as the ayah went to church. Very pleasant day, not too hot.

Monday 5th May 1930

Court. A lot of cases as its near the diving season and all the people want to get their cases settled before
going off to dive. Went to the Power House in the afternoon and saw the engine working. They let it stop
and I turned it on again to see how it was done and whether The Shaikh would be able to do it easily when he
has to open it. It seemed quite a simple matter rather like starting a car. Very hot in the Power House
especially up on the little platform above the engine, the enormous wheel, weighing five tons, revolves 250