Page 581 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Sakhrir. We gave a supper picnic at Idari, all the English and the American Missionaries and also three of the
Air Force. We asked only two of them as three made the number thirteen but they came round in the
evening and begged to be allowed to bring a third, so awkward, we could hardly refuse though I have the
most violent dislike to 13 at a dinner. It was a very successful picnic and a most excellent dinner, we had iced
soup, fish in aspic, cold turkey, fruit jelly and ices, all most excellently cooked. Most of the people, including
the mission ladies, bathed before dinner, some bathed again after dinner two of the Air Force men had a bet
and jumped in fully clothed and swam across the pool, with stiff white shirts and evening clothes, it must
have been very bad for the clothes, but they took them off later and motored home in bathing kit. The place
looked very pretty in the moonlight, the palms were reflected in the water and it looked really most romantic
and was quite cool too. I think they all enjoyed it very much. Dr Tiffany, the young (ish) American lady
doctor had quite a bright flirtation with Barden the Manager of the Bank. A very damp night in the town
when we got back, the roof of our shelter on the roof leaked so much that the beds were covered with
splashes of paint from the roof.

Thursday 7th August

My machine has been oiled and the oil is apparently not yet dry. In the morning I saw a lot of people in the
office and tackled the Siadi case again myself. It is a very complicated affair and I am beginning to despair of
ever settling it. Motored out to Haneini well in the afternoon and had another go at a painting but didnt get
much done as it got dark so soon and all the colour changed. I never seem to do any painting now a days, I
get so little time for it. The Cyclamen arrived in the evening, it seems that one of the men had bad heat
stroke so they had to bring him in here. The captain and the ship's doctor came ashore. Guzdar, who is
acting for Prior at the Agency came over in the evening to tell me about it. Bently, the R.A.F. Squadron
Leader, was to have come to see me in the morning but didnt, they came at 10.30 after we had gone to bed
as they came at such an unsuitable time I didnt see them and we listened to them arguing with the sentries
from the roof. I suppose they are accustomed to the late hours which people keep up in Basra and Bagdad.
Hot day and very damp. Am getting a few pearls to add to M's necklace for her birthday from Zayani.

Friday 8th August

Bentley came round in the morning and stayed about an hour. The R.A.F. had been out to have breakfast on
the Cyclamen which is at anchor in the bay, it looked rather pretty to see the flying boat swoop down onto
the sea close to the man of war. They were flying so low that we could see everyone inside it. Went to the
Bank and played Bridge. Bentley came in there. In the afternoon I got a circular from the Captain of the
Cyclamen, a person called Startin, asking me and all the other Englishmen here to dinner, a most peculiar and
queerly worded affair, was rather annoyed about it so just wrote on it "regret unable" and passed it on.
Later, thinking perhaps that my reply was rather rude I wrote a note saying I was otherwise engaged. The
Navy when they come to these places seem to think that we are longing to see them and treat us like a lady
who entertains some old workhouse women to tea in the kitchen. Everyone refused except Parke, who will