Page 582 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

go anywhere for a free meal, and the doctor. Its not the proper way to invite people to dinner. The
Navigation Officer, Pemberton, came to call. M knew him as they had travelled up from India together last
year, quite a nice young man. We took him out for a drive after tea. Late in the evening, just at dinner time,
Bentley brought the Captain in to call, he seemed rather awkward so I expect he had been told that people
were offended at his queer form of invitation to dinner on the ship. Parke came too and stayed to dinner, we
had grilled turkey, very good. The turkey was a present from doctor Holmes, he had kept it for a long and
became so fond of it that he couldnt eat it himself so gave it to us when he went home on leave to be eaten.
Bentley came back after seeing off the captain and talked for about an hour about the landing ground, as
usual they had forgotten to ask to have some bumps levelled and some holes filled in. Really the R.A.F. take
the cake for lack of organization when on the land. Bentley is a nice little man and at all events he apologises
for causing so much trouble which the others never do.

Saturday [9 August]

Court. The Cyclamen left during the night, they had three cases of heat stroke and one which they landed
here and sent up to Basra by the flying boat. Their doctor was a new man who had never served abroad
before and I think he got panic over it. The flying boat left in the morning. Kozaibi came in to call, very
pleased with himself, he brought messages to me from Ibn Saoud, as I know that Ibn Saoud cordially dislikes
me I dont pay much attention to them. Motored in the afternoon. Hot weather and very damp these days.

Sunday [10 August]

Rashid bin Mohamed, one of the Shaikh's nephews, came in to see if I would ask Mespers to give him a free
passage up to Basra. Because they occasionally give free passages to the big Shaikhs and the leading
merchants all the young shaiklings seem now to expect the same privilege. I told him I could do nothing
about it. He is going up to the Lebanon to stay with his father Shaikh Mohamed. I said how much I should
like to be going there which always annoys them as they like it to be thought that they dont go there for
pleasure but for health reasons. Everyone knows that a change to the Lebanon or the Indian Hills is a
pleasant thing from Bahrain every year. Wrote a lot of letters about the new teachers for the schools and to
the Inspector who is to see them in Syria and arrange to bring them here. I didnt go hunting but wrote a
letter saying I was too busy at the office to get away. Hot day. Played Bridge at Parke's in the evening, the
doctor made the fourth. He was very careful over the lights and hardly would put any on so we could see
with difficulty. I have got one of the new Fort cars, the Land Department needed one so instead of giving
them a new one I got a new one and gave them my one.

Monday 11th [August]

Court. Sulman brought in a gazelle which he had shot from his car on his way in. Took the Siadi case and a
few others. Had a few people to tennis and Bridge, Barden and Parke only as the doctor is ill and there are
no other players now. M called on Mrs Jordan in the morning, she has had enteric but is now much better.
In the morning we had a meeting of some of the pearl magnates to discuss the idea of extending the time.
They are all naturally in favour of it. I am not altogether for it but I think the divers deserve to be made to