Page 607 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Christmas. It is quite a business like matter and there seems to be no sentiment about it whatever. A comic
affair. She sounds dull, short and stout and efficient and very short sighted!!! Her name is Agnes!!! Dinner
at Shaikh Sulman's, Prior, Parke, D.G. and Jordan. Jordan is going soon to Shiraz. Parke and D.G. came in
later and played Bridge. Sulman's dinner was not nice as he had it out of doors and as it was rather chilly all
the fat on the food got congealed and looked like dirty brown ice in a thaw. Cool evening.

Wednesday 29th October

Went down to see the Shaikh at the Joint Court. Got a fair amount of business done with him. Abdulla was
there so I had a talk about schools. Mubarak came in earlier on about some land and when he didnt get what
he wanted he cried like a small boy, really these young shaikhs are terribly soft, he is about twenty and has
been married several years so ought not to behave like a small boy. Had a long talk with the Agriculturist and
the school Inspector. Schools are going on well now. Had people to tennis in the afternoon. The court is
very good now. Bridge afterwards. Quite a good evening. I always wish our drawing room was a bit longer,
it takes a dozen with difficulty and we often have more than that.

Thursday 30th October 1930

Office. Motored in the afternoon and went in to the fort on the way back, found Prior and Barden and
Walker there, played Bridge till very late and then hurried home to change in time to go out to dinner with
Bienenfeld. Rather a dull dinner and very poor cooking, sweet champagne of an indifferent brand. Wrote
rather a severe note to D.G. about a grotesque building he has put up on his roof, a sort of stone
arrangement to hold his flag staff, it is absolutely unsuitable to the building and looks ridiculous. When I met
him at dinner he seemed very sulky, Prior was there too.

Friday [31 October]

Bridge at the Bank as usual, brought Parke back to lunch and discussed the affair of D.G's engagement, it is
very interesting, if she marries from our house we shall have to have a big show of about fifty people,
counting of course Arabs. Tennis at mission, rather a relief having none of the mission as they have all gone
up to Basra for their annual conference which is really a very nice holiday. In leave etc they are very much
better off than us. Mrs Jordan appeared quite covered with paint and tried to flirt with Barden, the Bank
Manager. Prior's new lighting is very nice but reminds me a little of a very expensive hotel. His room has so
few personal things in it so the atmosphere is rather formal. There was a football match in the afternoon to
which Prior and I were invited to go, he was to give away the prize, he went and as it was a draw came back
at once. The Arab young men are very keen on football now, entirely an innovation during the last two years,
mainly I think owing to the schools. Rather poor tennis.

Saturday [1 November]