Page 617 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Wednesday 3rd [December]

Shia school meeting in the morning, played golf in the afternoon with Prior, he took us along in his car. Dined
with Prior and ate some partridges which the Air Force brought him from Basra. Very rough weather and
very heavy seas. Some launches which went down to take an R.A.F. tank down the coast have entirely
disappeared and the Navy and Air Force are getting very worried about them. Listened to Prior's
gramaphone, very nice, he has a fine selection of music, mostly good stuff not modern jazz. I do like it so
much better.

Thursday 4th December

Office, a lot of people came to see me among them de Grenier to talk about going up to Bagdad by the next
mail instead of the one later. He becomes more and more pompous as the time for his wedding approaches.
Told him he could go. Went for a drive and then came back to tea and then went along to see D.G. and
talked about curtains etc. His house is really quite a good one but he has not the instinct to make it look nice.
Cold weather still. Walker and Father Lamb came to dinner and Bridge. We had a fire.

Friday [5 December]

Went over to Agency in morning to decode a telegram from the R.A.F. who I consulted about the estimate for
the extension to Muharrak, their reply was very helpful. The Cyclamen came in but as usual gave practically
no warning. Went to the Bank in the morning and took Parke back on the way home. Went up to see the
Shaikh in the afternoon but missed him and then to the Agency for tennis. All the people off the ship were
there. They always amuse me as they seem to think that their coming is such a great treat for the people of
Bahrain. Very pleasant at the Agency, one of the men, Pemberton, is a very nice young fellow. M came up
on the same boat as him last time she came out so knows him quite well. Still no news of the three launches,
some think that they have been lost at sea but myself I dont think so.

Saturday 6th December

Court, my court usually goes on till two oclock, it means a very long morning. Motored in the afternoon, saw
nobody all day. Sulman gave me two silugi pups, very nice little things, yellow, dog and a bitch. I have now
got four dogs in all, rather a lot as they are not cheap to feed.

Sunday 7th December 1930

Meeting of the Sunni Education Committee. They asked me to attend. Shaikh Mohamed was acting for the
President, Shaikh Abdulla. He was quite maddening and went on like a lunatic, I got no chance of saying
anything so eventually suggested that I would go back to my work and leave them to it. They all patted
themselves on the back a great deal but had no suggestions whatever and really the meeting was utterly
useless. I got very angry and let them see it. Drove along the Budeya road in the evening, it is the season for