Page 619 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

he saw that it was not going as he meant it to he rushed out to The Shaikh at the other end of the island and
worried him about it. The Shaikh, knowing nothing about it, told us to decide it a certain way. It is very
tiresome when he interferes in the court work. They stayed some time and delayed me a lot, the Shaikh also
discussed the Tesquam, the advance to the divers, and said why had I not settled it yet, as he had said "put it
off," every time I talked to him about it it was really not my fault. Jordan came in for some time and I had an
interview with the Amir as well, he is going on the Pilgrimage with Shaikh Isa's old wife on the next boat. In
the afternoon the Kadi called and stayed nearly two hours talking about the case. I feel sure that he has
made a lot of money out of it. Played Bridge at Mespers and then dined with the Pennings, a horrid dinner.
Parke was there. Raining hard when we left, it comes down quite steadily not like tropical rain.

Thursday 11th [December]

Went down to the Customs and then to Zayani to talk about some pearls for a necklace for M which I want to
give her for a Christmas present. Called on Kanoo on the way back but as he was in his house I did not see
him. New Shia teacher arrived, quite a likely looking young fellow. I had him in and talked to him. Prior is
making a great fuss about the sound and smell of the power house which is next door to the Agency but
really is not a nuisance. Shaikh Rashid came in and talked about the Tesquam and various other matters.
Gardened in the afternoon, I am making a path from some bricks which I got from Callenders down the
middle of the garden. It will look very nice and useful in damp weather. Yusuf Kanoo came to call while I was
in the garden and stayed some time talking, always at the top of his voice, about his own virtues and the
defects of everyone else. He has a mania which takes the form of making him believe that everything that he
has or does or thinks is better than everybody else. Walked up to the Biladya garden which is water logged
again. Called at the Fort to see Parke's table. Parke, the Jordans and Steele came to dinner and some of us
played Bridge. Steele is the man to be in Jordans place, he was in the R.A.F. and though not out of the top
drawer seems quite a decent fellow and very quiet and unassuming. At present he doesnt play Bridge which
makes him rather a nuisance to entertain, there is nothing to do with people who dont play. We are going to
have about 20 people to dinner on de Grenier's wedding day so have to borrow another table to put at one
end of ours T shape.

Friday 12th December 1930

Bank in the morning. I am painting a lot of menus for the dinner party. They take rather a long time but it
amuses me doing them. Bridge at the Bank. The streets were terribly muddy between it and our house.
Gardened and then went to the Agency for tea and tennis. Usual show.

Saturday [13 December]

Court. Discussed the question of the tesquam with Shaikh Sulman and decided to send for some people
tomorrow and get their opinions. Very long morning though we left over a lot of cases till next time. We
seem to get more and more work on the court. Parke came in after tea and we invited him to stay on to
dinner. M, having an ayah, now hears some of the gossip from the kitchen and they always say when Parke
calls late that he has come in order to get a dinner. He is very close and is much talked of about it.