Page 1443 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1440

1942

Had bridge AJ Horne & then dinner at Agency & a dance, not as bad as usual. S.P came back from Qattar.
Musri was a little better. An orgy of entertainment these days, too many.

Thursday 20th March

Fort.

Went to Agency with Shs M A & S to discuss HH's request for more money. EP talked quite well & had
sound arguments but because they didnt want to understand they just wouldnt & when we got back here
they started all over again having entirely ignored all he said. I went back later on & we discussed the
matter again. They are very obstinate & now very annoyed.

Party at Agency, garden, for all who gave Rs 50 or over for war. Usual show. YK made himself conspicuous.
Sat with Sh Isul, Kosachi, Fahroo & Qazuni. Garden looked very nice.

Play at school, dined first with Gunns. It was really very good the boys & masters acted excellently & quite
a large audience. Took rather a long time but I enjoyed it. Went back to the Gunns later.

Friday 21st March

Agency in morning, GP very upset to find that our Reserve Fund & HH's are in stirling - seems to have
become difficult to transfer it out of England - should we need to & he also talked of the value of the pound
declining & advised investing in Indian currency.

Went to Jidda taking J & Bill Steele, had lunch under the rocks & then tried to put up a hare with Suva &
bank dog - no luck. Very pleasant there, lots of green & rock plants. Both Police & prisoners seemed very
well & happy & the garden doing well too. A party at the Howes, supper & music, quite pleasant. Stanfield,
who used to be in one of the sloops, was there.

Saturday 22nd March