Page 1573 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1942

Thursday 4th June

Didnt go to fort, got some letters done in office before breakfast. Office, no
shaikhs, various other people ending with Snow who stayed till 2 pm. Didnt go out
as dined early with Snow & to the cinema, a poor film but a pleasant party. Then
to the club, which bores me, it was a so called formal dance & as we were not
formal we didnt do much about it.

Hutchings came in after tea & we sat in the garden.

Friday 5th June

Spent the day at Om al Nasar & looked in at Jidda on the way back. Building of
store finished, my house scarcely begun. Bathed & did a sketch. On returning W
rang up with news that the Dke of Gloucester arriving tomorrow to stay with
Political Adviser! Good mixture. The telegram was to Hewitt who told Chase who
mentioned it to W. Typical muddle.

Had a busy time making various arrangements.

Saturday 6th June

Hectic day - very busy all the morning arranging for the visit, all three Shaikhs
came in & W came over to the office. Sh S insisted on meeting HRH at aerodrome, G
of H, procession, escort, etc. Spent some time arranging to accomodate people in
the house, two or three, after lunch worked on flowers & then dressed & just as I
was starting off - Guards, Shaikhs etc having gone- a message came saying arrival
delayed till Tuesday! Such a fiasco. Got in touch with aerodrome & all returned.
Drove over to Mhq & dined with W, Thomas & Hewitt, had some very good bridge & an
excellent dinner. I had sent in some Budega grapes for the party.

Sunday 7th June

Bara started