Page 1618 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1942

Sunday 27th September

Early service, not as many people as last time as none of the hospital staff came. Stewarts stayed to
breakfast & then went to Awali. Hot day south wind & gray, sticky. Busy morning in the office, lots
of people in & out.

Hickenbotham to dinner, I had to leave early to see Sh Sulman who sent for me, spent two hours
discussing food situation. He was very bitter about the failure of in helping us & angry at all other
states getting so much more than we have. I suggested his giving a dinner for P.R but he didnt fancy
the idea.

Monday 28th September

Fort. South wind, sticky weather. Innumerable people in & out all the morning. Arch D & Mrs S left
by boat after many alarms & excursions, both looked much better than when they arrived. After tea
went down to the shou at Belad al Qadim & saw a place which I would like to sketch. Haq came to
call & stayed till dinner time. Three up boats in during the last day or two but very little for Bahrain.

Tuesday 29th September

Fort.

Rode down to meet Geoffrey, Hay, W & Dixon there, rather a chilly affair. Very hot & damp. Only
had a word or two with him. Office, a rather slack morning. A young Sikh officer called asking about
seeds & if we had houses to hire. Steeles came in. After tea did a sketch on shore near Bilad, a bit of
marsh, sky & date groves, difficult. Godfreys to dinner, played excessively dull bridge. South wind