Page 1621 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1618

1942

Went to the Bn Sports club for a party on occasion of opening a new tennis court, quite a pleasant
affair. TTs came round later & stayed on for dinner. Found that he knew the other B & various
members of the family in Essern.

Tuesday 6th October

Fort. Sh Khalifah has not been on parade during the whole month - becoming very lazy & fat. AR is
much more useful & energetic. W came over for some time & we discussed food supplies as usual.
Reynolds & Chase came in. Spent some time at the hospital with the matron discussing dhobies etc.

Went to Bilad al Qadim after tea and started a sketch of a mosque, Al Rifayak.

Strong shamaal blowing & suddenly much cooler.

Wednesday 7th October

Snow, Chase & Harnly, RAF doctor came in the morning to discuss medical matters & the hospital
especially the idea of RAF nurses coming down here to do a spell of work & have a change. Office, a
busy morning incessant phone calls & long discussions with DC re food. P.M. went to Rafad to see
Sh Sulman & discussed rationing, purchase of dates & sugar. He criticised DC & said he didnt know
about people & had muddled the rationing of Khalifah. He was very upset & annoyed at Geoffrey not
seeing him when he called & took it as a bad sign & bad manners - said how sorry he was that G. had
come instead of Hay, altogether let himself go on the subject.

Dinner party of ten people, two tables bridge, quite successful but didnt end as early as we hoped
considering we began at 7pm. A Col MacQuarry of the Levies came, now second in command, a
dapper little man with many years in Haq but he didnt impress me much though pleasant enough &
quite an amusing gossip about people one knows round here.