Page 1700 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1697

1944

At the Fort in the afternoon. About 20 men asked for their discharge and
another 8 in custody for refusing to obey orders. Play at the school in
the evening, very long & very dull, didnt get back till nearly midnight.

Friday 7th May

Did nothing in particular all day. Drove to Budega in the afternoon &
arranged for a boat tomorrow to Jidda. Shop getting on well.

Farleigh came in in the morning about some land on the Golf course & also
brought a patent shower bath made of a petrol tin on wooden slide.

Saturday 8th May

Fort. The new Levy men were on parade doing P.T. quite smart but rather
small. HH & Sh A came in, had a long meeting at Agency about the export
of cars. W seemed very seedy still. Decided to restrict export of all
ordinary kinds & only allow a few fancy models to go & no tyres. Went to
Jidda after lunch to see the work on the jail but found the workmen at
Budega having come over for their rations. Sailed across in boat from
the new pier, a pleasant trip. Only foundations of jail had been done
and the water tank. Took a walk round with Tagoot who was very indignant
at the way the police had behaved.

Sunday 9th May

White bitch on heat.

Came back from Jidda early, lovely morning but little breeze so took an
hour to get across to the new pier. Drove in from Budega, left my car in
the stables. Shop getting on well. Barber so rather late in office.
Grisewood came in also Ibn Saud's Chamberlain who is staying here. Went
down to see Smith at Customs & discussed various matters.