Page 1872 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1945

of mind. Nice day but still very cold. Saw Sh Khalifah about getting a new launch & water from his garden
for the army also re cars. He was in very good form.

Various people came in the afternoon. Stoker, to tea, the Birds to call, also Hick & then the Snows to diner.
A cold day. James & Edward very occupied in planning a show of pets - fur & feather in aid of war funds.

Wednesday 31st January

Rode round race course, some parts rather soft. Lovely day, dry but cold. Over 3 inches of rain already & a
great mess everywhere. Office, spent some time on annual report, am getting on with it a bit earlier this year.
Saw Sh Ibrahim and Leigh, the latter looked very distraught & seemed somewhat hysterical. Van der Meulin
left after lunch by launch to al Khobar, I have greatly enjoyed having him here, a pleasant & most interesting
man & a good talker. Spent some time at the Agency in the morning discussing terms for Brit Police, Sh
Sulman b Mohd and the case against the Saudi customs officer. Painted in afternoon & took M for a drive to
Mhq. Russian news was very good, well into Germany & on the way to Berlin. Flowers in garden are
beginning to come out but it badly needs sun & warmth, these endless gray rainy days have been too many.
Van M talked most interestingly about his week end with the Ex Kaiser at Dorn and his experiences in
Germany after the war also about Japanese espionage in the East Indies.