Page 2043 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1945

Dinner with HH. I got there early & found practically the whole family seated along the stone bench outside,
quite a display of the Khalifah - good & bad & mostly bad. Beautiful moonlight night. GP, Galloway &
Rance arrived & we went into the Meglis, talk mostly about weather, horses etc, pretty dull but HH in good
form. Then trooped slowly over to the other room for dinner, which was excellent, a baby camel which
tasted very good like very tender veal. Sat between Sh Abdulla & Kh b Sulman who was chatty, discussed
RAF - Prideaux & his horses & Russia. The family as a whole are not an imposing spectacle.

Saturday 16th March

Fort. Shaikhs as usual HH sent for Leigh to discuss his going to Hassa to advise the Govt there on installing
electric power, with some Surveyors. Rather funny as presumably the Americans could have done the job as
well or even more easily. Spent most of the morning at the Agency listening to G.P's disapproval of things in
general. I wish he would quit.

Cocktail party at Agency, about 100 people & many I did not know by sight. G.P at end of the evening much
the worse for wear. The usual rather exhausting entertainments.

Dinner with the Harrisons - a pleasant party Dick Snow & the Russell Browns & Storm. Talked mostly
about local affairs & Arab affairs.