Page 2114 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

2111

1945

First day of Ramadhan. Very lazy day in the office Thompson came in & we discussed oil matters, the coy
is importing a million barrels of mainland oil by tanker, which will upset Sh S if he gets to know about it, but
I cant find any clause under which we can prevent their doing this.

Gardened in the afternoon, didnt go out, tidied up the edges round the lawn.

Bathed at Senian after dinner, the first time this year. A wonderful crop of dates, for years there has not been
such a fine one.

Wednesday 31st July

Rode in the morning. Bilal has been off duty a few days, said to have gone off the rails, had him up. Office,
very few people came in so rather a lazy morning. Bathed at Sanyan after tea, the tank has been mended.
Riding through the town at 7.30 it looked like a dead place, people all over lying asleep on charpoys in front
of shops & on the benches in coffee shops, though probably less than 30% are really fasting yet all keep up
all night & then night into day. Got a letter from M from Baghdad. Quite a cool day, a strong but rather hot
shamaal. I seem to be seeing very little of the "European Colony"

Spent some time at the Fort taking orderley room.