Page 2210 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

2207

1945

A good deal of rain on & off but gentle rain which did no harm to the garden. The garden is very backward
this year, hardly any flowers out yet. In the morning official calls on the C in C, I drove to the Sitra pierhead
to meet HH & we went out in his old launch - Awal being out of order, very tiresome. Shs M & A came too.
HH seems to have left off dying his beard, it looks very scruffy. The Admiral was pleasant - very typical
sailor. The Captain & the SNO hovered around. They returned the visit at the Palace. Office, saw various
people. In the afternoon it rained steadily & the roads were in an appalling state when we drove out to a
cocktail party on the ship - the usual affair but they had a band which played very loudly & not very well.
The Flag Lieut was one Dalrymple-Hamilton a nice young man. Really very bored by the party. I do dislike
standing round. The officers seemed a much better lot than the Norfolk.

Thursday 27th February

Fort.

Roads very muddy. Busy morning in the office. Russell Brown & Nichols came in & talked about a water
supply to Rafaa & one or two other matters, saw Ahmed Omran & Sh Ibrahaim. Lunch at the Agency, rather
a bore meeting the same people over & over again, the naval people, Rances and Nesmithe but not the
residential party. They went shopping in the bazaar later. Did some gardening & went for a small a short
drive to the water garden. Dinner on the ship - this time in short coats, usual party, Hays, Galloways Pellys
Jonny Brown & Nichols - RB was not well & didnt come. A very moderate dinner - not as good as ours