Page 1036 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1935

Shaikh to appear. I let the Shaikh know but as the show was at 1.30 pm the Shaikh did not come. It is
not an hour that he would choose for going out. If they wanted him they should have consulted him about
the time. Only a few people went to the show, they landed about 70 men at the RAF pier and marched
them up on the mast. The four sloops were anchored close to shore & it really did look rather nice to see
them all there in line. Very hot. Met Fisher & Bliss, both nice people. Bliss is quite young. as usual the
SNO was terribly vague and I had the greatest difficulty in getting him to settle about the ceremonial
parade on Monday, but in the end we settled about it and he detailed the gunnery officers to come and see
me about it. In the afternoon he came round & I had my havildan along & we arranged all that was to
happen. Quite a nice young fellow. The sailors drilled very badly & the officers in charge of the parade
gave them the wrong order time to present arms from the slope which is of course impossible. Abdulla
bin Jabr's comment was that our Police were much smarter and much bigger men, which is really quite
true. Dined with Davies, Back & the doctor from Lupin were there. After dinner we played Bridge and
then went down the bazaar to see the Muharram processions. Back & the doctor were very interested