Page 1144 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1940

Didn't go out in morning as the car was out of order. Wrote letters. In the afternoon went to Seddad and had a bathe.
A cooler day and a shamaal in the morning.

Saturday 27th [July]

Fort, range. The PR came to see the Police, first on the parade ground and then on the range. Afterwards he went out
to Jufair & I showed him over the buildings. He liked them very much & was surprised to se how much had been done
in the time. He had not thought of going there until I suggested it though I am sure some people at home would ask
him about them. I told him how tiresome they were about their plans & alterations but he was not surprised, & said if
they became too tiresome I could always threaten to drop the job which would alarm them. Court, then went over to
Muharraq with Cole to meet the Lochs on the aerodrome. It was very hot & Cole got very fussed because they sent the
wrong launch, there are always mistakes like this because the staff over there don't understand his Arabic. Hendry was
also on the plane going to India. Brought the Lochs back to a late lunch. Mrs L looked like a brick she was so hot, he
seemed very well. Mrs L never stopped talking about the heat, she didn't realise apparently how damp it is here at this
time. After lunch they slept & he went to the Agency & she to call on Mrs Holmes & Van P. Ayesha came round to
see her and then we dined at the Agency, the Shaikh only was there to dinner and very bored as he sat next to Loch &
Mrs L & opposite PR and nobody attempted to talk to him. After dinner we sat on the roof. The PR seemed very sour,
he obviously didn't like the Lochs. Cole talked very loud & laughed a great deal at nothing & apologised for
everything. He told me he thought the dinner party was a complete failure - not his fault either.

Sunday 28th [July]

Sent the Police to Idari for the day, a cool spot. Office, court. Mrs L spent the morning taking their car to pieces &
going over stores, the car has been very badly messed about by Metcalfe who drives it fast over bad ground. She was
very upset about it. Loch taking over from PR. Court & Office. Not so hot today. The Lochs left in the afternoon
having held up the mail boat to enable L to finish taking over from the PR. It was pleasant having them, they were nice
in the house & I was quite sorry they didn't stay longer. Played Bridge at Nixs & stayed on to what she called a "Dutch
dinner" a sort of cold supper of Dutch dishes and really very good indeed, sausages etc & salad. Smith was there too
so I brought him back in the car. Skinner sent the Shaikh a lot of photographs of America & said he was coming to
England but didn't say he was returning here. The cow "Major Holmes" had a calf on Friday night, unfortunately a
male - she had it here, attended by our cowman & apparently all went off well. The other cow is not due for two
months or more.

Monday [29th July]