Page 1154 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1940

Fort office. The Shaikh came in for Joint Court. The Baharna leaders came to see me about appointing a
third Kadi and also about opening another school, various other people came too. The Shaikh talked about
his visit to England, I doubt now if he will go there as the King's death changes everything & I don't suppose
they will have any official guests during the 9 months of court mourning. Tennis in the afternoon, not a
great many people, but more came in later for Bridge. The Lochs came but didn't play. I had a bowl of
sweet peas (about 14) the first I have ever grown here and they were very much admired, also some
narcissus which are just beginning. Abdulla came in and discussed various matters, much talk in the bazaar
about the theft of Rs500 from Sh Hamed's car. Our car behaving very tiresomely & constantly stops.

Thursday [30th January]

Fort. Mrs Loch came up & took photos of the camels with her "movie" camera. M went to Sakhrir to call on
wives of Shaikhs Abdulla & Sulman. Very busy day in the office, saw a great many people & was very late
getting away. Sh Abdulla & Sulman came to call, went to Municipal Meeting, long discussions about buying
a new lorry and about a contract for filling in on the waste land south of the town. In afternoon we played
golf, LBL sat in the car on the golf course, Steele & Holmes playing, played badly. Dined with the Steeles &
then went out to the Jebel to see the movie picture, quite a good show, but as one of the projectors was
out of order it didn't go as smoothly as it usually does - very cold driving back at night. The "Deptford"

came in, Bottomley & some of his officers were there.

Friday 31st Jan

Got a note from Loch in the morning asking us to go for an expedition with them in their launch. Left at
once after breakfast, a lovely day like a spring day at home but rather hot in the afternoon. We went to the
island of Jidda, near the Shaikh's island which is where the Portuguese used to quarry stone for their fort. It
was a little rough part of the time but nothing to matter. We anchored off the island & M & I & the Lochs
went ashore in a skiff & walked about the island, its rather a nice little place, very cliffy all round & a little

valley in the middle which was all green with grass after the rains. Returned to the launch & had quite a
good lunch, LBL stayed on board as the shore trip involved a good deal of rock climbing. Then we went
back to Manama having tea on the way, a very pleasant trip & a nice change. We got very sunburned. A
young man from the Shoreham came to call and stayed a long time - from Essex. Steele brought back the