Page 1155 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1940

wireless but its not right yet. A pity the English machines give such poor results. The "Fowey"arrived from
Red Sea.

Saturday [1st February]

Fort. Half of the camel section went out on their group patrol. Spent some time seeing them loading up &
preparing to start. Found a good many things that needed dealing with. M went out to Sakhrir. Office.
Court. The car is giving trouble, suddenly stops & won't start up. Walked along the sea road in the
afternoon. Had people to dinner, a dull lot of non-Bridge players, ten people. Played pontoon. They stayed
till midnight. The sweet peas in the drawing room were much admired.

Sunday 2nd Feb

Court most of the morning. A big case about two sons who stole a lot of money & gold from their old father
in Muharraq, one of them kept a strange sort of diary with much about me in it. Elections for Shia Wakf
committee, quite a lot of feeling about it. I think I shall surprise them by taking two members from each
district & so get both parties in force. Skrimshire came round & he played singles, then DG came to discuss
a lot of customs business & M & LBL went to Bank for Bridge, I didn't go. Very grey stormy day but very
muggy.

Monday [3rd February]

Heavy rain last night & thunder. Fort, stopped parade owing to rain. Worked in office & then Court. Abdu
hibi Rashid called about 1/3 of ... So dark that I had the lights on, normally we don't run the electric in
daytime during winter as no load. The other day a young woman came to the Court & explained that she
was afraid of her father. She obviously no good. I sent for him & told him the best idea was to marry her
off as soon as he could, I now hear that he returned home & there invited people to a dinner at his house
including one of the natars - a black. Then after dinner told his daughter that she must marry the natar -