Page 1157 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1940

of the family were present, the brothers and four sons. All admired the new paint etc & the appearance of
the Meglis which is certainly very much better than it was before. I put up a picture rail too. Drove in the

afternoon & in the evening we had a dinner party, a dozen people, three tables of Bridge as they were all
players. Quite a good party but the dinner was poor as they came so late & kept it waiting so long. The
Shaikh is in very good form, I really don't think he means to go to England, he is so very vague about it all. If
there is to be a Durbar in India in the Spring it would be easier for him to attend there, but there he would
not get as much attention as he would at home.

Friday [7th Febuary]

Went for a drive in morning but broke down on the Sakhrir road. Eventually Dr Holmes picked us up & took
us home. Went in to see Mrs Holmes when we got back. Gardened & had an early dinner & went to a

whist drive at the club. Rather dull, whist is a poor game if one plays Bridge. They had eleven tables.

Saturday [8th February]

Fort. Had a new section of recruits on parade for the first time, a moderately good lot, one or two rather
older than the average. Took James to the fort, he rode a camel & came back on it to the house, Hamood
rode behind him. He was very pleased & not at all scared. Had early breakfast & then went to Agency to
discuss the question of compensation in cases of accident at the Jebel. Smith & Skinner were present.
Skinner was very sensible & prepared to make a generous arrangement on behalf of the Company. Office.

Another election & a lot of work, went into the Court just as it was closing. Sent the car to the Jebel for
repairs & hired a taxi & drove out in the afternoon. Fort, Om al Hassam & back. Stormy looking day but
quite hot. We sat in the garden for some time after lunch, the flowers are just beginning to come out but
all backward as I planted my seeds so late.

Sunday Feb 9th 1935

Office, court. Very busy as usual. Gardened in afternoon & then went out to the camp to play Bridge at the
Nixs. M & her mother went to lunch with Bottomley on the Deptford. He came in to tea, after playing golf,