Page 1164 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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tournament, it is LBL's party, rather a good idea. In afternoon she & M went out calling. I gardened & then
worked. Had dinner early & the people came at 8.30, we had five tables, three in dining room & two in

drawing room & refreshments in the inner part of drawing room. A very successful party, I think all enjoyed
it, they stayed till 12.15. There was one prize for each table. Smith got a very high score. Very cold stormy
night & a howling shamaal, feeling worried over prospect of a rough day on Monday. James went out for a
picnic with the Steeles to Jezirah, by boat. Mrs Steele is going home as her daughter is ill. I hear that 5
tankers are coing next month, one of them a very big ship which has never been here before. Wonder if
any of our oil will find its way to Italy, perhaps not as it is crude oil.

Monday 2nd March

The family, James, LBL & Nanny, departed in the morning. it was a lovely calm day, we went out in the
Agency launch & had our breakfast on board. James took it very well and didn't make a fuss - partly
because as we left the boat one of the officers produced a fishing line which thrilled him. There were a
dozen new men for the oil coy, a tough looking crew. Worked in the office & court when I got back. The
Captain was Dewhurst, rather a tiresome man who never stops talking but the boat was well kept, & food

really very good. Mrs Skrimshire went too & is sailing on the same P & O from Bomabay. Drove out in the
afternoon - the house feels so empty with only ourselves in it, there are so many spare rooms now.
Fortunate that it was such good weather for their departure, it can be horried boarding the steamer from a
launch.

Tuesday 3rd March

Very busy morning in the office as we are closing tomorrow for four days. Fort in the morning & then office
& a meeting of the new Wakf Council. The two Kadis came down & apparently wished to attend but I told
them very firmly that it was unnecessary. I expected trouble at the meeting but it went off quite well and

the new members were very sensible & full of sound suggestions. We had the meeting in the new rooms in
the court house, more comfortable & larger than those in the school. Drove in afternoon & went to tea at
the Mission, a great many people there but a very boring affair. Got a wire from Colonel Ward that he is
sending an engineer to report on our causeway by the down mail, he will stay with us - rather a bore. We
are also expecting an auditor soon & a visit from Major Holmes, but the last I look forward to. Shaikh Ali of
Rafaa came to see me & complained - as usual - about his pay.

Wednesday 4th March