Page 1168 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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tennis but a change. Lovely day. Bought a new car yesterday for the Land Department. We shall soon have
quite a convoy of cars but we need them. Hussain Yateem came to see us in the evening as he is going to

marry a very up to date & nice young Persian girl, who also used to live in Roland Gardens & learnt nursing
in London. He asked me for advice about giving a party. I shall be interested to see how it turns out as both
were educated in England.

Wednesday 18th March

Went up to the Palace to see the Shaikh. Loch brought a young man from Teheran Legation to call also.
Humphrey of the Wireless & Cable Company, who left in afternoon. Discussed various matters with the
Shaikh, he began asking about his order & said he would like to attend the Durbur in India. Office. Tennis
in afternoon but very few people as there was a big dance at the Camp so none of them came in from

there, we didn't get enough for a table of Bridge. Warm day. The building is getting on well & will be
delightful in the summer for sitting out on, it is really a sort of platform as big as a room, right over the
garden with steps down to the garden. It won't be ready by Monday though which is a nuisance.

Thursday 19th March

A very busy day. Fort in the morning, first on the rifle range, then parade office. Each section is going to
fire a musketing course which will take some months. Office, a lot of important work. Two of the Sunni
Ulemas came to see me about the proposed changes in the Wakf department. Left the office early & had

an early lunch then we drove out to the Jebel as I was playing in a tennis tournament, Manama town
against the Jebel, quite pleasant but as rather hot at first on the court in the sun a lot of very unpleasant
biting flies. Manama won. Then to the Phillips where I changed & then dined with the Duntons at the club
in the small dining room, a very pleasant party, after that we all went on to the cinema, a play called the
Lost Patrol, rather gloomy but well acted in my opinion, much better than the comic or musical shows
which most people seem to prefer. Got a wire from Major Holmes that he is coming on the down boat on
Monday - he will probably arrive in time for our party.

Friday 20th March