Page 1232 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1230
1230
1940

Tuesday 7th February

Fort. Shs M & A came & we all signed the oil letter, we thought that such an important document should be
signed by us all. A meeting at Agency, the oil people, about appointment of Sh Ali bin Ahmed, a long
discussion about it, then saw Coates & one Martin, a tiresome fellow. Discussed RAF base at Muharraq &
putting a crane on Muharraq pier. At the fort in the afternoon watching practice for sports. Had a dinner
party, Weightmans, Kennedy, Campbell & Latbirth, before that a golf club committee at Coates' house.
Discussed new rules for club & question of tennis court. Warm day, quite hot. Saw DG about his leave &

one or two other matters.

Wednesday 8th February

No parade in morning. Court, case of Shemlan & Chirawi, quite amusing as one of the witnesses mentioned
both the Court Clerk & Sh Abdulla bin Hamed. Went on till about one o'clock. The case, on paper, is not as
convincing as Ali bin Khalifah. It is difficult to get people to give evidence. At Palace in afternoon &
Muharraq police parade, they were quite good but noisy & camels rather fresh, then tennis & Bridge,
crowds of people for both, so I didn't play. Sadler, Eastern Bank, called. Cold windy day, quite a change in

weather. Looked like rain.

Thursday 9th February

Up at the Fort in morning then Mohd came to discuss his speech, which was good. He disapproved of the
other ones. Police Parade at Fort, they did better than ever before & marched extremely well, the band
was quite in tune too, stood round for some time watching the dancing, Sh Mohd danced looking rather
bashful. Not many people. M sat on the roof with Ayesha. Went to Law Courts after palace & looked over
the seating arrangements & then with Narayan checked draft speeches. Dined at Forkers & saw his movi
pictures again - I never mind seeing them, they are very good, Weightman there.

SONO QUI