Page 632 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

630

1931

Late going down to the office as it opens at 9 A.M. not at 7.30 during this month. Several people came in and I had quite a
busy morning. Very calm day. Went out for a drive and then to the D.Gs where we played Bridge. They had the big pier light
on for the first time last night, it looked very effective.

Wednesday 21st [January]

M left. Horribly rough day. Very cold. Parke came in after tea.

Thursday 22nd Jan 1931

Very cold day and a strong shamaal, very rough sea. Office in the morning, worked on making out a sort of code from all the
Govt proclamations from the last five years, it takes some doing. Everyone about the place looking very miserable and
depressed, partly owing to the cold and partly owing to Ramadan. Prior told me that Dr Todd came to see him about getting a
job here, he is all against it, he said that some time before he left before Todd came to him and handed over a revolver to him
saying that he was afraid of having it in his house as he felt like shooting himself, this of course was confidential. Prior is
entirely against having him back here, as I am. Went over to Muharrak in the afternoon to see two pieces of land that Sh
Mohamed wants, took Prior, we sailed on a small joliboat and got rather wet but we got across in record time. Motored out to
Arad where the land is, very cold motoring. Got back just after sunset and then had some tea and went up to the Fort and
played Bridge, Parke, Barden and Walker, the last seemed much better. Won 13. The coldest day that we have had this year, I
hear the temperature was about 57, it felt less. The Shaikh sent in to know how J and M had got on going out to the mail, very
nice message, said he had been wondering and thinking about their going out all yesterday afternoon. Barden says the Bank
are sending down a real architect by the next mail to arrange about the new building, it will be the first building here to be
designed by a proper architect.

Friday 23rd [January]

Took the dogs out for a run behind the car in the morning, very cold day and strong shamaal blowing. Very rough sea. Then
to the Bank for Bridge, very few people there. Saw Holmes' car and another one up at the cemetery. Todd is removing his
wife again. Prior told me that he had heard from the British Minister at Ghedda, the new man, that the Hejaz Air Force officers
were again having rows and Morris had threatened to resign unless Low left the service, they seem to have been getting drunk
and that sort of thing. Wrote letters in the afternoon and then went to the Agency but as it was so very cold I didnt play, those
who did said it was very unpleasant and they wished they hadnt, a lot of sand blowing and a raging wind. The two foreigners
were there, had quite a long talk with the Pole in French, as he too is not very fluent I didnt mind talking to him, he was quite
interesting and told me all about the northern route home via Buda Peste and Vienna. He is going there himself quite soon,
they have not yet heard from Ibn Saoud so are off on the next up boat to Basra, both very disappointed. It is bad luck. The
Resident is coming on the fourth of next month and perhaps Alban and another man with him, and later the Chief Secretary
from Teheran, or Shiraz, I forget which. Very cold weather.