Page 647 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

645

1931

Court, spent all the morning on the Siadi case and didnt get much farther with it, the people were very argumentative and
obstinate. Thomas and Parke came to lunch. Thomas irritates me, he has an affected voice and tries to talk with a more
cultivated accent than he really has. We talked of missionaries and things not connected with Muscat or his trip. Afterwards
he asked us to come over to the Agency to see his "exhibits" which were a lot of very dull stones and a few mouse and rat skins
and some ... knows it all off by heart now and is simply sick of hearing the same facts over and over again. He talked about St
John Philby who he used to be with in Trans Jordania, he says he has turned Mohamedan in order to marry an Arab woman, for
no other reason. Went out to Aali and did a painting of the tombs and the sunset but spoilt it. Dinner party at the D.Gs,
everyone was there and Tiffany from the Mission. Their cooking is much better now than it used to be. Quite a pleasant party,
we played roulette and then a race game, I came out even on the whole evening which was satisfactory. D.G had wished to
make speeches about Thomas but when he asked Prior he said better not, D.G. was very disappointed as he loves speeches.
The party went on till after midnight.

Tuesday 3rd March

I had D.G. for some time in the morning talking business, he asked for various things to be done to the house, but nothing
unreasonable. Tennis at the mission, quite good as Barden was there. Afterwards the D.Gs and Parke came in to play Bridge, I
went down 17. Cold evening. Thomas left on the down boat to Muscat, Prior came in after dinner and I settled to go over
there in a few days, I hate leaving the house but it will be very convenient in many ways. Everyone is wondering what will
happen about Thomas when he gets to Muscat as things there are in a terrible mess. Customs this month is as bad as last
month, things are very serious. If it doesnt improve goodness knows what will happen to the state.

Wednesday [4 March]
Office, a lot of people came in to see me, I am very busy just now. Went out sailing with Prior and Holmes and Dr Tiffany in
the afternoon, she went with Holmes and I with Prior, much to her disappointment, which she could not hide. It looked alright
but was very rough, our idea was to go to Arad and we took tea with us but it rained and started to blow very hard so we turned
back. We all got soaked to the skin as the waves came over the boats. Tiffany got very alarmed and jumped about in her boat
making Holmes very angry, it is a dangerous thing to do in a small boat. I came back and changed and then went across for tea
at the Agency and later up to the Fort to play Bridge, D.Gs and Walker and Barden were there. Had some good Bridge. I quite
enjoyed the sailing as it was most exciting. Tiff looked just like a drowned rat, she wore such unsuitable clothes, a green plush
coat with fur collar and she had an abba too on top, I never saw such a comical sailing get up. Holmes said he would never go
out with her in a boat again.

Thursday [5 March]

A terrific shamaal, I have rarely seen such a strong one. Court, got done very early as so many people did not turn up. The
P.R. wrote to the Shaikh about the Civil List and told him he should reduce it 10%. Sulman talked to me about it and seemed
to have no objections about it, but I expect the others will be very angry. Wrote in the afternoon and gardened and then went
out with Parke in the car. We motored along the sea road which was all water and huge waves coming right over, I got soaked.
It is the highest tide and the worst shamaal I have ever seen. Several boats got into difficulties in the sea opposite the house