Page 762 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

the mosque close in front of the car. My boy, Hamood, said it was a jinn & was most excited about it - it
looked like a very big bright firefly, but there are none here. They seem to be very optimistic about the
second well, its all very fine but what we need is money & as they cork it up each time it doesnt seem to
help us much.

Monday 14th [November]

No court as Sh Sulman went out hunting with the Shaikh, I was asked but didnt accept as I had so much to
do. Called on the Sunni Kadi Shaikh Abdel Latif who talked about certain cases, & incidentally hinted that
Shaikh Sulman was a not impartial judge but that as I was on the court with him, and entirely impartial, I
overweighed his occasional unfairness. Went to see Holmes & discussed oil matters, nothing very new or
interesting. Spent rest of the morning in the office. Motored in afternoon & dined with Major Holmes,
quite a party but felt so very sleepy that I didnt enjoy it.

Tuesday 15th [November]

Fort, office - M went to see the Manama girls' school which seems to be doing very well. Motored in
afternoon & then went to the Bank & played Bridge, Ham & Freund were there & the latter afterwards
came to dinner. James has been having tummy trouble which looks like dysentery & had to have another
injection, a great business as Dr Holmes hates the idea of James knowing that it is he who gives them so he
creeps in & sticks a needle into James & then slips out & pushes his Persian dresser into the nursery who is
beaten & reviled by all of us as the responsible person for sticking needles into James. So far it has done
the trick & James does not connect Dr Holmes with the injection. It is very tiresome & we cant think how
he caught it but its difficult out here to prevent such things as he picks up things & puts them in his mouth.

Wednesday 16th [November]

Fort in morning & then a meeting of the Shia Wakf committee which went off very well, then returned to
the office & wrote letters. Tennis at home in the afternoon, we had two tables of Bridge and one Mah Jong,
there seemed to be a great many people in the room though now, with the alterations, it is a big room.

Thursday 17th [November]

Busy morning in office, I went up to the school but found it shut. Group Captain Welsh came across in the
morning from the Agency where he is staying. Took James & Nanny out in the car for a drive. Dined at the
Bank & then went on to a dance at the Agency, Prior's last party, quite a lot of people but the party went
rather flat as it was too hot for much dancing, but it was a very good party, didnt get to bed till two in the
morning. Lately we have had too many late nights.