Page 773 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Meeting of the Manama Biladya. I wrote a very strong letter about the increase in malaria and urged the
council to do something about it as usual there was a great deal of talk and very little effect from it. Loch
attended for the first time but took no part in the discussions, I think he understood very little of it and
missed a lot owing to being deaf. Went to the Police office on the way back to see about a disturbance in
Hedd, some people had a row over a man being arrested and tried to get into the lock up, put them all in
custody till the next court, they are very Bolshie in Hedd. Went down the bazaar in the afternoon as it was
too muddy to take out the car, then to the Russells after tea for Bridge and in the evening we had the
Hakkens and the D.Gs and Mrs Schimdler to dinner. Quite a pleasant party but they stayed very late as the
clock was hidden by Christmas cards on the mantlepiece so no one saw the time. Lately there has been rain
on and off every day, it has exceeded the usual amount already and this is only the early rain not the heavy
rain.

Wednesday [21 December]

Fort before breakfast, then looked in to see if the Shaikh had arrived at Joint Court but he was very much
delayed owing to the state of the roads. Yesterday he sent Shaikh Abdulla to talk to me about money for
some of his beastly relations who said that they used to get allowances from Shaikh Isa. As it is the Civil list
takes 64% of the total revenue so we cannot increase it, it is really a scandal as the hordes of relations
never do anything and simply take the money and ask for more. I dislike most of them so much that I can
hardly talk politely to them about it. Spent a long time in the office talking to Abdulla bin Jabr and making a
list of people who might have a bit cut off in order to provide for others who have less than they should
have. The tennis court was so wet that we couldnt play but people came in the afternoon for Bridge and
tea.

Thursday [22 December]

Shaikh Abdulla came in and we discussed the Civil List, he seemed agreable to the reductions which I
suggested, the difficulty will be to get the Shaikh to agree to them. Steele came in and various other
people. In afternoon we drove out and then went round to the Russells to discuss an invitation from Mrs
Loch for New Years Eve which is to be a fancy dress party all to dress as pirates. Dined with the Steeles,
heard that Mrs Loch had been taken very ill with ptomaine poisoning. Mrs Holmes came over to tell us, she
was very fussed about it all and had been at the Agency nursing Mrs Loch. Quite a pleasant party at the
Steeles, their drawing room at the Fort looks much better than when the Parkes lived in it.

Friday 23rd December

Tried to paint a picture for Mrs de Grenier in the morning, but couldnt get on with it, took James and Nanny
out for a drive before tea and painted menus afterwards, in the evening Major Holmes came in, he has
brought the Shaikh of Kuwait down with him by air and is having him to stay at his house, he seemed rather