Page 832 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Office & Fort. Went over to Agency & had a long morning with the Resident & the Admiral, first we talked about oil,
finances, my leave & wells & then about Jafair. In afternoon the Shaikh called on the Resident & then I went with
Admiral & Resident & others to Jafair & on the way back we all called on the Shaikh at the Palace. A band was playing
there & there were great crowds of people. Much to my disappointment we missed the band as we got there too
late. In the evening an official dinner on the ship. I went out with the Shaikh & Mohammed in his launch, it was a
little bumpy but I find I dont mind it in an open boat. M went with the Agency party. It was a pleasant affair, all the
Naval people looked very smart in uniform and decorations. The dinner went off excellently, again the Shaikh
proposed the King's health. We had a band all the time. The C in C presented the Shaikh, after dinner, with a very
nice silver plaque of the ship on ebony, made on board. Afterwards we had a conjuror who did some very good
tricks. The Shaikh left early. I stayed on & came back with Agency party. Saw all the papers about Jafair & had a long
talk to Phillips about estimates. Lovely night & absolutely still on board. The dinner table looked very handsome, a
huge large one full of fine silver.

Thursday 9th [November]

Very busy morning doing a lot of rush work for Resident, estimates & letter re oil. Went to Agency for half an hour.
Never stopped working all the morning. Luncheon party at Muharraq, rather a mix up. Yesterday the Admiral asked
me to send in pilot as they would go direct - then Lock said they were coming to Manama first so the pilot was not
needed - in the end they went direct & got badly stuck on a sand bank so instead of arriving at 1 pm they arrived at 2
pm & the Shaikh had to wait an hour & got very bothered over it! however it was quite a good party. Then we went
out to see the aerodrome & then came back in Agency launch & stuck again as tide was low. After that we had a
conference at the Agency about Jafair & they discussed my estimates. The Resident seemed very intelligent but Lock
said nothing at all. Sent long cable to the Admiralty & India Office.

Another dinner party on board, it was very rough & I persuaded M not to go. James & Nanny went out,
by invitation, to the ship in afternoon & had an awful time getting home as the launches broke down. Very rough
going out but quite still on the ship. There were 30 people at dinner. Band played the national anthem composed for
the Shaikh. Afterwards a very good cinema, a talkie, which I enjoyed enormously. The ship sails early tomorrow.

Thursday [2nd November]

At the Agency in morning, motored in afternoon. A great how-do-you-do between Mrs Steele & the Locks, at least
Mrs Lock about the wedding. Mrs L was very disagreable about it. It is now to be at the church & the party at the
Steeles. Mrs Lock seems to have been very nasty over it.

Friday November 3

Bazaar in morning. Gardened after lunch & then Agency party. Didnt play tennis. They had tea in the garden, rather
cold & drafty & altogether very uncomfortable. Went to the Russells afterwards. Much talk about the wedding & the