Page 170 - Belgrave Diaries 1945_Neat

2016

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1945

Meeting of diving people to decide the advances. It went on a long time but these affairs are always
interesting & the cause of a lot of plain talking, one man. who had "guffled" before the proper end of the
season last year got a violent slanging from a number of the older nahhudas, though he had been fined 500 &
jailed. Went to see Parker who seemed much better than when I left for leave.

To Muharraq in afternoon & drove to Hedd with Ahmed Omran, a very clean little place it is. He talked of
the tiresomeness of the teachers & the new sort of political party which has been introduced into Bn from
Egypt, an idea of a return to the old Arab life. Dined with Goldsworthys - she is quite awful & he never
speaks, two American women, an RAF & a soldier. Played quite good Bridge afterwards. Called on the
ALO & his wife, a dreadful young Levantine bit.

Monday 4th February

A very damp day, pools of water on the roads and the lower veranda all mud, south wind & rather stuffy.
Court most of the morning, s cases, dull. In afternoon after tea, called on the Balls, ACOC, quite a
pleasant couple who know the Middle East well. She had just come to Beyrout. Then dinner at Rafaa with
Sh Mubarach, a gloomy party, Dick & Leigh, neither spoke at all in Arabic & not much in English. Quite a
good dinner. Cold evening, wind turned north and blew hard, rain crowds in the West. A steamer in port,
there are now only two BI boats in the Gulf so posts are rare.