[14 June 1918] June 14 Baghdad Dearest Family. It has been hot today, for the first time. This evening when General Stuart Wortley, Frank Balfour and I were riding, the wind had some reminder of its old furnace quality - but not enough to make riding other than very pleasant. General S.W. is a very nice companion. He's a dear and it's so agreeable to haave someone who knows all the same people I know - even Father. He is also an enthusiastic Yorkshireman and would take me to his heart on that account only. What have I done this week? General Sutton of the L. of C. was up here - his wife is a sister of Edward Wood and we've made rather friends. I went to lunch and to tea with him on his ship. On Sunday I rode out before breakfast to see my old Haji Naji. I sat under his mulberry trees, eating mulberries and drinking coffee, while we discussed the British Govt. in all its aspects, together with other matters. Today he sent me the first melons - "Patterns," says he "only patterns, not presents. You understand I don't want anything from you." And in fact he never asks for anything. In the evening Capt. Wilson and I shone at a party at the Civil Hospital, largely attended. On Monday I went up to the cavalry brigade, 10 miles upstream, to lecture. I motored out across the desert and got there at sunset, a charming camp among palms and tamarisks on the river bank. We dined in a tent open to the red west. Among other people there was a young man called Bigge who lives at Middleton Tyas, has danced at R'ton [Rounton] and knows Maurice. After the lecture the General motored me back; it was quite cold in the desert that night and delicious. On Tuesday I lectured on the other side of the river dining with General Lubbock who fetched and returned me. On Wed. the C. in C. came to tea and a long talk. He has now gone to Persia for a week. I've now got a Persian cook, who besides being able to cook (an art none of my former cooks have possessed) knows no Arabic so I'm forced to do my housekeeping in Persian, which amuses me - doubtless amuses the cook also at times. The nuns have made me some muslin gowns which are really quite nice - also cheap. The essayages are not like any other dressmaking I've ever known. I go in after riding before breakfast and stand in practically nothing but breeches and boots (for it's hot) while the Mother Superior and the darling dressmaking sister, Soeur Renée, hover round ecstatically and pin on bits of muslin. At our elbows a native lay sister bearing cups of coffee. We pause often while the Mother Superior and Soeur Renée discuss gravely what really is the fashion. Anyhow the result, whether it's really the fashion or not, is quite satisfactory. Soeur Renée isn't a French woman for nothing.
My roses are flowering anew rather dusty in the face, poor little things, but very sweet. I'm afraid this hot blast won't suit them. But when I think of last year, without fans and electric light - it was the devil. I'm very well. Ever your very affectionate daughter Gertrude