16 January 2020

Gwern arrives back at number 9

Garry brings Gwern back to number 9, and tells Gwyneth that he has already had breakfast, but that he is off his food these days;  

"My breakfast is better than Dad's"

Cassie says that her breakfast is a lot better than his Dad’s, and he eats it with no hesitation.   “He wasn’t keen on taking his PE kit to school, either,” Garry informs Gwyneth, 

"He's struggling a bit"

“I had a look at his books – he’s struggling a bit.

"You would know that if you went to the parents' meetings"

She replies that he would have been aware of that if he attended the parents’ meetings, but he protests that he is showing an interest now.  

"There's too much pressure on these children"

Cassie maintains, “There’s too much pressure on these children – we had fun at school, so that learning came naturally.”

"My registration class will be chuffed we're engaged!"

“I can’t believe you bought such a beautiful ring,” says Ffion, “It’s perfect!   My registration class will be chuffed that we’re engaged.”   

"You haven't put it on Facebook or Twitter, have you?"

Rhys asks whether she has put it on Facebook or Twitter, but she has not had a chance.

“I just thought perhaps we should keep it a secret,” he suggests, 

"We could make an announcement some other time"

“We could make an official announcement some other time,” and Ffion calls him a romantic, and is very impressed that he planned all this while she was away.

"When shall we do it, then?"

“When shall we do it, then?” she asks, and he tells her to leave it to him,    He says he will keep the ring safe for now, but she objects to this;  

"No – you might lose it!"

“No – I don’t trust you – you might lose it,” so she replaces it in its box 

Ffion puts it in her bag

and puts it in her handbag.

Seren is concentrating

As Seren is sucking a lolly, Dani tells her, “Uncle Tyler is in a good mood – look, he’s washing the dishes!”   

"I have Greta all weekend!"

He says that he is collecting Greta in half an hour, and has her all weekend.   

"We could all go out somewhere tomorrow"

Apparently, Seren is looking forward to seeing her, and it is suggested that they could go out somewhere tomorrow.

"Iolo wants me to pick her up from the café"

Then he receives a text from Iolo, and looks disappointed;  “He wants me to pick her up from the café – I wanted a chat with him, 

"The café isn't the best place for a private chat"

“and the café isn’t the best place for a private chat.”   Dani realises that he still thinks there is hope for the two of them, 

"Just enjoy the weekend, Ty"

and advises him just to enjoy the weekend, and not to think about Iolo.

Marks gets a signature from Iolo

As Mark is getting Iolo to sign for the delivery of an item of post at the door of number 7, Siôn approaches, and asks Iolo for a cup of coffee;  “I’ve been out for hours,” he groans.   Mark assumes that he could not sleep, and suggests counting sheep.

"I'm keeping an eye on the oak trees!"

“I’ve been keeping an eye on the oak trees, Mark,” Siôn informs him, “I don’t want any more to be cut down.”   Mark tells him to be careful with those thugs, as they can be dangerous, but Siôn is convinced that someone local is responsible.

“They’re sneaking out under the cover of darkness – like a fox!” he snarls, 

"I don't think foxes can use chainsaws!"

but Mark does not think that foxes can use chainsaws.

"He won't be laughing when I've finished with him!"

Inside number 7, Siôn promises, “He won’t be laughing when I’m finished with him!”  

"I've got to get Greta ready"

Iolo says his father will have to make himself a drink, as he has to wake Greta, and get her ready to go with Tyler.   Siôn continues to moan, “I didn’t want to say it in front of Mark, but the police are useless – I’ve been phoning them for days.”

"They may have more important things to do, Dad"

Iolo says that they may have more important things to do, but Siôn is outraged;  “Don’t say you’re apathetic too – that was part of our heritage – Cwm–Deri! [Oak Valley]   If the oak tree’s not there, then who are we?”   

Iolo goes upstairs

Iolo is taking no notice, but goes upstairs to get Greta.

"She's going to lose touch with the outside world"

As he eats his breakfast, Dai tells DJ, “If she insists on hiding in here, she’s going to lose touch with the outside world, and things will never get back to normal.”   

"She needs support, Dad!"

DJ points out that she needs support, and his father rages, 

"Crikey – I've sacrificed the Ireland trip!"

“Support?   Crikey, DJ – I’ve sacrificed the Ireland trip – if that isn’t a show of support, what is?   I’ve been going to Lansdowne Road, or whatever it’s called now, every other year since 1974!”

"Why don't you go out for the day?"

Diane has come downstairs, and DJ suggests that they could go out for the day.   

"This kitchen is like Mother Hubbard's place!"

Dai agrees, “This kitchen is like Mother Hubbard’s place – we need to restock the cupboards.   DJ needs feeding now that he’s on the beat every day – you don’t catch crooks on an empty stomach, do you?”

"Go shopping and have a meal on the way back"

DJ points out they could go shopping and have a meal on the way back, and Dai says she should go on her own if she wants, and make a day of it.   

"I'll go to Llandeilo"

Diane thinks that might be a good idea;  “I’ll go to Llandeilo,” she says.

Tyler is just about to come in

In the café, Greta is waiting with Iolo and Siôn for the arrival of Tyler, 

"I've been so excited about seeing you!"

who says he has been so excited about seeing her.   “What are we going to do today?” he asks her, “Shall we buy you a new outfit – or go to the fair?   I just want my daughter to have a good time.”

"Three coffees, please, Gwen"

He is going to buy coffees for all of them, 

"I think you'd better go, Tyler"

but Siôn thinks that Tyler had better go, and Iolo urges him to keep Greta safe.   Tyler reminds them he is already apologised for saying that he is a blood relative, 

"Greta's happiness comes first"

and assures them that Greta’s happiness comes first – he maintains that she will only be happy if both he and Iolo are in her life.

"If he thought anything of Greta, he wouldn't have gone with Aled"

As they go out of the café door, Siôn remarks, “If he thought anything of Greta, he would not have gone with that Aled in the first place – 

Iolo does not appreciate his father's attitude

“don’t give him too much rope!”

"The gym's name has caught on"

In the Deri, Cassie reckons that the gym’s name Chwys Rhys has caught on, and Mark advises them not to change it as it causes problems at the mail depot.   

"Ffion would like her name included"

“Ffion would like her name included,” Rhys tells them, and Mark wonders who wears the trousers in their house.

"Men are like little lambs at home"

“Men will speak up over a pint, but they’re like little lambs at home,” Cassie comments;  meanwhile Garry appears to be looking at the school website on the laptop.

"Mr Endaf Rowlands – he's been around for yonks!"

He comments, “Mr Endaf Rowlands – he’s been around for yonks – Gwern’s maths teacher.”
Mark recalls, “He was there when I was caretaker, and his room was always a mess.”    Garry maintains it is not right that the teacher can ruin his son’s education, and Mark adds, “I also used to be a governor.”

“Governor and caretaker?” asks Rhys, and Dani points out that Mark ran the place.   “I had private maths lessons – I wouldn’t have passed otherwise,” Rhys goes on, 

"You still get private lessons – from Miss!"

and Mark maintains he still gets private lessons – from Miss.

"Are you excited about staying in the Deri with Dadi?"

When Tyler comes in, Dani asks Greta, that “Are you excited about staying with Dadi in the Deri?”   Tyler complains that Siôn is an idiot, which comes as no surprise to Dani.   

"I may have found you a job, Ty"

She announces that she may have found him a job, and tells him to take Greta upstairs.

Diane gets into the car . . .

Diane gets into the car at Bryntirion, in the pouring rain, and is reminded by Dai to get some cream horns before she returns.   

. . . but does not look at all happy about it . . .

She is uncomfortable, sitting in the driving seat, 

. . . and her hands are shaking

and her hands are shaking.   

"I can't drive this car ever again!"

Dai asks if she is all right, and she replies, “I’m not ready to do this – I can’t drive this car ever again!”

Once more Dai assures her that the police have been through the car with a finetooth comb, hand there is nothing wrong with it.   

"Look, I'll come to Llandeilo with you, Diane"

He puts down his umbrella and gets into the passenger seat;  “I’ll come to Llandeilo with you, OK?” he says, 

Diane's mind is made up

but she is determined that she is not going anywhere, and gets out of the car.

"You don't have the expertise to deal with my complaint"

DJ has visited Y Felin, where Siôn praises him;  “Any kind of voluntary work is to be commended – it’s part of rural life.   But you don’t have the expertise to deal with my complaint.   A full-time officer should deal with it – I reported it days ago.”

"I shall do my best to catch those responsible"

DJ makes it clear that he will do his best to catch those responsible, and is informed that he will not have to look far;  

"Mark Jones and Colin Evans are responsible"

“Mark Jones and Colin Evans are responsible for this – they’ve been selling firewood around the village.   Anita bought some, and there’s no doubt that it’s oak.” 

"Did Anita know they were stolen?"

DJ picks up a log, and will have to get an expert to confirm it, but asks if Anita knew that they were stolen;  

"Section 22 of the Theft Act 1968"

“Because if she did, she may have committed a crime under section 22 of the Theft Act 1968.”   Siôn finds this rather disconceritng.

Gwen is served with her drink

In the Deri, as Cassie serves Gwen with a drink, Dani suggests to Garry that Tyler could give Gwern private lessons, 

"If he's not fit to teach at school, he's not fit to teach my son!"

but is told, in no uncertain terms, “If he’s not fit to teach at school, he’s not fit to teach my son!   I’m worried about Gwern, not him!”

"You weren't happy when I tried to teach him"

Gwyneth points out that he was not happy when she was trying to teach him at home, but he reminds her that she is not a teacher.   

"He doesn't want to be seen to be giving in to you or Tyler"

Cassie explains to Dani, “He doesn’t want to be seen giving in to you or Tyler – you need the patience of a saint.”   

"Plenty of people are kicking Tyler when he's down"

Dani complains that plenty of people are kicking Tyler while he is down, and Garry does not have to join in.

"Wasn't expecting to see you here"

Dai goes round to the garage and is surprised to see Gerwyn working there;  

"Jaclyn's getting better, so I thought I ought to . . ."

he explains, “Jaclyn’s getting better, so I thought I’d better . . .”   

"We need to get the car checked"

Dai is pleased to hear it, and says that he wants to give Diane some peace of mind;  “We need to get the car checked – you know, to see if it’s safe to drive.   The police have checked it, and everything’s fine, but to be honest, I have more faith in the local garage.”

"I don't think I can do it, under the circumstances"

Gerwyn apologises, but he does not think he can do it, under the circumstances, 

Dai quite understands

so Dai will go to the garage in Llanarthur, and is sorry if he has upset Gerwyn.   “And it’s important that you know the whole village is behind you,” he adds.

DJ has checked the shed at Maes-y-Deri  

DJ has been investigating the back garden at Maes-y-Deri;  “It’s a nice little shed – it’s where I go to get away from Mam – and Debbie, before things fell apart,” Mark tells him.   He argues that he has nothing to hide and the wood he has been selling is from Penrhewl;  “You can check with Jim and Eileen.   

"You'd have to be mad to cut down oak trees!"

“You’d have to be mad to cut down oak trees.”

DJ asks if he can explain how he sold oak to Anita, and he maintains that he found a pile of them on the side of the road near Llanarthur;  

"I realise now that it was a mistake"

“I realise now that it was a mistake, and I can only apologise – I will give the money to a good cause.”   

"I'll be keeping  close eye on you – and Colin!"

DJ promises, “I’ll be keeping a close eye on you from now on – and Colin!”   

"That's me in the clear, then!"

Mark is confident that he has got away with it.

"We all make mistakes, Garry"

Cassie tells Garry, “We all make mistakes – some more than others.”   

"Sleeping with a schoolboy is not 'a mistake'!"

He does not regard it as a mistake to be sleeping with a schoolboy, and insists that Tyler has no excuse.

“What about Aled’s parents – how do they feel?” he goes on, but Cassie points out that Aled is 18, and Garry only calls him a schoolboy when it suits him.   

"I don't like what Tyler did!"

“I don’t like what Tyler did – and I’m allowed to have an opinion!” Garry roars.  

"You're just getting back at Dani"

Cassie advises that he is getting back at Dani, who is just looking after her brother;  “Family – that’s a big word for the Monks!”   Garry wonders whether Mai struggled at school, and if she had private lessons, but Cassie tells him not to change the subject;  “Dani’s worried – life’s too short to be unhappy.”

He agrees that he will stop making things difficult for Tyler;  “But he is not teaching Gwern!   That’s asking too much!”   

"You could give him a few shifts behind the bar"

Cassie suggests that he could give Tyler a few shifts behind the bar, stressing that Dani thinks he is being harsh at the moment, and he really does not want that.   Garry reluctantly agrees to give him a couple of shifts.

"Whisky!"

Dai comes in, looking downcast, and orders a whisky.

Rhys gets the ring, but then hears Ffion coming

At Cysgod y Glyn, Rhys finds that Ffion is not there, and looks into her handbag, but as soon as he finds the box containing the ring, he hears the door open and so replaces it.   

"I didn't know you were home"

“I didn’t know you were home,” he tells Ffion, and she asks how it is going at the gym.

"People think I should stick with Chwys Rhys"

“A lot of people think I should stick with the name Chwys Rhys,” he tells her, “But you obviously don’t agree.”   She says that she was only pulling his leg, then takes out the ring again.

"What's the plan for the announcement?"

“What’s the plan for the announcement?” she asks, “I just saw Sara – I told her to keep Saturday free.”   

"I'd rather not tell people this week"

He would rather not tell people this week, whereas she wants everyone to know;  he prefers to do it some other time, 

"How about at the official opening?"

possibly at the official opening of the gym next week.

"Arwen can cut the ribbon – it will be special!'

She has a vision of Arwen cutting a ribbon;  “A day to remember – it will be special!”   He says he will keep the ring until then, but she rejects this idea;  

She will not let him get his hands on the ring

“In case you change your mind – it fits perfectly.”   

"I found it before Christmas – and had it altered"

Then she makes the confession, “I found it in the box before Christmas, and I had it altered – you can’t tell.”

Rhys is worried now

Rhys looks horrified, and she can see that he thinks the world of it, just like her;  “A ring for life!” she says.

"I've been a barman before, Dani"

Tyler reassures Dani that he has been a barman before, and Gwyneth hopes that the first drink he sells will be ‘on the house’.   Dani informs her, “No cash, no pint!”

Garry has had a change of heart

Garry’s attitude appears to be softening, and he tells Cassie that he will take her advice on Gwern’s school work as well, and will not put pressure on him.

"Why isn't Gwern playing for the under-12s?"

When Dai comes over, Gwyneth wants to know why Gwern is not playing for the under-12s;  he has no idea, and asks for another whisky.   

"I only took over from John this week"

“Look I only took over the under-12s from John this week – all I know is that he’s not down to play this weekend.”

"It's not that rugby is in the Monks' DNA!"

When Garry also joins the conversation, Dai moans, “I don’t know why you’re complaining – it’s not as if rugby is in the Monks’ DNA!”

"You're supposed to be babysitting!"

Iolo arrives at the bar and informs Tyler, “You’re supposed to be babysitting!”   He is told that Greta is asleep upstairs.   

"I'm glad you've found work"

Iolo asks for two pints of lager, and says that he is glad that Tyler has found work;  Tyler is insistent that he wants to share the cost of raising Greta.   

"It's nice to see ou both talking sense"

Dani is pleased to see them both talking sense.

"Look – you can keep your PC Plod jokes!"

Then PCSO Ashurst comes in, and he warns Garry, “You can keep your PC Plod jokes because I’ve heard them all.”   He asks Dani for a coffee, 

"Here to arrest Mark Jones, are you?"

and Siôn assumes that he is here to arrest Mark Jones for cutting down the tree.

Not the answer Siôn expected to hear

DJ replies, “I have no reason to charge anyone – I have questioned Mark and Colin, and can assure you that they are completely innocent.   We may never find out who did it, but you should leave Colin and Mark alone.”

"Can I have your attention, please?"

Siôn is furious, and addresses all the customers, “Can I have your attention please?   As you know, someone has cut down the village’s ancient oak tree.   

Siôn offers a financial incentive for information . . .

“I’m going to offer £300 to anyone who can give DJ some information which leads to the arrest of the unscrupulous swine!”

. . . which Mark finds very tempting

He looks accusingly at Mark, who is already devising a plan to get his hands on the £300.