10 March 2020

Gaynor finishes her cup of tea

Gaynor quickly finishes her cup of tea before leaving for school;  there is a knock at the door, and Hywel arrives with Esther.   

"I've been trying to phone you"

“I’m glad I caught you before you left – I’ve been trying to phone you,” he says, but she gives the excuse that she has been busy.

“Esther has lost Sali Mali somewhere – she’s not here, is she?”   

Sali Mali is returned to Esther

Gaynor picks up the doll and gives it to Esther.   She says she has a lot of calls to make before school, and is eager for Hywel to leave.  

"I haven't seen you for almost a week"

“Listen, I haven’t seen you for almost a week,” he begins, “You’re still not angry with me for telling Rhys about Ffion, are you?” 

"I don't have time for this at the moment, Hywel"

but Gaynor does not have time for this at the moment, so he takes the hint and leaves.

"It's almost eight – why didn't you wake me?"

Ffion is also running late, and complains to Rhys, “It’s almost 8 o’clock – why didn’t you wake me?”   He points out that she did not sleep last night, but she is panicking about being late.   He asks if she has made an appointment to see the doctor,

"There's no need"

but she insists that there is no need.

“You said you were going to phone to find out what’s wrong,” he reminds her, 

"You were sweating like a pig last night – sorry, no, not like a pig!"

“You was sweating like a pig last night – sorry, no, not like a pig – what I’m trying to say is that you were sweating a lot.”   She angrily replies that he can sleep somewhere else if he wants, 

She flounces off to school

and leaves for school.

As Dai is still eating his breakfast, Diane warns him that she has a meeting in Yr Antur with Anita this morning;  

These boxes of books are a tripping hazard

DJ comes in, and almost falls over one of the boxes of books.   “You won’t be moaning when this book’s a bestseller!” Dai tells him.

DJ wonders exactly how many they have sold;  

"This pile seem to be getting bigger"

“This pile seems to be getting bigger!” he maintains, and Dai replies that several boxes will be posted off today, but cannot remember where they are going, 

"Er, shops in Mid Wales"

vaguely describing it as ‘shops in Mid Wales’.   

Diane is pleased that they are selling

This pleases Diane as she goes off to work.

"Do you have to be so negative?"

Dai demands, “Do you have to be so negative and miserable?”   

"It's terrible – and everyone says so!"

DJ picks up a copy of the novel, pointing out that it is terrible, and everyone says so.   He adds that it is full of errors as well, but Dai assures him that Cassie thinks it is good;  “And she knows her stuff.”   He reads the back cover;  

"A gripping novel, full of romance and adventure"

“A gripping novel, full of romance and adventure.”   DJ warns him he cannot believe everything he reads.

"Do you want to go to the café for breakfast?"

Rhys pays a visit to the shop flat, and asks if Mathew wants to go to the café for breakfast, 

"Some of us have to work, Rhys"

but it is pointed out to him that some people have to work.   

"Ffion's having trouble sleeping"

“I need ten coffees to wake me up this morning,” moans Rhys, “Ffion’s having trouble sleeping – she was sweating all night – and she was in a terrible mood this morning.”   

"Perhaps she's going off you!"

Mathew suggests that she may be going off Rhys, but he considers that to be impossible.

Mathew’s next idea is that she may be still be upset that she is not pregnant;  

"She's not keen to go to the doctor"

Rhys says that they have discussed it, and he is trying to get her to go to see the doctor, but she is not very keen.

"She may be going through the menopause"

Mathew knowledgeably adds, “She may be going through the menopause.”   Rhys answers that he knows that he prefers older women, 

"I don't like women that old!"

but he does not like them that old.   Mathew continues, “Some women have it early, don’t they?   

"My Mam had it when she was in her 40s"

“My Mam had it when she was in her 40s – hot flushes, mood swings – but it could be anything – I’m not a doctor, remember?”   

Rhys is concerned

Rhys appears to be rather concerned about this.

Britt's plan to get rid of surplus stock

Britt is in the shop, emphasising to Colin that it is better to try and sell the vegetable curries a bit cheaper and get rid of them, instead of trying to sell them full price.   

"I'll take one with me, Col"

She is about to start work at the chippy, and will take one of the curries with her.

"Special offer, Gaynor"

Gaynor comes into the shop, and he wonders if he can interest her in the curries – two for the price of one, 

"I'm in a hurry to get to school, Colin"

but she is not interested, and is in a hurry to get to school.

"Hywel likes a bit of spice, doesn't he?"

Colin is not discouraged, but suggests, “Hywel likes a bit of spice, doesn’t he – and it would save you cooking.”   He explains, “I ordered too many on the computer, and the sell-by date is tomorrow.   Eileen will be furious with me when she finds out.”

Gaynor only requires one

Faced with this tale of woe, Gaynor agrees to buy one, but does not want an additional one.   Colin detects that there is something wrong, assuring her that he does not want to interfere, 

"Is everything all right, Gaynor?"

but asks, “Is everything all right?” 

"I'm just in a bad mood, that's all"

and she replies that she is just in a bad mood.

"What's he done now?"

“What’s he done now?” Colin demands, and she responds that it is nothing major – she is the problem, and is not sure whether she wants to be with Hywel, 

"Life's much easier when you're on your own"

explaining, “Life’s much easier when you’re on your own – much less hassle.   I can do what I want, whenever I want to, without the risk of getting hurt.”

"Sometimes you have to take the risk of being hurt"

He advises, “Sometimes you have to take the risk of being hurt if you want to be happy – look at Britt ands me – we’ve had our problems as well, our ups and downs, but we have stuck together, and I can’t imagine life without her now.”

Gaynor agrees that he may be right, 

"I'm not sure whether Hywel is worth the bother"

but is just not sure whether Hywel is worth the bother.

"Cassie, you're a woman, aren't you?"

Rhys is sitting glumly at the bar, and asks Cassie, “You’re a woman, aren’t you?”   She regards this as a strange question, 

Cassie is not sure she likes being called 'mature'

and he goes on, “A mature woman – 

"You know stuff about the menopause"

“and, well, you know stuff about the menopause.”   However, when he sees Ffion approaching, he tells Cassie to forget it.

"You know these nights when you can't sleep . . ."

“You know all these nights when you can’t sleep – the tiredness, the sweating?” he tells her, 

". . . you're going through the menopause"

“I’ve worked out what is the problem – you’re going through the menopause.”   

Ffion does not agree with his diagnosis

She looks horrified, as he explains that he has Googled it, and everything;  “You’ve got all the symptoms, look,” as he consults his phone.

"As I was saying to Math earlier"

Ffion was unaware that he was an expert on the matter, but he goes on, “As I was saying to Math earlier . . .”   She takes exception to him talking to Mathew about her, and he explains that he was worried about her.

"That's for middle-aged women – I'm not old enough!"

“Middle-aged women go through the menopause – I’m not old enough!” she insists, 

"Alcoholism can bring on an early menopause"

but he points out that he was reading that alcoholism can bring on an early menopause.   “What – one of those stupid websites, was it?   I don’t want to hear any more of this nonsense – get out of here!” she rages, 

This makes Ffion think

and he follows her instructions.

Gwen has snapped up some bargain curries

In the shop, Gwen has taken advantage of the special offer on curries, then Britt comes in, wanting some change for the chip shop.   

The special offer attracts Hywel's attention

Then Hywel arrives, and is also attracted by the offer, 

"Why don't you take her to Tapas?"

but Colin points out to him that Gaynor does not usually like ready meals, and suggests that he makes her something exciting for dinner.   “In fact, why don’t you take her to Tapas – she loves Tapas, doesn’t she?” he goes on, 

Hywel is becoming confused

as Hywel looks more and more puzzled.  

He wonders if Gaynor has been discussing him;  “Why else would you try to stop me buying food here, then?”   

"We go back years, and Gaynor trusts me"

Then Colin confesses that she did mention something, but he has to understand that Colin and Gaynor go back years, and she trusts him.

"Are you saying she doesn't trust me?"

“And she doesn’t trust me?   Is that what you’re trying to say?” snarls Hywel, “What exactly did she say?”

"She's not sure there's a future for you two"

Carefully picking his words, Colin informs him, “She’s not sure if there is a future for you two.”   

"She said our relationship was over?"

Hywel cannot believe she said their relationship was over, 

"Er . . . well . . . not yet"

but Colin tells him, “Well – not yet.”

“I’m not going to let her destroy this relationship because of a silly argument!” he stresses, and walks out of the shop, without the paper he had come in to purchase.

"I didn't realise you were such a fan of Hywel Llywelyn"

“I didn’t realise you were such a fan of Hywel Llywelyn,” says Britt, 

"If Gaynor's happy, we're all happy!"

and he replies that Hywel makes Gaynor happy, and if Gaynor is happy, so is he, and they are all happy.

DJ finds this very disturbing

At the bar of the Deri, DJ is reading a leaflet;  “An Evening with the Novelist.   Join us at the Deri Arms and hear Diane Ashurst read parts of her new novel.”   

"Do you think this is a good idea?"

He asks Cassie if she thinks it is a good idea, and enquires whether she enjoyed the novel;  she maintains that she has not finished it yet, 

"You haven't read any of it, have you?"

and when pressed, admits that she has read none of it.   “So you don’t know whether it’s any good or not?” DJ concludes.

"The menopause doesn't mean you're past your sell-by date"

Cassie turns to Ffion and sympathises, “The fact that you’re going through the menopause doesn’t mean you’re past your sell-by date.”   

"He hasn't been discussing it with you as well?"

Ffion is disgusted that Rhys has been discussing the matter with her as well.   

Cassie knows that it feels like the end of the world, but stresses there are advantages;  

"You don't have to worry about getting pregnant"

“You don’t have to worry about getting pregnant, no pains every month – you worry less about what people think, and have more energy.”

"I can't see any advantages at the moment"

Despite this, Ffion cannot see any advantages at the moment, but is warned not to push Rhys away, as he is only worried about her;  “Be grateful you have someone to worry about you – I went through it on my own!”   

Ffion has left her scarf behind

After Ffion leaves Cassie realises that she has left her scarf behind.

"Cassie hasn't read the novel – you have to accept it's no good!"

Dai is manoeuvring a case into APD when DJ reveals to him that Cassie has not read the novel;  “Dad, you have to accept that it’s not any good!”   

"Cassie said it was great"

Dai protests that Cassie gave him her word that it was great, and perhaps when she reads it, she will find that it is.

"It's one thing after another!"

“How many more times?   It’s terrible!” DJ emphasises, and Dai wonders what he can do next, lamenting that it is one thing after another;  there are posters all round the village, advertising Diane’s reading.

"Diane will make a fool of herself in public"

DJ argues that he has no choice;  “You have to put a stop to it, or Diane will make a fool of herself in front of everyone.   Then she’ll break her heart – is that what you want?”

Gaynor tries to get some work done

Gaynor is working at home when the front door opens, 

Hywel has decided he will cook dinner

and Hywel arrives with ingredients for their dinner.   When she points out that she has a lot of work to do, he says that while she works, he will cook the meal;  

"Bistecca Fiorentina"

“Bistecca Fiorentina, to remind you of the good time we had in Italy, and a bottle of Chianti Classico to go with it.”

"A meal isn't going to sort out our problems"

“A meal isn’t going to sort out our problems, Hywel,” she insists, 

"As far as I'm concerned, there are no problems"

but he maintains that there are no problems, as far as he is concerned.   He is willing to forgive her for not telling him that Ffion’s pregnancy was a secret.

"You shouldn't have said anything in the first place!"

“You’re forgiving me?” she exclaims, “You shouldn’t have said anything in the first place!   It’s the same old story with you – 

"I'm not sure I have the patience for this"

“I’m not sure I have the patience for this.”

"I don't know what mistakes I'm going to make in the future"

He appreciates that she has trouble trusting him after everything that has happened;  “I’m not going to promise that everything is going to be perfect – I don’t know what mistakes I’m going to make in the future – 

"I know it's you I want to be with"

“but here, now, I know it’s you I want to be with.”

"I'm not sure, Hywel"

Even after all this, Gaynor is still unsure, so he thinks that he might as well go, as it is obvious that she has already made her decision;  

Gaynor cuts off his escape at the front door

however, she tells him to wait.

Ffion looks out of the window

Ffion is dejectedly looking out of the flat window, as Rhys comes in;  

"I'm sorry about losing my temper"

“I’m sorry about losing my temper,” she tells him, “I was worried when you mentioned the menopause – about how it would affect our relationship,” 

"Nothing will do that, Ffi"

but he reassures her that nothing will do that.

“You say that now,” she goes on, but he judges that they are ‘solid’, and in any case, they do not know that this is the menopause.   

"I'll try to control my mood swings"

“Well, if it is, I’ll try my best to control my mood swings, all right?” she adds.

"It doesn't matter if we can't have any more children"

“I want you to know, it doesn’t matter if we can’t have any more children – we’ve got Arwen – as long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”   

"Promise you won't look at stupid websites for a diagnosis"

She wants him to promise not to look at stupid websites again for a diagnosis for her, and he agrees to do so, 

"On condition you make an appointment to see the doctor"

on condition that she makes an appointment to see the doctor.

"All right, I'll phone them now"

“All right – anything to shut you up!” she replies, I’ll phone them now.”   

Ffion looks downhearted

However, when he leaves the room, she throws down her phone.

"Things have been so good lately"

“Things have been so good between us lately – it’s been so nice to have you and Esther around – we’ve been like a family,” says Gaynor, so Hywel wonders what is the problem.   “I want to be angry with you when you do something wrong without having to have this big chat about trust and the past, and how many mistakes we’ve both made,” she continues, 

"I don't want to go back there every time we argue"

“I don’t want to go back there every time we argue.”

"Well, don't do it, then"

His solution is to tell her not to do so, then, 

"It's not that easy, Hywel"

but she points out that it is not that easy.   “It’s as easy or difficult as you want it to be,” he replies, “For me, it’s easy!” 

Gaynor is smiling at last

and they smile at each other.

"I don't know what I'm going to wear, Dai"

Diane is debating what to wear for her reading of the novel at the Writing Club;  

"You shouldn't do it"

Dai comes in and advises that she should not do it.   “We’re not going sell more now – everyone in Cwmderi who wants one has bought one.”   

"I'm a published author now!"

She is determined to do it, as she is a published author now, and will have to get used to doing things like this – if it goes well, they can organise more sessions.

"We haven't got time to go gallivanting!"

Dai exclaims, “Hold on now – we run a business in this village!   We haven’t got time to go gallivanting on a world tour!”   She answers that perhaps she will have to get herself another agent, 

"I could ask JK Rowling to recommend someone"

and suggests she could ask JK Rowling to recommend someone.   

"A sequel – Nefi Wen!"

Then she announces that she has had some ideas for a sequel as well;  Dai finds the thought of this very frightening.

"We should have invited Colin"

Gaynor and Hywel are celebrating in the Deri, and she thinks they should have invited Colin, 

"No – this bottle was expensive!"

but Hywel maintains that bottle was too expensive for the likes of him.   He proposes that he could start moving his stuff into Llwyncelyn tomorrow, but if he delays it until the weekend, Gaynor will be able to help him.

Geraint returns Ffion's scarf

Ffion has returned for her scarf, and Geraint hands it to her;  she wonders what they are celebrating.   

"I'm moving into Llwyncelyn permanently"

Hywel proudly announces that he is moving to live permanently at Llwyncelyn, 

"You're like a yo-yo!"

and Ffion laughs, “You’re like a yo-yo – you lived with Gaynor, then with Sheryl, and now back to Gaynor!   

"Watch he doesn't kick you out again!"

“Watch he doesn’t kick you out again!”

She adds, rather sarcastically, that she is very happy for them both, and wishes them good luck.   

"She's not going to spoil our night"

Gaynor has made up her mind not to let Ffion or anyone else spoil their night, 

"To us!"

and they drink a toast, “To us!”