24 February 2021

Siôn takes an interest in the Spanish lessons

Siôn is looking at the poster in the window of the café;  Non asks if he is interested, and confirms that it is taking place this afternoon.   

He boasts of his Spanish accomplishments

“I don’t want to brag, but my Spanish isn’t too bad,” he tells her, and she says that it will be a chance to practise.   “Hago so dola practica,” he goes on, “I could do with some practice,” 

"I thought that's what you were trying to say"

and she thought that was what he was trying to say.

Guto is unable to come

When Siôn goes into the café, Guto approaches;  “I’d like to come to this, but I can’t today,” he says, so Non volunteers to print the lesson off for him.   Apparently he is thinking of travelling.

DJ passes on the other side of the road . . .

DJ has just come out of the salon, and does his best to avoid Non;  

. . . and when Non shouts to him . . .

she shouts across to him, “The Spanish lessons start today – do you fancy it?”   

. . . says he has a lot to do

He replies that he has a lot to do and walks away, leaving her disappointed.   

"If I don't promote myself, who will?"

She tells Guto, “If I don’t promote myself, who’s going to?”   She will bring the lesson over to his house later.

Ffion calls after Guto 

As Guto continues along the street, Ffion comes out of the shop and calls to him, 

"Do you fancy going for a run?"

asking if he fancies going for a run later;  “I’m busy, actually!” he snaps, opens the door of number 10 

He does not seem very receptive

and slams it behind him.

Kath is also interested in Spanish

Kath also appears to be interested in Spanish, as she sits in Maes-y-Deri, practising some words;  when Mark comes in, she asks, “Donde Esta, Marco?”   

"Reminding yourself how to order a drink?"

He assumes that she is reminding herself how to order a drink in Spain, but she already knows that;  “Un cerveza por favor!” although he maintains that it should be ‘Una’.

"I think I should do to the Spanish lessons"

“I think I should go to these Spanish lessons,” Kath continues, but he considers that she is not likely to go to Spain any time soon;  his mother’s intention is to go and support Non, who is a bag of nerves when she has to stand in front of a class.   

"She doesn't seem nervous"

From what Mark has seen, she does not appear nervous about these Spanish lessons, but he is told that Non is just putting on a brave face.

Sioned is talking to Cassie

At Penrhewl, Sioned is on the phone to Cassie, and tells her mother, “They’re going to do sample menus for the wedding – we can call in later but I have to go and see the florist first.   You’re welcome to come with me.”   

"I'm pleased to see you're more certain in your mind"

Eileen is very pleased to see Sioned like this, more certain in her mind about everything.

"DJ and I understand each other now"

“I think DJ and I understand each other now,” Sioned confidently states, 

"Can't get married if you don't trust each other"

and her mother comments that she cannot go into a marriage if they do not trust each other.   

"But I'm not sure about Non"

“I can trust him – but I’m not sure about Non,” Sioned replies, “DJ says she’s fragile and has a lot of problems.”

Eileen does not see Non as a threat now, but her daughter points out, “Perhaps not, but you know what DJ’s like – he’s got a soft heart.   

"It's time she looked for comfort elsewhere!"

“I think it’s about time Non looked for comfort elsewhere!”

"Buenas Tardes"

Non is just starting her lesson, “Buenas tardes, good afternoon – bienvenidos, welcome.”   

"Is this the Spanish lesson?"

Someone walks into the Deri, asking if this is the Spanish lesson;  it is Brynmor Richards, who has not been seen since September 2019.   

"We've got a right show-off here!"

He apologises in fluent Spanish for his late arrival, which was caused by an accident in Llanarthur.

"Your Spanish is excellent"

Siôn is highly impressed, remarking that his Spanish is excellent, and Non suspects that her lessons may be too basic for him.   He explains, “I used to be in a relationship with a Spanish woman – Carmen – she was a woman and a half.   

"I learned a lot from her – including the language!"

“I learned a lot from her – including the language!”

Kath by this time has developed quite a dislike to this show-off, but he continues, “She broke my heart – and the bed, once!   I just try to take advantage of any opportunity to speak Spanish.”

"We only understand 'un cerveza por favor' here!"

Kath pipes up, “Well, we only understand ‘un cerveza por favor’ here!” 

"It's 'una cerveza', Kath"

and this time Siôn corrects her, pointing out that it is ‘una cerveza’.

"Life can be very lonely sometimes"

Brynmor goes on, “Of course I enjoy any excuse to go out and meet people – life can be very lonely sometimes can’t it?   

"Do you have a name?"

“Do you have a name?”   She assures him that she has, but Siôn reveals what it is.   “Nice to meet you, Kath,” says Brynmor.  

Non wants to get started

Non calls the class to attention and would like to get started, but at that moment Brynmor’s phone sounds.   

"Tinder – I like to keep my options open"

“Tinder,” he explains, “I always keep my options open, you see, Kath.”   Siôn is surprised that he is messing around with that dating business, but is told, “Is there any better way of meeting someone new?   You should try it yourself.”

"You'd get a 'right swipe' from me, Kath, every time!"

Then, looking straight at Kath, he adds, “You’d get a ‘right swipe’ from me, Kath, every time!”

She gives him a withering stare, groaning, 

"This one's more of a creep than you, John!"

“Good grief – this one’s more of a creep than you, John!” 

He does not appreciate that

which Siôn does not regard as a compliment.   Non is still trying to start the lesson.

Ffion comes to apologise

Guto has let Ffion into the house, where she tells him, “I owe you an apology – I know I was a bit odd last time we saw each other.”   

"It's up to you who you spend your time with"

He maintains that it is up to her who she spends her time with.

"A friend said I had a new toy boy"

She continues, “I enjoy spending time with you – a friend started pulling my leg and said I had a new toy boy.”   This makes Guto smile, as he points out she is old enough to be his mother.   

"A very young mother, perhaps!"

“A very young mother perhaps!” she protests.

"It's a shame people can't just . . . be friends"

“It’s a shame that people can’t just . . . be friends,” he says, and she admits she should not have let it affect her.   He concedes that it happens to everyone, 

"Do you want to go for a run with Granny later?"

and Ffion enquires if he wants to go for a run with ‘Granny’ later on.   

"Don't forget your Zimmer frame"

He would like that, and reminds her, “Don’t forget your Zimmer frame!”

"I'm organising a surprise for Gaynor"

At Llwyncelyn, Hywel is preparing to go out when Angharad, in a very short skirt, announces, “I’m organising a surprise for Gaynor and I need your help.   You don’t like this furniture, do you?   

"It's not quite Gaynor's style, is it?"

“Don’t get me wrong, I know poor Izzy was trying to help, but it’s not quite Gaynor’s style, is it?”

"You're about right there"

Hywel agrees on that score, and Angharad continues, “They’re horrible – I wanted to do something to cheer Gaynor up, 

"I've bought her some new furniture"

“so I’ve bought her some new furniture, and it’s arriving tomorrow.   All I want you to do is to keep Gaynor out of the way while it’s being delivered.”

"What can I say?"

Hywel is completely taken in by this;  “What can I say?   That’s very kind of you!”   

She is looking forward to seeing Gaynor's face

Angharad replies that seeing Gaynor’s face will give her more pleasure than he could ever imagine.

"It will be quite romantic, just you and me"

“Anyway, we’ll talk more about it tonight – Gaynor’s out, isn’t she?   I’ll make us some food, then – it will be quite romantic, just you and me.”   It looks as if he is worried about this, 

"Only pulling your leg, Hywel!"

but she says she is only pulling his leg.

Sioned has a coffee while she waits

Sioned is sipping a coffee in the street, waiting for Non to emerge from the Deri.   

Sioned is told that it was a Spanish lesson

Siôn thanks Non for the lesson, and she enlightens Sioned that it was a Spanish lesson, remarking that Brynmor’s Spanish was impressive.   

"Quite a character, isn't he?"

Siôn describes him as quite a character, and Non thought that he and Kath were going to have a fight at one point.

"I'm busy organising a wedding"

Sioned begins, “I’ve always wanted to speak another language, but I’m busy organising a wedding.   You and I should go for a drink some time – I know there’s history between you and DJ, 

"Much of your relationship was based on lies"

“and I have to admit I was uncertain about it to start with.   But as DJ said, so much of your relationship was based on lies, 

Non tries to look unconcerned

“it’s almost as if it wasn’t real.   And, fair play to him, he made it perfectly clear that he doesn’t have any feelings for you any more.   

"I'm not trying to be cruel" — oh, no, perish the thought

“I’m not trying to be cruel, I hope you know that – I’m glad that we understand each other.   

"Like a royal wedding, isn't it?"

“Right, I’d better go – I have to go to the florist and then the Deri to have the taster menu with Mam – it’s like a royal wedding, isn’t it?”

Non is definitely displeased

Non does not look very pleased with what she has heard.

Chatting over a glass of wine

As they sit in the semi-darkness at Llwyncelyn, Hywel thinks that the wine is going down too well;  

"I started to depend on it too much"

Angharad says that Merlot is her favourite and admits, “After Delyth . . . I started to depend on it a little too much, so I try to drink moderately.   It can be a slippery slope.”

"Nothing helps, does it?"

He recalls that he was also looking for something to ease the pain and help him sleep, but nothing helps.   

"Alcohol and grief is not a good combination"

“It’s a shame Jeremy doesn’t understand that,” she goes on, “I had such a shock when I saw him at the funeral – alcohol and grief is not a good combination.”

"It can't have been easy for you"

Hywel says that it cannot have been easy for her, going through all that without a partner;  “At least, Sheryl and I had each other when Meilyr . . .”   Angharad regards him as lucky, and asks if he misses Sheryl.

"But I'm with Gaynor now"

“Yes, I think about her almost every day – she was a very special woman.   I don’t know if she was my soul-mate, but we had a strong bond – anyway there we are, I’m glad I’m with Gaynor now.”   

"They sound very different"

Angharad thinks that Sheryl and Gaynor sound very different, but he insists that Gaynor is dependable, solid, and they have a lot of fun together.

"I hope I shall be as lucky one day"

Angharad considers she is a very lucky woman to have found him;  she hopes that she will be as lucky one day.   Then she decides it is time for their food, 

The sight of all that leg . . .

and as she bends down in front of the oven, 

. . . interests 'Casanova' Llywelyn 

Hywel looks at her with considerable interest.

"Is it true what you said?"

Non rushes into Bryntirion, insisting that she has to see DJ;  “I saw Sioned – is it true?   That you said our relationship was a lie.   “That it wasn’t real and you don’t feel anything for me any more.   Is it true?   Did you say that?”

"I did say something like that"

He agrees that he did, or at least something like that, but she cannot believe that he thought the relationship was a lie;  “Because the love I felt that you wasn’t a lie!   And I don’t think your feelings were, either.”

"That doesn't mean we would have been happy"

DJ stresses, “That doesn’t mean we would have been happy after what you did!”   

"Are you going to be happy with Sioned?"

Non wonders if he thinks he is going to be happy with Sioned – happier than if she and he tried again.

“Good grief, Non – we had our chance – it’s too late, and anyway, I’ve promised,” he tells her, but she insists that he cannot throw his life away just because he promised.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

“Why are you doing this to me?” he demands, “You’ve ruined my life once – and now you want to do it again!”   She acknowledges that she ruined both of their lives and that is why she is there;  

"If you would just give us a chance"

she alleges that they could be genuinely happy together, if he would just give them a chance.

DJ is intransigent until . . .

Up to this point, DJ seems to be determined, 

. . . she unbuttons her blouse . . .

but when she informs him, “I want you,” unbuttons her blouse

. . . and slips it from her shoulders

 and slips it from her shoulders, things looks as if they are changing.

"I enjoy meeting new people"

Brynmor tells Kath that he enjoyed the lesson today, which she regards as odd, considering he knew more than the teacher.   “As I said, enjoy meeting new people,” he goes on.

"Yeah, as long as they're women!"

“Yeah, as long as they’re women!” she replies, and he accuses her of being scared to admit that they all have their needs.

“It’s nice to have someone to dress up for sometimes, isn’t it?” he says, as his phone sounds, 

His date is waiting outside for him

and he remarks that his date is waiting for him outside.   “Enjoy your night – I know I will!” he smirks.

Sioned is deep in thought

Elsewhere in the Deri, Sioned is still looking concerned as her mother asks if she has made up her mind;  

"Prawns or Feta and Spinach?"

“The prawns or the feta and spinach?”   

"I was thinking about Garry Monk"

“Believe it or not, I was thinking about Garry Monk,” says Sioned, “Do you remember that time?   I was determined to have him, wasn’t I?”   

"Nigel Huws – when I was 16"

Eileen remarks that they all like a bad boy sometimes, as she remembers Nigel Huws;  “I was 16 years old and I had such a big crush on him – I couldn’t talk when I was in the same room as him.   We had a snog in a party – 

"After that, your father asked me out"

“before he went off with Janice, the girl everyone fancied.   Not long after that, your father asked me to go out with him, 

"Did you go out with him?"

“but I was still in love with Nigel Huws.   

"Men like Denzil and DJ have more backbone"

“Your father didn’t give up – men like Denzil and DJ have more backbone then all the Garrys, Dylans and Nigel Huwses of this world.   You’re going to be happy with him – stop doubting yourself.  

Sioned has a decision to make

And make a decision – prawns or spinach?”

We can all surmise what they have been doing

As Non come downstairs, tidying her hair, DJ comments, “I thought you were going to wait until you were married?” 

"I don't regret what we did!"

but she does not regret what they have done, and is confident that he does not, either.

"This doesn't change anything!"

“This doesn’t change anything!” he insists, “I’m still engaged to Sioned – and I’m not the type of bloke who has affairs.”

"Your heart said it's right"

“No, you’d never do something like this unless your heart says it’s right,” replies Non, and again he emphasises that it does not change anything.   

"You love her more that you love me?"

“Because you love her more than you love me?” Non snarls, “A fair question under the circumstances.   If you really love Sioned, it shouldn’t make any difference that I have come back.”

"Please, Non, go!"

DJ groans that this should not have happened, and he regrets it;  “Please, Non, go!”   She picks up her coat and does as he suggests.

"I can't wait to see the new sofa!"

“I can’t wait for you to see the new sofa!” enthuses Angharad, 

"I can't believe how generous you've been"

and Hywel cannot believe how generous she has been.   “I know how fragile she can be,” she adds, 

"Fragile?   She's  one of the strongest people I know"

and Hywel does not agree with that evaluation, arguing that she is one of the strongest people he knows.

"When a person  like that breaks . . ."

“But when a person like that breaks, they break worse than anyone,” Angharad stresses, 

"Like when she had that breakdown"

“Like when she had that breakdown – sorry, I thought you knew about it.”   

"I didn't know anything about that"

He demands that she tell him.

"Promise not to tell Gaynor"

“Do you promise not to tell Gaynor?   A couple of months before the degree exams, she was working all the time, she wasn’t sleeping.   The truth is she was trying to impress this lecturer, Deiniol Richards.   

"She had a huge crush – he was married"

“She had a huge crush on him – I don’t know if anything happened, but he was married.   Anyway, something went wrong – perhaps he finished the affair or something, but she was in a very dark place.   We were all worried about her, 

"An old bike pushed her over the edge"

“but the one thing that pushed her over the edge, as it were, was an old bike.   College can be a very cruel place – someone left an old bike outside her room with her name on it.

"To imply she was like an old bike!"

Hywel assumes, “To imply that Gaynor was like an old bike!”   He is told that on top of all the lack of sleep and all the strain she became paranoid, thinking that all her friends were plotting against her.

"I had no idea"

Hywel is dumbfounded and had no idea;  “She’d be mortified if she knew I had told you,” Angharad warns, and he swears not to say a word, but considers it odd that she has not said anything about the incident.

"I can see the little signs, Hywel"

“She’s probably ashamed – that’s why I’m doing this – the furniture and all this support.   Because I can see little signs – I’m not sure if I’m right, Hywel.”   He is glad that he knows now, and is very concerned, which is, of course, exactly what Angharad intended.

Angharad has been recording this conversation . . . 

He will go and fetch another bottle, and as he does so, Angharad picks up her phone from the table, and turns off the voice recorder;  

. . . and looks satisfied with the way her plan is going

she looks happy with the progress of her plan.