6 September 2022

Sioned is not happy, again

Sioned is sitting glumly in the Deri when DJ comes in, carrying the Western Post;  

"You can't avoid me for ever, Sioned!"

she immediately tells him, “I came in here for a bit of peace!”

He points out that she cannot avoid him for ever;  

"For the hundredth time – she kissed me, right?"

“For the hundredth time – she kissed me, right?”   Sioned insists that she should have been told, and he assures her that it was all from her mother’s side.

“I can believe that – she has a habit of throwing herself at men!” Sioned growls, “You never keep anything like that from me again – understand?   I mean it!”   He thinks that she had better read the paper, 

The article does not go down well with Sioned 

and displays the double-page-spread about ‘A Cwmderi Success Story:  Eileen Probert’.   Needless to say, Sioned is not impressed.

"It's like Niagara Falls out there!"

Britt suddenly dashes in, shouting, “Plunger!   Is there a plunger here?   It’s like Niagara Falls out there!”   

Eifion contacts Iolo the plumber

She tells Eifion to phone Iolo, quickly.

"What are you doing, Gaynor?"

At Llwyncelyn, Gaynor, lady of leisure, carries various dishes of nibbles to the sofa, and Hywel demands what she is doing.   

"The Welsh Wordle – what do you think?"

“The Welsh Wordle!” she sarcastically replies, “What do you think I’m doing?   I’m going to enjoy myself for a little while.”

"You've done a lot of that recently"

He remarks that she has done a lot of that recently, then shouts to Esther to hurry up, adding, “I don’t remember seeing Serena playing in a dressing gown,” 

Gaynor has no idea what he is talking about

and noticing Gaynor’s blank expression, goes on, “The parent and child tennis session.”

"Oh – is that today?"

It dawns on Gaynor that it is today;  he stresses that he has told her several times that he is very busy with meetings.   

"And make a bit of an effort with Esther!"

“And please make a bit of an effort with Esther today!” he adds as he leaves the house.

Ffion walks past the shop

Ffion walks along the street, carrying her briefcase when Siôn runs across from the bookshop to talk to her.   

"Have you got a minute, Ffion?"

“I know you’re busy, but have you got a minute?” he says, 

"It's teacher training today"

and Ffion replies that she has teacher training today;  she is also trying to keep Arwen happy.   

Siôn had heard about her antics, and Ffion admits that she was at fault;  

"About the books for school . . ."

Siôn wants to discuss the books for school, but she does not know what he is talking about.   “Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 – Cai wants you to see that he’s taking his new rôle seriously.”

"What's wrong with the guy?"

“What’s wrong with the guy?” she demands, and Siôn wishes that he had not mentioned it;  

She continues on her way . . .

as she continues on her way to school, 

. . . just as Mark's car arrives

a car pulls up outside the salon.   

He rings the bell but there is no answer

Mark gets out and rings the doorbell of the flat above.

Kath is becoming more mobile

Kath with her walking frame, accompanied by Brynmor, is approaching, by the shop and notices Mark trying to get an answer.   “Where are you two going, then – the Bethania Sunday school trip?” he laughs.   Brynmor replies that they cannot have a trip in the car without some snacks.

"Someone has to keep an eye on you"

Apparently Kath has decided that she should go with Mark and Andrea to this meeting with Alex;  “Someone has to keep an eye on you and make sure you don’t stick your nose where you shouldn’t.”   

"I'n just trying to help the sort things out"

He reminds her of that he is just trying to help Andrea and Alex sort things out, but she goes on, “Remember that it’s Andrea’s business – where is she?”   

There is still no response

He does not know and rings the doorbell again.

Gaynor suddenly remembers Esther

At Llwyncelyn, Gaynor is watching the television and eating snacks when she remembers Esther has to go to tennis;  she makes a phone call.   

She pretends to have a terrible cough

“Hiya, Catrin,” she says, and coughs, “It’s Gaynor – I’m not well at all – would it be all right for Esther to come with you and Mared to the tennis this afternoon?”   

"It would be a shame  for her to lose out"

She coughs again for effect, before adding, “It would be a shame for her to lose out.”   

Then she gets back to TV and snacks

Then she resumes her television programme.

Eileen revels in the publicity

Eileen is looking very gratified at the article in the Western Post;  Jinx comes in earlier than usual, 

Jinx arrives early for his deliveries

explaining that he wants to spend some time with Arwen and Ffion this afternoon.   She shows him the newspaper article, 

"No mention of the delivery service"

and he exclaims, “Ah –here it is!” but as he scans its contents, he finds no mention of his delivery service by bicycle.   “Strange – it says there’s an emphasis on being green, but there isn’t a word about me and the bike – 

"Did you mention the eco-friendly deliveries?"

did you mention the eco-friendly deliveries?”   

"Oh – I must have forgotten"

Eileen says that she must have forgotten 

"One would think you run the business on your own"

and he concludes, “One would almost think that you run the business on your own, reading that.”   She makes it clear that she does work hard and it is her business.   He invites her to enjoy her five minutes of fame;  

"Hope it's nopt too lonely at the top!"

“I hope it’s not too lonely at the top!”   

She does not appreciate that

Eileen looks affronted by this.

Strange – Iolo does not seem to know what was wrong

Iolo says he has sorted out the plumbing problem at the Deri, and is asked by Eifion, “How were you after Swansea?   I was a wreck – it was a late tonight but it was worth it.   

"Adam was a looker, wasn't he?"

“Adam was a looker, wasn’t he?   We’ll have to do it again.”

When he suggests a pint tonight to Iolo, 

"I'm making dinner tonight"

his offer is refused, as Iolo is on the rota to make dinner tonight.   Eifion considers his attitude rather odd.

"She knew what time we were leaving"

Mark is still waiting, and Kath regards it as strange, because Andrea knew what time they were leaving;  

"She hasn't been on WhatsApp since yesterday"

“She hasn’t been on WhatsApp since 2:45pm yesterday,” Mark says.

Kath thinks that she might have lost her phone;  

"Or dropped her phone down the toilet, like you did!"

“Or dropped it down the toilet, like you did in Torremolinos.”   Mark hopes that she has not had an accident, and Kath hates to think that she is unable to get to the door.

"And Jaclyn's murderer is still out there"

Brynmor casually remarks, “And Jaclyn’s murderer is still out there.”   

He gets some dirty looks 

They look at him accusingly.

"What's this about you ordering books?"

Ffion goes to Y Felin;  “What’s this about you ordering books for the school?” she growls, and Cai realises that Siôn has opened his big mouth.  He argues that he was just trying to help.   

"There's a protocol for these things!"

“There’s a protocol for these things – it goes out to tender,” she reprimands him.

"We could save the hassle"

“We could save the hassle – what’s the problem?” he asks, and is told that he cannot just hand out work to his friends.

"Who do you think you are – Matt Hancock?"

“Who do you think you are – Matt Hancock?   And you’ve ordered far too many books – 

"You've no idea what a mess this is!"

“you’ve got no idea what a mess this is!”   

"You're making a mountain out of a molehill"

Cai simply accuses her of making a mountain out of a molehill.  

"No – I'm taking my job seriously!"

“No – what I’m doing is taking my job seriously,” she stresses, “It’s a shame you won’t do the same!”

Mark has gone inside

Mark appears to have somehow acquired a key to the salon flat, and has gone upstairs, while Kath and Brynmor wait anxiously outside.   Brynmor thinks that he will call an ambulance, but Kath assumes that Andrea has simply been held up somewhere.   

"Why is he taking so long?"

“Why is he taking so long, then?” Brynmor demands.

"She's gone!"

Eventually Mark reappears, announcing, “She’s gone!” and Brynmor assumes that he means that she is dead, 

"Right – I'll call the police!"

so now he is going to call the police, but is told, “Hang on – she’s gone – she’s left!   

"She's left this behind!"

“She’s taken everything and left this behind.”   He produces Andrea’s phone with a post-it note attached, reading, ‘Sori Mark’.  “After everything I’ve done for her, she’s done a runner!”   He walks away in disgust.

"Tell Siôn he's welcome to apply for the work . . ."

Ffion thinks that she has managed to sort out the book problem;  “Tell Siôn he is welcome to apply for the work when the process starts – 

". . . but he'll have to go through the same steps as everyone else"

“but he’ll have to go through the same steps as everyone else.”   

"What's he supposed to do with the books?"

Cai wonders what Siôn is supposed to do with the books in the meantime, and she answers, “That’s up to you two.”

"I've shown some initiative and you can't stand it"

He puts it down to jealousy;  “I’ve shown some initiative and you can’t stand it.”   

"How many times have I had to watch your back?"

In reply, Ffion says that he has no idea how many times she has had to watch his back lately – and he still has not actually started the job.   “I’ve never drunk at school,” is his riposte.

"Homophobia, misogyny – it all comes out in the Deri!"

“But you make up for in the Deri!” snarls Ffion, “Homophobia, misogyny – it all comes out there, doesn’t it?”   At that moment Arwen comes in through the open door, reminding her mother that they need face masks for tonight.   

"Mr Rossiter and I are done"

“Yes, I know – Mr Rossiter and I are done.”

"Stay out of my way for the rest of term!"

Then she forcibly points out to Cai, “Do me a favour – stay out of my way tomorrow – and for the rest of the term!”

With that she walks out of the house, 

"Loser!"

and Arwen, after sneering, “Loser!” at Cai, follows her.

In the Deri, Colin is also looking at the Western Post.   

"Iolo was a bit miserable"

Eifion remarks to Britt that Iolo was a bit miserable earlier;  “Don’t pretend you didn’t notice – you’d think I’d been rolling around in manure or something.   Has he said anything?”

"You were supposed to be in Swansea with Iolo, not Adam!"

She points out, “You was supposed to be in Swansea with Iolo – not Adam!”   Eifion maintains that Iolo is old enough to get a taxi on his own, or perhaps he is too tight.

"I'm getting tired of this place"

“Do you know what?   With everything, I’m getting tired of this place.   I’m going to phone Cadno to ask if I can have the boys for a while.   At least they don’t sulk over the smallest things.”

So this 'flood' business was all a ploy

Colin comes to the conclusion, “So Operation Stopcock didn’t work, then?”   

Then Britt is shown the Western Post article . . . 

He shows her the newspaper article 

. . . which does nothing to improve her humour

and she looks furious.

"Why leave like that without saying a word?"

“I just can’t believe it!” says Kath, back home at Cysgod y Glyn, “Why just leave like that without saying a word?   I thought we were friends.”   

"I don't know, Mam"

Mark does not know the answer to that.

“Did you say something to her?” she goes on, “To spook her like this?” and he replies that of course he did not.   

"Don't argue, now"

Brynmor urges them not to argue, 

"Did you say you wanted to be 'more than friends'?"

and then Kath enquires, “Did you say you wanted to be more than ‘friends’, then?” 

"We're friends and that is all"

but he points out that they are friends and that is all.

She is convinced that he must have said something on the phone last night, but he grumbles, 

"I'm not listening to this nonsense!"

“I’m not listening to this nonsense!” and walks out.   

Brynmor simply shakes his head

Brynmor shakes his head.

Ffion and Arwen get back to Cysgod y Glyn 

Ffion and Arwen arrive back at Cysgod y Glyn, 

"There's salmon in the oven"

where Jinx informs them, “There’s salmon in the oven – brain food for tomorrow!”   

"We're having curry!"

Arwen breaks the news that they are having curry;  Ffion was under the impression that he was working tonight, and he says that he has had a tough day, to be honest.

"Did someone steal your bike?"

“Did someone steal your bike?” Arwen, rather flippantly asks, and he says that his problem is related to the bike.

"Not a word about my contribution"

“Look at this – not a word about my contribution,” he moans.   

"Well, you don't make jams and chutneys"

After looking at the article, Ffion points out that he does not make jams and chutneys;  

"I've been sycling like Geraint Thomas on acid!"

he protests that he has been cycling around the village like Geraint Thomas on acid, and Ffion concedes that he has been working hard.

"Are we having our facial now?"

“Are we having our facial now?” Arwen wants to know, 

"We're going to have a pamper"

and Ffion tells Jinx that they are going to have a pamper, and the curry is for later on.   

"You can peel my face mask when I'm done!"

“Don’t worry – you can peel my face mask when I’m done!” says Arwen, as they disappear into the bedroom.

Esther comes back, very exuberant . . .

Gaynor is still reclining when Esther returns, very excited, from her tennis;  “I learned loads – do you want to see my serve?” she asks, but Gaynor does not consider it a good idea in the house.   

. . . but her serve . . .

Regardless of this, Esther demonstrates, and unfortunately the ball knocks something from the sideboard.

. . . has disastrous consequences

“Oh, Esther!” screams Gaynor, “Look what you’ve done!   You’ve broken Izzy’s candle!”   

"Sorry"

When the child says that she is sorry, 

"Sorry isn't going to fix this – what's wrong with you?"

Gaynor continues, “Sorry?   Sorry isn’t going to fix this, is it?   Stupid girl!   What’s wrong with you?”

Esther immediately retires upstairs in tears, 

Hywel comes to investigate

and Hywel investigates what all the shouting is about;  

Gaynor gathers the broken pieces

Gaynor picks up the broken pieces.

How can he message Andrea?   She left her phone behind

At number 7, Mark is looking at his phone, and sending a message to Andrea, asking if everything is OK, when Iolo returns to the house.   He has to grab some trainers for Greta and can see that something is troubling Mark.

"Ever had a friend dump you?"

“Have you ever had a friend dump you?” he asks, “Just disappear without saying a word?   

"She moved out and left a message for me"

Andrea – she moved out of the flat and just left her mobile there, and a message saying sorry to me.   No explanation – no warning – no nothing.”   

Iolo asks if they had fallen out, and agrees that it is odd;  

"She might be hiding something – you know, like Wilko"

“She might be hiding something – you know, like Wilko,” he suggests, “He wasn’t what everyone thought he was.”

"Don't compare Andrea with that lunatic!"

Mark will not tolerate his comparing Andrea with that lunatic, and then the phone sounds with a reply from Andrea; 

Wherever he sent his message, it has elicited a reply

‘You and your family deserve better – you won’t hear from me again.’   He is absolutely speechless.

"I'm sure she wasn't trying to hurt you"

Iolo comes back downstairs with the trainers, and explains, “What I’m trying to say, Mark, is that we can’t really know a person – don’t take this to heart, but I’m sure Andrea was not trying to hurt you – 

Mark does not know what to think

“look after yourself.”

"After everything your mother did for her"

In the Deri, Britt is looking suspiciously at Tesni, who is at the other end of the bar;  “That article is disgusting, after everything your mother did for her, too.”

“Well, Eileen doesn’t care about anyone but herself,” is Tesni’s reply, 

"Like other people on this place!"

“Like other people in this place!” as she looks accusingly at Britt.

"Eileen can stuff her Cae flipping Glas produce . . ." 

Britt declares, “Well, Eileen can stuff her Cae flipping Glas produce right up . . .” then she notices Sioned come in.

“Don’t worry – I agree with you,” she says, “Mam is a selfish cow – I don’t want anything to do with her any more.   

"Would you like to buy a share of Cae Glas?"

“Listen, would you like to buy a share of Cae Glas?   I own half of it – what do you say?   £10,000?”

"We don't have that sort of money"

Colin gulps, “We don’t have that sort of money, love!”   Sioned tells Britt to imagine Mam’s face when she finds out who her new business partner is, 

"Think about it at least"

and urges them to think about it at least – they know where to find her.

"Raid magpie nests?"

Britt rather fancies the idea, but Colin enquires, “What does she expect us to do – raid magpie nests?”

Eileen is depressed . . .

At Penrhewl, Eileen does not look happy;  she looks across to where the Western Post is lying on the table 

. . . and destroys the Western Post 

and angrily screws it up, throwing it down.

They have finished pampering

After their pampering, Arwen and Ffion creep back into the room and are determined to apply some face cream to Jinx;  

"We want to make you pretty!"

“We want to make you pretty!” insists Arwen.   

"I'm fine as I am"

He maintains that he is fine as he is, 

"No – he's pretty enough"

and Ffion agrees he is pretty enough.

"I'm off to bed . . ."

Arwen announces, “I’m off to bed – you’ve put me off the curry – 

". . . you can snog, now that I'm out of the way!"

“and anyway, you can snog, now that I’m out of the way!”   

"It was Arwen's idea"

Ffion tells Jinx it was Arwen’s idea, as she wanted him to know how much they appreciate him, even if Eileen does not.

Jinx has that look again . . .

Jinx looks into Ffion’s eyes and decides that he had better have an early night as well;  “Lots to do tomorrow – good night.”   

. . . as does Ffion

Ffion looks as if she might be thinking about what Arwen said.

"Somthing smells good"

Cai lays the table in Y Felin and Siôn remarks that something smells good;  Cai reports that Iolo is not in a good mood.   

"Did you have a word with Ffion?"

“Did you have a word with Ffion,” Siôn asks, but is told that she refused, although Cai tried everything.

“To be honest, you’ve made things a bit awkward for me now – did you have to tell Ffion about those books?”   

"Take your pick"

Before any more can be said, Iolo comes in with three ready meals;  he invites them to take their pick.

Siôn objects to ready meals . . .

“The whole point of the food rota was to avoid ready meals,” pontificates Siôn, but Iolo says that he did not have time 

. . . but Iolo simply takes the lasagne . . .

and picks up the lasagne.   

. . . and his father looks none too happy

Siôn sits down at the table and looks disapprovingly at what is in front of him.

Gaynor expects some condemnation

Gaynor, still in her dressing gown and lounging on the sofa, is confronted by Hywel who has just come downstairs.   

"I don't know where we go from here"

“I don’t know where we go from here!” he snarls, “It’s like you’re determined to push her away.”   

"I'm not trying to do that"

Gaynor says that she is not trying to do that.

“She’s a little girl – you’re punishing her for something she has nothing to do with.   

"Don't make me have to choose between you"

“Don’t put me in a position where I have to choose between you – you won’t like the answer!”