5 October 2022

First steps in piano . . .

Today Gaynor is giving Esther some elementary piano tuition;  “If you can play three notes straight after each other . . .”   

. . . 'Three Blind Mice'

Esther does so, and is informed that now she can play ‘Three Blind Mice’;  “That was the first song Izzy learned.”

"Sorry for waking you, Hywel"

As Hywel comes into the room, Esther wants to play ‘Let it Go’ next, and Gaynor apologises for waking him.   

"An interesting alarm clock"

He describes it as, “An interesting alarm clock,” and Esther tells him that she can play the piano now.   

"Probably the new 'Ave Maria'!"

Gaynor anticipates that it may be the new ‘Ave Maria’.

Dylan is still very fearful

Dylan, whose hair looks a complete mess, is looking through the blind in the Deri flat, and hears Dani’s voice telling the children that they do not want to be late for school.   

"You've been busy since we left"

She looks around the room to see the state of devastation and comments, “You’ve been busy since we left.”

His excuse is that he did not expect her to be home so soon, and she says that she has a lot to do before meeting her tutor tomorrow.   

"Perhaps you shouldn't go"

“I’ve been thinking – perhaps you shouldn’t go – anyone could turn up!” he warns, 

"Not this again, Dylan!"

but she does not want to go through all this again.   

“Jaclyn’s murderer is still out there,” he goes on, but Dani points out that they could be out there for months, or even years, and he must not them control his life.

“You said this paranoia would stop!” she snarls, 

"I am trying"

and he maintains that he is trying.   

"If you try to control us . . ."

“If you try to control us, I’ll have to ask you to leave,” and with that, she walks out of the room.

Mathew studies his phone

Mathew is looking at his phone in APD when Jinx comes in for a lightbulb, and is asked whether he wants a standard, globe or spotlight.   

"One that gives you light"

“One that gives you light, for the ceiling,” is the reply, so Mathew hands one over.

"Can I ask you for some advice?"

“Can I ask you for some advice?” he says, “I’m trying to organise a surprise for Ken and Tegwen – and I’m worried that it might be too much.   It’s difficult, because I’m not Ken’s father, am I?”

"What's the surprise, then?"

Jinx appreciates that he does not want to step on anyone’s toes, and asks what is the surprise, but Mathew is reluctant to say.   “Is it something big?” is the next question, 

"Will it make them happy?   Go for it, then!"

“Will it make them happy?   Go for it, then!

“I’ve found with Arwen that memories are important, not things.   You’re a good guy, Mathew – Tegwen and Ken are very lucky to have you.”   

Rather expensive light bulb

Mathew is very grateful for this advice, but still requires Jinx to pay £2.50 for the light bulb.

"Raising other people's children isn't easy"

“Raising other people’s children isn’t easy,” he remarks, as he gets out his credit card, “But it’s worth it.”   Mathew returns to looking at his phone.

"I've got so many fond memories of this place"

Anita, accompanied by Kelly, is back at number 1o;  “I’ve got so many fond memories of this place,” she says.

"Selling it will not erase the memories"

Kelly points out that selling the place will not erase her memories;  “He’s only valuing it today – just listen to what he has to say and take it from there.   

"Don't say anything about . . . you know what"

“Auntie Neet, don’t say anything about . . . you know – you don’t want him to lower the price, do you?”

Anita is confident that he will not do that, as he is on commission, and he works for Ieuan, then there is a knock at the door.   

Rhys is in estate agent mode

Rhys comes in and launches into his estate agent patter;  “Thank you for inviting me over here today.”

"I just want you to give me a price"

Anita simply wants him to give her a price today;  “Before I start, is there anything you want to say about the house?”   Anita and Kelly look at each other.

“You do know why I want to sell, don’t you?” Anita tells him, 

"Right, I'll start upstairs"

and he acknowledges that he does;  he will start upstairs.

"I just happened to be passing"

Mathew is counting stock at APD when Tegwen comes in unexpectedly, as she happened to be passing.   “No you weren’t, because you’re working at Brynawelon today,” he says, 

"You want to find out what the surprise is"

“But you thought you would come over to find out what the surprise is.”

"You might as well tell me"

“No, but now that I’m here, you might as well tell me,” she answers, and he eventually agrees, 

"Do you have hats, coats and scarves?"

asking if they have hats, gloves and scarves, also whether they are on Santa’s good list.   

"You're being annoying now!"

“You’re being annoying now – just tell me!” she snaps.

"We're going to Lapland!"

Jinx has just returned to the shop as Mathew explains, “I’ve booked for us all to go to Lapland!”   

She cannot believe her ears, and Jinx realises that was the surprise;  he is sure that Ken will love it.   “Come over tonight and we can book a hotel,” Mathew tells her.

"He has rugby training tonight"

Tegwen starts making excuses, that Ken has rugby training tonight, and that she will phone him;  

She is in a hurry to leave

she seems in a hurry to leave.   

"We're going to have an amazing time!"

Mathew predicts, “We’re going to have an amazing time!”

Jinx says that Mathew is full of surprises, but not very good at finding bulbs, as this one does not fit.

Gabriel is going for a walk

Dylan is taking Gabriel for a walk 

"Remembered how to put shoes on, have you?"

and meets Dani and Gwern coming the other way;  “Oh, you’ve remembered how to put shoes on, then,” she sarcastically comments, 

"Careful – don't wake him"

and Dylan warns her not to wake the baby.   He also apologises for the mess in the flat, and wonders why Gwern is not at school.

It appears that there was a school trip today, and he missed the bus, so Dani is in his bad books.   

"We would have a gaming session"

Dylan proposes that they could have a gaming session this afternoon, maintaining that he has been practising.   

"Thanks for making an effort"

Dani thanks Dylan for making an effort, which she realises is not easy.

Lurking in the background is Gwyneth . . . 

As she walks away, we see, reflected in the bookshop window, that Gwyneth is watching, 

. . . with a particularly sour look

with a malicious look on her face.

Anita looks at a photo

Anita is looking at a photograph of herself with Meic;  

"Do you think Meic would be happy?"

“Do you think Meic would be happy if I did sell?” she asks Kelly, who replies that he would not want her to be scared in her own home.   “We’ve had a lot of fun here, haven’t we?”

Kelly remembers one particular episode

Kelly remembers Anita and Meic on the sofa, and Anita quickly interrupts, “We were only having a cwtch!”   Rhys comes in from the garden, having completed his survey, 

"I suggest around £200,000"

and cannot give them a specific price until he is back in the office, but he suggests putting it on the market for around £200,000, 

"As much as that?"

which comes as rather surprise to Anita.

“It’s the perfect house for a first-time buyer – I can get it on the market today.”   

"But shall we struggle to sell it?"

Anita worries if they will struggle to sell it, considering what happened there, but he reminds her, “It’s not just local people who buy here – 

"A lot of people would turn it into an AirBnB"

“a lot of people would buy it to turn it into an AirBnB, so it doesn’t matter, does it?”

"I wouldn't be happy with that!"

This concerns Anita, who would not be at all happy with that;  “I want to sell to someone who wants to live here,” she exclaims, 

"Like the holiday home you have with Siôn"

but Rhys maintains that there is nothing wrong with holiday homes – like the one she has with Siôn ('Morawel' in Aberporth, which has not been mentioned since July 2019) .

"Have to keep the boss's partner happy!"

He returns to the office, remarking, “I have to make sure I keep the boss’s partner happy!”

"Two hundred grand!"

Kelly gasps, “Two hundred grand!   I bet you haven’t got cold feet any more,” 

"Meic wouldn't want me to turn that down"

and Anita doubts if Meic would be happy if she turned her back on that sort of money.   “No way!” agrees Kelly.

"I don't want to go to Lapland"

Tegwen has come up to the shop flat at lunchtime to talk to Mathew;  “Which do you want – ham or tuna?” he asks, but she announces that she does not want to go to Lapland.   

“I want to, of course I do, but I can’t!   I can’t afford trips like that – I haven’t got £75 for a passport, let alone flights and a hotel.”   

"Look, I'm paying, Tegwen"

He makes it clear that he is paying, but she is adamant that she does not want him to.

“I’ve never expected a man to pay, and I’m not going to start now – I don’t want to be in debt to you,” she insists.

"I love how independent you are"

“I love how independent you are – and please don’t ever change – but I really want to do this for you and Ken,” he argues, but she describes the trip as a bit extravagant – she does not live like that.   “Nor me – I’ve never done something like this before,” he replies, 

"I want to create memories with you"

“I want to create memories with you – and I always wanted to go to Lapland when I was young.”

"So you're using Ken and me?"

“So you’re using Ken and me?” she laughs.   He knows that it is a bit OTT, 

"I want to show how much you mean to me"

but he wants to show her how much she means to him – and they will have so much fun.   Tegwen insists that she will pay for everything out there, and every takeaway until Christmas;  

"Check with me before booking anything"

“And you check with me before booking anything from now on.”   

"I'm so excited!"

She confesses that she is so excited 

Mathew hugs her

and Mathew hugs her.

Dylan is about to get a nasty surprise

Dylan has returned to the Deri flat when Gwyneth quietly walks in and surprises him;   

"I didn't hear you come in"

“I just didn’t hear you come in,” he says, and she jokes that she moves like a ballerina.   

"I've come to see Gwern"

She has come to see Gwern, 

"Gwern, your mother's here!"

and Dylan shouts to him that his mother is there.

"I got a text from Tesni yesterday"

She continues, “I got a text from Tesni yesterday – she is as well as can be expected, but still worried that the murderer is out there – like you, probably.”   

"We can't live in fear for ever"

He says that they cannot live in fear for ever, and he is not going to let something like this control him.

When Gwern comes in, she remarks on him missing the bus for the trip, 

"I didn't really mind"

but he says that he did not really mind, as he did not want to see a castle anyway.   

"We could do something together this afternoon"

“We could do something together this afternoon,” Gwyneth suggests, but he replies that he is playing PlayStation with Dylan, and he has not played it since getting back.

"You could play it with your mother"

When Dylan suggests that he could play with his mother, he answers, “She’s rubbish!”   She points out that she has been unable to practise for years, 

"We could do something tomorrow"

and he wants to do something tomorrow instead, 

Gwyneth leaves the flat

so Gwyneth leaves, disappointed.   

Have Dylan's suspicions been aroused?

Dylan looks rather suspicious about her attitude.

The 'For Sale' notice is going up

Jinx walks along the street to find a ‘For Sale’ notice being attached to number 10, with Rhys supervising;  

"I don't blame her"

he is surprised that Anita is selling, but does not blame her.   

When Rhys reveals that the asking price is £200,000, 

"Who can afford that locally?"

Jinx demands, “Who cannot afford that locally?   This will be a holiday home – like that posh flat you’ve got.”   

"Just doing my job, Jinx"

Rhys says that he is just doing his job;  “And enjoying the commission,” Jinx adds.

As Rhys invites him for a drink and heads towards the Deri, 

Jinx shouts after Rhys

Jinx shouts after him, “I hope it will still be open in the winter, after you’ve turned this place into a holiday village!”   

Gwyneth comes along the street and they both look at the ‘For Sale’ sign.

Gaynor has been cooking

Gaynor has been doing some cooking when Hywel returns from his meeting, 

"That meeting went on and on"

complaining that it went on and on.   Esther has only just got back from the Urdd club, 

"Have you seen how much sugar is in those bought ones?"

and Gaynor exclaims, “Have you seen how much sugar is in the ones we put in her lunchbox?   Esther says that these are nicer than the ones from the shop.”

"Hi, Dad!"

“Hi, Dad – Gaynor’s been doing some cooking,” says Esther, 

"They're really nice and healthy"

“They’re really nice and healthy – they’re going to make me strong.”   

Hywel's effort to snaffle one is thwarted

When Hywel reaches for one, he is rebuked that they are for Esther.   

"Shall I do that tonight?"

He proposes to go upstairs and read a story to her, but Gaynor volunteers to do that tonight, and Esther is all in favour.

"Thanks for making such  big effort"

Hywel thanks her again for making such a big effort, and she replies that it is about time she took her rôle seriously;  

"We need each other, Hywel"

she and Esther need each other.

"Want to watch another episode?"

In the evening, as they sit in front of the television in the Deri flat, Dylan asks if Dani wants to watch another episode;  “No – I want to be fresh for tomorrow, and I’m tired,” she answers.

"Things are getting better"

He says that he is not sleeping very well, but things are getting better;  he enjoyed his afternoon with Gwern.   

"There's nothing like being thrashed by a teenager . . ."

“There’s nothing like being thrashed by a teenager to make you forget your problems,” he quips.

"It's nice to see some of the old Dylan"

Dani thinks it is nice to see some of the old Dylan;  “But if you watch any more of this, no spoilers in the morning,” she says, 

"Good night, Dani"

as she goes to bed.

Jinx appears deep in thought

Jinx is at number 9, where Gwyneth brings him a drink.  

"Do you think you and Jaclyn would be together, if . . ?"

“Do you think you and Jaclyn would be together, if she hadn’t . . ?” she asks.   

"We were preparing to have a baby together"

He does not think so, but they were preparing to have a baby together;  he imagines that he would have been a good father, 

"You're a good father to Arwen"

and is told that he already is a good father to Arwen. 

“I was looking forward to getting up in the middle of the night, changing nappies and so – 

"One of those slings you wrap around your stomach"

“or taking the baby for a walk in one of those slings which you wrap around your stomach.   I don’t think I could persuade Arwen to get in one of those now!

"I just can't move on"

“Jaclyn and I weren’t in a proper relationship, but since she died, I just can’t move on – we were about to do something that would change our lives – and when I saw the ‘For Sale’ sign today I realised that everything was over.”

"You've got a family, Jinx"

Gwyneth appears to be getting quite emotional as she suggests, “Perhaps you should see it as a way to move on with your life – you’ve got a family, Jinx.   You and Ffion might not be together, but . . .”   

He looks rather wistful

Noticing his expression, 

"You want to be with Ffion?"

she continues, “You want to be with Ffion?”

"It's complicated"

He does not know the answer to that, saying that it is complicated, but she points out that life is short, and the last few months must have proved that to him.   

"If there's any chance to be happy, go for it!"

“If you think there’s any chance for you and Ffion to be together, go for it!   You, of all people, deserve to be happy.”

"What about you?"

Jinx quickly changes the subject;  “What about you?   You’ve had years to think about what you want to do.”   

"There are a couple of things to sort out . . ."

She replies that she has a couple of things to sort out, and once she has done that,

". . . then, who knows?"

 who knows what she will do?