24 December 2022

22 December 2022

Anita is sleeping off her hangover

Kelly is clearing up Ifan’s toys at Bryntirion, while Anita is lying on the sofa, trying to recover from last night’s excesses.   

She is given a musical awakening

Kelly comes across a toy xylophone and uses it to wake Anita.   

"Oh, sorry – silly me!"

“Oh, sorry – silly me!” she laughs 

"Why are you making so much noise?"

and is asked why she is making so much noise.   

“Do you feel as bad as you look?” demands Kelly, unsympathetically, “Did you have a good night?   Breakfast – coffee?”

"Why doesn't he phone?"

Anita is looking at her phone and discovers that Ieuan has been texting her;  “Why doesn’t he phone?”   Then there is an urgent knocking at the  door, 

"I wonder who that is!"

and they both realise who is there, but Anita pleads with Kelly not to let him see her.

"You've got to let him see the real you"

“You’ve got to let him see the real you at some point,” Kelly points out and opens the door.   

"God help any spa therapist that has to sort her out!"

She tells the rather miserable looking Griffiths, “God help any spa therapist that has to sort her out today!”

"I'll only be a couple of minutes, Ieuan"

Anita comes across to welcome him, and warns him that she has to go upstairs for a couple of minutes.

Dani looks worried

Dani is looking worried in front of the laptop when Garry comes in, dressed as Father Christmas.   

"What do you think?"

He asks what she thinks of his costume, 

"I'm annoyed!"

but she simply replies, “I’m annoyed!   With myself – Seren wants this ‘LOL Doll Surprise Clubhouse’ thing – I forgot and now it’s sold out!   Apart from Wolverhampton and Belfast.”

"You can get it delivered"

He points out that she can get it delivered, but she groans that it will never arrive in time.   

"I thought she wanted a skateboard"

“I thought she wanted a skateboard,” he comments, and it is pointed out that she is having that for Christmas, the other item is a birthday present.

"I'm so stupid sometimes!"

Dani mutters that she is so stupid sometimes, but refuses any help from Garry, maintaining that she will have to get something else.   “Anyway, good luck with the race – that outfit suits you,” she says.

Ffion is glad the inspection is over

At Cysgod y Glyn, Ffion, in her dressing gown, shuffles in and comments to Cai that it is much easier to sleep now that the inspection is over.   

"Have you got a thing for Father Christmas?"

“You don’t have a thing for Father Christmas, do you?” he suggestively enquires, and she replies that he will see for himself if he comes back there after the race.

He is not going on the race

He is thinking about not taking part, as there are a couple of boys from work going out for a pint to celebrate the end of term and the inspection.   

"We could have little celebration of our own"

Ffion proposes that they could perhaps have their own little celebration later.   

"I'll put my Santa hat on, especially for you"

He will put on the Santa hat especially for her.

Anita apologises to Ieuan

When Anita comes back downstairs, Ieuan is waiting in the kitchen;  “If you’re sulking with me for drinking too much last night, I’m sorry,” she tells him.

"That's not what's upset me"

He answers that is not what has upset him, 

"Is there anything else you can think of?"

and wonders if there is anything else she can think of that might have done so.   

"Because we haven't talked about the house?"

“That house,” she realises “You’re angry because we haven’t talked about the house.”

"You've talked about the house a lot"

“You’ve talked about the house a lot,” he says, and plays the voice note which he received.   

"That's enough – turn it off"

Anita is horrified when she appreciates what she has done, and urges him to turn it off.   

"I think I'll go to the spa only own"

“Do you know what?   I think I’ll go to the spa on my own,” he decides and immediately walks out of the house, 

"Ieuan, wait!"

ignoring Anita’s pleas for him not to go.

Mathew is not feeling at his best

Mathew is also nursing what appears to be a considerable hangover, and when Tesni comes into the Deri, she maintains that he has no hope of winning.   He protests that it is not a hangover, but merely a lack of sleep.

"It's nothing to do with those Samba shots!"

“Yeah, it’s nothing to do with those Sambuca shots you were downing,” laughs Tegwen.

Rhys is confident, “You’ve spoiled any chance you had of beating me today!”   

"Who do you think will win?"

Mathew asks Tegwen if she had to bet on one of them winning, who would she choose.   

Colin and his accoutrements and coming in

Then they hear a sound behind them and see Colin trying to manoeuvre himself through the door with his cardboard reindeer.   Rhys maintains that he cannot run in that, 

"I'm stuck, boys!"

but Colin is currently stuck, 

They find his situation amusing

much to the amusement of the onlookers.

"No, I'm feeling fine"

At Penrhewl, Sioned is toying with some toast and her mother brings more tablets, which she refuses to take, as she is feeling fine.   Eileen agrees that she does look a little better;  “A shower makes a world of difference,” says Sioned.

"Do you want to watch the race?"

Eileen asks if she wants to go to the village to watch the Father Christmas race, 

"I don't want to see DJ"

but Sioned is adamant that she does not want to see DJ.   “The mart is on, so he won’t be anywhere near the village,” her mother advises and so Sioned would like to go to the Deri for lunch, or a coffee;  

"I can't avoid the place for ever"

she acknowledges that she cannot avoid the place for ever.

"My reindeer are delicate"

The participants are lining up outside the Deri, with Colin explaining that he has to be careful as his reindeer are delicate.   Kelly is on hand to record the occasion for the Western Post.   Colin says that he did not sleep much last week as he was designing his outfit, but fears that he may have gone a little bit over the top.

"Well done, Jinx"

Ffion appears to be in a very good mood as she approaches Jinx and commends him on his organisation of the race.   “You’re very happy today,” he remarks, 

"We're having a little celebration"

and she says that there is a lot to be happy about – the inspection is over, while she and Cai are having a little celebration later.

"Well, I'm going to North Wales"

Jinx announces that he is going to North Wales, so they will have the place to themselves.

Hywel collect the megaphone

Hywel comes into the Deri to collect the megaphone and as he leaves, meets Sioned and her mother coming in.   

"It's nice to do something normal"

Sioned comments that it is nice to do something normal.   

"Your ankle still playing up?"

They sit down and Tegwen comes to take their order;  “Is your ankle still playing up?” she asks Sioned, “So that you’re not doing the race today?”   Sioned says that she is not quite ready to run yet.

"I know – DJ let it slip"

“You don’t need to lie – I know,” says Tegwen, “DJ let it slip.”   

"I lost the baby"

Sioned enlightens Tegwen that she has lost the baby, but she does not blame her, as DJ was not supposed to tell anyone.   

"I'm so sorry to hear that"

Tegwen replies that she guessed – he did not actually say anything, and she is really sorry to hear the news.

"A pot of tea, please"

Sioned says that she is now back at Penrhewl, and Eileen orders a pot of tea.

The race is about to start

The contestants line up at the start of the race, with Hywel as the master of ceremonies;  “We’ve already raised quite a bit of money, but we could do with some more – so give generously.   

"Are you ready?"

“Are you ready?   All the various Father Christmases seem anxious to get going.

"Have you seen Garry?"

Dani asks Ffion if she has seen Garry, and is puzzled by his absence.   

Rhys tries to gain a competitive advantage

As the race is about to begin, Rhys strips off his Santa Claus outfit, and Mathew objects to the referee, 

"Come on – this is not the olympics"

while Colin points out that this is not the Olympics.

"Your son's cheating!"

Tesni angrily shouts that Hywel’s son is cheating, and Hywel agrees, “The rules say that if you’re not wearing a Father Christmas costume, you’ll be disqualified.”   

And they're off!

The participants set off at a cracking pace along the High Street, but Rhys is severely hampered by trying to put on his costume once again.

They sit quietly in the Deri

Eileen and Sioned are sitting quietly in the Deri, and Eileen pours another cup of tea.   When her mother leaves to go to the toilet, 

"Sorry for putting my foot in it"

Tegwen comes over and apologises for putting her foot in it.   “I just wanted to say, talking about it helps – at least, it helped me.   Four years ago next month – it felt like the end of the world and it took me a long time to talk about it.   No-one really knew what to say to me.”

"I really did love that little baby"

Sioned says that she does not want anyone to say anything;  “I really did love that little baby,” she sighs.   

"The second the line appeared on the test"

Tegwen sits down and agrees that she felt like a mother the second the line appeared on the test.   

"How did you get over it?"

“How did you get over it?” Sioned wants to know. 

"I learned to cope – and I have Ken"

Tegwen does not think that she really has, but, as life goes on, she has learned to cope;  “Also, I have Ken – and he keeps me busy.”   

"Was it the same father?"

Sioned regards her as lucky and asks if it was the same father;  “Yes, but to be honest, it wasn’t a good relationship.”   Sioned maintains that it is different for men – they can just carry on somehow.   

"DJ was so excited"

“You and DJ are different to how we were,” Tegwen insists, “You should have seen his face when I guessed – he was so excited.   Anyway, I’m here if you want to talk about it.”

The frontrunners appear round the corner . . .

Outside the race is now nearing its conclusion, with the commentator reporting that Mathew and Rhys are in the lead.   

. . . but Rhys is seized with a sudden pain . . .

They sprint around the corner by Bethania, but a few yards before the finishing line, Rhys appears to suffer an injury and can hardly walk.   

. . . and is assisted over the line

Mathew is determined that he will finish and supports him to the end of the race.

"In joint first place – Mathew and Rhys"

“In joint first place, Rhys and Mathew,” Hywel announces, as Tesni also approaches, 

They pose for their Western Post photo


and the three of them pose for Kelly’s photo.   However there is no sign of Colin, 

"We might be here until next year"

and Ffion predicts that they might be here until next year, waiting for him.

Griffiths is back at Bryntirion . . .

Anita opens the door at Bryntirion to find Ieuan outside, and she says that he looks refreshed.   

. . . where he hands a few things to Anita . . .

He has brought a few things back for her as they were part of the package, 

. . . then turns to go

and he turns to go, but she calls him back.   

"You deserve an explanation, Ieuan"

“You deserve an explanation,” she says, “Come in.”

They are getting worried about Colin . . .

Outside the Deri, they are still waiting for Colin’s appearance, and Jinx suggests that they ought to go and look for him, 

. . . but he appears, rather bedraggled . . .

but at that moment he comes into sight, although with some of his accessories missing.   The last Father Christmas has arrived, and Jinx is going for a pint.

. . . apparently exhausted

Colin collapses on the ground, informing Ffion that Donner and Blitzen are still in Coed y Mynach somewhere.   

He needs rehydration

She gives him some water to help him recover.

"Hungover, but I still came joint first"

Inside the Deri, Cai is drinking, as he so often is;  Tegwen welcomes Mathew, having heard that he did well in the race;  “Hungover, but I still came first – well, joint first, but it still counts, doesn’t it?   

"Fancy a drink?"

“Do you fancy a drink to celebrate?”   She is still on her shift, and say they will do it later, perhaps.

"Congratulations, Mathew"

Jinx comes in and congratulates Mathew, who is now looking rather disheartened, 

"I think I've ruined things with Tegwen"

and confesses that he thinks he has ruined things for ever with Tegwen.   “Did she say that?” Jinx demands, “So there’s still hope, isn’t there?   

"If she means that much, she's worth fighting for"

“If she means that much to you, she’s worth fighting for.”   This makes Mathew think.

Cai is chatting up Tesni this time . . .

Jinx goes to the bar, where he finds Cai trying to chat up Tesni;  “Where are you for Christmas?   

. . . which she finds disconcerting

“I could keep you company.”   Jinx wonders what he is doing, 

"Here he comes, the fun policeman!"

and Cai grumbles, “Here he comes, the fun policeman!”

“What would Ffion think, flirting with someone half your age – 

"Ffion deserves so much better"

“Ffion deserves so much better,” snarls Jinx, 

"Going to tell her, then?"

and Cai demands if he is going to tell her.   

“Perhaps I will,” Jinx answers, but Cai predicts that he is too much of a coward.   

Jinx takes that as a challenge

“We’ll see about that,” growls Jinx.

"It was supposed to be a surprise"

“It was supposed to be romantic – you know, a surprise,” stresses Griffiths, 

"It was that, all right!"

and Anita agrees that it certainly was a surprise.   

"So yo don't want to share a house with me?"

“So you don’t want to share a house with me?” he goes on and she shakes her head, remarking that she is happy as she is.

"What do you want, Ieuan?"

She asks what he does want;  

"Someone to look after you, like your mother did?"

“Tell me – do you want someone to look after you, just like your mother did?”   He protests that Mami has nothing to do with this, 

"I just want company and a bit of fun"

but he just wants company and a bit of fun.

"I don't think it's right for you and me"

She makes it clear that they can still have that;  “Ieuan, that house is incredible, but I don’t think it’s right for you and me.”   He answers that she does not have to live there – 

"You can come over and stay, or for a meal"

she can come over and stay sometimes, or for a meal.

"And who will do the cooking?"

She wonders who will do the cooking, 

"I will, of course"

and when he replies that of course he will, 

"That sounds lovely"

she thinks that sounds lovely.

Garry struggles in with a large box

After his absence, Garry comes into the Deri, carrying a large box, which Dani finds quite amazing, and asks where he got it.   

"Wolverhampton"

“Wolverhampton,” he answers, and she cannot believe that he went all that way to get it, dressed like Father Christmas.

"You're a hero, Garry!"

She calls him a hero and embraces him;  

Pretty obvious what will happen next

they look into each other’s eyes.

Disturbing news for Tegwen

In the bar, Tegwen receives a message which reads, ‘I’m out and I’d like to see Ken.   This is my new number.   Phone me.  Ioan.’   She is stunned by this.

Mathew approaches and asks if she has plans for Christmas Day.   

"I'll probably go to my sister's"

She says she will probably go to her sister’s; “ So a lot of falling out, shouting and crying – it’s a disaster every year.   What about you?”

"I shall be in the flat"


Mathew will be in the flat, on his own, as Eifion is with Iolo;  she does not like the thought of him being on his own on Christmas Day, 


"You'r welcome to come over with Ken"

so he suggests that she is welcome to come over with Ken if she wants, in order to avoid the arguments.

"The offer's there"

“Right, the offer’s there – if you want to hide from your family,” he goes on, 

"Yes, OK – but you do the cooking!"

and after only a split-second’s thought, she agrees that she will, which he regards as great, but she stipulates that he will do the cooking.

Cai has staggered back to Cysgod y Glyn . . .

Ffion is relaxing on the sofa when Cai returns to Cysgod y Glyn;  she says that a takeaway would be easier tonight, 

. . .and supports himself on the furniture

and Cai appears to be very unsteady on his feet.

“You make me really happy,” he slurs, “And you deserve the best – or better!”   

"How much have you had to drink?"

She wonders how much he has had to drink, but he says that does not matter.   

"I've got something important to ask you"

“I’ve got something important I have to ask you.”

Jinx arrives

At that moment Jinx arrives in the doorway, and Cai awkwardly gets down on one knee, 

"What are you doing, Cai?"

with Ffion demanding what he is doing.   

"Will you marry me?"

“Will you marry me?’ he asks.   Jinx simply walks away 

"You're off your head!"

as Ffion points out that Cai is off his head.


"And a packet of crisps, please, Tes"

Rhys asks Tesni for another pint and a packet of crisps;  she realises that the crisps have run out and goes to fetch another box, 

The sight that greets her

but as she opens the door from the bar, she discovers Garry and Dani in mid-kiss, 

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

apologises for intruding and quickly withdraws.

The two of them snigger . . .

They look at each other and laugh;   Dani thanks him for fetching that present and he offers to help her take it upstairs, 

. . . and Garry looks remarkably pleased with himself

but she says that she can manage.


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