8 December 2022

Dani walks past the shop

Dani passes the shop, which has a Christmas tree displayed outside, and she encounters Gaynor, who was on her way to the Deri.   

Gaynor has something for her . . .

“I left you a message – here’s the essay,” she whispers, 

. . . and slips her a brown envelope

and hands the brown envelope to Dani.

"Haven't you heard of e-mails?"

“Haven’t you heard of e-mails?” Dani enquires, and is told that it has also been e-mailed to her;  Gaynor says she finds it easier to check on paper, and is sure that Dani will be happy with it.   It appears that Dani is primarily interested in getting a higher mark than Petra.   

"It would be nice to beat Petra for a change"

“Not really rivalry – but it would be nice to beat her for a change!   Thank you – you’re a lifesaver.”

Tegwen is at the cash machine . . .

Danny continues towards the Deri, passing Tegwen, who is attempting to withdraw some money from the cash machine;  

. . . where she makes an unwelcome discovery . . .

however the amount she requires is more than she has in the account.   

. . . and only gets a £10 note

She finds that all it will dispense is £10, 

She is concerned about that

so she has to make do with that.

At number 9, Tesni opens her post and discovers a letter from a solicitor;  

"Do you want some toast?"

she does not reply to Gwyneth, who asks if she wants some toast.   

"I get £7,000 from Mam's will"

“I get £7,000!” Tesni gasps, “The money from Mam’s will has come through.”

"You canan go private for the stoma treatment"

Gwyneth considers that perfect timing, as now she can go private for the stoma bag treatment and have it done quickly.   

"Is that what Mam would want me to do?"

“Do you think that’s what Mam would want me to do?” Tesni wonders, 

"It's the most sensible thing"

and Gwyneth maintains that is the most sensible thing, which will give her the freedom to do what she wants.

“Life’s too to short to leave any fun in the bank,” she adds, 

Tesni does not agree 

but Tesni looks far from enthusiastic about this.

Petra has visited the Deri flat, and asks Dani how things are going;  

"Good well, difficult, you know"

“Good – well, difficult, you know,” is the reply.   Petra remarks that the sociology stuff is interesting, and asks if Dani mentioned the biological factors for crime.

"How's your life going?"

Dani is more interested in talking about things other than the course, and enquires how Petra’s life is going.   

"The date with Jinx went fine"

“I’ve just been working a lot – and the date with Jinx went fine.”   

"I'm sure you can do better than 'fine'!"

Dani is sure that she can do better than ‘fine’.

“It was nice – we do have a lot in common – travelling, food, music.   

"I haven't seen him since"

“I was hoping to see him again, but I haven’t seen him since.   I haven’t texted him, because I didn’t want to seem too keen.”

"Jinx is so laid-back, he's horizontal!"

“Listen, Jinx is so laid-back, he’s horizontal!” is Dani’s evaluation, 

"Go on – phone him now . . ."

“He won’t mind – go on, phone him now.   

". . . if not now, when?"

“If not now, when?” Dani urges her.

"Why didn't you answer my message?"

Ffion rushes into Cysgod y Glyn, demanding, “Why didn’t you answer my message?”   

"I haven't looked at my phone"

Jinx replies that he has not looked at his phone.   

"I was hoping you could have brought it to school"

“I left this here this morning – I was hoping you could have brought it to school,” she complains, as she picks up a file.

He points out that he has things to do as well and she continues to panic, “I’m preparing for the inspection – and organising this Santa race.   I didn’t want to have to come home.”   

"Do you want me to help with the race?"

He offers to help with the race, but she declines and adds that she will have to work late again tonight;  “Can you look after Arwen?”

Jinx receives the call from Petra

His phone sounds and he sees that it is a call from Petra, which he ignores;  “I’m working tonight,” he tells Ffion, and she assumes that Arwen could go with him.   “She won’t want to watch me make pizzas all night!” he grumbles.

"She could fold boxes or answer the phone"

In desperation, Ffion suggests that she could fold boxes or answer the phone, but when he will not comply with her request, she snarls, “So she’ll have to stay with me in school for hours?”   Jinx in turn proposes that Arwen could help her mother, and answer the phone.

“Right, thanks for nothing!” Ffion growls as she storms out of the flat.   

Jinx is about to return the call

Then Jinx picks up his phone again.

Tegwen is looking at her phone

As Matthew comes into the Deri, Tegwen, behind the bar, is looking, concerned, at her phone.   

"I've been sorting out Christmas bonuses"

“I’ve been sorting out the Christmas bonuses at APD,” he tells her.   

"Tell Cassie – she might get the hint"

She wants him to tell Cassie, so she might get the hint, and he is surprised that she is not getting one.

He asks for another pint for Rhys, who will be meeting him for lunch.   

"I don't know how you manage it with all these jobs"

“I don’t know how you manage it, with all these jobs,” he says, 

"Some of don't have any choice"

and she replies that some people do not have much choice.

Mathew again raises the subject of Lapland, stressing that the tickets are still there, 

"That's not going to happen, Mathew!"

but she is quite adamant that it is not going to happen.   

Rhys is in urgent need of some food

Rhys comes in and will take a look at the menu, as he is starving.

"Chicken and chips with onion rings"

Mathew joins him at the table, where Rhys decides that he will have chicken and chips and some onion rings.   Mathew only wants a toastie;  “A toastie won’t fill you up!” Rhys protests.

"It's Tegwen – I don't know what I've done"

Mathew says that he is simply fed up;  “It’s Tegwen – I don’t know what I’ve done.   

"She's hardly talking to me"

“I try to be nice to her, but she’s hardly talking to me.”   

"That's what women are like"

Rhys dismissively maintains that is what women are like;  you never know what mood they will be in from one day to the next.   

Tegwen delivers a pint to their table

Tegwen comes over and puts down a pint on the table.

"Gaynor, you sound like a flippin' dictionary!"

Dani is looking at the essay with some confusion;  “Gaynor, you sound like a flippin’ dictionary!” she mutters.   

"Can Gwern come over tonight?"

Garry arrives to ask if Gwern can come over tonight – it will give her a chance to do more work.

"I'm just stressed about this essay"

She confesses that she is just stressed about this essay;  he tries to encourage her that she is doing better than she thinks, but she knows she is not.   

"Do you want me to take a look at it?"

“Do you want me to take a look at it?” he asks.

She sneers, “No thanks – you’re the last person I’d ask to check an essay,” 

"All right, Gabriel – I'm coming"

then Gabriel starts to cry and she goes to attend to him.

Garry picks up the essay . . .

In her absence, Garry picks up the essay, looks at it, 

. . . hides it in his jacket . . .

hides it in his jacket 

. . . and leaves the flat

and leaves the flat.

The Ugandan flag is on display

Gaynor places a Ugandan flag on the table and has several books;  Hywel calls to Esther to come downstairs, then assures Gaynor that she will love it.

"Don't worry – this isn't a school lesson"

When she comes in, Gaynor makes it clear, “Don’t worry – this isn’t a school lesson,” 

"If you have a question, just ask"

and Hywel encourages her that if she wants to ask a question, that is fine.

"Why are we doing this?"

“Why are we doing this?” Esther wants to know, and Gaynor explains that they thought it would be nice to celebrate the culture of Uganda, where she was born, and see how that mixes with her Welshness.   

"We're all a mixture of something"

Hywel adds that they are all a mixture of something.

"My birth parents and those who adopted me"

Gaynor emphasises that she is a mixture of her birth parents at the parents who brought her up after she was adopted.   

"But you weren't born in Uganda"

Esther, who has been looking rather puzzled, points out, “But you weren’t born in Uganda.”   

"We've bought you some books to read"

Gaynor agrees that Wrexham is a lot closer to Cwmderi, but she still had lots of questions, so they have bought Esther some books to read that show how some people see colour.   “And they show how we’re different to some other families, and that is a good thing,” 

"Would you like to read one of them?"

Hywel insists, “Do you think you would like to read one of these books?”

"Will you read it to me, please, Dad?"

Esther takes one look and asks, “Will you read it to me, please, Dad?” and of course he agrees.

Siôn brings in the cups of tea

Garry has gone to Y Felin, where Siôn does not quite understand what he wants;  

"Can you read over Dani's essay?"

“I’m asking if you would have time to read over Dani’s essay,” Garry replies.   Siôn points out that he is not a tutor, 

"I don't see how I can help"

“nor does he have any expertise in criminology or the law, so he does not see how he can help.

"You're one of the sponsors"

“You’re one of the sponsors of Izzy’s scholarship,” says Garry, 

"Well, Y Winllan is"

but it is explained that was Y Winllan, as a business, but it does not mean that Siôn is a mentor.

"Dani's under a lot of pressure at the moment"

“Look, Dani is under a lot of pressure at the moment – she’s lost a lot of confidence because of that business with Wilko.   So why not offer help that isn’t financial?” Garry goes on, “All you have to do is read one essay and offer her some encouragement.”

"All right, then . . ."

Siôn finally agrees to do this, 

". . . does Dani want feedback by e-mail or face-to-face?"

wondering whether Dani would prefer to have feedback via e-mail or face-to-face.   

"She doesn't know that I'm asking you"

“Dani doesn’t know that I’m asking you,” Garry answers.

Tesni looks up stoma surgery

Tesni is looking at details of stoma surgery on her phone 

"A break would do you good, Masth"

when she hears Rhys saying, “I know you don’t want to go to Lapland with me, but a break would do you good – and I could do with a break from here.   

"I don't see why not"

“Come on, Math – I can’t see why not.”

"We're both adults, Rhys"

Mathew points are that they are both adults, but Rhys explains that there are lots more things to do there than just visiting Father Christmas.   

He seems to relish the word 'Glögg'

“We’ve discussed this – girls, Northern Lights, glugg (otherwise known as ‘glögg’ or possibly ‘gløgg’).   I’ve done some research – it’s Nordic mulled wine.”

"You've only eaten half your toastie"

Tegwen comes over to collect their empty plates, and notices that Mathew has only eaten half of his food.   

"Why are you two being so weird?"

“Why are you two being weird?” Rhys demands.   

"I know what you're talking about – Lapland . . ."

Tegwen is only too aware of what they are talking about;  

". . . you'll fit in with all the other children!"

“You two going to Lapland – you should go – you’ll fit in with all the other children!”

"You're going to Lapland?"

Tesni is sitting by the bar, eavesdopping, and asks, “You’re going to Lapland?   

"I'm coming with you!|

“Well, I’m coming with you!”   

What's this about 'only two tickets'

Mathew alleges that he has only two tickets (although he had originally intended to go with Tegwen and Ken).   She is confident that she can get a ticket on the same flight and asks the name of the hotel where they are staying, and when they are leaving.

“Tomorrow,” is Rhys’ reply, she concludes that she had better go and pack, 

"A little glass of mulled wine to celebrate"

but first they will have a little glass of mulled wine to celebrate.

"A-ti-e-no"

Gaynor is looking up the pronunciation of a Ugandan word on her phone;  “Right, ‘a-ti-e-no’,” and Esther does her best to copy this.   

"It means 'born in the night'"

She is told that it means, ‘born in the night’.   

"Go and play before dinner"

Hywel again emphasises that it is important that they know where they come from, and tells Esther that she can go and play for a while before dinner.

On her way out of the room, 

"Thank you, Gaynor"

she says, “Thank you, Gaynor,” which is much appreciated.   

"Well, I've learned something today"

Hywel has learned something today, 

"I tried to find something not too heavy"

and Gaynor says she had tried to find something educational but do not too heavy.   He thinks that she has done well.

"You and I are doing a good job"

“Whatever people may say, you and I are doing a good job of bringing her up,” Hywel stresses.   Gaynor will now start preparing dinner, and he wonders if they are having something from Uganda, but apparently it will be ‘Spag Bol’.

"That's £11.40, please"

In the shop, Llinos is ringing up Tegwen’s purchases on the till, totalling £11.40, 

Oh dear – she does not have that . . . 

but, as we know, Tegwen is down to her last £10.   It is emphasised that they take cards as well, but she says that she lost hers and a replacement is in the post.   

. . . and hands back the pizza

She decides not to have the pizza, which brings the total down to £8.00.

"The new card's taking so long to arrive"

“It’s a nuisance that the new card is taking so long to arrive,” says Tegwen and leaves the shop.   

Llinos knows there is more to it than that

Llinos appears to be quite aware of the true problem here.

"You have nothing to worry about – it's excellent"

Having read Dani’s essay, Siôn phones Garry, and assures him, “You have nothing to worry about – it’s excellent,” 

 Although Siôn is harbouring certain doubts

but he does seem to be somewhat puzzled.

Look – there is actually a pizza shop – next door to APD

Jinx emerges from the pizza shop, which has gained new branding since we last saw it as the abandoned ‘Cwm Delhi’.   It is now also numbered 13 High Street and there is a delivery moped parked outside.   He is carrying five pizza boxes and is speaking on the phone;  “Sorry about that – we have to close.   Of course you’ll get your money back!”

"Does Ken like Pepperoni?"

He crosses the road and meets Tegwen, who asks if he has a nice dinner for Ffion and Arwen.   “Well, there’s too much here for us – does Ken like pepperoni?”

Her doubts are allayed when . . . 

He hands two of the boxes to her, and she says that she does not have any cash.   

. . . Jinx insists they are 'on the house'

“On the house,” he tells her, “They’d only go in the bin – just take them.”   She is very grateful to him, and maintains that she is just tired with Christmas and stuff.

"Guess what we're having for dinner"

She gets out her phone and rings Ken;  “Guess what we’re having for dinner tonight.”

"Have you found a clinic already?"

Tesni is busy packing her case, and when Gwyneth comes in, she assumes that Tesni has found a clinic already.   

"No, I'm going to Lapland"

“No, I’m going to Lapland with Math and Rhys – we’re flying tomorrow.”   Gwyneth is concerned about her condition, but she insists, “I’m lucky, I’m not that bad.   

"This is what Mam would have wanted"

“I’m 21, bored, single, lonely – this is what Mam would have wanted me to spend the money on.”

Gwyneth is anxious that she should get the problem sorted out, 

"What use is it, just sitting in the bank?"

but Tesni answers, “One day, perhaps, if it gets that bad – through the NHS.   But now, while I have the cash and I’m getting better, what use is it, just sitting in the bank?”

"I'm old enough to come home on my own"

At Cysgod y Glyn, Arwen is protesting, “I’m old enough to come home on my own,” 

"It was only for two hours"

but her mother does not agree, and points out that it was only for two hours.   

"Who wants to stay in school for an extra two hours?"

“Who wants to stay in school for an extra two hours?” Arwen snarls.   

"I don't want to work later every night, either"

Her mother stresses that neither does she want to work late every night, 

"I didn't choose to be the headteacher's daughter!"

but is told, “You chose the job – I didn’t choose to be the headteacher’s daughter!”

Now Jinx is carrying only one pizza box

Jinx returns home with the pizzas and asks, “How is everyone?”   Arwen storms off to her bedroom, 

"This is exactly what I was trying to avoid"

and Ffion says that this is exactly what she was trying to avoid when she asked for his help.

“I didn’t say no because I wanted to go out and enjoy myself,” he answers, 

"Why are you here, anyway?"

but she demands why he is there anyway, after he said he was working.   

"I came home to cook dinner for you"

“I was – I came home early to cook dinner for you,” 

"What – pizza?"

but Ffion is not very impressed by pizza.

"You need to spend more time with Arwen"

“I came back early because I felt guilty for not helping you.   You need to spend more time with Arwen,” and Ffion insists that is what she was trying to do tonight, trying to include her, to make it fun.

"I have an inspection!"

She shouts, “I have an inspection!” 

"Well – I hadn't noticed!"

and he pretends that he had not noticed.   He has been doing everything to help her, 

"You're starting to 'take the mick' now!"

but points out that she is starting to ‘take the Mick’ now.

“You need to put Arwen first, instead of thinking about yourself.   I’ve had enough – I might not be here for ever, so you have to decide what’s important.   I’m going for a pint.”

"What about dinner?"

“What about dinner?” sha asks, and he replies that he will have a meal in the Deri, 

"I'm sure you can heat up the pizza"

sarcastically adding that he is sure that she can heat up the pizza, 

"You need to sort yourself out – for everyone's sake!"

and that she needs to sort herself out, for everyone’s sake.

Ffion has been well and truly told

Ffion is flabbergasted.