11 January 2023

Dani is washing up

Dani is doing some washing up when Garry arrives;  

Garry puts a small box in front of her

he puts down a small box in front of her, 

"Garry, they're lush!"

and she gasps, “Oh, Garry, they’re lush!”   He maintains that they were on special offer 

"Where are we going later?"

and that she can wear them later.   “Where are we going later?” she wants to know, and he announces that he is taking her out this afternoon

“Oh, are you now?   Don’t you think you should have asked first?” she demands, and he replies that he is asking her now.   

"OK, I'll be down now"

Then his phone sounds and he says, “Have you arrived?   OK, I’ll be down now.”   Dani predicts that he is going to love her and leave her, and he says that a bloke has come to fit a new sign on the shop;  

"I'll pick you up about one"

“I’ll pick you up about one?”   She points out that she still has not agreed, 

I wonder how many 'takes' . . .

so he blows some soap suds 

. . . before they got that right

on her face and leaves the flat.

"I just want to see you, Sioned"

DJ is leaving yet another message for Sioned;  “I just want to see you – please, just come over.”   

At that moment Eileen comes into Deri Fawr, and apologises for it being such short notice, but she says she does not have much choice.

"Could you look after Huwi?"

“Could you look after Huwi?   I wouldn’t ask unless I had to,” she pleads, “I’ve got so much on, I don’t know where to start.”   

"I've got a lot on as well, Eileen"

He replies that he has a lot on his plate as well, with a fence to be repaired in the top field, so she suggests that he could take Huwi with him.   

"Huw would love to see the animals"

“He would love to see the animals – his wellingtons are in the bag – he’s a little farmer, just like you.   And it would be nice for him to spend some time with you for a change.   

"You'd be doing me a huge favour"

“Please – you’d be doing me a huge favour.”

"Oh, all right, then"

DJ reluctantly agrees, and Eileen will go and get Huwi from the car.

Jason is looking forward to free pizzas

At Bryntirion, Jason is still going on, “When you start working in the pizza place, I won’t have to bother making sandwiches – I can just pop in.”

"Stop going on, Jase!"

“Can you stop going on about the pizza place, please, Jason?” she snaps, and he points out that she has been quiet all morning.   

"I just want to focus on my actual job"

As she puts on her earrings, she tells him, “I just want to try and focus on my actual job, so I don’t have to do too many shifts in the pizza place – because, quite frankly, I think I’m better than that.”   He stresses that he was only trying to have a conversation.

Diane is going out somewhere

Dai is reading a magazine when Diane comes downstairs and he asks her when she will be back;  “I don’t know, but it will be a while,” she informs him.

"What if I really need your help, Diane?"

“But what if I really need your help?” he demands, and she says she cannot hold his hand all day;  in any case, Kelly is there – 

"I won't be here"

but Kelly immediately advises them that she will not be there, actually, and Jason is also just leaving the house.

"I've got something they call 'work' to do"

“I’ve got something they call ‘work’ to do,” he answers.   

"That will keep you quiet"

Diane puts the television remote control in Dai’s hand, imagining that will keep him quiet, warning that if something like aerobics comes on, he should not get up and dance.

He is definitely not happy at being left on his own;  

"Yes, off you all go!"

“Yes, off you all go!” he growls, “I’ll be fine here on my own.”   

"Nefi wen!"

He tosses the remote away, exclaiming, “Nefi wen!” 

Sioned arrives at Deri Fawr

Sioned comes into Deri Fawr, asking DJ, “Do you know where the paperwork for the vending machines is?”   He assumes that she got his message, 

"Both of the machines have conked out!"

but she continues to complain, “Both of the machines have conked out – they were on the blink yesterday.   Where’s Huwi, then?   I thought Mam was bringing him over.”

"He's playing on his iPad"

DJ reports that he is playing on his iPad, and has been told that he can only have 10 minutes;  “How long ago was that?” she wonders.

"Oh, it's Dad"

DJ’s phone rings and he finds that it is his father;  

"What – now?"

“What – now?   Listen, I’m busy.”   He tells Sioned that Dai needs help, and he is encouraged to go, 

"I can look after Huwi"

as Sioned can look after Huwi – and the vending machines are not going anywhere.

"It's some emergency"

“It’s some emergency, or something,” DJ says, and Sioned comments that everything is an emergency to Dai;  there is no need to rush back, as Huwi will be fine with her.   

"We make a good team"

“We make a good team, when it comes to the important things,” DJ tells her, “Right, see you when I get back.”

"It's miserable with this foot"

Dani is surprised that Mark has come to see her, and he groans that a bit of company would be nice;  “It’s miserable with this foot – I can’t do anything.”   

"You can help me choose"

She suggests that he can help her choose an outfit, but he does not think he is quite that desperate.

She does not know where she is going, as it is a mystery date;  

"With who – or is that a mystery?"

“Oh – with who?   Or is it so much of a mystery you don’t know?” he jokes.

"It's Garry"

She reveals that it is Garry, and Mark realises that they are serious;  

"We're taking things slowly"

“Well, you know, it’s the first date, so we’re taking things slowly,” she says, and Mark is surprised that she is giving him another chance.

"As long as he tells me the truth from now on"

“Well, as long as he tells me the truth from now on, I’m sure we’ll be OK,” she replies, 

"Stick with that one"

and he tells her to stick with the dress she is wearing.

"You shouldn't go upstairs"

DJ is at Bryntirion, where he advises his father, “You shouldn’t go upstairs when you’re on your own.”

“I didn’t get stuck in the toilet intentionally, did I?” Dai moans, 

"What do you expect me to do – wet myself?"

“What do you expect me to do – stand here and wet myself?”   DJ points out that he could have gone into the garden, 

"And catch hypothermia?"

and meets with the response, “And catch hypothermia?   My arthritis is bad enough without having frostbite, too!”

Dai feels rather self-conscious about his next request;  “My zip – it’s still open!”   DJ hopes that he is not expected to do that, 

"With these fingers, I can't . . ."

but Dai’s arthritic fingers prevented from so doing;  “Look, you’ll have to – or things will ‘jangle’,” Dai goes on, 

"Ooh – that's better!"

so DJ zips him up.

“Right, happy now?” DJ asks, and he is told that the weather is playing havoc with him and that things were much better in Australia.   “So why didn’t you pay to get it treated out there?” his son wants to know, 

"Don't talk about that now"

but Dai is reluctant to talk about that.

“You don’t have to go now, do you?   Things are not easy for me – do you think I enjoy having you here, waiting on me, hand and foot?”   

"I'll make you a cup of tea"

DJ will make a cup of tea before he goes.

"Any chance of some breakfast as well?"

“Now you’re talking – good boy – is there any chance of some breakfast as well?” Dai enquires, “Diane only made me a piece of toast this morning – it was brown bread and as dry as a bone!”   When asked what he fancies, Dai replies, 

"Bacon and a couple of eggs, winking at me"

“It’s up to you – as long as there is bacon on the plate somewhere and a couple of eggs, winking at me.”   DJ heads for the kitchen.

"A lot of people love that rhubarb chutney"

Eileen is speaking to one of her customers; “A lot of people love that rhubarb chutney – you want a large box, and your daughter a small box?   

"Put it in an e-mail to confirm"

“Put it in an e-mail to confirm.”

"I'm back, Eileen"

Colin comes in and can see that she is very busy;  “I won’t keep you – I just wanted to let you know I’m back – and another thing, 

"Britt's had to stay a little longer"

“Britt has had to stay up in Newcastle a little longer to keep an eye on Aaron.”

Eileen is not pleased about this

Eileen is concerned to hear this, and Colin hopes that it will not cause her too many problems.   

"She promised she would be back"

“It will – because Britt promised she would be back before we reopened after Christmas.   I’ve taken extra orders.”

"Well, I could help you, Eileen"

He is sorry that Britt has made things awkward for her, and Eileen points out that she cannot ask Sioned, so he volunteers to help.   

"You have too much to do in the shop"

“You have too much to do in the shop,” Eileen reminds him, but he insists that he can help first thing in the morning and at night.

"I might as well keep busy"

“I might as well keep busy, now I’m on my own – I’m not afraid of hard work – you know that.   Come on – I could be a big help,” he says, 

He cannot resist sampling the chutney

as he sticks a finger into a jar of chutney, to taste it.   

"It's nice"

“It’s nice,” he comments, but Eileen reprimands him.

Garry unveils his new venture

The signage on the former chip shop is now in place and Garry asks Siôn what he thinks of it;  “It’s a bit bright!” complains Siôn, but Garry stresses that he is not selling books.   “What are you selling?” Siôn demands.

"It's not difficult to work out"

As Griffiths joins them, Garry maintains that it is not difficult to work out, and Griffiths sneers, “Don’t say you haven’t seen a fried chicken place before?”   However Siôn has never heard of MFC, and has to be informed that it stands for ‘Monk’s Fried Chicken’.

"The menu is only in English!"

Taking a look inside, Siôn immediately notices that the menu is only in English;  “Yesterday you were keen for the chippy to reopen,” Garry reminds him, but he insists that this is not a chippy.   “Close enough,” says Garry, 

"We need a food place on the High Street"

and Griffiths points out that they need a food place on the High Street;  “People need to eat, Siôn!” Garry rages.

"What sort of people will it attract?"

Mark is looking on with interest, as Siôn wonders what sort of people this place will attract, and insists that he would have opposed it if he had known.   

"Everything is above board!"

“You can oppose it all you like – everything is above board!” Garry emphasises

"If Hywel approved it, it must be"

Griffiths rather evasively argues that if Hywel Llywelyn approved it, it must be above board.   

Kelly and Jason are approaching

Then Siôn sees Kelly approaching with Jason, 

Siôn wants Kelly to do some investigative journalism

and shouts to her, “If you’re looking for a story, find out how this place got planning permission – if it got planning permission!”

"Serious crime against good taste!"

“Whatever the ins and outs of the planning permission, that sign is seriously a crime against good taste!”

"A football club at Mydroilyn . . ."

Jason is not sure about the name, as it looks as if a football team has been set up in Mydroilyn [towards Aberaeron] – 

". . . or Mwnt FC!"

“Or ‘Mwnt FC!” [near Cardigan]   

"You said no-one would complain"

Griffiths mutters to Garry, “You said that no-one would complain.”

That looks like a proper breakfast

DJ provides his father with a good breakfast;  

"There's nothing like a full Welsh!"

“There’s nothing like a full Welsh!” Dai enthuses, “Fried bread and beans – I’ll be blazing saddles here now!” 

Then there is a problem

but just as he is about to get stuck into it, Diane returns, much to his disappointment.

“Oh, you’re back sooner than I expected,” he says, “DJ made me some breakfast – fair play to him.”

"What about your diet, Dai?"

Diane reminds him that he also had a pizza last night;  “What about your diet, Dai, that the consultant says you need?”   DJ knew nothing about this, and is informed that Dai needs to lose weight before the operation.

"She would starve me if she had half a chance"

“I didn’t tell you because I needed food,” Dai tells his son, “She would starve me if she had half a chance.”

"That's the last bit of bacon you'll see for a while"

Diane invites him to enjoy it, as it will be the last bit of bacon he will see for a while;  “It’s salad for you tonight, good boy.”

"Crikey Moses, Diane, I'm not a rabbit!"

“Crikey Moses, Diane – I’m not a rabbit!” he protests 

Dai gets stuck into it

as he starts on his breakfast.

Colin appears to be 'working from home'

Colin is back at number 21, and unloads a lot of boxes of Cae Glas produce, taking them into the house;  Garry welcomes him back, and assists him with the boxes.   

"Eileen doesn't waste any time, does she?"

“Eileen doesn’t waste any time, does she?” he remarks, and Colin says that he offered.

“She’s taking advantage of you – Britt doesn’t have to do all this packing work on her own,” 

"I don't want her to give Britt's job to someone else"

but Colin does not want her to give Britt’s job to someone else.

"What ed you think of the sign, then?"

“What do you think of the sign, then,” Garry asks, but Colin has not noticed anything.   “Monk’s Fried Chicken!   I know you’ve only just got back, but how could you not notice?”   

"I've got 101 boxes to fill, Gar"

Colin thinks it may have something to do with the fact that he has 101 boxes to fill, so Garry will leave him to it.

"Hello, gorgeous"

Colin has a phone call from Britt, but is warned not to say a word about the chip shop, as it is meant to be a surprise.   “Hello, gorgeous,” says Colin, “Everything’s under control here, don’t you worry – how’s Aaron?   

"You stay up there as long as you need"

“Right, yeah – yeah – of course, you stay up there as long as you need to.”

Huw and Sioned are playing 'salon'

At Deri Fawr, Sioned, who has her hair in rollers, is combing Huwi-John’s hair (he has changed markedly since we last saw him a couple of days ago).   

"Welcome to the salon, Mam"

Her mother walks in and Sioned welcomes her to ‘the salon’, and explains that DJ had to go and help Dai.

Probably the first word we have heard Huwi say

Sioned says that Huwi did not eat all his lunch, but he excitedly says, “Chips!”   Eileen thinks it is high time that they went home, but Sioned protests that they are enjoying themselves.   

Eileen is obviously displeased

Eileen hopes that next time DJ can take him round the farm;  

"Sioned is too busy!"

“Because Sioned can’t look after you – she’s too busy.   

Eileen is in a great hurry to leave

“Come on, now,” and she cannot get out of the place quickly enough.

"The sign is almost bigger than the shop!"

In the Deri, Ieuan Griffiths points out to Garry, “A takeaway, you said – not something out of Las Vegas!   That sign is almost bigger than the shop – Hywel won’t be happy.   

"I should have known better than to agree"

“I should have known better than to agree to look after his council responsibilities.”

"Everybody will be used to it by the time he gets back"

Garry predicts that everyone will be used to it by the time he gets back;  

"What if Kelly makes a fuss – or Siôn?"

“What if Kelly makes a fuss – or Siôn?” panics Griffiths.

“About what – a new business opening in the Cwm?” Garry demands, 

"Perhaps a small contribution . . ."

“Perhaps a small contribution would help your nerves.”   Griffiths wonders what kind of contribution he is referring to.   

" . . . an old-fashioned one – in an envelope?"  

“An old-fashioned one – in an envelope.”

"I'll make sure the paperwork is in order"

Griffiths will make sure that all the paperwork is in order.   

Garry and Dani leave for their 'date'

Dani has just come downstairs and leaves with Garry.   

Griffiths takes over Garry's pint

Griffiths makes sure that no-one is looking, then swaps his empty glass with Garry’s untouched full one.

"It was bad enough you brought your dolls down"

Eileen has returned to Deri Fawr, looking for one of Huwi’s toys, and Sioned insists that he wanted to play salon.   “It was bad enough that you brought your dolls down for him to play with the other day,” Eileen complains, 

"He's a boy, not a girl!"

“I told you I didn’t want you to do something like that again – he’s a boy, not a girl!   

"I'm his mother, and I don't want . . ."

“Look, I’m his mother, and I don’t want . . .”

"You should accept him, appreciate him and love him"

Sioned interrupts, “As a mother, you should accept him, appreciate him and love him every day.”   

"I do love Huwi!"

Eileen snarls that she does love Huwi, 

"And I love you, too"

and then, almost as an afterthought, adds that she loves Sioned too.

“Do you want a lift back to Penrhewl with me now?” she asks, 

"DJ is expecting me to be here"

but Sioned says that DJ is expecting to see her when he gets back.   “Are you going to stay here?” is her mother’s next question, and Sioned is not sure about that.   

"Your dinner will be on the table at six"

“Your dinner will be on the table at six, as usual,” says Eileen.

DJ is on his way back

Sioned receives a text to say that DJ is leaving Bryntirion now, and asking if she still there.

The rather garish interior sign

Dani is now inside the refurbished chippy, with its enormous illuminated sign, ‘ENJOY! MFC’.   

Dani is lost for words

“I actually don’t know what to say,” is her response, 

"I never thought I would make you speechless!"

and Garry never thought that he would make her speechless.   

"I love fried chicken"

Mark comes in through the door and is looking forward to the shop opening, as he loves fried chicken.

"I hope you don't get hassle from the council"

“I hope you don’t get any hassle from the council,” he says, 

"Everything's sorted"

and Garry says that Griffiths was panicking earlier, but everything is sorted.   

"Have you done it without permission?"

Dani looks dubious, and demands whether he has done it without planning permission.   

Garry insists that he has had permission;  

"I can tell by your face you're lying"

Dani can tell by his face that he is lying.   

"Why is it so hard to tell the truth?"

“Why is it so hard to tell the truth?   I’m going home!” she says, 

She storms out of the shop

and marches off.

“What about the date?” he shouts after her, 

"Thanks a lot, Mark!"

then blames Mark for mentioning the council.

"You've got nobody to blame but yourself!"

“Listen, you’ve got nobody to blame but yourself, good boy,” Mark informs him, 

"You'd better start telling Dani the truth"

“And another thing – you’d better start telling Dani the truth, or you can forget getting back with her.   She told me, Gar!”

"Since when is being honest so important?"

“Since when is being honest so important to you, Mark?” he demands, 

"If you want a future with Dani, Gar . . ."

and Mark spells it out, that if he wants a future with Dani, he does not have much choice.   

He ponders on Mark's advice

This gives Garry some food for thought.

"Sioned, are you here?"

When DJ returns to Deri Fawr, he calls for Sioned, but there is no reply;  

He studies Sioned's hair roller

he sees her hair rollers on the table, picks up a purple one and looks at it.   

DJ is very worried

He appears very troubled.