30 November 2023

"The party went well last night"

As Anita walks through the park she is speaking on the phone;  “Yes, the pampering party went well last night, thanks for asking.   

"Can you give me a little more time?"

“Today?   Can you give me a little more time?”

Ieuan detects a problem

Ieuan is sitting at a picnic table with two coffees as Anita continues, “All right, I’ll be in touch with you before the end of the day.”   He can see that something is wrong and she explains, “It was Louise from ‘Meddal’ – she advised me to put another order in, 

"Prices are going up today"

“because prices are going up today.”

Ieuan is surprised by this, after Anita has lost out on sales last night;  “Did you get a warning about this price increase?” he demands, 

"That's a bit unfair . . ."

“That’s a bit unfair, putting pressure on you like that.   

". . . but I'm sure you can deal with it"

“But I’m sure you can deal with it.”   Anita is not so confident about that.

Siôn is selecting fruit

Siôn is selecting some fruit from outside the shop when Hywel passes and comments, “Picking your five a day?”

"They're for Ffion"

Siôn replies that they are for Ffion and goes on, “Iolo’s out tonight, I’m translating at a conference and Ffion is going to babysit Greta.”   Hywel imagines that he is going to pay her in carrots.

“No, not quite – I’m cooking a lasagne and a crumble to thank her – 

"These apples are bendigedig!"

“these apples are bendigedig [wonderful].”

"Don't make the same mistake I did"

Hywel warns Siôn not to make the same mistake he did;  “She came to babysit a while ago and I told her to help herself to a trifle in the fridge – I forgot it was full of sherry!”

"Is she all right?"

Siôn is very concerned to hear this, but is assured that she is all right, although it could have been a lot worse.   

"So be careful, chef!"

“So be careful, chef!” Hywel says as he walks away.

Kath will not admit to having a headache

In the Deri flat, Kath is nursing a headache, but when Cassie enquires, she denies it, commenting that running a pub is not easy.   “Well, I’m fine – but I’m younger than you,” Cassie replies, “Have you thought about taking something?   

"There are tablets in the bathroom"

“There are tablets in the bathroom.”

"I have to be careful about what I take"

Kath says that she has to be careful about what she takes [a reference to her previous problems with drugs].   Then it is suggested that she could see a doctor as as it appears to be happening quite a lot, but Kath is adamant that she is all right.

"Washed my eyes with cold tea"

Cassie recalls, “When I was a little girl and I had a headache, Nain Rachub washed my eyes with cold tea.”

"Lived in a cave in Nant Francon, did you?"

“Don’t tell me, you lived in a cave in Nant Ffrancon [a glacial valley in Snowdonia], did you?” Kath sneers.

"There are so many 'snowflakes' around these days . . ."

As they continue their walk in the winter sunshine, Ieuan says, “The trouble is, there are so many ‘snowflakes’ around these days – 

". . . I remember Dadi going out to hunt"

“I remember Dadi going out to hunt in his red jacket – it’s the happiest I ever saw him.   

"A flea-ridden fox walked into the Deri"

“And like I said to Cassie, she would have something to say if a flea-ridden fox walked into the Deri and lounged on the sofa with a Pino Grigio!”

"It will be music to Cheryl's ears"

Anita is very quiet, then declares, “It will be music to Cheryl’s ears if my prices go up!”

"That Cheryl is scatty"

Ieuan tries to console her that Cheryl is scatty;  “She doesn’t have your business skills or your wonderful personality!”   

"And she wouldn't forget a pampering party"

Anita makes the point that neither would she forget a pampering party;  “Do you think I can make a success of this business?”   

He insists that last night was simply a blip, but she is less sure of that.

"You don't need Cassie and Kath and Diane, do you?"

“Look, you don’t need Cassie and Kath and Diane, do you?” he attempts to encourage her, 

"They're my best friends"

but she points out that they are her best customers – and best friends.   

“Well, mixing business and friendship can be difficult,” he tells her, and she wonders what he thinks that she should do.

"This is your project, Anita"

He will not make any recommendations, stressing that this is her project;  “Only you know how much you want it.”   Then he receives a phone call 

She considers what to do

while Anita ponders her position.

Eileen finds something interesting on her laptop . . .

At Penrhewl, Eileen is doing the washing up when there is the sound of  messages arriving on her laptop;  

. . . these comments

one of them reads ‘Eileen Probert up to her old tricks I see’.   As she is smiling at this, Howard arrives, carrying two bags.

"I found some dead chickens"

“You won’t believe this – I found some dead chickens by the stream, killed by a fox.   I thought I could smell something the other night.”   

"Take a couple of dogs out for a 'test run'"

Eileen suggests that he might like to take a couple of dogs out for a ‘test run’.

"We don't want to be arrested before starting!"

“We don’t want to be arrested before starting!” Howard reminds her, but she is insistent that he can take two dogs, 

"It's my land!"

“as it is her land, but should take a 12-bore to finish the job.   He is not keen on this, pointing out, “It’s not going to look great if someone sees me.”

“I have a perfect right to protect my animals!” she snarls, 

"Come back when you've found it"

“Come back when you’ve found it!”

Megan has written to then paper

In the Deri, Diane is reading the Western Post;  “Eileen won’t be happy when she sees Megan’s letter,” she observes and Cassie assumes that it is about the hunt.   Kath does not want to see the letter, maintaining that she is too busy.   

"You're only drinking coffee, Kath"

“You’re only drinking coffee – come on, read it!” Diane insists, “She says that hunts are barbaric and the Deri shouldn’t allow them to meet here.”

Cassie is angered that she has dragged the Deri through the mud, 

"The Deri does a lot of good here"

and Kath points out the good things that they do – the food bank [is that not organised by Bethania?] and Merched y Wawr [Women’s Institute] for example.   It is agreed that this is the place for people to meet and socialise;  the village would be a lot poorer without this place.

"And you're going to hold self-defence lessons"

Diane adds that they are going to hold self-defence lessons;  “It would have been a good chance to advertise that,” she says.

"You could make a poster, as you're so busy!"

Cassie suggests that Kath could make a poster;  “As you’re so busy!   Do it on the laptop and then we’ll print it – 

"What – me?"

“at least you could say you’ve done something today.”   

When Anita walks in . . .

Anita comes in 

. . . she receives a less than effusive welcome

and receives a somewhat lukewarm welcome.

"Thanks for babysitting tonight, Ffion"

is browsing in the deli when Ffion comes in and he thanks her for babysitting tonight;  as she looks at a message on her phone, 

"I'm going to cook your favourite meal"

he continues, “I’m going to cook your favourite meal – lasagne.”   

"There's no need for that"

Ffion protests that there is no need.

"There won't be any sherry in my crumble"

“No, I insist,” he continues, “But unlike Bryn Williams, Llwyncelyn, [Bryn Williams – famous Welsh chef and author] there won’t be any sherry in my crumble.”

"You've been talking about me!"

“You’ve been talking about me!” she snaps, “What right did Hywel have to tell everyone?” 

She immediately leaves again

and without another word she rushes out of the deli.

"Sure you're not meant to be somewhere else?"

Diane approaches Anita, who is sitting alone;  “Are you sure you’re not meant to be somewhere else?”   

"Let me buy you a drink to apologise"

Anita would like to buy her a drink to apologise for last night, but is told to forget about it.   

"It's easy when you're under pressure"

Diane appreciates that it is easy to forget when one is under pressure.

"You don't think I'm putting pressure on you?"

“I hope you don’t think I’m putting pressure on you and the other girls,” Anita worries;  

"Pressure not to buy Cheryl's products"

it is confirmed that she indeed put a lot of pressure on Diane not to buy Cheryl’s products.   Diane knows she enjoy the business.

"'Meddal' gives my life purpose"

Anita agrees, “Yes, ‘Meddal’ gives my life purpose.   I know it sounds stupid, but for the first time in ages, I’m taking control of something in my life.   I worked in the café, at Tamed, APD, 

"I haven't run my own business for years"

“but I haven’t run my own business for years.”

"To show myself that I could still do it"

Diane can understand that, and it is why she went for the job on the council;  “To show myself that I could still do it . . . but we’re worried about you.   You haven’t been yourself lately.”

They have been listening

Cassie and Kath have been listening to this conversation, 

"Don't let this business take over your life"  

as Diane cautions Anita, “Please don’t let this business take over your life.”

"Thank you, Hywel"

Madge appears to be having computer trouble and Hywel says that he will call over to look at it;  “Thank you, Hywel,” she says 

Ffion is not happy

and then Ffion approaches in a bad mood.

"Did you have to open your big mouth?"

“Did you have to open your big mouth and tell Siôn that I’ve had a relapse?” she growls.   

"I praised you for the way you handled it"

He insists that rather he praised her for the way she handled it, 

"I don't want your patronising praise!"

but she makes it clear that she does not want his patronising praise.

"I'd say he wants to make an impression!"

“I told him because he’s preparing a meal for you tonight,” and she suspects that this was Hywel’s idea.   “No – I’d say that he wants to make an impression!” Hywel imagines.

"With his crumble and his lasagne"

“With his crumble and his lasagne,” she grimaces, “I’m there to babysit – not for a meal!”   He laughs, but she points out that it is not funny.   Hywel predicts that the apples will be wonderful, and she requires him not to tell anyone else, as she does not want to make a big deal of it.   

"I'm looking forward to hearing a review"

He jokes that he is looking forward to hearing a review of the meal.

"We found the fox in the top field"

Howard returns the farmhouse and reports that he found the fox in the top field;  

"The dogs were fast – and a bit wild!"

“The dogs were fast – and a bit wild!   I didn’t even get the chance to use the gun.”   

The chickens can sleep soundly tonight"

She realises that he really means ‘wild’, and is glad that the chickens can sleep soundly tonight.   

"We must do things right, Eileen"

Howard says he will have to train the dogs and insists that they must do things right;  “Some people oppose this hunt already.”

"Yes, I've seen the comments"

Eileen has seen their comments online, and he goes on that they are going to organise a protest – which she regards as free publicity for the hunt.

"Things could turn nasty"

“They could cause trouble and things could turn nasty,” he warns, but she simply replies that it is up to the police to maintain order.   “Are you sure you don’t just want to concentrate on breeding the dogs and forget about the hunt?” he demands.

"I know exactly how to sell this hunt!"

Eileen is adamant that she is not going to let some noise ruin their plans, but appreciates that they have to be careful.   “Every businessperson worth their salt knows how important marketing is – and I know exactly how to sell this hunt!”   

She pours some wine

She pours him a glass of wine.

"What's that, then?"

Later in the Deri, Hywel enquires what the notice is behind the bar;  “Oh, it’s supposed to be self-defence lessons in the Deri,” Cassie replies, 

Not a shining example of the sign-maker's art

but Kath appears to be not very proficient in poster production.   

"Are you going to be running them?"

He wonders if she is going to be running them, and she agrees that she could, 

"Don't push your luck!"

“So don’t push your luck!’ she warns.

"Kath, what is this supposed to be?"

Then she calls to Kath and demands what the poster is supposed to be;  

"Not much wrong with that"

Kath cannot see much wrong with it, except for a couple of spelling mistakes and the fact it is printed on more than one sheet of paper.

“Cassie, I had a headache doing that and I couldn’t concentrate,” is Kath’s excuse.   Cassie comments that she has always got a headache and ought to see someone, 

"I've just had a long day"

but Kath puts it down to a long day.

"I want to apologise"

Anita comes to the bar for another one and would also like to apologise, but Cassie replies, “There’s no need – it’s water under the bridge,” and wonders whether she could send some of the stuff back to the company.

"You seem under pressure, Anita"

Kath goes on to suggest that the business might be a bit too much for her;  “You seem under pressure.”   Anita answers that she is coping, 

"But are you enjoying it?"

but Cassie wonders if she is actually enjoying it.   “You have become a bit miserable lately,” Kath adds, “All you think about is this ‘Meddal’ business.”

"Once I can afford to employ someone . . ."

Anita is confident that once she can afford to employ someone, she will have more time for her friends;  

"Who do you think you are – Alan Sugar?"

Kath laughs, “Who do you think you are – Alan Sugar?”

Cassie tries to sensitively suggest that this might be a job for someone with more energy.   

"Someone like Cheryl, you mean!"

“Oh, right – someone like Cheryl, you mean!” Anita growls, 

"A lot more organised – and a lot cheaper"

and Kath says that these young people are a lot more organised – and she is a lot cheaper than Anita.

"Thanks a lot, friends!"

“Right, thanks a lot, friends!” Anita snarls and walks away with her drink to rejoin Ieuan.   

"Have you reconciled?"

He enquires if they have reconciled;  

"I need to re consider the business"

“I think I need to reconsider this business,” she tells him.

He agrees that she deserves better than being a powder and lipstick rep and she agrees, “A lot better!   

"I want you to buy a bottle of bubbles"

“I want you to buy a bottle of bubbles – because we’re going to celebrate!”   

"The old Anita is back!"

He is pleased to see that the old Anita is back.

Ffion arrives at Y Felin 

When Ffion arrives at Y Felin, Siôn can understand why she was angry earlier, but maintains, “Unlike Hywel, I know how to keep my mouth shut.   I understand why you don’t want everyone to know.”   

"Greta – Ffion is here"

He calls upstairs to Greta that Ffion is there.

Siôn announces the menu

“There’s a lasagne in the oven, and an apple crumble and fresh cream in the fridge – 

"And I've listed the ingredients"

“and I’ve listed the ingredients, so you know exactly what’s in it.”   

"I don't need dinner, Siôn"

Ffion informs him that she does not need dinner, but is sure that it will taste good.

"Do you want to talk?"

“Do you want to talk?” he asks, “Sorry for fussing – we can talk later.”   

"I don't want to discuss it"

Ffion does not want to discuss it, 

"It's important to talk"

but he insists, “If last year has taught me anything – it’s important to talk.”

"I'll bet talking to my sponsor"

“If I want to talk, I’ll be  going to my sponsor – you can’t save everyone,” Ffion tells him, “I’m not interested in discussing this with you!   I don’t want your help and I don’t want your concern!   

"I don't want your lasagne, either"

“And I don’t want your lasagne, either, thanks.”

“If that’s how you feel, don’t touch it,” he snaps.

Anita finds a secluded corner

Anita sits in a quiet corner of the Deri and contacts Louise;  “Everything’s fine,” she says, 

"I'm going to take that big order" — what could possibly go wrong?

“Listen, I’m going to take that big order – there’s no problem – I will have sold the whole lot within a week.”

"This is lovely, Siôn"

Later, when Siôn returns to Y Felin, he finds Ffion eating apple crumble, which she describes as lovely.

He advises that the conference finished early;  

"Old women, discussing Welsh poultry!"

“It was all right, if you like listening to old women discussing Welsh poultry,” he grumbles, so she wonders why he bothers.   “Money doesn’t grow on trees, Ffion,” he replies.

"But apples do – and these are bendigedig!"

She points out that apples do, and these ones are wonderful;  “Look, Siôn, you don’t have to worry about me drinking again.   Honestly, I’m fine – and I appreciate that you are worried – as a friend.”   

The way to a woman's heart . . .

He enquires if there is some crumble left for him.   On the way to the kitchen, he turns to look at Ffion, 

. . . is through her stomach?

who is busy scoffing the rest of her crumble.

"People will be furious!"

“We can’t do that in the Deri – people will be furious!” Howard protests, but Eileen regards it as a good thing.  

"People will flock to pay their membership fee"

 She envisages plates of canapés, sparkling wine – really classy – and people will flock to pay their membership fee.

He considers that people will be more likely to half kill them.   She goes on, “And we’ll wear red coats.”   

"There's an etiquette to things like that"

Howard believes that there is an etiquette to things like that, with hunters having to earn their colours.

"We're going to show these townies . . ."

She continues, “Well, we have to look the part because this is our opportunity to show these townies that we understand this land – 

"Out in all weathers"

“that we’re out in all weathers, making sure that they have food.”

"Apart from the vegans!"

“Apart from the vegans!” Howard interrupts.

"No – we own this valley!"

“No – we own this valley – and this is our opportunity to take it back!” she declares.