11 September 2024

Eleri arrives at Cysgod y Glyn . . . 

Eleri walks into Cysgod y Glyn 

. . .and looks around with dismay

and looks around;  

There are (fridge) magnets on the boiler

she appears unimpressed with the small magnets attached to the boiler 

She is generally not impressed

and, in fact, everything else in the flat.

In the deli, Ffion comes in and greets Hywel, who enquires, “How’s the new term?” and is told that it is busy.

"Did you find out any more information?"

She asks if she he received her text about the land at Deri Fawr;  “Did you find out any more information?”   

"I thought your solicitor was looking into it"

He was under the impression that her solicitor was looking into it.

“I asked you to as well,” she reminds him, but he replies that he has been busy.   

"I have a lot on my plate"

“It isn’t a priority now that the house sale has gone through,” adds Ffion, “And I have had a lot on my plate, too.

"I didn't promise anything!"

Hywel argues that he did not promise anything and rather abruptly walks out, much to her displeasure.

"My posts about the Drag Night were a hit, then?"

Cai and Lleucu come into the Deri, where Cassie has one more job for Lleucu to do;  “My posts about the drag night were a hit, then?” says Lleucu.   

"Better than the quiz, anyway"

Cassie confirms that there has been a lot of interest – better than the quiz, anyway.   

"Don't tell Siôn that"

Cai warns his daughter not to tell Siôn that.

"It was tragic!"

“Social media is the future – seeing you going round the village with your clip art flyers – was tragic!” Lleucu tells her.   

"I do have some social media accounts"

Cassie agrees, but does point out that she has some social media accounts.   “Do you?   I’ll have to follow you,” says Lleucu.

“The thing is, I don’t understand these ‘reels’ business [Instagram Reels: Record and edit 15-second multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and new creative tools], so if you could give me a hand to give them an additional boost . . .” says Cassie, 

"I'll do some filming outside"

and Lleucu will get on to it right away, doing some filming outside first.

"Sorry she's so cheeky"

Cai apologises that she is so cheeky, but Cassie maintains that he does not want a boring daughter.

"How are you settling in?"

Ffion returns to Cysgod y Glyn to see how Eleri is settling in;  

"I've only been where a few hours"

“I’ve only been here a few hours,” is her reply.   

"Have you signed the contract?"

 asks if she has signed the contract, but is told that Eleri has been making notes – 

"There are things to discuss before signing"

things to discuss before signing.

"We've already discussed terms, money and stuff"

“But we’ve already discussed terms, money and stuff – I thought it was just something to make it formal,” says Ffion.

"I don't sign anything unless it's on my terms"

“I deal with contracts like this every day, Ffion – I don’t sign anything unless it’s on my terms!” she insists, in her usual abrasive manner.   Ffion does not know what to say to that.

"Do you want to use this?"

In the shop flat, Mathew is doing some ironing and asks Howard if he wants to use the ironing board;  “You’re coming out to town tonight with me and Jinx?” but Howard is not enthusiastic.

"You might find your wife tonight"

“You never know, Howard – you might find your wife tonight,” Mathew continues, 

"I might have already found her"

but Howard maintains that he might have found her already, on that app.

"It's a good start, if she likes farming"

“Her name’s Elen,” and he reads her message, ‘Hiya – nice tractor – how powerful is it?’”   Mathew thinks that it is good start, if she likes farming.   

"But there's no point getting my hopes up"

“But there’s no point getting my hopes up,” says Howard.

"You haven't met her yet"

“You haven’t met her yet,” Mathew reminds him.

"Exactly – she hasn't met me, either!"

“Exactly – she hasn’t met me either!   Look at me!”   Mathew points out that that is why he needs to get friendly with the iron and asks when the first date is.   “It’s a bit early for that,” insists Howard.

"Strike while the iron's hot"

“Is it?   Look, you need to strike while the iron’s hot,” he is advised, as Mathew wields the iron as a visual aid.   Howard thinks that perhaps he may have a point.

"There's nothing wrong with the oven"

As she peruses Eleri’s list, Ffion exclaims that there is nothing wrong with the oven, 

"It's dirty and old"

but she is told that it is dirty and old.   “I’ve scrubbed it and everything works!” says Ffion, 

Eleri's assistant is left to carry the baggage

just as Kath arrives, conveying some more of Eleri’s belongings.

"What'[s wrong with the ceiling in the back room?"

“And the wallpaper isn’t old – and what’s wrong with the ceiling in the back room?” Ffion demands.   The answer is that it is full of horrible glow-in-the-dark stars.   “I put them up for Arwen when she was little!”

“Well, it’s time they came down now, isn’t it?”   

"Ffion has made the place beautiful"

Kath intervenes to say that Ffion has made the place beautiful.   

"I'm sure it was – at one time"

“I’m sure it was – at one time,” sneers Eleri, “But if there’s stuff here since her daughter was little, another coat of paint is needed.   Fashions change, Kath – 

"Dated, old and dingy!"

I don’t want to be stuck in somewhere dated, old and dingy.”

Ffion makes a very hasty exit

This description is too much for Ffion in her present emotional state;  she rushes out of the flat in tears.   Kath is not slow to follow her her.

"I meant to drop these over to you"

Hywel has gone to Llwyncelyn to collect some more of Esther’s stuff, which has somehow been left behind.   “Are the goggles in there?” he asks and Gaynor confirms that they are.

"Are you all right?"

Hywel asks if she is all right;  

"Have you heard what happened in the Deri?"

“Did you hear about what happened in the Deri?” she wonders, but he has not heard.

"You can't  lile your own stuff – it's so cringe!"

Cassie looks at Lleucu’s latest promotion work, which has had twelve ‘likes’ in eight minutes, so Cassie gives it another one.   “Oh no – you’ve just done that from the Deri’s account – you can’t like your own stuff!   It’s so cringe!” Lleucu exclaims.

"What's this, Cassie?"

Cai investigates a couple of boxes which have appeared on the bar;  

"Ingredients for making cocktails"

“It’s a box of ingredients Sam has given me for making cocktails tomorrow – but I’m practising today.”   

"I'll taste them!"

Lleucu volunteers to taste them, but is informed that she can take their photos.   

"I'm not drinking alcohol"

Cai is not drinking alcohol;  nevertheless is informed that there are ‘mocktails’ too.

"Well, I know whose story I believe"

After hearing all the details, Hywel declares, “Well, I know whose story I believe – accidents like that don’t happen.   Putting something like that in his food would be a heck of a plan. I’ve found her to be odd right from the start, you know?   

"She's opened the door to so many problems"

“You said yourself that since you’ve met Cheryl, she’s opened the door to so many problems.”

"I really want to believe her . . ."

“I really want to believe her – 

". . . I'm fed up with this back and forth"

“I’m fed up with all this back and forth,” Gaynor admits.   There is a knock at the door and Hywel leaves.

They are about to have a drink . . . 

In the shop flat, Jinx gives Matthew a can 

. . . when Howard walks in

 then Howard walks in, looking completely different.   “What’s happened to you?” demands Mathew.

"You're walking as if you've filled your pants!"

Jinx says that he looks as if he has been on a makeover TV show, “You’re walking as if you’ve filled your pants!” he adds

"They are a bit tight"

 and Howard concedes that they are a bit tight.   

"Can you breathe in them?"

Mathew is anxious that he can breathe in those.

“Well, this is the trend, isn’t it?” Howard assumes, “I’ve spent too much on these trousers not to wear them.”

Jinx maintains that he is not leaving much to the imagination, but Mathew says that he looks great.   “I’d like to see you sit down in those!” Jinx laughs, and Howard has had enough.

"I'm not going"

He is about to walk out, moaning, “I’m not going – she’ll laugh at me, exactly like you are!”   

"We're only pulling your leg, Howard"

Mathew maintains that they are only pulling his leg and he looks very smart.   That Elen is a very lucky girl.

"Have you got s present for her?"

“Have you got a present for her – flowers or chocolates?” Jinx wonders, which makes Howard even more anxious;  he admits he has never been on a date before.

"It's your company she wants"

“It’s your company she wants, so go – you don’t want to keep her waiting,” Mathew urges him.   

They try to stifle their laughter

As he leaves the flat, the others have to stop themselves from laughing

"Don't let Eleri upset you, right?"

As they walk through the park, Kath advises Ffion, “Don’t let Eleri upset you, right?   She’s just trying her luck – she did exactly the same with me when she moved into the Deri.”

"It's a happy flat, full of memories"

Ffion protests that there is nothing wrong with the place;  “It’s been a happy flat, full of memories!”   

"And you still have those memories"

Kath points out that she still has those memories, no matter how many tenants insist she change the carpet, or paint the walls – or move stickers – she will still have the memories.

"I should have said something!"

“I should have said something – not just run away and cry!” protests Ffion.   She is told not to be scared of Eleri, but replies, “Eleri isn’t the problem – 

"I've started the menopause"

“I’ve started the menopause.”

"How do you know about it?"

“How do you know about it?” asks Tom;  Gaynor replies that Cassie informed her;  

"I hoped it wouldn't have gone any further"

“I hoped it wouldn’t have gone any further,” he says and Gaynor cannot understand why he is worried about that.

"I don't want people to point the finger at Cheryl"

“Perhaps this sounds odd to you, but I don’t want people to point the finger at Cheryl.   For her to do something so extreme, I think she’s in quite a bad place, Gaynor, and I just didn’t want to make things worse.”

"I don't know what to think"

Gaynor does not know what to think;  

"I would give you a hug – but . . ."

“I would give you a hug – but . . .” he tells her.

"I'm only 47!"

“I’m only 47!” Ffion complains, but Kath comments that it comes to them all, sooner or later.   “I wasn’t expecting it until late 50s, 60s even,” Ffion goes on, 

"Everyone is different, Ffion"

but is told that it happens much sooner than that, although everyone is different.

“I wasn’t expecting it – and I didn’t know what to expect, either,” says Kath, “Hot flushes, perhaps, but it’s a lot more than that.”

"Anxiety, feeling depressed"

Ffion mutters, “Anxiety, feeling depressed – and forgetting things – just small, stupid things.   

"I haven't felt myself for quite a while"

“I haven’t felt like myself for quite a while.”

“It takes time – I won’t deny it – but you’ll get through it,” Kath assures her.

"It takes time – but you'll get through it"

“Did you get treatment?   HRT?” Ffion wants to know, but there was nothing like that;  

"I just had to suffer in silence"

Kath was offered antidepressants, but felt that was not right – she just had to suffer in silence – shouting at Mark for no reason at all – crying for no reason – forgetting peoples names.   

"Men don't know the half of it, so they?"

“Men don’t know the half of it, do they?   Perhaps I should have talked to someone – my sister or somebody, but I wasn’t comfortable talking about things like that.”

"I've talked quite a bit to Kelly"

Ffion reveals that she has talked quite a bit to Kelly, which is already a lot better than Kath did.   

"And I had to tell Mathew as well . . ."

“And I had to tell Mathew as well – I can’t face him now.   

". . . I just feel so ashamed"

“I just feel so ashamed.”

“Listen here – you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of – you’re strong, Ffion,”insists Kath.   “You’ve dealt with much worse than this – and you’ve dealt with much worse people than Eleri.   

"She'd have hot flushes and palpitations!"

“I’m telling you now, one day with those teenagers in school and she’d have hot flushes and palpitations!

“Remember, you don’t have to suffer in silence like I did – you’ve got Kelly – and you’ve got me, too, if you want – any time.”   

"Thanks, Kath"

Ffion is very grateful to her.

"So the information will be made public soon"

Now Tom is at number 21;  “So the information will be made public soon,” he says;  Hywel will go and get the lager.   “Do you think it will get passed?”

"I'll do my best"

“Well, the planning committee will have to pass it internally first,” Hywel replies, “And then I’ll do my best.   Then the people affected will have to be notified – there’s a long way to go until it gets the green light.”

"I heard what happened with Cheryl"

Tom is confident that the matter is in safe hands;  “Thanks for inviting me over.”   Hywel has heard what happened with Cheryl and thought that he could use a friend.

"It's not fair you have to avoid the place"

“It’s not fair you have to avoid the place because of Cheryl,” Hywel insists, but Tom points out that it is complicated and there is a lot of history.

"I was never violent"

“I wasn’t an angel in that relationship – from it – there are a lot of things I regret doing, but no, I was never violent,” Tom alleges.

"It tastes just like the last one"

In the Deri, as the cocktail-tasting continues, Cai remarks, “I can’t tell the difference between that one and the last one.”   

Lleucu is doing the photography

Cassie realises that she has made the same one again, as Lleucu is busy photographing the various cocktails.

"Have we got strawberries or raspberries?"

Then Cassie comes across a recipé which she says sounds lovely;  “Have we got strawberries or raspberries?”   

"Only apple and banana"

Lleucu reports that the only fruit left is apple and banana.   

"I want to make cocktails, not smoothies!"

“I want to make cocktails, not smoothies!” Cassie protests.

"Right, I've got school tomorrow"

Lleucu will now go home, as she has school tomorrow, but she tells her father to stay there if he wants;  

"Only if Cassie can promise a different drink"

“Only if Cassie can promise the next drink tastes different,” he jokes, then tells Lleucu to be careful on the way home.   

"Good night"

She wishes them good night.

"Siôn is angry with all of us"

“From what I’ve heard, Siôn is angry with all of us,” Jinx tells Mathew, 

"Right, the taxi's here"

then receives a message that their taxi has arrived.   

Howard comes back

Just as they are about to leave, Howard comes back, very crestfallen.

"How did it go?"

Mathew nervously asks him how it went, 

"You're going to be late"

but he tells them that they will be late if they do not leave now.   “Perhaps she had work to do on the farm,” Mathew suggests, 

"Lambing or something"

“Lambing or something.”

Howard informs him that it is not lambing season;  

"Perhaps she ran a mile!"

“Perhaps she saw what I looked like and ran a mile!   It’s all right for you – you’ve never had problems getting women to like you.”

“Do you know how many women haven’t turned up for dates with me?   Loads!” Mathew tells him.

"These clothes were a stupid idea"

Howard considers that the clothes were a stupid idea, 

"You're not going to find a girlfriend by being someone else"

but is advised, “You’re not to going to find a girlfriend by being someone else,” 

"I can't find one may being myself!"

but he points out that he cannot find one by being himself either.   Women see him as a joke.

"Life is really short, Howard"

“Look, life is really short – too short to waste your time wearing a pair of jeans that cut off the circulation to your legs,” says Mathew, “Right, get changed – we’re going out for a few drinks – I’m not leaving you here feeling sorry for yourself.”   

"OK – I'll get changed"

Howard hurries to get changed.

Ffion walks in

Ffion walks into Cysgod y Glyn 

         "You can't just walk in!"

and is told by Eleri that she cannot just walk in.   “Why?   You haven’t signed anything!” snaps Ffion, “This place will get a coat of paint – some paint and I’ll take the stars down.   

"You check with me and pay for it yourself"

“If you want to do anything else, you check with me and pay for it yourself.”

"I'm not sure that I can accept those terms"

“I’m not sure that I can accept those terms,” replies Eleri, 

"I'll have the key back, then"

so Ffion proposes that in that case she will take the key back.   “Can’t we discuss it?” Eleri asks.

"If you're not happy, I'll find another tenant"

Ffion makes it very clear, “No, sorry – that’s my final offer – if you’re not happy, I’ll find another tenant.   This is a good flat – you won’t find anything as good for the same price in the village.   So – will you sign?   

"Are you going to lodge in the Deri – with your father?"

“Or are you going to go back to lodge in the Deri – with your father?”

Eleri is forced to give up . . .

Eleri reluctantly prepares to sign the document, 

. . . which gives Ffion great satisfaction

while Ffion tries not to look triumphant.

The last of the patrons have gone

Cassie has seen off the last of her customers and she rather unsteadily returns to the bar;  

"Do pupils still give an apple to their favourite teacher?"

“Do pupils still give an apple to their favourite teacher?” she asks Cai.

“Well, if they do, I’ve never had one,” he answers, 

She gives an apple to him

so she picks up one from the bar and hands it to him.   “Is there anything else you want me to do,” he goes on.

"Thanks form your help tonight . . ."

She thanks him for his help tonight;  

" . . . I've had a lot of fun"

“I’ve had a lot of fun.”   

"It's great to have your company"

Cai agrees that so has he and it is great to have her company.   “That’s nice to hear.”

They look into each others eyes, and it is obvious what will follow – 

The inevitable kiss ensues

they kiss.   

"Remember to lock the door after me"

“Remember to lock the door after I leave,” he reminds her;  

She looks quite excited

Cassie looks extremely pleased with herself.