20 February 2025

"I've got a last-minute job for you"

Ioan meets DJ in the alley and tells him, “I’ve got a last-minute job for you – a drop-off at a festival.”   

"I'm baby-sitting today"

DJ’s response is that he cannot do it today as he is babysitting, but this does not go down well with Ioan.   “You asked for work– it’s a big festival – it will be good money!”

“I would be happy to do it, but things are delicate when it comes to seeing the children,” says DJ.

"This is not something you can dip in and out of'

He is sternly warned that this is not something he can dip in and out of;  “If you’re in, you’re in – and you don’t want to annoy the boss!”   DJ wonders what the boss is going to do, but is informed, “You don’t want to know!”   DJ concludes that he will sort something and Ioan will text him the details.

"We're on standby for a food festival"

Jason happens to passing the alley, so DJ shouts to him, “Jase, we’re on standby for a food festival – today.”   

"I'm working today!"

Jason angrily points out that he is working today, 

"Well, get started, then"

so is told to get started and DJ will go to Penrhewl;  

"I'll let you have the details"

he will phone when he has the details.

Anita is trying to remember

Anita is walking slowly along the road, reciting to herself the items she needs from the shop, when Diane comes out, 

"Are you all right?"

asking if she is all right.   “Salmon, broccoli, butter . . . 

"I can't remember what else it was"

“I can’t remember what else I was supposed to get.”

Diane suggests that if Ieuan is at home, she could go and ask him, but Anita wants to do this by herself.   

"Go home and look in the cupboards"

The next recommendation is that she goes home and looks in the cupboards.

"I don't want Ieuan to know"

“No, Ieuan’s at home and I don’t want him to know that I can’t remember what we’ve just discussed.”   

"Let's go and have a coffee int the Deri"

Diane proposes that they both go to the Deri to have a coffee and then perhaps she will remember.

Hywel now has two anonymous notes . . .

Hywel is very dismayed to find another anonymous note on the arm of the sofa.   

. . . but the back door is still locked

He checks the kitchen door, which is still secure, not being able to work out who has got into the house 

He is becoming very concerned

and is now in quite a state.

"It's not the end of the world, Anita"

As they sit in the Deri, Anita is still concerned, so Diane reminds her that it is not the end of the world that she cannot remember what was on the shopping list.   

"I'm just frustrated with myself, that's all"

“No, I’m just frustrated with myself, that’s all,” she grumbles 

"Did you speak to the doctor?"

and Diane enquires whether she spoke to the doctor about the way she was feeling the other day.

“No, but I promise I will!” sighs Anita.

"You can't be having any fun there"

Cassie comes across, commenting that they are as quiet as mice over there, so they cannot be having any fun.   

"There isn't much fun anywhere these days"

“There isn’t much fun anywhere these days, is there?” Anita groans.

"Jean and Glan, Dic Deryn . . . "

Diane recalls how things used to be – the people round there;  “Jean and Glan, Dic Deryn – 

". . . and Reg, of course!"

“and Reg, of course!”   Cassie agrees that they were good days.

"I miss the Gin Club"

“Do you know what I miss?   The Gin Club,” announces Anita 

"Yes, I've ben thinking that"

and Diane had been thinking the same thing.   “It was something to look forward to – and we had a lot of fun.”

"When did you have in mind?"

Cassie also considers it to be a good idea and asks when they had in mind;   “Well, we could resurrect it now,” says Anita, “If Diane is not doing anything else.”   Cassie, however, has no-one behind the bar and there are things she has to prepare.

"There's two thirsty women here"

Anita points out, “There’s gin here, there’s tonic here and two thirsty women.”   Cassie corrects that to three and will go to the bar for the necessaries.

"These things happen, Eileen"

DJ has gone to Penrhewl, where he explains to Eileen, “I told the organiser it was too short notice, but he threatened not to give me the next festival.   I’m not happy about it, but these things happen.”

"These things are happening too often!"

He does not seem to be making any progress with Eileen, who replies, “These things are happening too often – and it’s you who asked for a more regular arrangement.”   

"I'm not doing it intentionally"

He insists that he is not doing this intentionally, but is told that Sioned will be furious when she finds out.

"Please, Eileen.just this once"

“Not if you look after them,” he points out, “That’s why I’m doing all this work – to give Sioned and the kids some money.   Please, Eileen, just this once.”

"I have to go to Tamed!"

Eileen flatly refuses, reminding him that she has been looking after them since earlier this morning and she has to go to Tamed this afternoon.   Then he enquires whether Siôn could help 

"It's about time you took some responsibility"

and she snarls, “No – it’s about time you took some responsibility!   Sioned will turn to Howard or Mathew if you keep disappointing her.   You have to learn to keep your word!”

"I'll be back by half past one"

He has no alternative, but to agree that he will be back before half past one to collect the twins;  

"And make sure that you are!"

she tells him to make sure that he is.

"You should set your next novel in Canada"

In the Deri, as the three of them sit round the table with their gin, Anita maintains that Cassie should set her next novel in Canada.   

"Looking for a strong lumberjack"

Cassie imagines, “A girl from here goes out to the wild in Canada to look for a strong lumberjack,” 

"Canada's not full of lumberjacks!"

but is informed that Canada is not full of lumberjacks.   

The next suggestion is, “What about an ice hockey player, then?”

"Is it someone's birthday?"

Kath discovers them there and asks if it is someone’s birthday, 

"We've resurrected the Gin Club"

but is informed that they have resurrected the Gin Club.   

"At this time of day?"

“At this time of day?” demands Kath, incredulously;  Cassie points out that it is a one-off – something to lift their spirits.

"Good, I could do with something to lift my spirits"

“Good – I could do with something to lift my spirits, too,” Kath groans.   

"I can't believe Brynmor deceived you like that"

Anita cannot believe that Brynmor deceived her like that;  “Yes, it was one lie after another,” Kath confirms, then adds, “Who wants some more gin?”

Anita thinks that she will just have tonic this time, but Cassie points out that it was her idea to have the Gin Club.   

Kath takes Cassie's place

She will go and get the gin and tells Kath to sit down.

"Can I have a word, Cassie?"

Hywel walks in, looking very anxious, and would like a word with Cassie; she replies that she is rather busy at the moment.   

"Does Cai know about you and me?"

“Listen, does Cai know about you and me?” he continues.   She does not believe he does and would rather talk about this later, as she is in the middle of Gin Club.

"Bad news, Jason . . ."

Jason is at home in Bryntirion, getting stuck into his lunch, when DJ comes in with bad news;  

"You'll have to go to Henffordd on your own"

“You’ll have to go to Hereford [in Welsh, ‘Henffordd’] on your own.   It’s a long story, but just for today – please?”

"I can't run it on my own!"

Jason is doubtful whether he can run Fflamingos on his own, but DJ is confident that everything will be OK, reminding him that things like this happen now and again.   

"I have to look after the children today"

“I have to look after the children today – if I don’t, it will give Sioned another excuse to change the arrangement we already have.”

"Oh – all right, then"

Jason is not at all happy about this, but reluctantly agrees.   

"The bloke from the vegan stall will bring a box"

DJ adds that the bloke from the vegan stall will bring a box;  he maintains that it contains knives and forks which were borrowed at the Myrddin Festival.

"I'd better get going, hadn't I?"

“Well, I’d better get going, then, hadn’t I?” growls Jason. 

"I've had enough trouble with men"

Hywel drinks his pint at the bar, Kath is complaining, “I’ve had enough trouble with men for the time being!”   Anita says that what she needs is a solid and dependable bloke;  “Like Griffiths, is it?” Kath sneers.

"I haven't heard you talking about Cai recently"

“And what about you, Cassie?   I haven’t heard you talking about Cai recently.”   The answer to that, according to Cassie, is that they are only friends, so there is no story there.

Cassie looks surreptitiously at Hywel 

Hywel has been listening in;  

He abruptly leaves the Deri

the mention of Cai fuels his suspicions and he hurriedly leaves the pub.   

"What's wrong with him?"

Kath wonders what is wrong with him, as he has not finished his pint.

"You live under the same roof as him"

Diane enquires if he has anyone these days and Kath replies, “He’s always got someone, hasn’t he?”   Diane remarks that Cassie lives under the same roof as Hywel, so she should know the answer and, 

Suddenly Anita bursts into tears . . .

as Cassie is rather reluctant to say anything, Anita suddenly bursts into tears.

. . . which startles them all

They all wonder what is wrong.

Little Jac is very attentive

DJ is entertaining the children at Bryntirion with a teddy bear 

Jason walks in

when he is very surprised to see Jason coming in 

"What are you doing back here"

and demands, “What are you doing back here?”

"I went to Hwllfordd!"

“Back here?   I didn’t get there!” Jason snarls, so DJ demands what happened.   “I went to ‘Hwllfordd’!”  [Haverfordwest, about 40 miles west of Cwmderi, by road] 

"I told you Henffordd!"

DJ insists that he told Jason to go to ‘Henffordd’  [Hereford, almost 90 miles north-east of Cwmderi by road]   

"I know that now, don't I?"

“I know that now, don’t I?” Jason growls.

"Why didn't you put it in the sat-nav?"

DJ says that he even texted the postcode;  “Why didn’t you put it into the sat-nav like every other normal person?”   

Jason replies that he knows the way to Haverfordwest so did not need to use the sat-nav.   

"I don't need the sat-nav to drive down the A40, do I?"

“I don’t need the sat-nav to drive down the A40, do I?” he shouts, waking one of the twins who starts crying 

"Oh, sorry"

and says that he is sorry.   Now he is going upstairs to get changed.

DJ dreads what will happen now

DJ is extremely worried about what is going to happen now.

"I'll phone you back – OK?"

In the Deri, Cassie is speaking on the phone;  “I haven’t got time now – I’ll phone you back, OK?”   

Anita is calmer now

She brings a glass of water for Anita, who appears to have calmed down after her outburst.

"I've got some bad news . . ."

“I’ve got some bad news – I want to tell you because everyone will know before long – it’s important that my friends know first.”   

". . . I've got dementia"

There is a hush as she reveals, “I’ve got dementia,” and they are all shocked.   “It’s early days at the moment, but it’s going to get worse – 

"I just want a little bit of support"

“I don’t want any sympathy, just a little bit of support when things get worse.”

She is assured by her friends that they will be there for her 

"How long have you known?"

and Kath asks how long she has known this.   

"About a couple of weeks"

“I got the diagnosis a couple of weeks ago, but I’ve known something was wrong for a while.”

Cassie asks if there is any sort of treatment they can offer her and Anita confirms that she is on medication which helps with some of the symptoms.   

"How has Ieuan been?"

Kath wants to know how Ieuan has been since she found out.

"I don't think he's processed it"

Anita does not believe that he has processed it properly yet – nor indeed has she – but she will need him there with her.   

"It's not just me who will suffer"

“And that is what is difficult because I know that it won’t be just me who will suffer – he and Kelly will, too.”

"We're all here for you, Anita"

Diane again assures her that they are all there for her and she has so many people to support her – she must not forget that.   

"Can we talk about something else now?"

Now Anita would like to talk about something else, so Diane turns to Cassie 

"You must have someone"

and asks her, “Right, you must have someone – you could tell us, surely,” but there is no reply.

"I'm really sorry about today . . ."

DJ is on the phone, leaving a message for Ioan;  “I’m really sorry about today – 

". . . I can explain"

“if you phone me back, I can explain it all to you.”   He looks very apprehensive.

"I don't believe a word she says"

It appears that Diane’s question has been answered, but she is not convinced;  “Well, girls, I don’t believe a word she says – with her track record!   You’ve never gone more than a month without a man by your side.”

"I haven't had a relationship for years"

Cassie speaks up to insist that was a lie;  “I haven’t had a relationship for years – and what’s this track record?”   

"There was Teg"

Kath says that she remembers Teg, but it is pointed out that he was Cassie’s husband.   Then Anita suggests Dic Deryn and Diane, ‘Rod the Plod’.   

"And someone called Huw"

Anita recalls someone called Huw 

"There are a few good-looking ones there"

 Cassie comments that there are a few good-looking ones there.

‘Look, those wild days are over, all right?   I can’t be bothered – 

"I'm going to be single from now on"

“I’m going to be single from now on,” she says and will go and get another gin.   

Bad idea  – leaving her phone there

However, Diane is convinced that Cassie has something going on and does not believe this nonsense about being single for a minute.

"Perhaps we can find out now"

Of course Cassie has carelessly left behind her phone on the table, and while she is otherwise engaged, it sounds, so Kath has a crafty look;  “Perhaps we can find out now,” she says.

Eileen comes in

Eileen comes in and is surprised to see the ladies there;  

"Are you going to join us?"

Cassie asks if she would like to join them at the Gin Club, but she thinks that they are well ahead of her.

Kath does not like what she sees

Kath is looking concerned at what she sees on Cassie’s phone;  

"What the hell?"

“What the hell?” she exclaims, “Cassie, why have you got texts from Dyff on this phone?”   Cassie protests that Kath has no right to look through her phone, 

"What's going on here, then?"

 she still shouts, “What’s going on here, then?   

"Why didn't you tell me you were back in contact with him?"

“Why didn’t you tell me you were back in contact with him – after all we’ve been through?”

"Right – upstairs, now!"

Cassie instructs her that they will discuss the matter upstairs, so, as there is no-one serving behind the bar at the moment, 

"I don't really want that drink"

Eileen decides that she does not really want that drink after all.

"Ieuan will be waiting for me"

Anita is also putting on her coat to go home, remarking that Ieuan will be waiting for her.   

Diane picks up a piece of paper

Then Diane finds a piece of paper which has fallen from Anita’s coat pocket, with the shopping list written upon it, so she runs after Anita.

"My shopping list!"

“My shopping list!” Anita beams, “Choc ice – that’s what it was – 

"How could I forget that?"

“how could I forget that?   Ieuan and I love having a choc ice before going to bed.”   

"Now he will never know you forgot"

Diane points out that now he will not know that she almost forgot to buy them.   “What would I do without you?” asks Anita and walks towards the shop.

"Why keep it quiet?"

Upstairs in the Deri, Kath continues shouting, “If it was just a financial matter, why keep it quiet?

"I knew you'd react like this"

Cassie knew that Kath would react in this manner.   

"You could have told me when I came home"

“You could have told me when I returned from holiday!” Kath continues, but Cassie did not want to open old wounds.

"I'm glad you decided to stay"

She says that she was glad that Kath had made her decision to stay, and she is glad that Kath is here;  “But I had to have some kind of plan behind me in case you decided to sell.   I can’t afford to buy your share of the Deri – or Brynmor’s share!   

"I depend on this place"

“I depend on this place – and I think you forget that sometimes.   You can understand that, surely?”

Kath quietens down

This has calmed Kath down quite considerably and she apologises;  “Look, I’m hoping to get Brynmor’s share of the Deri, so you don’t need to worry about that – and I’m sorry that I left the way I did at the time – and left you feeling so uncertain.   But who knows what is ahead of us?”

"After hearing about poor Anita . . ."

Cassie tells her to forget about it;  “After hearing about poor Anita . . .” and Kath tells her to leave the matter there.

DJ has a visitor

DJ opens the door of Bryntirion and Ioan comes in;  “Look, I can explain everything,” DJ begins, 

"It was that idiot Jason"

“That idiot Jason went to the wrong place – I’m really sorry!”

Ioan insists that he is not there to cause trouble, but simply to tell DJ to be careful;  

"The boss has heard about today's mess"

“The boss has heard about today’s mess.”

"It won't happen again"

“Is he angry?   Tell him that it won’t happen again – I’ll make sure of that,” wails DJ.   Ioan already told him that, but there is someone else who would like a word with him.   

Someone else is waiting outside . . .

He goes to the door and beckons to someone waiting outside;  

. . . whom does not look as if he wants to talk

a rather disreputable ‘heavy’ comes in and it is predictable what is about to happen.

Hywel is still worrying about the notes

At number 21, Hywel is again looking at the anonymous notes when Cassie comes in, 

"What on earth was wrong with you?"

complaining, “What a day!   And what on earth was wrong with you earlier?”   

"When did you get these?"

He shows her the notes and she wonders where he got them.

“I got one last week and another one this morning,” he replies, so she asks why he did not say anything.   

"I thought I could just forget about them"

“I thought I could just forget about them,” but she advises him to go to the police.

"What if it's Cai . . . or Iolo?"

“What if it’s Cai?” he demands, “Has he found out about you and me?   Or Iolo?   He’s done something similar to me in the past – I’m sure it’s someone I know.”

"It might make it easier"

Cassie agrees that it makes things worse, if so, but he maintains that it might make it easier, which is why he does not want to go to the police.   She suggest that it might be something to do with the council or the dam;  

"There's no point making yourself ill"

“But whoever it is, there’s no point making yourself ill.   You have to go to the police.”

The baby monitor flashes its alert . . . 

At Bryntirion, one of the twins can be heard crying and the baby monitor is flashing.   

. . . but DJ is in no state to respond to it

However, motionless on the floor lies DJ, obviously having been ‘done over’ by that unsavoury character.