5 March 2025

"Right, I've posted it on Facebook"

Right,” Cai tells Iolo, “I’ve posted it on Facebook,” just as Lleucu comes downstairs, telling him that she wants to come with him.   “To Cardiff on a rugby trip?   You’re not 18,” he rebukes her.

"I might want to go to university there"

“Come on, Dad – I love Cardiff – I always have.   I might want to go to university there.”   

"You don't even know what subject you want to do"

He sceptically points out that she does not even know what subject she wants to do yet.   

"It would be good to see the place"

“But it would be good to see the place and imagine what it would be like to live there,” she argues.

Her father is not sure that a rugby day is the best way to see the city 

"Well, you're not going this time!"

 is adamant that she is not going this time.   Iolo tells him, “Make sure my name is put down.”   Cai stresses that it is first come, first served.

"Can you pick up Greta from school?"

Then Iolo asks, “Lleucs, can you pick up Greta from school and take her to the Urdd Eisteddfod rehearsals, please?”   

"No, sorry, I'm meeting Dani"

She regrets that she cannot, as she is meeting Dani and she is late for her shift.   Cai complains that she is doing too many shifts for Dani and hopes that she is not late for school.

"I'll take her, Iol"

“Are the rehearsals straight after school?” asks Cai;  he offers to take Greta and Iolo will be back to pick her up.   “Where are you going, then?” Cai wants to know.

He is told that Iolo has a job at Penrhewl 

"You're rather smart for that"

and Cai remarks that he is dressed rather smartly for that.   

"I'm meting Alex – just a friend"

“Then I’m off to Swansea – to meet Alex,” whom he describes as, “Just a friend.”

Sioned's mind is obviously elsewhere

Sioned is standing by the sink at the farm, staring absentmindedly out of the kitchen window, when Howard comes into the room;  “How much water are you planning to waste?” he asks, but receives no reply.   It is not until he shouts her name that Sioned realises he is there.   

"The water isn't getting warm"

She has found the water is not getting warm, 

"I just had a cold shower!"

something which Howard already knows, as he has just had a cold shower.

"Can you have a look at the boiler?"

She would like him to have a look at the boiler as Mathew could not do anything with it.   

"That boiler is older than you"

“That boiler is older than you – we need an expert.   What’s going on out there, then?” and he joins her, looking out of the window.

"When I used to play on the swing . . ."

“I was just looking at that patch out in the yard where I used to have a swing – I always used to play on it at this time in the morning,” she reminisces, 

". . . with Auntie Marian watching"

“I’d send Auntie Marian upstairs to stand in the window to see if I could swing high enough to reach her.   

"Could you keep an eye on these two?"

“Could you keep an eye on these two for me?   I need to pop out.”

Howard is pleased to assist and wonders if everything is all right.   

"There's something I need to sort out"

She replies that there is just something she needs to sort out.   He will give Iolo a ring and ask for mates’ rates;  Sioned describes him as ‘a star’.

Dani is cleaning in the Deri

Dani is at work, cleaning in the Deri, when her phone sounds and she finds that it is the dentist.   

"What appointment?"

“Missed an appointment?   What appointment?   No, I haven’t booked a check-up – Seren . . . no, there’s no need to reschedule . . . no, I don’t want to . . . 

"Because she's dead!"

“because she’s dead!”

"Sit down, Sioned"

Sioned has gone to the shop flat to see her mother, who tells her to sit down or her cup of tea will get cold.   

"Penrhewl is my home"

“I’ve been awake all night thinking about it,” says Sioned, “And I can’t do it – Penrhewl is my home and I’m not ready to leave!”

Eileen points out that they have to consider this seriously and repeats that the offer is over a million.   

"We'll never get an offer like this again!"

“We’ll never get an offer like that again, I’m telling you!”

Sioned is quite aware of that, but does not consider it worth throwing everything away.   

"All the memories"

“All the memories – of Dad, Auntie Marian – Penrhewl is the place that makes me feel close to them.”

Eileen says that she still feels Sioned’s father around in the shop, in the Deri, in the rugby club, but Sioned looks disbelieving.   

"I can still see Auntie Marian"

“I can still see Auntie Marian, standing outside the shop, shouting at you as you ran down the street.   But we can’t take a decision as big as this based on memories – 

"We have to look to the future"

“we have to look to the future.”

"Penrhewl is my future!"

Sioned insists that Penrhewl is her future, as it always has been.

"Toilets are done"

In the Deri, Lleucu comes in, after having done the toilets;  

"That's one way to wake up I the mornings"

“That’s one way to wake up in the mornings, I suppose!” Dani growls.   It is now time for Lleucu to leave for school, but she suddenly realises she has left the bucket in the toilet, so goes to fetch it

Dani pours herself a vodka . . . 

While she is gone, Danny pours herself a glass of vodka 

. . . but is caught in mid-swig . . .

and Lleucu catches her drinking it;  

 . . . by Lleucu 

“I’ll see you later, then,” she says.

Howard plans a bit of construction 

Howard has been doing some sketching at the kitchen table and is on the phone to Mathew;  “Have you done this week’s order for the merchants?   

"I want a load of wood"

“I want a load of wood – I’ve got a project – and I’m not telling you what it is.”

Iolo has looked at the boiler

Just then, Iolo comes in, having looked at the boiler;  

"Do you want the bad news or . . ?"

“Right, do you want the bad news or . . ?”   Howard imagines that there is no good news.   “You need a new boiler – I’ve done what I can – it might last a few weeks, but after that . . .”   

"That's what I was expecting"

Howard had been expecting that and it is pointed out to him that hot water is needed, especially with little ones.   

"I'll send Sioned the price"

He will send Sioned a price for a new one.   

Howard resumes his conversation"

Howard picks up his phone again.

"I regret having so much on my plate"

“One thing I regret is having so much on my plate when you and John were babies,” says Eileen, “And I sometimes think if I hadn’t been so worried about the farm, I would have found John sooner.”

She becomes quite emotional

Sioned tries to calm her mother, who is in tears by now;  “You did nothing to cause what happened,” she stresses.

"You're a mother now"

“You’re a mother now and you understand those feelings of guilt and not doing enough,” Eileen goes on.   Sioned replies that she has help now, 

"You're not going to spend the rest of your life with those two?"

but her mother sneers, “You’re not going to spend the rest of your life with those two?”

"Things will be easier when the twins are older"

Sioned maintains that things will be easier when the twins are older.   

"There will be new challenges"

Eileen agrees that some things will be easier, but there will be new challenges when they are older.

"I was looking across the fields"

“First thing this morning, I was just standing in the kitchen looking out across the fields,” recalls Sioned, something which her mother used to do, but she stresses that it is not going to stay like that.

"Stability for the rest of your life . . ."

“Once work starts on the dam there will be no peace – you would get half of the money now – stability for all of you for life – because you’re not going to get this time back with the two little ones.   

". . . and that's what's most important"

“And that’s what’s most important– not Penrhewl.”

Dani comes into the shop

Dani comes into the shop and asks Colin for a small bottle of vodka;  

"Having a party at your place, then?"

“Having a party at your place then?” he enquires, 

"I'm not in the mood for celebration"

but she is not quite in the mood for celebration.

He is sorry and asks if she is working today;  “The business is doing very well – fair play – 

"You've got a good little worker there"

“I’ve seen you and Lleucu going back and forth to the Deri like yo-yos.   You’ve got a good little worker there – guaranteed.   

"I've told Britt we need help at MFC"

“I’ve told Britt that we need some help at MFC – but only if you’ve got time.”

He charges her £10 for the vodka, 

"I need some help in the flat"

and drones on, “To be honest, I need some help in the flat, but Britt is so tight and she thinks that she can do the job better than anyone – well, not better, but do it in her own way, 

"You need skill and talent"

“because not everyone can do a cleaning job.   You need skill and talent – you should see it when I do the spring cleaning – it’s a shambles – it’s a disaster when I put on the Marigolds.”

"I expect you want to get to work"

Then he realises that he has got rather carried away and apologises to her, assuming that she wants to get to work.   “I don’t want to,” she groans, 

"The world and the bills don't stop"

“But the world and the bills don’t stop just because you’re grieving – I don’t have a choice.”

"The seats are selling well"

Cai comes downstairs, informing Greta that the seats for the rugby trip are selling quickly;  

Greta does not want to go

she, however, does not want to go to the rehearsal, so he asks what is wrong and whether someone has upset her.   

"You haven't got a temperature"

She simply shakes her head, so he checks her temperature, which appears normal.

“If you see your friends and do a bit of singing, you’ll feel better – or how about something to eat and drink?” he suggests.   

"Cake!"

Greta wants some cake, but is told that, unfortunately, they do not have any cake in the house.

"We could go to the village"

“But we could walk into the village to get one – some fresh air – and perhaps pop into the rehearsal to have a look?”   

That meets with her approval

Greta regards that as a good idea.   He will go to get her coat, 

"No, not that coat . . ."

but she does not want the pink one.   

". . . this one"

She unfortunately selects the coat which Iolo prohibited her from wearing the other day, 

"That's a nice coat"

which Cai maintains is a nice one.

Howard checks on the twins . . .

Howard comes into the farm kitchen, 

. . . who appear quite happy

where the twins are gurgling contentedly.   Sioned arrives, speaking on the phone to Iolo;  

"I'll be in touch"

I’ll take a look at some boilers and I’ll be in touch.”   Howard wonders if she is thinking about buying a new one, 

"I'd like a hot shower some time"

as he would like a hot shower sometimes.   She points out that it is working, for now, 

"I've got something to tell you"

then tells him, “Sit down – I’ve got something to tell you.”

He remarks that it sounds serious and Sioned agrees that it is;  

"Quantum want to buy this place"

“We’ve received a letter from Quantum Hydro Works – they want to buy this place.”

"What?   The whole of Penrhewl?"

“What?   The whole of Penrhewl?” exclaims Howard, “You can’t!   You’re not considering selling?   Mathew and I will have to find somewhere else to live.”

"It could take months – or even years"

She stresses that nothing is certain yet – and in any case if things go through it could take months, or even years.   

"I like living here with you and the twins"

“But I like living here with you – and the twins,” he protests.   

"It was only going to be temporary"

Sioned also likes having him there, but reminds him that this was only going to be temporary.

"I'm going to miss the twins"

Howard is going to miss the twins terribly and is assured that they are going to miss Uncle Howard, 

"I have to consider this seriously"

“But for their sakes, I have to consider this seriously.”

Geraint is keeping busy

Geraint is wiping down the bar in the Deri when Lleucu comes in, looking for Dani;  

"Sorry, I haven't seen her"

“Sorry, I haven’t seen her,” he replies, 

Lleucu gets out her phone 

so she gets out her phone to send a message.

Everything on the list has been done

Sioned discovers that all the items on her mother’s list can be ticked off, now that Howard has done the mucking out.   “I should consider selling you with this place – and doubling the price!” she tells him.   

"Do you want one of these?"

He takes a can from the fridge and asks if Sioned wants one.

She thinks that it is a bit early, but he reminds her that he has finished work 

"Can I ask you something?"

and she has something to celebrate.   Then he broaches a rather ticklish subject;  

"What should I do if I like someone?"

“About girls – I’m just overthinking things, that’s all.   What should I do if I like someone?”

Sioned enquires what level of 'like' is applicable

Sioned enquires, “Well do you like her – ‘like-like’ her?”   

"I think about her all the time"

He replies that he thinks about her all the time and she suspects that he is back on the apps, but he maintains that she is ‘just someone’.

"Do you talk, or just message?"

“Right, do you talk to her, or just send messages?” and he agrees that he does talk to her – 

"And she answers me"

and she answers him.

"Don't be shy?"

Sioned’s estimation is that if he likes her, he should let her see what a good bloke he is – and should not be shy.   Then he wonders if there is anyone she likes;  

"Things are complicated"

she admits that there is someone, “But things are complicated.”

Howard imagines that this is because of the twins, and she comments, “If I’m moving house and need to find somewhere else to live, it’s not the best time to start something new.”

Then they are rudely interrupted

Then their conversation is interrupted by one of the children starting to cry and the moment is gone.

Iolo arrives at the venue . . .

Iolo is at the meeting place which has been arranged, 

. . . where he has booked a table . . . 

announcing that he is Iolo White and he has booked a table;  “I’m here to meet my brother,” he says, 

. . . but has left his phone in the van

then realises that he has left his phone in his van and will have to go and fetch it.

Dani comes out of MFC

Dani comes out of MFC with a bag of chicken and Lleucu hurries across to her, asking where she has been;  

"We were supposed to meet, Dani"

“We were supposed to meet, remember?”   Danny had forgotten.   Lleucu is worried about her;  “Are you all right?   You weren’t answering your phone.” 

Dani replies that she is not answering her phone today, 

"Not since the dentist phoned"

“Not since the dentist phoned and said I’d missed Seren’s appointment.   I had to explain why I wasn’t there.   I didn’t fancy cooking – so MFC for tea.”   

"I can help with Gabriel"

Lleucu offers to help her with Gabriel.

"Don't let Uncle Cai have any"

Then they notice, outside the shop, Colin is telling Greta not to let Cai have any of her cake.   

Dani cannot take her eyes off Greta

Dani is fixated by the coat Greta is wearing – which she recognises as Seren’s coat.

"What's wrong?"

When Cai turns round and sees Dani, they stare at each other;  “Take that coat off, Greta!” orders Dani, while Cai cannot understand what is wrong.

"Take it off – now!"

Dani simply screams, “Take it off now!   If you don’t take it off . . .”   

A violent tussle ensues

She lunges forward to get that coat, while Cai tries to prevent her from doing so.

"I want the coat!"

The struggle continues, with Dani screaming, “I want the coat!” 

Great is terrified

and poor Greta is caught in the middle of this melée, unable to understand what is going on.   

Dani is inconsolable

Dani is in tears 

"What is wrong with her?"

and they all wonder what is wrong with her.

"Do you want me to do that?"

Back at Penrhewl, Howard offers to go upstairs and feed the twins, 

"You've done enough for today"

but Sioned insists that he has done enough today and deserves a break.   

He brings Sioned the towel . . .

He brings the towel for her, 

. . . and she squeezes his arm . . .

and she grasps his arm as she thanks him, 

. . . which pleases him no end

which he finds quite encouraging.

Colin is doing his best to calm Dani, but she is still adamant that she wants that coat.   

"You need to sort yourself out!"

Cai angrily warn her that she needs to sort herself out and Colin tells him to calm down, but he has no intention of doing that – 

"She hurt Greta!"

as she hurt Greta.

"It's Seren's coat!"

Dani pathetically sobs, “It’s Seren’s coat!” causing everyone to go silent.   

"You did it on purpose, didn't you?"

“You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”   

"I had no idea, Dani"

Cai answers that he did not know, 

"Haven't you hurt me enough?"

but she demands, “Haven’t you hurt me enough?”   She again tries to get the coat, 

"Don't you can anywhere near Greta!"

but Cai will not let her anywhere near Greta.

"You stay there, Cai"

Lleucu leads Dani away from this altercation while Colin advises Cai to stay where he is.

So this is Alex  (formerly of Gwaith/Cartref)

In the Swansea venue, we see that Alex, who is actually a girl, is waiting for Iolo’s appearance.   

She hears Iolo's name

However, when Iolo returns, with his phone, it is ringing.   The girl hears his name and turns around as he finds that the caller is Lleucu.   “Is everything all right?   

He has shocking news from Lleucu

“What?   I’m on my way, all right?”   

She watches him go past the window

He rushes off, leaving Alex high and dry.

Out by the alley, Cai is objecting to Lleucu hugging Dani;  

She's had a shock, Dad!"

“She had a shock, Dad!” is her reply, but Cai does not care about that, only the fact that she hurt Greta.

"We need to discuss this sensibly"

Colin instructs them that they need to discuss this sensibly and not make accusations.   

"You saw her grab Greta!"

Cai snarls that he is not making an accusation;  “You saw her grab Greta!”

"Stealing a dead girl's coat?"

“What about you – stealing a dead girls coat?” growls Dani.   

"Where's Greta?"

Meanwhile, Lleucu is looking anxiously around and demands, “Where’s Greta?”   

She has disappeared

They realise that there is no sign of her, wondering where she has gone.