11 June 2025

Kelly has breakfast

Kelly is pouring out her breakfast coffee and looking at the Western Post;  she asks Auntie Anita, “Have you seen this article about Quantum Hydro Works throwing Megan out?   It’s such bad publicity, it’s amazing!”

"Wow – go, Anita!"

Then she compliments Anita on her blouse, ready for the interviews, where she is on the panel.   

"Got a new contact, have you?"

Kelly assumes that they have a big new contract, 

"We're looking for a new labourer"

but is told that as they have lost DJ and Jason, they are looking for a new labourer.

Ieuan comes downstairs and is asked if he would like a cup of coffee;  Kelly is also impressed by his smart attire;  

"This blouse is not right"

however, Anita thinks that she will change her blouse as she says that the current one is not right.

"Why are you treating today like an episode of The Apprentice?"

“So why are you treating today like an episode of The Apprentice, then?” Kelly wants to know 

"It's important that we get the right person"

and Ieuan maintains that it is important that they choose the right person.   “It’s a labourer, though – you don’t usually interview.”

By now Kelly is aware that there is something he is not saying, 

"What's going on, Ieuan?"

so she gets up and confronts Ieuan;  “What’s going on?   Why are you acting weird?”

He makes sure Anita is not nearby 

He checks to make sure that Anita is not within earshot and explains, “We’re not looking for a labourer – we’re looking for somebody to help Anita – 

"Anita doesn't know yet"

“but she doesn’t know yet.”

"You're not serious?"

Kelly is outraged by this;  “You’re not serious?

Mathew is off his scrambled egg

At breakfast time in Penrhewl, Mathew is idly toying with his scrambled egg on toast but has lost his appetite.   

"I was watching telly around three"

Sioned asks him, “What time did you get up this morning?” and he says he was up, watching telly around three, as he could not sleep.

"You should take the morning off"

She suggest that he ought to take the morning off and try to get some sleep, but he replies that he cannot as they have interviews at APD.   

"I'm a bit nervous . . ."

He is sorry, but he does not want his breakfast, explaining that he is a bit nervous;  

". . . I've never interviewed anyone before"

“I’ve never interviewed anyone before.”   

"You'll be great!"

Sioned is convinced that he will be great, but she is somewhat biased.

Gwern has collected his calculator . . .

Gwern is back at Llwyncelyn to collect his calculator, which he left behind yesterday;  I’ve got more chance of passing now I have this,” he tells Tom, “The exam starts in half an hour.”   Tom wishes him good luck, 

. . . then meets Hywel in the doorway

but just as he is leaving the house, Hywel arrives.

“What did Gwern want?” he enquires and is told that Tom has been helping with his maths exam.   He knows that Gwern is a sensible boy deep down – and a hard worker.   He has an interview with APD this afternoon.

"I don't think it would be wise"

“I don’t think it would be wise to give him a job, considering his history,” is Hywel’s opinion. 

"It would be good PR for the company . . ."

Tom, on the other hand, maintains that it would be good PR for a company to give opportunities to boys like Gwern;  

". . . a lot better than they're getting at the moment"

“A lot better than Quantum Hydro Works are getting at the moment!”   

"That's why I need your help"

That is why Hywel is there, needing Tom’s help.   “Help from me?   

"The PR disaster is nothing to do with me"

“The company’s PR disaster has nothing to do with me!” Tom insists.

"I'm only trying to do what's right"

As they come into APD, Mathew is telling Kelly, “I’m only trying to do what is right.”

"By forcing her to interview her replacement?"

She does not agree;  “By forcing her to interview the person that’s going to replace her?”   He stresses that Anita is not going anywhere, but he just wants someone to help her.

"Sometimes she struggles"

“She is on her own in the shop quite a lot and sometimes she struggles – the last thing I want to do is hurt Anita, so having someone here to help her is a way of keeping her.   Now, I know this is difficult, but we have to start planning for the future.”

"You should have told her before"

Kelly still is adamant that he should have told her before today, but Mathew answers that it is difficult for him as well;  “She will always be welcome and there will always be a job for Anita here – because she’s family,” he assures Kelly, 

Kelly is becoming emotional"

who now has tears in her eyes.

She says that Griffiths is, “Fully suited and booted for the occasion,” wishes Mathew good luck 

Mathew is worried now

and leaves the shop.

"Ieuan loves these fairy cakes"

As Anita buys some cakes in the deli, she tells the assistant, “Ieuan loves these fairy cakes – he’s like a child!”   

"They look amazing!"

A stranger comes in through the door and comments that the cakes look amazing.   Anita is sorry but she has bought them all now.

“Is I wasn’t skint, I would offer you a lot of money for those!” continues the stranger, 

Anita is handed her bag

then, when Anita drops her bag, she picks it up for her and introduces herself as Siwsi.

"I have an important day"

Anita does not have time to hang around, but has an important day.   

"And me – I've got an interview"

“And me – I’ve got an interview!” Siwsi tells her, and Anita learns that it is at APD.

"For the labourer's job?"

“For the labourer’s job?” she gasps, incredulously, and Siwsi hopes that is not the case, quoting the advertisement as saying the job would be in the shop and the office;  

"I won't do manual labour!"

she would definitely not go to an interview to do manual labour.   

Amita hurries out

Anita rapidly leaves the deli.

"A suit shows you expect quality|"

As they prepare the chairs in APD, Ieuan informs Mathew, “A suit shows that you expect quality – it’s important to show that immediately – that’s why I’m wearing my best suit today.”

"This is about Anita . . ."

Mathew points out that they have got more important things to worry about than what they are wearing;  “This is about Anita – 

". . . how are we going to tell her?"

“how are we going to tell her?”

"That you want to get rid of me?"

Anita comes in at that moment, demanding, “Tell me what, exactly?   That you want to get rid of me?   You’re not looking for a labourer!”

"We want someone to help you"

Mathew insists that they want someone to help her, 

"I don't need any help?"

"but she is insistent that she does not need help and can manage on her own.   

"Things are going to get busier"

“For now, perhaps, but things are going to get busier – we’ve got a lot of stock on the way and you can’t do everything on your own.   Whoever gets the job – you will be their manager – all right?”

"Why couldn't you have told me sooner?"

“I don’t understand why you couldn’t have told me sooner,” she complains and neither Mathew nor Ieuan can think of an answer.

Sioned wants her mother's recipé

At the farmhouse, Sioned asks her mother for her chicken and chorizo recipé;  

"We're together"

“I want to make it for Mathew for dinner tonight.”   Then she reveals that the two of them are together, which Eileen regards as excellent news.

"Since he lost his grandfather"

“Mind you, things have been a bit awkward since he lost his grandfather,” Sioned continues.   

"That's natural"

Eileen regards that as natural because Mathew is grieving.   “But he says he doesn’t want to go to the funeral – 

"I think that's a mistake"

“I think that’s a mistake,” but she is told that she cannot force him to do so.

"When we lost Dad and Auntie Marian"

“No, I know that, but when we lost Dad and Auntie Marian, the funerals were a real comfort.   An opportunity to say goodbye and remember them.”

"But Mathew doesn't remember his grandfather"

“But, like you said, Mathew doesn’t remember his grandfather,” her mother reminds her.

"What if this is the only chance he gets?"

Sioned points out that he does not have much family;  “What if this is the only chance he gets to build bridges with his mother?   To nurture a relationship, even.”

Eileen knows that Sioned wants what is best for him, but she needs to be careful, as families are complicated.

"We, of all people, know that"

“We, of all people, know that,” says Sioned, “There have been times when I really thought we’d never talk again – and look at us now!   I just want Math to experience the same love, that’s all – 

"If I have to go behind his back, I will"

“and if I have to go behind his back, well, that’s what I’ll do.”   She sits down and opens her laptop.

The first interview has ended

Mathew opens the door as the first of the interviewees leaves APD, assuring her that they will be in touch.   

"She had no idea!"

Anita tells them not to expect any good news from her;  “Are you serious?   She had no idea!   She didn’t know the difference between your screwdriver and pliers!”

Ieuan argues that she does not need to, but is told by Anita, “Of course she does – she has to understand what we sell!”

"The next candidate is Gwern"

Mathew looks at his list, announcing that the next candidate is Gwern.   “Not Monk?” Anita snarls, “I’m not working with him!” 

"I hope I'm not late"

and at that moment Gwern comes in, hoping that he is not late.  

"Are you going to remove that?"

 It is noticed that he has his earbud in and Anita demands whether he is going to remove it, 

He does as suggested

which he does.

"Where do you see yourself in five years?"

Ieuan begins the interrogation;  “Where do you see yourself in five years, Gwern?”

"Well, not here"

He immediately answers, “Well, not here – I just want a summer job.”   

Anita snorts derisively

Anita loudly sighs with disgust.

"Where did his grandfather live?"

Eileen asks Sioned where Mathew’s grandfather lived;  “Valley on Anglesey,” is the reply.   Eileen imagines that is where the funeral will be held – 

"That's a journey and a half"

and that is a journey and a half.   Sioned asks if her mother will look after the children while she is away.

“Of course – but before you do anything, 

"You have to be sure this is what he wants"

“you have to be absolutely sure this is what Mathew wants,” Eileen warns her.

"Mathew doesn't know what Mathew  wants"

“Mathew doesn’t even know what Mathew wants,” is Sioned’s verdict, 

"I've tried, Mam"

so she is advised to talk to him.   “I’ve tried – 

"Look, I'm not going to force him"

“look, I’m not going to force him to go, but if I’ve made the arrangements, everything is in place if he changes his mind.   I’ll ask Griffiths for the details of the funeral, take his suit to the dry cleaner and now I know that you will have the children, I can go with him.   I’m doing the right thing for Mathew.”

Gwern's interview is over already

The interview with Gwern obviously did not last long and Anita gives her unfavourable verdict;  

"I've crossed his name off already"

“I’ve crossed his name off already!”   Ieuan is not keen to work with a teenager, especially a Monk.   He considers that the first girl, Gwenno, was much better, but Anita is insistent that they have not seen anyone who is good enough.

"Come on – who wants one of these cakes?"

“And this Siwsi obviously isn’t going to turn up,” she concludes, “Now come on – who wants one of these cakes?”   As they help themselves, 

Then Siwsi arrives 

the door opens and Siwsi comes in, commenting that it is lovely to see Anita again.   

Anita glowers at her

The feeling does not appear to be mutual.

"Sorry I'm three minutes late"

She is sorry that she is three minutes late, 

"Five!"

but Anita corrects her that it is five minutes;  “It’s not like me at all – I’m usually like clockwork, but I do have a good reason.”

"And what was that?"

Mathew enquires about the reason;  “I’ve been a nervous wreck all morning, so I came early to have a peppermint tea in Tamed, but the lid wasn’t on properly and I dropped it down my shirt – 

"I had to run home and get changed"

“so I had to run home and get changed.   But while I was at home, I found these in the kitchen 

"I thought I'd bring a peace offering"

“and I thought I could bring them as a peace offering for being late.”

Too good an offer to resist

She offers her cookies to them;  Mathew and Ieuan eagerly take one, 

"This is an interview, not a picnic!"

 their fellow interviewer gruffly points out, “This is an interview, not a picnic!”

Siwsi tries to compose herself and sits down;  “Thank you very much for seeing me today,” 

"This cookie is melting in my mouth!"

but is interrupted by Ieuan, who exclaims that the cookie is melting in his mouth, before being given a sharp nudge by Anita.

"Working for a business like this would be a dream"

“As I was saying, I’m very keen to come home – and to work for a local business like this would be a dream.”

"What's the difference between a screwdriver and pliers"

Anita interrupts to ask, “What’s the difference between a screwdriver and pliers?” but we do not hear Siwsi’s reply.

"I think we should offer Gwern a job"

Hywel is at Llwyncelyn again, telling Tom, “I think we should offer Gwern a job as an apprentice – you said this morning it would be very good PR for the company.   It shows that the company will support local youngsters and nurture them.”

"What has it got to do with me?"

Tom describes it as a good idea, but wonders what it has to do with him;  

"He could be your apprentice"

“Well, I thought he could be your apprentice in the security department,” Hywel goes on, but Tom does not know about that.

"You said you have too much work"

“Don’t you want to support him?   You said you have too much work – from what I saw this morning you’d make a very good team – this might be the answer.”

"I'm not making any promises"

Tom agrees that he will speak to Gwern, but is not making any promises;  

"Get him to meet me in Tamed"

as Hywel leaves, he tells Tom to get Gwern to meet him in Tamed tomorrow morning to discuss everything.

Siwsi continues speaking, “If I can handle him, I can handle any customer, trust me.”   

"Where do you see yourself in three years' time?"

Now Anita enquires where she sees herself in three years’ time;  

"Here – developing in the rôle"

“Here, hopefully, developing and learning in the rôle.   Living in a city was lovely, but I always knew I wanted to come home.”

Ieuan comments that he is sure everyone is happy to have her home, 

"Especially if you cook like that"

“Especially if you cook like that.”   

"Well, Mam is the real cook"

She explains that her mother is the real cook, and he ought to try her chicken . . .

This is enough for Anita;  “Well, if there’s nothing else . . .”   She looks at Mathew and Ieuan, while Siwsi apologises if she has been talking too much.   

Mathew thanks her for coming

Matthew says that it has been great getting to know her and that they will be in touch.

"Just one more question . . ."

She is about to leave, when Ieuan has one more question;  “What’s your secret?   I’ve never tasted cookies like that before.”   

"Gluten-free flour and double the chocolate"

He is told that the recipé includes gluten-free flour, and then double the chocolate.   He makes a note of those ingredients as Mathew shows Siwsi out.

"She was perfect, wasn't she?"

“Well, she was perfect, wasn’t she?” exclaims Ieuan;  

"You two are going to get on great"

Mathew predicts that she and Anita are going to get on great.

"And there's no-one else to see?"

“And there’s no-one else to see?” queries Anita, 

"Good, because we can do some work now"

“Good, because we can do some work now, can’t we?”   

"Sorry for not telling you about today"

Mathew tells her how sorry he is for not advising her about today, but promises that whoever gets the job, she is not going anywhere.

"There was an algebra  question like we practised . . ."

Gwern is back at Llwyncelyn after the exam, bringing a box of chocolates for Tom and is optimistic about his chances;  there was an algebra question just like the one they practised.   

". . . but the interview wasn't so good"

"The interview at APD was not so good, as he got the impression that Anita did not like him.

"Quantum Hydro Works might be the winners"

“In that case, Quantum Hydro Works might be the winners,” says Tom, “I need an apprentice and I’ve put your name forward – why not?   I think you’d be perfect.”   

"I'm not sure people will agree" 

Gwern is not sure that Mark – and the rest of the village – would agree, but is told by Tom., “People don’t like change – they will soon see the benefit of it.   

"It's something to consider"

If you’re interested, Hywel is eager to meet you in Tamed tomorrow morning – it’s something to consider.”

"That smells good!"

Sioned is cooking at Penrhewl when Mathew comes home remarking that it smells good;  

"I even had a shower!"

she replies that she has had time to have a shower and there is no milk or sick over her.   

"I'm making us a nice dinner"

“Mam’s putting the kids to bed, so I can make us a nice dinner.   Howard is out for the night.”

"Just the two of us, then?"

He realises that it is just the two of them;  

"Yes, if that's OK"

“Yes, if that’s OK,” she smiles,

"They're both flat out"

 just as Eileen comes downstairs to advise that both the twins are flat out.

"Sorry to hear about your grandfather"

“I was sorry to hear about your grandfather,” she tells Mathew, “Now I’ll leave you in peace.”

"You could go for a shower, if you like"

Sioned suggests that Mathew could go for a shower, if he wants;  “The dinner will be ready by the time you come down.”   

"Thanks for everything, Sioned"

He thanks her for all she has done and she replies, “Everyone needs someone to look after them sometimes.”

"You know what's best for me better than anyone"

“You know what’s best for me better than anyone,” he assures her;  

She takes this as confirmation

she considers that this proves that she is doing the right thing.

Anita and Ieuan are home

The door of number 7 opens as Anita and Ieuan come home;  

"How did it go, then?"

Kelly asks how it went, receiving the unenthusiastic answer, “All right.”

"She even brought home-made cookies with her!"

Ieuan, on the other hand thinks that they have found the perfect person;  “She had a brilliant answer to everything, she was friendly, lots of ideas – and even brought home-made cookies with her.”

"They call that bribery!"

Anita’s verdict on that is, “Bribery!”   

"Men are so stupid!"

She sighs to Kelly, “Men are so stupid!”   

"She will have lots of excellent ideas"

Ieuan goes on that she has just moved back from Manchester and he is sure that she would have lots of excellent ideas.

"Go and get some chips, Ieuan"

Detecting the rather fraught atmosphere, Kelly instructs him to go and get some chips for everyone;  “I don’t want anything heavy – I’ve been eating cookies all day,” he protests, 

"She gives him 'that look' . . .

but he can tell from Kelly’s demeanour that she is serious, 

. . . and he promptly obeys

so he does as instructed – perhaps even having a fishcake as well.

"Are you all right, Auntie Anita?"

Kelly turns to Auntie Anita and asks if she is all right;  “No – there was no point me being there at all – no-one listened to a word I said.   They didn’t want a labourer, but someone to keep an eye on me.   

"I don't need anyone to look after me!"

“I am perfectly fine on my own – I don’t need anyone to look after me.”

"Mathew is just trying to help"

“Do you know?   Mathew is just trying to help,” Kelly explains, but Anita is adamant she does not want help either from him or this Siwsi.

"I'm going to make sure she never gets near that place!"

“I’m going to make sure she never gets near the place!” Anita growls, 

Kelly can see trouble ahead

then storms into the kitchen.