31 July 2025

The window-cleaner at work

Mark is cleaning some windows when Eleri strides across and instructs him, “Come over and do the windows of the new office, will you?   Lunchtime will be fine.”

"I'll pay you double"

He replies that she needs an appointment, so she describes him as ‘funny’ and says that she will pay him double.   “Do you know what?” he sneers, “I wouldn’t touch those windows for ten times the money – 

"Sorry, but no can do"

“sorry, but no can do.”

"Aren't you going to congratulate me?"

Eleri walks away in disgust, but then Tom approaches;  “Aren’t you going to congratulate me, or what?”   Mark does so, but without much feeling.   “I know that you and Gaynor are close – I want you to know that I’m going to look after her, understand?”

Ffion is reflected in the window . . .

Mark notices the reflection of Ffion passing on the other side of the street, 

. . . and Tom rushes across

so of course Tom walks across, insisting that they need to talk.   

"You've made your decision"

“You’ve made your decision,” she tells him, but he once again maintains that he wants to be with her 

Tom grabs her arm

and grabs her arm.

"Just leave me alone!"

“Just leave me alone!” she exclaims;  Tom says he has tried to do that 

"Well, try harder, then!"

and she advises him, “Well, try harder, then!” and continues along the street.

Britt, Colin and Kylie are on holiday

Britt, Colin and Kylie arrive at a holiday chalet site;  “This way, somewhere, guys,” says Colin, 

"Here we are – chalet number 39!"

“Here we are – chalet number 39!   We’ve landed – no traffic, no fuss – not a sound!   A beautiful site.”

Britt reckons that she has enough meat from MFC to feed half the site;  

"I've never had a proper barbecue"

Kylie admits that she has never had a proper barbecue before and neither has she stayed in a chalet.   Britt predicts that they are going to have a lot of fun, in that case, giving Kylie a big hug.

"Why are you being so soppy?"

“Why are you being so soppy?” Kylie asks 

"I missed you so much!"

and Britt comes up with the unconvincing explanation that she missed Kylie so much while she was in Newcastle.

“I’m so happy to be back with you and Colin – hey, why don’t you go to that shop on the way in to get us an ice cream each?”   

"It's nice to see her so happy"

Colin comments that it is nice to see her so happy and Britt wants them to sit down for a minute.   

Colin is about to have an unpleasant surprise

Colin sits down on the cool box, which has its handle sticking up, which causes some amusement.

"I've got a good feeling about this place"

“I’ve got a good feeling about this place,” declares Britt, “It’s just so nice to be somewhere new, to escape – and I’m sorry that we haven’t had time together recently, because of me.”

"The three of us being together is all that matters"

He reassures her, “You’re here now – and the three of us being together is all that matters.”   

Britt sneaks a look at her phone 

However, Britt is looking anxiously at her phone.   

"That's what marriage is, isn't it?"

Colin goes on, “Because that is what marriage is, isn’t it?  The bad and the good.”

"For better, for worse"

She adds, “Yes, for better, for worse,” pushing the phone back into her bag.

Eileen is making a lot of noise

In the shop flat, Eileen is noisily rattling the saucepans, while Siôn is reading;  

"Is something wrong, Eileen?"

he detects that something is wrong 

"I'm not disturbing you, am I?"

and she tells him in an irritated manner, “Sorry, I’m not disturbing you, am I?”

"Are you still annoyed about the carnival?"

“Are you still annoyed about the carnival?   Eileen, I’ve given you my word about this   I had no idea what was happening until that morning, when Kelly phoned to say the plans had changed.   It was a misunderstanding – I assumed that she would have phoned you.   I’m sorry.”

"I'm going out all day"

“Well, you can have some peace to continue with your studies now,” she announces, “Because I’m going out all day – I’ve got a busy day, as it happens, very busy – and perhaps, Siôn, 

"You're not the only one who can keep secrets"

“you should consider that you are not the only one who can keep secrets.”   

This puzzles Siôn 

He is rather puzzled by this.

"I've told you – everything's under control"

Eleri is walking towards the office site, speaking to her father on the phone;  “Dad, I’ve told you, everything’s under control now.   Yes, we’ll be hunky-dory by the end of the day – 

"Trust me, will you?"

“trust me, will you?   Good, I can handle this.”

Ieuan and Hywel stand outside the new office

Outside the office with its new Quantum Hydro Works name board, Ieuan and Hywel are standing.   She hopes that they have some good news for her.   

"I told you we would finish the job"

Yes, I told you we would finish the job – and thanks to Howard and Ieuan, we have,” replies Hywel.   

"The paint will be dry by this afternoon"

 is confident that the paint will be dry by this afternoon.   When Hywel invites her to look inside, 

"Do I look like someone who gets paint on their clothes?"

she snarls, “Do I look like someone who gets paint on their clothes?   I’ll be back in an hour.”

"I'd say she's nervous"

Ieuan comments, “If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s nervous,” but Hywel is quite certain that she does not have nerves.

Eleri has gone to see Kath

Eleri goes up to the Deri flat, where Kath is doing some cleaning;  

"Who let you up here?"

“Who let you up here?” she demands and is told that Eleri has come over to invite Kath to the official opening of the office.

"No, thanks – sorry it's been a wasted journey"

“No, thanks – sorry it’s been a wasted journey,” is Kath’s reply, but then Eleri gets to the point of her visit.

"What's the latest on the divorce papers?"

“As I’m here, what is the latest on the divorce papers?   

"You've had weeks, Kath"

“You’ve had weeks, Kath – what’s the problem?”   

"Do I need to explain myself to you?"

Kath uses the standard excuse that she has been busy, looking after Mark while he is waiting for his court case, organising a carnival, running a pub – does she need to explain herself to Eleri?

"The truth is . . ."

Eleri observes that she has had time to give the kitchen a spring clean and adds, “I don’t want to upset you, but the truth is,

". . . Dad has met someone else . . ."

“Dad has met someone else – and she’s a very nice woman.   He just wants to move on with his life, Kath, so once you’ve finished the kitchen, fill in the paperwork, will you?   

". . . you don't want to stand in his way, do you?"

“You don’t want to stand in his way, do you?”   

Then she leaves

She leaves the flat.

"If I can find someone to hold the ladder"

Outside the pharmacy, where Mark is cleaning the windows, he tells Gaynor that he can try to do the upstairs windows at Llwyncelyn next week if he can find someone to hold the ladder.   In the background, someone else is working in the pharmacy, presumably Douglas.

"Gwern could do it"

Gaynor suggests that Gwern could hold the ladder, now that his exams are over, but is told that he is too busy playing on the Xbox.   She supposes that he deserves to relax over the summer.   “You don’t fancy holding the ladder, do you?” Mark wonders 

Gaynor is definitely not keen

and is disappointed that she does not.

“Listen, I don’t think I’ve congratulated you yet – you seem happy.”   

She agrees, but not particularly enthusiastically, that Tom makes her happy – despite all the business with Cheryl.   Mark accepts that Cheryl decided to move on, but Gaynor understands that it is difficult for him.

“I miss her, but there isn’t much I can do about that.   

"Getting married is a big decision"

“Getting married is a big decision as well, considering everything,” says Mark and then they are interrupted by the arrival of Tom, once again not working at the dam, 

"You've missed a bit"

who comes up with the old chestnut about Mark missing a spot on the window.

"I haven't heard that one before!"

“Oh, I haven’t heard that one before!” groans Mark and as he walks away, 

"He's a strange one"

Tom remarks that he is a strange bloke.

“I’m going to the opening of the new office later – you fancy coming?” Gaynor asks, 

"I shall be a bit busy this afternoon"

but he was not planning to go as he is a bit busy this afternoon (no prizes for guessing where he will be – and it is not at the dam).   He says that Gaynor can tell him about it later.

"Shall I make a cup of tea?"

Mark calls on his mother in the Deri flat, noticing that she has some paperwork spread out in front of her and that she is looking at her phone.   He offers to make her a cup of tea.   “Have you seen the fuss going on at the Quantum Hydro Works office – Griffiths is buzzing around like a fly and Eleri is screaming orders.”

Kath is looking at photos of Brynmor 

Kath is taking no notice, as she is busy looking at photos of herself and Brynmor on their wedding day.   “I refuse to clean the windows this morning – she’s so cheeky!” he goes on.

He can see that his mother is far from all right;  she puts down the phone and prepare to sign the documents, 

"I can't avoid this any longer"

remarking, “I can’t avoid this any longer – so here we go.”

Colin and Kylie cavort . . .

Colin and Kylie are dancing outside their chalet, 

. . . much to Britt's amusement

which causes Britt a great deal of amusement.   

Colin starts videoing them . . .

Colin invites her to join them, wanting to video her and Kylie on her phone.   

. . .when a message arrives . . .

As he is doing so a recorded message arrives on the phone, 

. . . which he finds very concerning 

which he finds very concerning.

Eleri has now been inside . . .

Eleri has now examined the interior of the Quantum Hydro Works office 

. . . and is unusually complimentary

and says that Howard and Griffiths have done a good job.   “Are you all right?” asks Hywel, “You gave praise without choking on your words.”   She maintains that she is perfectly happy to give praise, if it is deserved.

Ieuan dashes across

Ieuan comes running across the road, carrying a bag, 

All he could get were paper plates

containing paper plates, which he claims is all they had at short notice.   

Eileen brings various delicacies

Following him is Eileen, bringing the food;  “Sausage rolls, samosas, chicken wings, salmon sandwiches,” she tells them.   

"Ieuan will get the table ready"

She is asked to take them inside until Ieuan gets the table ready.

"As a successful local business woman . . ."

“And as a successful local business woman, it’s an honour to support such an exciting venture in the area,” she informs them.

"Are you ready, Mam?"

Mark comes into the Deri flat and asks if his mother is ready;  she is impressed that he has been home to change.   

"Are you sure about this?"

He does not like seeing her upset and wonders if she is sure about this;  “We don’t have to do it today if you’re not ready.   I was the same when I went through the divorce with Debbie.”

"I want to get it done . . ."

Kath describes earlier as just a weak moment and now wants to get it done 

". . . so I can get Eleri out of the way"

so that she can get Eleri out of the way;  they leave the flat, with Kath carrying the documents.

Hywel introduces Eleri

The grand opening is upon us;  Hywel Llywelyn introduces Eleri Beynon to the waiting gaggle of villagers.   

"I don't have much to say"

“I don’t have much to say, because I think the fact the company has opened an office in the village says it all.   And it proves to everyone that you, the community, are very important to us.   

"Our ambitious vision"

“I hope that seeing these plans, which give you an idea of our ambitious vision, shows that we are not hiding anything and makes you as excited as we are about the enterprise.   

"Any questions, come to me"

“Any questions, come to me and I’ll be happy to answer them – enjoy.”   The Western Post photographer is there again.

That Tom is becoming a pestilential nuisance

Ffion is doing some housework when there is a tap on the door and she finds that once more it is Tom;  

"Go away!"

“Go away!” she snarls.

"Ffion, I can explain"

He takes no notice, but steps forward with his bunch of white roses, informing her, “Ffion, I can explain.”

"You don't need to explain"

“You don’t need to explain anything – it’s fine,” she says, 

"Please, Ffion"

but he pathetically begs her, 

"Right – you've got five minutes"

so she agrees to give him five minutes, stressing that she means it.

Argument about the spinach content of something

In the village street, Eileen is angrily insisting that it was spinach, but Ieuan appears to be contesting that.   

"What are you doing, Eileen?"

Siôn happens to be passing and wants to know what Eileen is doing;  she recommends that he tries the salmon sandwiches and the samosas.

He is adamant that this is supporting the enemy, 

"I do support them"

but she replies, “I do support them.”

“Even after what they did to Megan?” he demands, but she maintains that she still owes the company a great debt;  

"If you don't understand, I'd like you to leave"

if he does not understand her position, she would like him to leave.

Kath and Mark arrive;  “Well, well – I wasn’t expecting to see you here, John – 

?

"Looking for more translation work?"

“I expect you’re probably looking for more translation work.”   

Siôn makes himself scarce

She sniggers and Siôn quickly walks away

When they are offered some sandwiches, Kath replies that they are not here to support the office, 

"We have more important things to do"

but have more important things to do.

"Are you going to say something new?"

“Are you going to say something new?” Ffion demands, but Tom comes out with the same old line that he cannot keep away.   

"Although you've agreed to marry someone else?"

“Although you’ve agreed to marry someone else?   Right, tell me, Tom, how is that going to work?”   

"That's not going to work"

He says that it is not going to work 

So why are you still here?"

and Ffion demands, “So why are you still here?” 

He puts down the flowers and walks towards her;  “I was happy with Gaynor – I was – 

"Then you came along"

“but then you came along and turned everything upside down.”

"Right, so it's my fault, is it?"

“Right, so it’s all my fault, is it?”

"I've fallen in love with you, Ffion"

“Look, all I know is I don’t want to stay in the village if I can’t see you – I’ve fallen in love with you, Ffion.”   

"You can't say that"

She protests that he cannot say that, because it is not fair, but he is very insistent that it is true.   

"I didn't mean for it to happen"

He did not mean for it to happen – and his life would be a lot easier if he did not feel like this, but he does.

"This is where you're meant to be"

“This is where you’re meant to be – in my arms,” he continues, “We both know that.”   

That was bound to happen

She cannot resist any longer, but kisses him.

Looking across the Bristol Channel

As they look out from the holiday park, apparently ‘Marconi Holiday Village’, Lavernock Point, across the Bristol channel to the islands Flat Holm and Steep Holm,  

"She's found a friend already"

Britt comments that Kylie has found a friend already, which does not surprise her.

"I had an answerphone message"

Colin informs her that he has had an answerphone message;  “You know what it’s about.   Kylie’s aunt has contacted the fostering company and they’ve been phoning you for a week about it.   

"When were you going to tell me?"

“When were you going to tell me?   We can’t ignore them.”   

"There's not much signal here"

She makes the excuse that there is not much signal where they are at the moment.

"Burying you head in the sand won't sort anything"

“Burying your head in the sand won’t sort anything out, will it?   Why didn’t you tell me?”

"Because I can't face it"

“Why do you think, Col?   Because I can’t face it, but that’s the reality – that’s how fostering works – it’s temporary, until someone else gives her a safe home.   As her biological aunt has been in touch, it looks likely that she’s going to offer Kylie something permanent.”

"We shouldn't tell her now"

Colin is anxious that they should not tell her now and Britt assures him that they will not, as nothing has been decided yet;  they will sort it out when they get home, but she would like to forget about it for now.

"In case it's the last chance we get"

Colin does not think that he can do that, but Britt pleads, “I want us to have one special holiday, just the three of us – in case it’s the last chance we get to do something like this.”   

She gives Colin a hug

She gives Colin a hug.

Mark is very scathing

“I don’t know about you, but no blinkin’ Samosa will convince me that drowning Maes-y-Deri is right,” comments Mark, scornfully.   Kath believes that Eleri is deliberately ignoring her.

“You know what?   We’ll give her this, so we can go to the Chinese,” she tell Mark.

"It's lovely to see you"

Suddenly, Eleri comes over to them, effusively declaring how lovely it is to see them.   

"I enjoy it when a plan comes together"

“I really enjoy it when a plan comes together!”   

"We're her to give you this"

Kath makes it clear that they are not staying, but are only there to give her this envelope.

Brynmor arrives

A taxi has pulled up nearby and the passenger door opens;  Brynmor gets out 

"Mam – over there!"

and Mark calls his mother’s attention to him.   

It comes as a shock

They all look very surprised to see him 

"I might as well give the papers to him"

and Kath decides that she might as well give the papers to him herself.   

Eleri is looking very concerned as Kath walks forward;  

"I'm not here to waste your time"

“Don’t worry – not here to waste your time,” she tells Brynmor, “I just wanted to give you these – 

"There we are – it had to be done"

“that’s what you want, isn’t it?   Starting this process hasn’t been easy, but there we are – it had to be done.   

"I understand you have a new woman"

“I understand you have a new woman – it’s great that you have company.   

"Good luck to both of you"

“Eleri says that she is a nice woman – good luck to you both.”

Brynmor glowers at Eleri

Brynmor looks with fury at Eleri.