28 August 2025

One item of post

Kelly is looking at the single item of post when Ieuan comes rushing downstairs, 

"Why didn't anyone wake me?"

complaining, “Why didn’t anyone wake me?   I slept through the alarm.”

Kelly thought that he might have had a day off, 

"I'm doing an early shift this morning"

but he confirms that he is doing an early shift this morning.   “Oh, right – Mathew will be delighted because 

"You know what?   You're really late"

“you know what?   You’re really late.”   He cannot find his keys, 

"They might be where you left them"

so she points out that they might be where he left them last night.

"Haven't you forgotten something?"

He picks them up and is about to leave the house when Kelly says, “Ieuan!   Haven’t you forgotten something?”

He realises that she is right, hurrying into the kitchen to pick up his lunchbox, 

"I'd forget my head"

muttering, “I’d forget my head if it wasn’t screwed on.   Listen, Anita has had her tablets and she’s going out with Diane today – I don’t know where.”   With that, he disappears out of the door, leaving Kelly rather disappointed.

The card is from her mother

She looks at the birthday card which has arrived from her mother; 

. . . wishing her Happy Birthday

‘Happy birthday, Kel!   See you soon!’ 

"Happy birthday, Kel"

then gloomily wishes herself, “Happy birthday, Kel.”

At Maes-y-Deri, Gwern is proudly informing Kath and Dani of his GCSE results;  “One E, four Ds, four Cs and a B in Maths!”   

Dani is very excited

Dani is very excited and hugs him, 

"You're a genius"

while Kath calls him a genius.

"I'll get Gabriel ready"

Don’t you worry – I’ll get Gabriel ready – off you go – go out and enjoy yourselves,” she tells the two of them.

"Did you forget something else . . . "

Ieuan is sweeping up outside APD when Kelly approaches;  “Did you forget something else this morning?   

". . . this, perhaps?"

“This, perhaps?” as she holds up his phone.    He did not even realise he was without it and thanks her.

"Is it you or me getting old today?"

“Is it you or me getting old today?” she rather pointedly asks him, 

"Happy Birthday would have been nice, like"

“I know I said I didn’t want a fuss, but a ‘Happy Birthday’ would have been nice, like.”

"The big 4 – 0 is next week"

He was under the impression that the big 4–0 is next week, 

"No – today!"

so she corrects him that it is today.   “But Anita said . . . she’s made a mistake, hasn’t she?”

"She's organised a big party next week"

Then he realises something else;  “She’s organised a big party for you in the Deri next week – a surprise – don’t tell her I said anything.”

“I specifically said I didn’t want a party!” she snarls and he is well aware of that.   

"You'll have to ask her to cancel it"

“You’ll just have to ask Auntie Anita to cancel it, because I was serious, Ieuan!”

"Thos isn't about Auntie Anita"

He is adamant that he cannot do that, because if he does, Anita will know that Kelly knows.   “This isn’t about Auntie Anita,” but he argues that it is, in a way, because this might be the last time she will be able to do something special for Kelly.

"Don't guilt-trip me!"

“Don’t guilt-trip me!” Kelly warns, but he continues that Anita has gone to a lot of trouble;  she has not stopped talking about sausage rolls and vol-au vents.

"Pull a few party poppers and act surprised"

He continues trying to persuade Kelly, “Would it kill you to come to the party, pull a few party poppers and act surprised?   Oh – and I don’t want her to know that she got the date wrong either.   Please, Kelly, for Anita’s sake.”

"Why do I always end up doing things I don't want to do?"

“Why do I always end up doing things I don’t want to do?” she groans and he answers that it is because she is one in a million.   “Because, I’m a soft touch, more like,” is Kelly’s reply, 

Then he has a customer to serve

as Ieuan rushes into APD to serve a customer.

"Why did you tell Eleri?"

At that moment, Jinx comes out of The Pizza Place and sees her looking frustrated.   “Why did you tell Eleri we have been discussing her and Brynmor?   That was between you and me.”   

"You didn't say that"

She points out that he did not say that at the time.

“I thought you were sensible enough to keep your mouth shut,” he moans, “She’s finished with me now!   She says she can’t trust me.”

"Just talk to her and sort it out"

Kelly regards that as ridiculous;  “Just talk to her and sort it out, like,” she advises, 

"If you had kept your mouth shut"

but he is angry that he would not have to sort it out if she had kept her mouth shut, then storms back into his shop.   

Not Kelly's day today

Kelly is not having a very good morning.

Eleri is having laptop problems

In the Deri, Eleri is having problems with her laptop and trying to resolve it by hammering on the keyboard.   

"What has that laptop done to you?"

Hywel comes in and wonders what that laptop has done to her.   She complains that it has frozen, so he explains that hitting it like that will not unfreeze it.

"Expert on computers now, are you""

“You’re an expert on computers now, are you?” she grumbles, so he points out that he used to own a computer repair business.

Then she wants to know where he has been;  

"I went me Mansel Hexham"

he takes great delight in informing her, “I went to meet Mansel Hexham with your father – and do you know what?   We managed to get 10% off the price of the swimming pool.”

"Why wasn't I at the meeting?"

Eleri looks horrified and demands why she was not at the meeting;  

"Your father must think a lot of me"

“I don’t know, but your father must think a lot of me, or he wouldn’t have wanted me there.   Do you want another coffee?”

"There's no-one up there"

She turns down the offer, then asks the barman, who is passing, whether there is anyone upstairs.   When he replies that there is not, 

She sneaks up to continue her search

she says she wants to go and retrieve her charger which she left up there the other night.

"That was really nice – thank you"

Dani and Gwern come out of the deli;  “That was really nice – thank you,” he says.   

Dani replies that he deserved it, suggesting that they could look at the college prospectus later, but he does not think there is any point.

"You had amazing results"

She is adamant that he has had amazing results, so of course there is a point;  she is so proud of him.   

He looks across at MFC . . .

He looks across at MFC, 

. . . where Britt is putting up a poster

where Britt is putting a poster up in the window.

Kelly makes a coffee

Kelly despondently makes herself a cup of coffee at number 7;  

"If I light this candle, will you blow it out?"

Ieuan comes back, carrying a large cupcake with the number 40 on the top.   “If I light this candle, will you blow it out?” 

"Absolutely not!"

“Absolutely not!” is her immediate reply, but he urges her that he wants her to celebrate at some point today.   “Because I’ve got so much to celebrate, haven’t I?” she moans.   

"I thought – when I'm 40 . . ."

“You know, when I was 18, I thought 40 was ancient – but I did think, when I’m 40, I’ll have a massive house, fabulous husband, money in the bank and loads of kids.   Look at me.”

"Think about what you've achieved"

He encourages her to think about everything she has accomplished;  “Cos there’s such a long list,” she sighs.   He argues that a lot of people would swap with her in a heartbeat.

"Who wants to be single at 40?"

“Ieuan, who do you know who wants to be single at 40?   

"Where's my knight in shining armour?"

“And where’s my night in shining armour?”

At that precise moment there is a knock at the door and in walks Rhys;  

"A little something to say Happy Birthday"

“Just a little something to say happy birthday,” he tells her, handing her a card.   

"I have to go"

Ieuan has to get back to work and hands the cake to Rhys, advising him to try and cheer her up.

"Why are you down in the dumps, then?"

“Hey, why are you down in the dumps, then?” he wants to know.

"Because I'm 40!"

Kelly replies, “Because I’m 40, three times divorced and making wraps for a living – wraps!”   He wonders what is wrong with that 

"Loser with a capital L!"

and she continues, “I’m a loser with a capital L!”

"You're not, Kelly"

Rhys assures her that she is not and she is about to open the card, thanking him for making the effort;  “Do you know what’s really infuriating as well?   

"People take pleasure in constantly reminding me"

“It’s as if people take pleasure in constantly reminding me that I’m 40 – as if I’ve forgotten!”

Now he looks concerned . . .

Rhys is now looking somewhat disheartened 

. . . and attempts to take back the card

and attempts to retrieve the card from her;  “What are you doing?” she snaps and he suspects that he has made a mistake, but it is just a reminder . . .

It has made Kelly laugh

At least it has made Kelly laugh, as she holds up the card, ‘Naughty at 40!’   “Top marks for effort,” she tells him.

Eleri is still after that necklace . . .

Eleri is continuing her search for this gold necklace in the Deri flat, but suddenly is interrupted by the arrival of Kath and Gabriel.   

"What are you doing here?"

“What are you doing here?” Kath wants to know.

"Simon said Cassie was up here"

“Looking for Cassie – Simon said she was up here,” is Eleri’s hastily concocted reply.   Kath says that she can see that Cassie is not there, so wants her to leave.

"Why are you looking after him?"

“Why are you looking after him?” Eleri asks and is told that it is none of her business.   “Dani’s taking advantage, isn’t she?”   

"We're going to do a jigsaw puzzle"

Kath replies that they are all right and that she offered to do this, intending to do a jigsaw with Gabriel.

“Come and sit with Auntie Kath – mind, Auntie Kath has work to do as well – I need to put an order in – I forgot to do it yesterday.   So you sit here quietly.”

"I'll help him"

Eleri realises this is her perfect opportunity, so offer to help Gabriel with his jigsaw;  she is reminded that she does not like children, 

"Why doesn't Eleri help you?"

so answers, “No – but I like jigsaws.   Why doesn’t Eleri help you, if you’ll let me, so Kath can save the day?”

Kath looks very puzzled, but agrees to this arrangement, as they make a start on the dinosaur jigsaw.   “I wanted to apologise, too – I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression about Denise – I had misunderstood myself.”

"When did you have a personality transplant?"

Kath demands, “When did you have a personality transplant?”

"Forgive me for trying to be nice"

“Forgive me for trying to be nice,” Eleri replies.

"40 is the new 30, Kel"

At number 7, Rhys tells Kelly that 40 is the new 30;  “Well if that’s true God help us all!” is her retort, 

"Life is a borefest, seriously"

“Because life is a ‘borefest’, seriously. ”   

"You have a good life"

He points out that she has a good life and that she has her own business.

"As bland as Eileen'e chutneys"

She describes her life as being as bland as Eileen’s chutneys;  “Eat, work, sleep, repeat!   That’s all I do seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year, like.”

Rhys wishes that he could help 

"I just want to feel that buzz!"

and she says, “I just want to feel that buzz when life is unpredictable and thrilling and exciting.   Want a cup of tea?”

"You're the most unpredictable person I know"

He stops her leaving the table;  “Do you know what?   You’re the most unpredictable person I know.   I never know what you’re going to do next.”

"Is that meant to be a compliment?"

She wonders if that is meant to be a compliment;  he continues, “Bland?   That’s the last word I’d used to describe you – 

"You're smart, sassy – and sexy!"

“you’re smart, you’re sassy – and sexy!”

"Are you talking about me?"

Kelly wants to check if he is sure he is talking about her;  

"I'm just saying what I see"

“I’m just saying what I see,” he replies 

He kisses her

and kisses her.   

"This is a bad idea, Rhys"

She maintains that this is a bad idea 

"A really, really bad idea"

and he readily agrees, “A really, really bad idea,” – 

But they still continue

but that does not stop them.

Now it is Kath with computer problems

Now Kath is having problems with her laptop, as she attempts to place the order, 

"This has to be in by one"

which has to be in by one o’clock.   

"Go and see Hywel downstairs"

Eleri informs her that Hywel is downstairs in the bar and might be able to help her;  “I’ll look after Gabs, if you’re not going to be too long.”

Kath goes down

As soon as Kath is out of the room, 

"Shall we play another game . . ."

Eleri suggests to Gabriel that they should stop this boring jigsaw and play another game;  

". . . look for a necklace?"

“Do you and Teddy want to come and look for a necklace with me?”

Gwern tries to refuse a £10 note

Britt gives Gwern a £10 note, but he protests that things are tight;  “No, I want to treat you – you’ve done really good – your father will be proud of you.   Of course, I’ll tell him – 

"Perhaps you should carry on to college"

“perhaps you should carry on with maths in college – or business studies.   You’re going to go really far.”

"Does this mean I get to keep my job?"

“Does this mean I get to keep my job?” he asks, 

"What – working with your thick aunt?"

but Britt cannot believe that he really wants to work with his thick aunt who cannot see a good business idea if it slaps her in the face.

"Perhaps 'Deri-farŵ' isn't such a bad idea"

“Perhaps Deri-farŵ isn’t such a bad idea after all, you know – I’ve had time to think about it and perhaps we should give it a go.   

"I've got loads of other ideas"

He announces that he has had loads of other ideas as well, 

"You're going to be a big shot in college"

but Britt insists that he is not going to have time to mess around there, not when he is going to be a big shot in the college.

He points out that is the thing;  

"I don't really want to go to college"

“I don’t really want to go to college.”

"You're supposed to be helping me"

Gabriel has now retired to the sofa and Eleri complains that he is supposed to be helping her look, 

Then she notices what he is playing with

but when she sees what he has placed round the neck of his teddy, she is quite elated.

After their 'activity' . . .

As they come downstairs after their ‘birthday frolic’, 

. . . Kelly is nearly dressed

Kelly is still buttoning her shirt 

"Well, that cheered me up, anyway!"

and Rhys comments, “Well, that cheered me up, anyway!”

"That was not supposed to happen"

Kelly turns and reminds him, “You know that was not supposed to happen, don’t you?   Because we have agreed that we are better off as mates.”

"You said you wanted a bit more excitement"

He agrees wholeheartedly with that evaluation, but adds, “You said you wanted a bit more excitement.   

"Enjoy the rest of your day, Birthday girl!"

“Right, I’d better go – enjoy the rest of your day, Birthday girl!”   

Another kiss

“He kisses her before leaving.

Having found what she was looking for, Eleri has brought Gabriel downstairs and complains to Kath that she was not supposed to be long.   “I was on my way back up now,” Kath explains.

"I'm not a nanny, Kath!"

“I’m not a nanny, Kath,” Eleri snarls as she heads towards the door.   

"Why aren't you answering your phone?"

Jinx is sitting there and asks her why she is not answering her phone.   

"Because I don't want to"

“Because I don’t want to.”   He insists that they need to talk, 

"I've got nothing to say to you"

but once more she informs him, “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”   He can appreciate that she is angry, but had thought that she would have calmed down by now;  again he assures her that he is sorry.

"I'll think about it"

“Are you now?” she replies and he begs for forgiveness.   “I’ll think about it – give me your phone now.”   He does so, looking puzzled;  

She goes through his contacts . . .

she scrolls through his contact details 

. . . and deletes her entry

and deletes her name, 

"I've thought about it - and the answer is no!"

telling him that now she has thought about it and the answer is no.

"You're being unreasonable"

As he accuses her of being unreasonable, she walks out of the Deri, 

"No trust is no trust"

on her way reminding him that no trust is no trust.

"But Dad and you didn't go to college"

In the MFC flat, Gwern can appreciate that Britt thinks it is a good opportunity, “But you and Dad didn’t go to college and you did all right.”   

"You've got more brains than Garry and me put together"

She maintains that Gwern has more brains than her and Garry put together.

"I want hands-on experience"

“But I don’t want to go to college,” he stresses, “I’d rather work here with you – I want a salary and hands-on experience, because I want my own business in the future.”

"Dani will be gutted"

Britt reminds him that Dani will be gutted if he does not take this chance;  he wonders if she could have a word with Dani.   “If you’re old enough to make a decision like that, you’re old enough to deal with the fireworks,” Britt informs him as they hear Dani coming upstairs.

"What's going on?"

She can see their serious faces and wants to know what is going on.

Kelly has a parcel . . .

Kelly has a small, flat jiffy bag delivered and excitedly starts to open it, 

. . . containing, inside a box . . .

discovering a long box, 

. . . a bracelet

inside which is a bracelet, which she finds stunning.   

"I knew you were winding me up"

When Ieuan comes in, she squeals, “I knew you were winding me up about forgetting my birthday!   This is amazing!”

"That's not from Anita and me"

He has to admit that it is not from Anita and him, assuming that there is a card with it, but there is none.   He comes to the conclusion, “Someone has a secret admirer,” 

Now she is puzzled

which she finds troubling.

"But you've done so well"

Dani reacts as predicted;  “But you’ve done so well – college isn’t like school – they treat him as an adult!”   Britt encourages him to just give it a go.

"I don't want to go!"

However, Gwern’s mind is made up;  “I don’t want to go!”   

"Stubborn, just like your father"

Dani sighs that he is stubborn, just like his father, but Gwern regards that as a good thing when running a business.   

"OK, I won't force you"

Dani is forced to admit defeat;  she will not force him to go to college.   She would go in his situation, but it is his life and she just wants him to be happy.

"So you're happy with me working at MFC?"

“So you’re happy with me working at MFC?” says Gwern, 

"How about a trial run until Christmas?"

but she proposes a trial run until Christmas.   He can always change his mind if he wants to go to college then, 

"I'm not gaping to change my mind"

but he is adamant that he will not.

Britt is disappointed and does not want him to make a mistake, but he assures them that he is not, 

They reluctantly agree

so they agree to his plans.

Eleri writes a note to her father

Eleri is writing a note to go with the ‘stolen’ necklace and looks very pleased with herself.   Hywel comes in and has brought some architectural reports and a council form, 

"Why can't you do it?"

asking her to reply to them.   “Why can’t you do it?” she demands

"I'm meeting your father in Liverpool"

He informs her that he is meeting her father in Liverpool;  “Didn’t he tell you?”   

"I've just been talking to him"

She pretends that she knew about it and has just been talking to him.

“Oh, right, so you know what we’ll be discussing, then,” Hywel continues, 

"You haven't talked to Brynmor, have you?"

then realises that she does not know.   “And you haven’t talked to Brynmor at all, have you?   Well, there we are – 

"Perhaps he only needs one good schmoozer . . ."

“perhaps he feels that he only needs one good schmoozer to secure this investment for Quantum Hydro Works.   

". . . see you"

“See you.”

So much for getting into Brynmor's 'good books'

Eleri is disgusted at clearly coming out second-best here;  she flings the box containing the necklace across the room in her fury.

"You can't get enough of me!"

Rhys is back at number 7;  “Oh, you can’t get enough of me!” he laughs.

"Rhys, you're a lovely bloke"

“Rhys, you’re a lovely bloke . . .” – 

"Yes, I am"

and he agrees that he is – 

"But if you think this will persuade me . . ."

“But if you think buying me this will persuade me to go out with you . . .”

After one look . . .

He takes one look at the bracelet, 

"You think I bought you that?"

and exclaims, “You think I bought you that?   I wish!   What do you think I am – a millionaire?”

"If it wasn't you, who was it?" — [my money is on Jinx]

“Well, if it wasn’t you, who was it?” gasps Kelly.