7 October 2025

"I'm worried about Mathew"

Sioned continues, “I’m worried about Mathew – I’m Sioned, his partner,” 

"I've got nothing to say"

Melfa has nothing to say to her and is about to close the door.   Sioned  stops that, insisting, “I haven’t driven all this way for you to close the door in my face.   

"You can offer me a cup of tea, at least"

“You can offer me a cup of tea at least.”   

She is finally allowed inside

Melfa relents and lets her into the house.

"Everything is in place"

Eleri is on the phone;  “I’ve spoken to the boys and everything is in place – the diggers will start before most of us are awake.   I’ll send over the spec for the four-beds now.”

"I'm on the phone!"

Jinx comes in and asks what is for dinner, but she continues with her call, “I’ll see you tomorrow – don’t forget the champagne.”   Then she reprimands Jinx that she was on the phone.   

"Its time to turn that off"

He maintains that it is almost six and time to turn that off.

She points out that there is lots of work to do on those new houses, so he offers to cook something for her.   

"Please, Huw, I'm busy"

“Please, Huw, I’m busy!” she moans.

"I thought you were finished wit Quantum Hydro Works"

He was under the impression that she was finished with Quantum Hydro Works and her father, but she regards this as a chance to prove she can do something right.   

Eleri is determined

“I haven’t spent 18 months on it for someone else to take the credit!”

Jinx maintains that she does not need to prove anything to her father, but she tells him to keep his clichés to himself.   

"You'll burn yourself out"

He advises her not to stress, or she will burn herself out.

"The work starts tomorrow"

“The work starts tomorrow!” she snarls, but he is confident that the houses will fly up with her in charge.   She wonders why he is so happy and whether he has finished that portrait.   

"He hasn't e-mailed back"

He reports that Ifan has not e-mailed back, so she tells him to check his junk mail.   

"Oh, yeah"

He does not appear to have thought of that, but when he does, 

"I've only got  week and a half"

he realises that he only has a week and a half to finish it.

"You don't want to burn out"

She sarcastically advises him, “Don’t stress – you don’t want to burn out – especially someone as sensitive as you.”

"Yes, Diane . . ."

As he leaves, Eleri receives a call from Diane;  

". . . they've found what?"

“They’ve found what?”

"Like I said, I'm worries about Mathew"

“Like I said, I’m worried about Mathew,” Sioned continues, 

"I haven't seen him"

but Melfa has not seen him and strongly doubts that he would go there.

“No, I know that,” says Sioned, 

"And I wouldn't tell just anyone"

and Melfa goes on that she would not tell just anyone if he did.   

“I’m not just anyone!” snarls Sioned.

“He hasn’t contacted you, so he doesn’t want you to find him,” 

"I'm not here to find him"

but Sioned explains that she is not there to find him.

"I know, Melfa!"

“I know, Melfa – I know what your father did – and what you did!   

"How could you?"

“How could you?”

"Newts?"

Now Eleri is talking to Diane in the Tomos ac Ellis office;  “Newts?’ she exclaims, 

"We can move them"

“What’s the problem?   We can move them in a couple of shoe boxes.”   She seems to be woefully ignorant about planning rules.

"There are laws to protect them"

Diane informs her, “If they’re Great Crested, there are laws to protect them,” so Eleri wants to know how many there are and is told, “Enough to force the environmental team to carry out an investigation.   Someone reported them to the council this morning.”

Eleri demands how they will know if they are ‘Crested whatever’, 

"These things take time"

and Diane predicts that these things will take time.

"But they'll be gone by tomorrow?"

“But they’ll be gone by the time we start digging tomorrow?”   

"Are we ready to start digging?"

Then her father comes in to check how things are going, assuming that everyone is ready to start digging tomorrow, as it is important that the houses are up in time.

"Everything's running like clockwork"

Eleri assures him that things are running like clockwork 

"We have only six months"

and he confirms, “Well we only have six months before the lightbulbs go on.”

“Six months from when the compulsory purchase orders go out,” confirms Eleri.

"The council could punish you for breach of contract"

Diane advises that they are ready to go out;  “The council could punish you for breach of contract if the houses are not ready in time.”

"Everything's running like clockwork, Diane"

Brynmor echoes what Eleri said, that everything is running like clockwork;  Diane walks out.

"Why didn't you say about the CPOs?"

“Why didn’t you say about the CPOs?” demands Eleri, 

"Does it matter?"

but Brynmor does not seem to think it important and is confident the houses will be up in time;  here is nothing to worry about.

The news's out about the newts

In the Deri, Cassie is telling Diane, “Gena Goeg.”   

"Ah, that means newt"

Siôn has just walked in and translates it as ‘newt’.   

"They're where the houses are to be built"

Cassie replies that they have been found where houses are to be built for the residents of Maes-y-Deri who are being kicked out.

"Bad news they're Crested Newts"

“Well, that’s bad news for them if it’s a Crested Newt,” say Siôn and Cassie describes him as a dictionary on two legs.   He insists, “You’re not allowed to build where the newts live,” 

"It could be months"

and Diane reckons it could be months before work starts on the estate.

Cassie wonders where the residents of Maes-y-Deri will go if there are no houses for them.

Howard is sweeping up

Howard is sweeping up at APD when Kelly comes in;  

"The roof's leaking"

“I need someone to mend the van – the roof is leaking!”   He enquires whether the water has got into the electrics, 

"I don't know – that's why I'm here"

but she does not know and that is the reason she is there.

"I'll take a look"

Howard agrees to take a look and, if the damage is not too bad, he can sort it out tomorrow;  “I don’t think we’re starting on the new housing estate – 

"Someone found newts"

“someone found newts – don’t worry about the van.”

"I just want to help Mathew"

Sioned insists that she just wants to help Mathew, 

"I've already tried that"

but Melfa says she has already tried that and failed;  Sioned angrily points out that is no reason to stop trying.   

"He'll never forgive me"

Melfa is convinced that he will never forgive her.

"How could you be so selfish?"

“I didn’t mean for your sake!” Sioned rages, “For his sake!   How could you be so selfish?”

"You have no right to judge me!"

Melfa maintains that Sioned has no right to judge her, not knowing how things were, so Sioned demands that she should be told.   “Help me understand how any mother could turn her back on her child like you did!”

"I've got plenty to say – but not to you"

Melfa has plenty to say – but not to Sioned, 

"Is that him?"

who looks across to a photo of the grandfather with baby Mathew.   

"Pig!"

“Pig!” she snarls and Melfa objects very strongly to such talk.

"Why are you defending him?"

“Why are you defending him?” Sioned asks 

"You'd better go"

and is told that she had better go, but comments, “He can’t hear you, you know.”   

Sioned stares at the photo

She stares at the photo.

"When will I know?"

Jinx arrives at the Tomos ac Ellis office as Eleri is speaking on the phone;   “When will I know?   If you could – thank you.”   He can tell that all is not well and she sighs, “Fantastic!”

"I've been thinking about colours"

Jinx has been thinking about the colours for Ifan’s portrait and has had an idea.   Eleri’s mind is on something else;  

"I have people who will have nowhere to live"

“I have people in Maes-y-Deri who will have nowhere to live – because of newts!”

"Think about the colours of Ceredigion"

Jinx wants her to close her eyes and think about all the colours of Ceredigion, 

Eleri soon stops that

but she simply glowers at him, 

"What does you father say"

so he asks what her father says.

“No – I’m going to find a way out of this mess before he finds out!” she insists.   In that case, Jinx considers that he had better disappear.   

"Unless you want to lay poison at the site"

“Unless you want to lay poison at the site to kill the things!” she growls, but he does not think that is a good idea.

"Close your eyes and imagine . . ."

Before he goes, he again asks, “Close your eyes and imagine . . .” 

If looks could kill

but her withering gaze stops him in his tracks.

Howard spots Kelly in the Deli

Howard is passing the deli when he sees Kelly, looking rather despondent, inside;  she asks him, “What’s the damage?”   

"I can patch it up"

He replies that he can patch it up easily enough – 

"But . . ."

and she senses a ‘but’ coming.

He advises her that water has got into the works of the coffee machine;  

"You'd be better off buying a new one"

“You’d be better off buying a new one.”

"Where am I supposed to find £1,000?"

“Where am I supposed to find £1,000?” she demands and he is sorry to be the bearer of bad news.   

Brynmor comes in

As he leaves the deli, Brynmor comes in, wondering why Kelly is drinking worse coffee than she can make herself.

"All the van is good for is a cup of rainwater"

She groans, “As things stand, all the van is good for is a cup of rainwater!   A hole in the roof – the coffee machine is kaput!   The only good news is that APD can fix it because of the newts.”

"Eh – what?"

Brynmor does not follow her reasoning, so she explains, “Yeah – on the new housing estate – 

"Perhaps I should get myself a normal job"

“perhaps I should give up and get myself a normal job.”

Eleri is eager to avoid her father

Eleri is just passing and hurries away as soon as she sees her father.   Brynmor tells Kelly to go to the Deri and he will see her there;  

"I might have something to help you"

he might have something to help her.   Then he goes in pursuit.

"What's this about newts?"

Eleri is back at Cysgod y Glyn, with her father not very far behind;  “What’s this about newts?”   

"How did you find out?"

Eleri wants to know how he found out and he demands why she did not tell him.  

"We're waiting to see if they're rare"

“We don’t know what they are – we’re waiting to find out if they’re rare.”   

"You should have sorted things out"

Brynmor is adamant that she should have sorted things out, but she did not want to break the law.   

"You should have come to me, then!

“You should have come to me, then!” he snarls.

Eleri is angry that Diane knew before she did.   “You insisted that we use local businesses – 

"That company would have killed the creatures"

“the London company I wanted to use would have killed the creatures before the council even heard!”

"I'll have no choice by to find someone else"

Eleri cannot understand why her father is angry with her, but he lays down the law;  “Sort it, please – or I’ll have no choice but to find someone more experienced to deal with things.”

"Like your new girlfriend, is it?"

“Like your new girlfriend, is it?   

"Kelly?"

“Kelly – is she trying to muscle her way in?”   

"She couldn't make a worse job than you!"

Brynmor furiously announces that Kelly could not make a worse job than she is doing.

Melfa brings in a box . . .

Up in Anglesey, Melfa brings in a box, 

. . . of mementos . . .

explaining that she kept a few of Mathew’s things, which made her feel closer to him.   

. . . including a photo

She takes out a photograph. recalling that those were the good days.   Sioned agrees to give them to him.

"Will you give him this as well?"

“Will you give him this as well?” Melfa asks, handing over a brown envelope, “It’s confidential.”

"Don't you trust me?"

“Don’t you trust me?   Perhaps you should give it to him yourself,” Sioned sneers, but Melfa does not think that they need to see each other again.

"This place is going on sale next week"

“This place is going on sale next week – I hope someone buys it quickly – that would be best for us all.”   

"Mathew will wants answers one day"

Sioned imagines that Mathew will want answers one day, even if he is not ready for them now.”   

"There are no answers"

Melfa maintains that Sioned should tell him that there are no answers, 

Sioned leaves the house

so she takes the items and leaves the house for the long journey home.

The portrait is not going well

Jinx is not having much success with the portrait, judging by all the screwed up paper littering the floor.   There is a knock at the door, so he throws down another sheet of paper and goes to answer it.

"I've had the worst day!"

He tells Eleri that he has had the worst day, when nothing seems to work, but of course 

"They were supposed to do an assessment"

she ignores him, moaning, “They were supposed to do an assessment and nothing can move until it’s done!”

He in turn takes no notice of her;  

"What am I supposed to do?"

“What am I supposed to do?   The sketches I did are useless!”   

"I regret putting that picture on Instagram"

Eleri says she regrets putting the picture up on Instagram in the first place 

She marches out again 

and marches out of the house again.

Brynmor arrives to meet Kelly

Siôn is chatting to Cassie at the bar when Brynmor comes in and joins Kelly;  

"She told me there's nothing going on . . ."

“She told me nothing’s going on between them,” says Cassie, 

". . . I know what his game is"

“Friends or not, I know what his game is and why he’s here.”

"I don't want charity, Brynmor"

Brynmor opens the Western Post to show Kelly and tells her that he has something to help;  she protests that she does not want charity, but apparently that is not what he is offering.   

"There's a job going at Brynawelon"

He indicates an advertisement;  “There’s a job going at Brynawelon.”

"I can't even manage my own life"

Kelly takes a look and exclaims, “Manager?   I mean, I can’t even manage my own life – let alone an old people’s home.”

"Heart is what you need"

Brynmor indicates that ‘heart ‘is what she needs;  “And you’ve got plenty of that!   

"You could do it, standing on your head!"

“I know what I’m talking about – I know the place, remember.   You could do it, standing on your head!”

"It will free me up to look after Auntie Neet . . ."

“Look – the reason I kept the van going is because it will free me up to look after Auntie Neet when the time comes – 

". . . but thank you"

“but thank you.”

Sioned is back at Penrhewl 

As Sioned gets back to Penrhewl, she is on the phone to her mother;  “Everything is all right – how have they been?   

"Thanks for looking after them . . ."

“Thanks for looking after them – 

". . . I'll be over first thing"

“I’ll be over first thing to get them, thanks, Mam.”

She intends to steam open the envelope . . .

She takes the confidential envelope and is about to hold it over the steaming kettle, but then thinks better of it.   

. . . but leaves in on the table . . .

She leaves things on the table 

. . . when she goes to bed

and goes to bed.

"Building work will have to stop"

Diane reports to Eleri that as far as she has heard, they are Crested Newts, so Eleri realises that building work will have to stop.   

"It will be spring before they lay the first brick"

“It will be spring before they lay the first brick, which isn’t good news for the residents of Maes-y-Deri,” says Diane

"This is a set-up!"

Eleri is convinced that this is a set-up;  “Someone has carried those things to the site.”

"Don't talk nonsense"

Diane tells her not to talk nonsense;  “People need those houses in time,” but Eleri is sure that there must be something she can do;  

"Stop the compulsory purchase orders"

she could stop the compulsory purchase orders to buy time.   Diane points out that the CPOs have already gone out.

"There must be something you can do!"

“I’m on a contract to sell those houses in six months!” Eleri complains, “There must be something you can do – influence the council – make an exception of the site – cancel the CPOs!”

"I cannot do anything"

When Diane is adamant that she cannot do anything, 

Eleri resorts to using threats

Eleri threatens, “It would be a shame for people to know that you took Jason’s points.”

"Blackmail a councillor?"

Not to be outdone, Diane issues the counter-threat, “If you say a word about that, I’ll tell them that you tried to blackmail a councillor – you’ll be in far more trouble than anything you can threaten me with!”

Diane storms out

Diane storms out of the flat, 

Eleri is in rather a predicament

with Eleri in what appears to be a hopeless situation.