Cwmderi Diary 2020: 2025

Anita has a leisurely cup of tea

Anita is sitting, drinking tea, with a box of biscuits, which she has made, in front of her.

"Siwsi is staring this afternoon"

Ieuan comes downstairs and urges her, “Come on, then, or we’ll be late for work – and Siwsi is starting this afternoon.”

"She can wait for a minute or two"

Anita caustically replies, “She can wait for a minute or two.”

Ieuan cannot believe that she wants Siwsi to get there before them.

“I’m not going until I finish my cup of tea,” she informs him.

“Listen – you are going to be welcoming, aren’t you?” he asks,

"Welcoming, kind and supportive . . ."

and she answers, very emphatically, that she is going to be welcoming, kind and supportive. Now he is looking even more worried,

". . . why else would I bake a batch of biscuits?"

as she goes on, “Why else do you think I baked a batch of biscuits for her? Are you coming or what?”

Off they go, back to work

They leave the house.

"Gwern, lunch is ready"

Mark is preparing lunch and calls to Gwern;

Dani comes in

Dani comes in through the front door and Mark is glad to see her.

"You did remember, then"

Gwern comes downstairs and says, “You did remember, then,” but she wonders what he is talking about.

"This lunch is nothing to do with me"

“This lunch is nothing to do with me,” she growls, so he simply walks out of the house.

Mark demands where Gwern has gone

The lunch is now ready; Mark wonders where Gwern has gone and what Dani has said to him.

"You knew we were having a special lunch"

“You knew we were having a special lunch because he’s finished his exams.”

"Did I?"

Dani does not remember this,

"I told you, Dan"

but he insists that she has been told.

Howard is in APD . . .

Siwsi hurries into APD and Howard, who is behind the counter, assumes that she is Siwsi and introduces himself

. . . when Siwsi arrives

She asks where he wants her to start;

"You'll have to wait for the boss"

“I have no idea, sorry – you’ll have to wait for the boss,” he tells her, so she proposes to make a cup of tea in the meantime.

"The kettle's through there"

Howard is all in favour of that idea and directs her to the kettle;

He is eager to get stuck into the muffins

she adds that she has made some muffins to celebrate her first day and invites him to help himself, so of course he does not hesitate.

"Welcome, Siwsi!"

Anita and Ieuan arrive and Siwsi is welcomed by Ieuan,

but Anita protests that they have just had lunch and that she has baked biscuits for teatime.

Ieuan cannot resist

Ieuan has noticed what Howard is holding and goes to sample the muffins;

"I'llm have a biscuit later"

he tells Anita that he will have a biscuit later.

She angrily instructs them to get on with some work, because they have a lot to do today.

"Sort out the lightbulbs . . ."

Siwsi wants to know where she should start, so is told that she can sort the lightbulbs out as they are all over the place;

". . . according to fixings and size"

“We arrange them according to fixings and size.”

Siwsi suggests that she arranges them with the screw caps first, but Anita does not seem to have any preference.

"Just don't take ages"

“Just don’t take ages, because we’ve got plenty of work to do today.” Siwsi is not very impressed by her manner.

Lleucu is doing a spot of shoplifting . . .

Lleucu is in the shop and while no one is looking, she pilfers a bottle of vodka

. . . walking out as nonchalantly as possible

and hides it under her coat.

"Are you going to the party tonight?"

Then she encounters Gwern and wonders if he is going to the party tonight; “Everyone will be there.”

He has not made up his mind yet and asks why she is going, as it is to celebrate the end of the exams,

"You haven't even done the exams"

but she has not even done them. She says that she wants to celebrate him finishing them,

"Look what I've got"

and shows him what she has stolen,

"I want to have some fun!"

finally admitting that she is bored and wants to have some fun.

"You should want to celebrate"

“Surely you can sneak me in,” she goes on, but he is still unsure whether he will go. “You should want to celebrate,” she complains, but he grumbles that perhaps he is not in the mood, which she finds very disappointing.

"He went out first thing"

Outside APD, Sioned has brought Mathew’s lunchbox, but she is told by Anita that he is not in today and that he went out first thing. Sioned assumes that he must be out on a job in that case. Meanwhile, in the background, Siwsi has been detailed to sweep the pavement.

"Is he all right after seeing his mother?"

“Listen, is he all right after seeing his mother yesterday?” Anita asks,

Sioned knows nothing about that

but Sioned does not know anything about that. “She turned up and wanted to talk to him.

'"It obviously upset him"

I’m not sure what she said to him, but it obviously upset him. He’s bound to tell you when he’s ready.”

"I've got to pick up the children"

Sioned has to go now, as she is picking up the children from Elinor.

Siwsi has finished sweeping

Siwsi has stopped for a moment,

"There are toilets to clean!"

so is reprimanded by Anita, “What are you doing standing there? If you’ve finished, there are toilets to clean!”

"I just wanted to check how you are"

Lleucu has escaped to the park, where she is sitting on a swing and dials her father’s number, leaving the message, “It’s me again, Dad – I just wanted to check how you are.

"I haven't heard from you in ages"

“I haven’t heard from you in ages and I know Iolo’s been allowed to see you, so . . . Phone me back when you get the chance, yeah?”

Then she returns to the alcohol . . .

Then she picks up the vodka bottle, takes a swig

. . . and bursts into tears

and bursts into tears.

"Toilets are finished"

Siwsi has now finished the toilets, but Anita is outraged to find that she has arranged the lightbulbs according to their fixings;

"Do you understand what watts are?"

“We arrange them according to wattage,” she insists, “Do you understand what watts are?”

"That's the way you told me"

Siwsi confirms that she does, but points out that was the way she was told to arrange them.

"Why would I say that?"

“Why would I say that? I’ve been working here for years and we arranged them by wattage,” Anita growls.

Siwsi meekly agrees that she will sort them again;

"No-one will know where anything is"

“I should think so, or no-one will know where anything is!”

"Is Anita looking after you?"

Then Mathew returns and apologises for not being there earlier; “Is Anita looking after you?” Siwsi replies that Anita has been very patient with her. “Anita, can you get Siwsi a fleece, please?”

"I haven't had a chance to wash it"

She finds one under the counter, but points out that she has not had a chance to wash it, but it will do for now.

"There's some money for a drink in the Deri"

Then Mathew leaves them some money for a drink in the Deri tonight to welcome Siwsi; he is unable to come tonight.

"It's much easier this way"

Howard is already very impressed with her; “Did you sort these bulbs? It’s much easier this way,” he comments, which does not go down well with Anita.

Then she drops something on the floor and Siwsi offers to help,

"I dropped them, so I'll pick them up"

but is told, “I dropped them, so I’ll pick them up!”

"It's a bit early, isn't it?"

Lleucu is still drinking the vodka when Dani finds her; “It’s a bit early, isn’t it?”

"I've seen you drink m much earlier than this"

“I’ve seen you drink much earlier than this,” is the reply, but Dani maintains that she only does that if something has upset her,

"Has something upset you?"

so assumes that something has upset Lleucu.

“Don’t pretend to be friends with me!” Lleucu snarls, but Dani is happy to listen if she wants to talk.

"Don't you dare touch me!"

“Don’t you dare touch me. I’m serious – just leave me alone!”

She walks away from Dani

and she walks away with her bottle.

Mathew is back at Penrhewl

Mathew returns to Penrhewl as Sioned is folding baby clothes, as usual;

"They're growing up so fast"

she remarks that they will not fit the children for much longer as they are growing up so fast.

He goes the fridge and takes out a bottle, but does not say anything,

"Are you all right, Sioned?"

then apologises and asks if she is all right.

"I met Siwsi earlier"

Sioned tells him, “I met Siwsi earlier – she seems like a nice girl. Is she settling in?”

"You must have had a shock, seeing your mother"

She can see that something is amiss, so continues. “You must have had a shock yesterday, seeing your mother – why didn’t you tell me?”

"It's not a big deal"

He replies that it is not a big deal.

"Yes it is – what did she want?"

“Yes, it is a big deal – what did she want?”

"To try and make up for leaving me"

“To try and make up for leaving me? I don’t know. I won’t be seeing her again – I hardly know her.” Then one of the babies is heard crying and Mathew volunteers to go up, but Sioned insists that she will do it,

Mathew ponders the situation

while he leans on the cupboard and thinks.

Lleucu is now drinking elsewhere . . .

Lleucu has found a seat in another part of the park where she is continuing to drain the bottle;

. . . with Dani watching

Dani is watching from the swings and then Gwern arrives, having been summoned by Dani.

"Perhaps she'll listen to you"

“Perhaps she’ll listen to you.” Gwern walks towards Lleucu.

"What's upset you so much?"

In the kitchen at Penrhewl, surrounded by baskets of washing, Mathew listens to Sioned’s voice on the baby monitor; “What’s upset you so much? You’ve had your food – I’ve changed you – and your little sister is sleeping quietly.”

He turns off the monitor

He turns it off.

The alcohol is taking effect

Lleucu is halfway down the bottle of vodka and now feeling drowsy and very sorry for herself;

"I'm so sorry for having a go at you"

Gwern rouses her and she tells him, “I’m so sorry for having a go at you about that party earlier – I didn’t even want to go, really.”

"What's she doing here?"

Then she sees Dani nearby and wonders what she is doing there;

"Why are you so angry with Dani?"

“Why are you so angry with Dani?” Gwern demands,

There is a struggle over the vodka bottle

as he tries to stop her drinking any more of the vodka, but she will not stop.

"Can I have a sip of that?"

He asks if he can have a sip of that, pointing out that he is celebrating the end of his exams,

Lleucu hands it over

so she hands it over and he immediately passes it to Dani.

"Give it back to me!"

Lleucu screams at them to give it back to her,

"Let's go home and have something to eat"

but Gwern puts his arm around her and suggests that they go home to have something to eat, as he is starving.

Dani retrieves the bottle and cork

Dani looks at the bottle, but uncharacteristically replaces the cork and walks away with it

"What's Howard's story, then?"

As they sit in the Deri with their drinks, Siwsi enquires, “What’s Howard’s story, then?” and Anita wonders why she is asking.

"He just seems to be a sweet bloke"

“No reason – he just seems like a sweet bloke,” she continues, but Anita takes issue with including the words ‘Howard’ and ‘sweet’ in the same sentence.

"Who's in charge of the free pints?"

Coincidentally he has just walked in and asks who is in charge of these free pints;

Anita goes to the bar to get him a lager

Anita will go to the bar and get him a lager.

"Hiya, Siwsi!"

Then Mark comes in and notices Siwsi, one of his neighbours in Maes-y-Deri; he asks how she is and she reports that she has started the new job.

"They're a good bunch"

He hopes that they are treating her well, commenting that they are a good bunch. He has come to see his mother upstairs.

Dani is going out

Back at Y Felin, Dani instructs Gwern to give Lleucu plenty of water and make her another sandwich. Now she is going out,

"You'll have to pick up Gabriel"

“So you will have to pick up Gabriel from Elinor at 6:30, OK?”

"There's plenty to drink here"

Lleucu smiles, “She thinks she’s clever, but there’s plenty to drink here,” as she gets to her feet to find some more alcohol. Gwern stresses that he does not want anything.

Lleucu protests that he deserves to celebrate, but again he tells her he does not want a drink;

"I don't think Dani knows I've finished the exams"

“I just honestly don’t think Dani knows I’ve finished my exams.”

"Dad would know . . . if I'd done them"

Lleucu regards that as terrible – that his own mother does not know; “Dad would know when any my exams were,” she insists, “If I’d done them.”

"You and Gabs deserve a lot better . . ."

She comes back to sit down and continues, “You and Gabs deserve a lot better than Dani as a mother, you know?

". . . you'd be better off without her"

“You’d be better off without her.”

"What sort of woman is Anita"

In Anita’s absence, Siwsi would like to ask Ieuan something; “What sort of woman is Anita? Earlier she asked me to sort the bulbs out and I did it exactly the way she asked. Then she said I’d done it wrong – is she the sort of woman who tries to sabotage other women?”

"You do know she's my wife, do you?"

Ieuan finds it difficult to answer and asks, “You do know she’s my wife, do you?”

"I'm terribly sorry!"

and Siwsi apologises profusely. He concedes that it is an easy mistake to make

"Everyone has a shock"

and everyone has a shock when they realise he is her husband.

"She's not a cruel woman . . ."

“But to answer your question, she’s not a cruel woman, right?

". . . but is going through a difficult time"

“She’s just going through a difficult time at the moment, so don’t take it personally.”

"Yes, Gabriel Thomas – I thought you should know"

Lleucu is sitting on the stairs at Y Felin, speaking on the phone; “Yes, Gabriel Thomas – I just thought you should know – yes, Maes-y-Deri.”

"I haven't played this for ages"

Gwern has just found a game that he has not played for ages; “I used to play loads with Dad,” he recalls.

"You were supposed to get a brush and dustpan"

Lleucu reprimands him that he was supposed to get a brush and dustpan from the garage, but he is eager to play the game – and presumably to take her mind off drinking.

"We must clear up before Iolo gets home"

She insists that they will have to clear up before Iolo gets home.

"You did it intentionally, didn't you?"

Ieuan goes to talk to Anita at the bar; “I wanted to ask you about that bulbs business earlier – you did it intentionally, didn’t you?” She denies this,

"I don't want her to take my place!"

but explains that she did not want Siwsi to take her place. She instructs him not to say a word to anyone.

"No-one asked me to look for tartan paint"

Meanwhile, Howard is chatting to Siwsi; “I’m grateful nobody asked me to look for tartan paint,” she tells him and he remembers the old one about a new bubble for the spirit level.

Howard goes to the bar

Howard is now ready for another drink, but unfortunately the kitty has run out, so he will have to pay from his own pocket.

"Any more hassle from the stalker?"

Dani comes in and Howard asks if she is all right; he wonders if she is still getting hassle from that stalker. “Not today, so that’s nice,” she answers.

"We're looking for a judge for a competition"

Anita comes across to advise that they are looking for a judge for the ‘making an animal out of fruit or vegetable’ competition.

"Why would I want to do that?"

Dani wonders why on earth she would want to do that and is told that the prize is in memory of Seren. “We thought it would be nice to do something to remember her.

"Isn't that a lovely idea?"

The winner will get a book token or something in Seren’s name – isn’t that a lovely idea?”

"You can't do that without asking me!"

“You can’t do that without asking me!” Dani protests, but Anita was under the impression that Kelly had spoken to her about it. “I don’t want Seren’s name anywhere near this pathetic carnival!” and Dani walks out,

Anita is rather upset by this . . .

which makes Anita rather upset,

. . . but Ieuan adopts his best calming measures

so Ieuan has to do his best to calm her down.

"Help me work out what's going on, Dan"

Now Dani is at home, apparently finishing off the rest of Lleucu’s vodka, while Mark urges her to stop. “Help me to work out what is going on,” he says.

Her phone sounds; Mark suspects that it is another one of the nasty messages,