8 January 2026

Back from their Christmas holiday

A taxi pulls up outside the shop; Dani, Gabriel and Gwern are back from their Christmas holiday and have stopped to pick up supplies before heading to Maes-y-Deri.   

Dani suddenly . . . 

As Dani passes the alley, 

. . . comes face to face with Garry . . .

she is amazed to see Garry walking towards her.   

. . . so walks away

She does not say anything, but simply turns around and retraces her steps.

"Jules Davies, the leader of the chapel"

Megan and a stranger come round the corner by MFC;  they encounter Britt and she is introduced to, “Jules Davies, the leader of the chapel,” who greets her.

"Megan tells me you derived great comfort"

“Megan said you derived great comfort from the Christmas service,” he says and Britt agrees that it was a lovely service, but she had better get back to her chips.   

Britt is invited to the prayer meeting

Jules thrusts into her hand an invitation leaflet to the prayer meeting this afternoon, with Megan hoping that they will see her there.   

"I don't think I can make it"

However, Britt is not sure that she will be able to attend.

“Megan would love to see you there,” urges Jules, 

"I'll try to pop over"

so Britt agrees that she will try to pop over.

At Maes-y-Deri, Dani warns Gabriel that he is to behave or she will take away the iPad, 

Dani has news for Gwern 

then she faces Gwern with the news.   “Listen, I don’t want to spoil the end of the holiday after having such a nice time, 

"Your father is back"

but you need to know that . . . your father is back.”

"How did he manage to do that?"

Gwern cannot understand how he has managed to do that, 

"Well, I just saw him outside the shop"

but Dani confirms that she saw him outside the shop.   “He’s supposed to be in jail!” Gwern exclaims.   Dani will speak to Britt and find out what is going on, but after sorting out lunch, she is going to find Mark.

"This is an absolute joke!"

Gwern is far from pleased;  “This is an absolute joke!” he snarls, “It doesn’t make sense that he’s out already – where is he?   I want to know how he’s wangled his way out of jail this time.”

"Mark's the one who needs us now"

Danny tells him that is enough;  she was not expecting to see him either, but she stresses that Mark is the one who needs her now;  “That’s why we’re back – to be there for him.   We’ll deal with Garry another time.”

Eileen is dozing off by Sioned's bed

In the hospital, Eileen is sitting by Sioned’s bedside, while Matthew is talking to a member of staff.   Seeing that Eileen is falling asleep, Sioned suggests that they should swap places, 

maintaining that her mother looks worse than she does.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be more help last night"

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help last night,” Eileen groans, but she is told that there is no need for that, as it is not her fault.

“Siôn was fabulous, fair play,” says Sioned and her mother is pleased that at least he heard his phone ringing.

"It's bad flu, not pneumonia"

Matthew comes in with two coffees;  “I’ve just spoken to the consultant, who said that it’s bad flu, not pneumonia, 

"They want to do more tests"

“but they still want to do some tests and he’ll come to explain everything in a moment.

"I should have had that flu jab"

“I should have had that flu jab months ago – but with everything, I just forgot,” sighs Sioned.   

"This is a sign you need to slow down"

Mathew stresses that this is a sign she needs to slow down;  

"I hope I don't have to stay overnight"

she just hopes that she does not have to stay there overnight.

"I'll look after the twins in the flat"

Eileen is only too willing for the twins to stay at the flat with her and Siôn tonight, to give Sioned a chance to rest.   

"We can manage, Eileen"

Mathew is immediately against this idea, insisting that they will manage.   

"Sioned needs to recover properly"

However, Eileen insists, stressing that Sioned needs to recover properly;  

"Thanks, Mam"

Sioned is also in favour of this, but Mathew is not happy at all with the arrangement.

"I thought I heard you leave"

At Cysgod y Glyn, Eleri is surprised to find that Garry is still there;  she thought that she heard him leave earlier.   

"I went for a walk"

He explains that he went out for a walk, “But, as you can see, I’m back now.”

"Did you get and answer from your solicitor?"

She enquires whether he got an answer from his solicitor;  

"Not everyone has signed it"

“Yes, he thinks we’ve got quite a good case – if I get everyone on the Maes-y-Deri estate to sign it – most have already agreed – but not everyone.   

"I'm pretty good at getting what I want"

“I’m pretty good at getting what I want,” he boasts.

She wonders if he wants a coffee, while he asks whether she has mentioned this to her father yet.   

"I haven't spoken to Dad for weeks"

“I haven’t spoken to Dad for weeks.   Last I heard he was in Scotland researching the reservoir – I’m going to stay out of this because, to be honest with you, 

"This whole reservoir business bores me"

“this whole reservoir business bores me now.”

Dani loads the washing machine 

At Maes-y-Deri, Dani is loading the washing machine when she hears the front door open;  

"You've come back early"

Mark has arrived and comments that she has come back early.   

"I'm so sorry about Cheryl"

“Yeah, your mother phoned to say about Cheryl.   I’m so sorry, Mark.”

"I've come to collect a few things"

He is determined that he will not stay for a cup of tea, but has just come to collect a few things;  “I think I’m going to slowly move my stuff out of here.”

"You're moving out?"

She is surprised by this and he explains that this is where it happened;  

"We'll have to move out at some point"

“And we know we’ll have to move out at some point.”

"Siwsi says there's an appeal"

“No,” she objects, “Siwsi texted to say there’s an appeal against the CPOs.”  

"Yes – organised by Garry"

 She is informed that the appeal was organised by Garry, who is out of jail, 

"Why would he want to appeal?"

and wonders why he would want to appeal.

“He doesn’t want you to be homeless,” is Mark’s reply, “Look, I’m really sorry, Dan, but I’ve begged Mam not to sign the appeal.”

Gwern leaves the house

Then the door opens again, and Gwern is going out;  Dani wants to know if this appeal has any chance of working.   

"I don't know – and I don't care"

Mark answers that he does not know – neither does he care; “I want this house to disappear, one way or another!” 

Dani is very surprised by this

which she finds quite horrifying.

Britt is cleaning windows

Gwern marches along the High Street to MFC, where Britt is cleaning the windows;  

"Where is he, then?"

“Where is he, then?” he demands and Britt is quick to point out that Garry is not staying with them.

"Go and talk to him at Cysgod y Glyn"

She directs him to Cysgod y Glyn, urging, “Go and talk to him and he might explain everything to you.”   

"We're about to start, Britt"

Then she is reminded from across the road that the prayer meeting is about to start.

Britt turns back to Gwern;  

"He's a Monk, so give him a chance"

“Listen, Gwern, I wasn’t impressed that he’s back either – but he’s family, he’s a Monk, so give him a chance, all right?   I’ll come over to see you later.”

"Ask her yourself!"

As Cai comes out of the pharmacy, he is surprised to see Gwern and asks him how Dani is;  “Ask her yourself!” is the brusque reply.

Garry is ready for the onslaught

The buzzer sounds 

Gwern comes in

and Garry admits Gwern, 

"I'm not doing small talk"

who starts by saying, “No, I’m not doing this with you – small talk.”   

"I can explain"

Garry says that he can explain;  “Oh yeah, I’m sure you can – 

"You can always explain everything"

“you can always explain everything, can’t you?   Twisting things to suit yourself.   I don’t want to hear it!”

Garry wonders why he is there, in that case.   

"To tell you to stay away"

“To tell you to stay away – Dani and I don’t need you – you’ve hurt her enough.”   

"You don't need to worry about Dani"

He is assured that he does not need to worry about Dani and Garry;  

"We always understand each other in the end"

“We always understand each other in the end – just like Britt and me – 

"Hopefully, you and me"

“and, hopefully, you and me.”

"You'\re so arrogant!"

“You’re so arrogant, aren’t you?” sneers Gwern, “You think you can always get what you want.   If things don’t go your way straightaway, you threaten – with a knife, like when we were in that warehouse and you wanted to talk to me.   And you didn’t care that you were scaring Lleucu – as long as you got what you wanted.”

`'I don't think either of us got what we wanted"

“I don’t think either of us got what we wanted that day,” Garry answers, pointing out that he is still Gwern’s father.

"Father?   No way!"

“Father?   No way!” shouts Gwern, “You can’t call yourself such a thing – a half decent father would have checked how I was after Seren died.”

"I'm here for you now"

Garry is sorry about that but stresses that he is there for Gwern now;  “No, it’s too late!   Stay away from us, all right?”   

Gwern walks out

He walks out of the flat, leaving Garry to digest these home truths.

"For ever and ever, amen"

The prayer meeting draws to a close with the words from the leader, “For ever and ever, amen.”   He thanks them for coming there today, advising that there are some cups of tea available now.   

"That was brilliant"

Britt describes the meeting as brilliant, with Megan wondering whether this means she will come again.

"Or you could join the chapel"

“Or, of course, you could join the chapel,” Jules suggests, 

"It's a bit of a commitment"

but Britt does not think so, explaining that with MFC and the family it is a bit of a commitment.   He continues, “The chapel is a break from those noisy things in life – as was mentioned in psalms today, ‘The Lord guides us through deep waters.’   

"Have you ever been at peace, Britt?"

““Have you ever been at peace, Britt?”

"Well, when I go wild swimming"

After a moment’s thought, she replies, “Well, I feel at peace when I go wild swimming – does that count?   That might be enough for me – perhaps I don’t need the chapel, sorry.”

"We're going to a retreat before long"

Jules suggests that they might be room for both;  “Look, Bethania and a couple of local chapels are going to a retreat before long – 

"Nothing quite as adventurous"

“nothing quite as adventurous as wild swimming, but we hold yoga sessions and cookery sessions and so on.   A nice opportunity to socialise and make new friends – think about it.”

"I thought you'd be at Penrhewl"

Eileen returns to the shop flat and is surprised to see Siôn there,  assuming that he would be at Penrhewl.   

"Mathew took over . . ."

He grumbles, “Mathew took over.”   

". . . he said he was going to see Sioned . . ."

Then he is informed that Mathew said he was going to the hospital to see Sioned.

". . . he certainly didn't want my help"

“Have the twins gone with him?   He certainly didn’t want my help,” Siôn goes on.   

"It's because the twins' seats are in their car"

Eileen presumes that it is because the twins’ seats are in their car and he will bring them over there on the way home.   As far as Eileen is concerned, the children are coming there tonight, but Siôn imagines that Matthew will not be happy about that.

"I'm worried that he's being cold with me"

“I’m worried that he’s being cold with me – as if there’s some kind of problem,” 

"He'll be fine when Sioned comes home"

but Eileen puts it all down to him being worried about Sioned, predicting that he will be fine when she comes home, 

He has doubts about that 

but Siôn is doubtful about that.

Jac and Lili come to see Mami

Jac and Lili are wheeled in to see their mother, 

Jac looks quite happy

who thought that Siôn was baby-sitting and that her mother had gone to the flat to wait for them.   

"They should stay with us"

Mathew is adamant that Jac and Lili should stay with them to settle properly and that there is no need to trouble Eileen and Siôn.

"I can come hime tonight"

The doctor has said that the tests are fine;  “She’s gone to get my medicine and I can come home with you tonight,” says Sioned, 

"I could do with a good night's sleep"

“Listen, I could do with a good night’s sleep to try and recover properly.   You haven’t been sleeping properly either – it would be best to make the most of the opportunity.   

"Would you ming taking them to the shop flat?"

“Would you mind taking them to the flat after taking me home, please?”  

He is not happy about it

He very reluctantly agrees to her request.

Britt has her wetsuit . . . 

Britt has found her wetsuit 

. . . and dials Iolo's number

and phones Iolo, leaving the message, “Britt here – give me a ring when you get a chance, will you?   

"I fancy a swim"

“I fancy a swim.”   

She looks at the leaflets

Then she looks at the leaflets which were handed to her.

Mark has a phone call . . .

Mark is looking at some paperwork when his phone sounds;  

. . . which he does not answer

it indicates that he has two missed calls from Garry.   

Dani arrives and is asked to choose

Dani comes in and he asks her which picture of Cheryl she likes best.   

"I've decided to organise a vigil for Cheryl"

“I’ve decided to organise a vigil for her.”   It is difficult to choose, so Dani asks which one he prefers;  

"This one – with a sparkle in her eyes"

he decides on one with a sparkle in Cheryl’s eyes.

"I'm here for you through all this . . ."

Dani sighs, “Life isn’t giving us much of a rest, is it?   I meant what I said earlier, Mark – I’m here for you through all of this, like you were there for me.   

". . . but I can't if I don't have a home"

“But I can’t do that if I don’t have a home for the children.”

"You've got number 7"

Mark reminds her that she has number 7, 

"I can't kick Anita out!"

but she stresses that she cannot kick Anita out, with everything she is going through.

"Just knowing that Cheryl suffered in there . . ."

“Just knowing that Cheryl suffered in there . . .” he begins and Dani insists that she is not just saying that because she is scared of losing her home, but because she thinks it is what is best for Mark.

"Don't let Tom take that from you as well"

“Maes-y-Deri is your home, your history.   Don’t let a monster like Tom take that from you as well.”

"Sioned went straight to bed"

Mathew has followed instructions and taken the twins to the shop flat;  he reports that Sioned got her medicine and went straight to bed when she got home.   

"Do you want a cup of tea?"

He gives the bag to Eileen, but refuses a cup of tea.

"I'll take Jac"

When Siôn offers to take Jac, 

Mathew insists on putting him in the pram

Mathew puts him straight in the pram with Lili.   Eileen can now see what Siôn was talking about.   

"I'll be over first thing in the morning"

Mathew promises to be over first thing in the morning to pick them up, 

Then he is eager to leave

and is eager to get away from Siôn.

"See what I mean?"

“See what I mean?” asks Siôn, “I don’t know what I’ve done?”   

"I don't know either"

Neither does Eileen.   Meanwhile, Jac is becoming very vocal.

Garry looks at an old photo

Garry sits, looking at a photo of Dani and Seren when Eleri comes in;  

"You look as if you've had a worse day than me"

“You look as if you’ve had a worse day than me,” she remarks, “Dad’s been on the phone to me, ranting.   He wants me to find out who’s funding the appeal against the CPO – he’s very angry.”

"I thought it was boring you"

“I thought this reservoir business was boring you,” Garry reminds her.

"I enjoy it when Dad is angry"

“It does, but do I enjoy it when Dad is angry.   

Garry learns that everyone has signed

“He said that everyone has signed and agreed to the appeal – everyone – even Kath Jones – haven’t you heard?   

"Quantum Hydro Works are in a pickle!"

“Dad – and Quantum Hydro Works are in a pickle, I would say.”

"I'll get another bottle to celebrate, then"

“I’ll go and get another bottle to celebrate, then,” smiles Garry, picking up his jacket.

Cai catches sight of Dani . . .

Cai is walking past the pillar box 

. . . who has come out of the Deri

when he sees Dani and calls to her;  “How was Spain?” he asks, 

"Don't you ant to talk to me?"

“I texted you but you haven’t replied – don’t you want to talk to me?”

"There's been a lot going on"

She reminds him that there has been a lot going on and he suggests going for a walk.   However, she points out that it is freezing;  

"A chance to acclimatise"

he describes that as a chance to acclimatise.

“Look, can we meet some other time?   I’ve had a long day,” she says.   

Cai glances along the street . . .

Cai looks along the street and can see Garry, 

. . . where Garry is looking back at him

standing in the alley, looking back at him.