Cwmderi Diary 2016: 27 May 2016

"Enjoy the rest of the party!"

Siôn rehearses his speech in front of the mirror; “Thanks for your support over the years – and enjoy the rest of the party!” Gwyneth is coming downstairs and applauds his performance.

"I'm quite nervous about today"

“I’m used to standing in the pulpit, but I’m quite nervous about today,” he admits, “I’m going to be the centre of attention – and Dylan is going to be there too!

"Do you think this is an omen?"

“It’s a shame the council changed their mind – I was looking forward to being among the Gorsedd Stones. Do you think that’s a sign, that it is not supposed to happen?”

Gwyneth reassures him that this is going to be his special day,

He dons his University of Wales tie

and then as he puts on his University of Wales tie, she asks,

"Am I good enough for you?"

“I am good enough for you, aren’t I? I’m just an ordinary woman from Ammanford, fond of bikes and tattoos – and you’re being accepted into the Gorsedd.”

Siôn stresses that he too is an ordinary bloke from the Rhondda, with faults, like the rest, “But I’m lucky to have you.” Gwyneth has to leave to help Iolo with the sound system,

"Welcome, friends!"

while Siôn embarks upon yet another rehearsal.

Hywel's case is packed

Hywel packs his case,

He looks at Sheryl's photo . . .

then looks at the photo of Sheryl in his wallet; he takes out his phone, lies back on the bed and leaves another message for her.

. . . and phones her

“I just wanted to know if you got my message about coming to see you. I’m leaving tonight – please get in touch.”

Colin is uncharacteristically excitable today

Colin is in an ebullient mood when he arrives at Britt’s flat. Chester has changed his mind, and will go to the party; “I should be there to see Siôn get what he deserves,” he says.

Britt wonders what Colin has had for breakfast, as he is so excited; “Muesli, banana, a few nuts – the same as usual!” he replies.

"If you're going to be this hyper – I'll walk!"

Chester warns him, “If you’re going to be this hyper in the car, I shall walk!” Britt welcomes the opportunity to move on, once and for all,

He has a quick gloat over the article

while Chester looks again at the newspaper article.

"Is this about Hywel?"

Mark finds Stacey crying, and surmises that this is about Hywel, but she insists, “It’s not that – my life is in tatters!

"I can hardly afford a bag of chips"

“This time last year, everything was fine, I could buy the clothes I wanted and eat at the best restaurants in London. Look at me now – I can hardly afford a bag of chips!”

Mark considers it is a good thing that Hywel is going away; “It will give you a chance to find your feet, and this time next year, you’ll have your own business in Swansea!

"Stacey always bounces back!"

“Stacey always bounces back!”

She had thought that she had lost everything for a reason, that she was meant to be with Hywel.

She imagines herself back with Hywel

“I could have children with him – imagine how happy Dad would have been, back here to bring up a family. Anyway, I’d better sort out my makeup – I’m picking up Hywel soon!” Mark offers to drive him instead, but she will not hear of it,

Mark administers a Cwtch

so he gives her a hug.

The photograph of Doctor Gwen

As Siôn takes his glasses case from the drawer, he sees the photo of his first wife, Gwen; he muses,

"I think I deserve it" – Pride goes before a fall

“Oh Gwen, only you know how long I’ve waited for this moment – you always said I deserved it. I think I deserve it too, with all the work I’ve done over the years.”

An impressive venue, but not as good as Llanalun Parc

At a rather imposing hotel, Iolo is testing the sound system;

"They'll hear him without it"

“What is the point? They will hear him without it,” he protests,

"Well, that's what your father wants"

but Gwyneth insists that this is what his father wants.

"I'm going to look a fool!"

Siôn is still fretting when he walks in; “We won’t need a mike if no more people turn up! I’m going to look a fool! Debbie was meant to be here fifteen minutes ago.”

"You contact Tudor Dylan"

Gwyneth will phone her, and instructs Siôn to contact Tudur Dylan.

"I hope Britt doesn't come!"

Siôn tells Iolo, “We’re the only members of the White family here – and Britt if she comes – actually I hope she doesn’t!”

"I'm proud of you, Dad!"

Iolo replies that he is very proud of his father, and hugs him.

“Try out the microphone,” suggests Iolo, “Just say what you had for breakfast!”

"Sausage!"

Siôn clearly enunciates the word, “Sausage!”

"Here's the post for CwmFM"

Hywel panics that he has forgotten something, and gives Stacey the post for CwmFM,

Whoops – spot the mistake

in the process putting down his passport.

"Can we call in at Siôn's party?"

“Can we call in at Siôn’s party on the way? I won’t stay long!”

Stacey asks him, “Is Sheryl meeting you at the other end? You have spoken to her?

"Does she even want you there at all?"

“Does she even want you there at all?” Hywel is adamant that he has to see her,

"I'm not coming back without her!"

and that he is not coming back without her. They hurry off.

As Beti, Llinos and John Post come in,

"Everything is going wrong!"

Siôn is becoming frantic; they have not been able to contact Debbie or Tudur Dylan. At that moment Debbie does arrive, very angry at not having been told of the change of venue;

Siôn is subjected to the ire of Debbie

“I’ve been to Llanalun Parc, and the hotel didn’t know you’d arranged your own buffet!

"Don't have a go at me, OK?"

So don’t have a go at me, OK?”

Colin, Britt and the children file in as Gwyneth tells Siôn she has prepared something in case Tudur Dylan does not turn up.

Good wishes from Hywel

Hywel comes in to wish Siôn well, but cannot stay.

"Got your passport, then?"

“Have you got your passport and everything?” jokes Siôn, and Hywel discovers the passport is missing, so he rushes out to retrieve it.

Gwyneth begins proceedings

Gwyneth mounts the podium and welcomes all those present; Britt mutters, “Here we go!” Gwyneth points out they are there to celebrate one man’s success, a man who will be known among the Gorsedd as Siôn o’r Cwm.

"What a boring name!"

“What a boring name!” comments Debbie. Then Britt stands up, wanting to say a word, and Debbie adds, “What’s her problem?” Britt ignores Siôn’s entreaties to sit down, and walks to the front.

"It's right that everyone knows the truth"

“We’ve not been getting on like a house on fire lately, but it’s right that everyone knows the truth,” she begins,

"Oh dear – this is where it all unravels!"

as Siôn winces in anticipation. However, Britt continues, “You deserve this celebration, and the blue robe – you’re no angel – I know that better than anyone, but you worked hard for the people of this area. Honestly, I wish you the best.”

Aaron is pleased with his mother's performance

She invites a round of applause for, “Siôn o’r Cwm!” while Siôn and Gwyneth look at each other in amazement and relief.

"How could I be so careless?"

Hywel jumps out of the car, wondering how he could have been so careless;

"Is this a sign you're not meant to go?"

“You don’t think this is a sign that you’re not meant to go?” enquires Stacey, but he runs off up the street. “Sheryl’s a lucky woman!” Stacey mutters.

Gwyneth heaps praise upon Siôn

Gwyneth is continuing her eulogy of Siôn,

The Chief Bard, carrying the refreshments

when the Chief Bard arrives, carrying two plates of vol-au-vents. Debbie jumps up, exclaiming,

"Tud, where have you been?"

“Tud, where have you been? I thought you were following us! A party’s not a party without vol-au-vents.”

Siôn is overawed by the presence of the big man

Siôn is overjoyed to see him; Debbie continues, “Thanks for your help Tuds – don’t forget to call at the café – your first coffee will be free!”

He cannot understand the lack of respect from Debbie

Siôn furiously comments to Iolo, “She called him ‘Tuds’ – he’s Chief Bard, and deserves some respect!”

Gwyneth welcomes Tudur Dylan Jones, and as he takes the rostrum,

Oh – look who has arrived

two uninvited visitors walk in – DS Davies and a uniformed PC.

The Chief Bard's address is interrupted

The guest speaker begins, “Siôn White – where do I begin? We’ve been good friends since our student days, and used to compete against each other in the Inter-collegiate Eisteddfod.”

Things are looking bad for you, Siôn

Suddenly Siôn finds himself confronted by the Detective Sergeant;

"We have the right to arrest you!"

“I’d like a word about money stolen from Bethania chapel,” she says, but Siôn protests it is nothing to do with him. “We have a right to question you, and if you refuse we have the right to arrest you!” she adds.

Britt looks at Colin, but he denies any knowledge of this;

Siôn is likely to be stripped of his title

the Chief Bard looks extremely disapproving,

How are the mighty fallen

as Siôn is humilatingly led away by the police.

"You've lost your marbles!"

Sitting next to Gwen in the front row, Gwyneth turns to Britt and snarls, “You’ve lost your marbles!” and everyone assumes that she has put this process into motion;