Cwmderi Diary 2016: 27 July 2016

"Aaron, what have you done with the milk?"

Britt complains to Aaron that he has used up all the milk, as there is hardly enough for a cup of tea;

He knows nothing about it

he looks puzzled.

"You ate a lot of chicken!"

When Colin arrives, Britt accuses him of eating a lot of the chicken in the fridge, but he does not know what she is talking about.

"I've still not had a text from Chester!"

“I’ve still not had a text from Chester,” she whines, but Colin tells her at least she knows he is all right.

"Why don't we make up for being apart last night?"

“When we’ve taken the children to Elinor, why don’t we come back here – to make up for being apart last night?” suggests Colin, “It might do you some good!”

"Think a session in bed will sort out my problems?"

Britt is offended; “Do you really think a session in bed will sort out all my problems? Think a lot of yourself, don’t you?”

Diane is working at home

Diane is working from home when Jim calls for Dai, still angry at wasting all that time on the quote for Mark.

"It's far too expensive for them!"

Diane chides them, “It’s your own fault, raising their hopes like that – it’s far too expensive for them!”

"How about a cheaper plan?"

Jim considers that they should come up with a cheaper plan; “A loft conversion, perhaps, so they would have more room!” and Dai thinks he may have a point.

"I didn't mean anything"

As Colin apologises for intimating he could solve Britt’s problems,

Britt finds conclusive evidence

she finds unexplained crisp packets and a Youth Hostel bill for three nights. Realising what this means, she rapturously hugs Colin;

"Chester has been here!"

“You didn’t steal the chicken! Chester has been here!” she shouts, and runs downstairs.

"Drove a tractor over the girl he wants to marry?"

In the café, Debbie remarks scathingly about DJ; “Drove a tractor over the girl he wants to marry?”

"We're angry with Mark – and APD!"

Then Dol and Vicky come in, still angry with Mark and APD for the extension disappointment. Vicky feels so sorry for Ricky that she suggests she ought to move out, so he can have his room back. “And how are you going to afford that?” Debbie demands.

"We have a much better solution!"

Dai and Jim arrive at Maes-y-Deri with their latest proposal, apologising for their irresponsible behaviour and instead positing a more reasonable solution.

"You should be door-to-door salesmen!"

“You should be door-to-door salesmen!” replies Mark, “If you’ve come to get money out of me, I don’t have any!”

"Go up, instead of out!"

Jim insists that this is a more realistic plan; “Go up, instead of out!” he says, “Make the most of what you already have! Loft conversion!”

Mark concedes that they have a big attic, and Dai visualises a room ideal for a boy preparing for exams, “And then he can take his girlfriend up there!”

“If you can come up with a reasonable price, I might be interested – but no promises!” Mark tells them.

"The attic's upstairs, isn't it?"

Dai instructs Jim to get out his tape measure, and enquires, “The attic’s upstairs, isn’t it?” as they go up.

Sara wrestles with the computer

Sara is struggling irritably with the computer at Awyr Iach

Dol is the official spokesperson

when Dol announces that she has been appointed ‘staff speaker’, and demands that they have a coffee machine.

"Do you know how much that costs?"

“Do you know how much they cost?” objects Sara, “There’s a kettle over there!”

"You might not have a face like a slapped . . ."

Dol rather undiplomatically replies, “It’s about time Jason came home, then you might not have a face like a slapped . . .” Vicky interrupts her, to save any further embarrassment.

Colin takes some time to explain why he is there

Colin visits Llwyncelyn, and after quite a bit of beating around the bush, asks for Gaynor’s opinion.

"We understood each other, didn't we?"

“I’ve been thinking about the past – when we were together – we understood each other, didn’t we? Initially, anyway.” he begins, “We had a lot of fun, didn’t we?”

“On a more serious note, we still satisfied each other – um, in bed –

"Did I satisfy you in bed?"

“did I satisfy you in bed?” he enquires.

"You and Britt having problems?"

Gaynor diagnoses that things may be not be good between him and Britt; he agrees that he does not seem to satisfy her as much as he thought.

Gaynor is lost for words

Gaynor does not know quite what to say.

Britt arrives home with another four-pint bottle of Welsh milk, which she puts in the fridge,

Some cash to help out Chester

then leaves several banknotes prominently on the worktop, under a container, and smiles.

Dai continues the APD hard-sell

At Maes-y-Deri, Dai tells Mark, “There’s plenty of headroom, and you’ve got the space. It’s a bit tight round the stairs, but possible within Building Regs.”

Jim makes some calculations . . .

Jim deploys his calculator,

. . . and seeks Dai's agreement

and after checking the figures, Dai passes it over to Mark.

“How’s that look?” he asks, and stresses, “It includes, stairs, studs, materials, labour, plumbing and plastering!”

"They're not trying to fleece you again?"

At this point, Debbie walks in and is disgusted to find that they are again trying to fleece Mark. Jim advises that they are about to reach an agreement,

"I accept your offer!"

and Mark says he accepts their offer.

"I want to hang on to these drawings"

He wants to keep the sketches which Jim has drawn up to show Ricky; after advising they can start on Monday, Dai and Jim leave, rubbing their hands in anticipation.

"You haven't got the cash to throw around"

“Since when have you got cash to throw around?” rages Debbie, at which Mark emphasises that they are not getting a penny out of him, as he is going to do it himself. She cannot believe what he is saying.

Here comes Chester again . . .

Chester comes back into the chippy flat,

. . . and fortifies himself with more good Welsh milk

and takes a swig from the new bottle of milk, then sees the money left out for him.

He almost takes the money . . .

He picks it up, but after careful thought,

. . . but then replaces it

replaces it and goes to his bedroom.

"Remember when Lois went missing?"

Gaynor tries to reassure Colin that Britt has a lot on her mind; “Remember when Lois was missing? The last thing I’d want would be to go to bed, even if George Clooney walked through the door!”

"As usual, you're right"

“I was worried she was going off me,” he complains, “But as usual, you’re right. I was panicking –

"I kept you happy for years!"

“I mean, I kept you happy for years!” She replies that she always knew what to expect;

"Yes, you were very . . . reliable"

Colin was very reliable. “What do you mean – reliable?” he asks, suspiciously,

"Do you mean boring?"

“Boring? Is that what you’re saying?”

"He's been here again!"

On her return, Britt is reassured to find the milk is out of the fridge, but surprised that the money is still there –

Whoops – he has left his keys there

and then she notices Chester’s keys.

Then he appears

He comes out of the bedroom and is ready to make a run for it,

"I just want to know you're all right"

but she says, “I just want to talk to you, to see you and know you’re all right.”

She is concerned to see his injury, incurred when he was mugged, and asks, “Megan’s money is gone, is it? Come here!”

His mother hugs him

He sheepishly does so, and Britt hugs him.

Sara gets home and Dol follows her into the house, apologising for being rather harsh;

"I was taking it out on you"

“Perhaps I deserve it – I miss Jason, and I was taking it out on you,” Sara replies.

"You're pregnant!"

Dol has been nosing through her shopping bag, takes out a box and comments, “It makes sense now – you’re pregnant!” Sara explains that the box contains an ovulation kit,

"All right then – you want to be pregnant!"

and Dol deduces, “You want to be pregnant! I remember that feeling – I didn’t expect it, but I was chuffed to bits when I knew Debs was on the way!”

This long period without Jason has made Sara think she is now ready to have a family,

"Please don't tell anyone!"

but swears Dol to secrecy, as Diane would make her life hell if she found out. “I’ll keep it under my hat – on one condition,” says Dol.

Sara realises what she is getting at; “I know, that you get a coffee machine – that’s why you came here! I’ll see what I can do, OK?”

"I've really messed up, Mam!"

Chester reveals that he stayed in hostels when he had some money; “I’ve really messed up, Mam. I’ve let you down. I can’t carry on like this, can I? Can’t run away for ever.

"I'm going to give myself up!"

“I’m going to give myself up!”

"You have no idea how to do this!"

As Debbie looks at the drawings for this loft conversion, she reminds Mark that he has no idea how to do this.

"Everyone has to start somewhere"

“Everyone has to start somewhere,” he replies, “Ricky is starting A-levels before long, and needs peace and quiet. I can’t afford APD, so I’m doing it myself – if we all chip in we can make a good job of it!”

Vicky comes in, asking if she can still have lunch there after she has moved out.

"We're doing it, not APD!"

“You’re not going anywhere, Vic,” Mark assures her, and Debbie tells her that they will be doing it, not APD. “I’m project manager, so I have the last word!” stipulates Mark.