Cwmderi Diary 2016: 5 October 2016

Western Post headline

Ed is looking at the Western Post article headed ‘Cwmderi Attacker still not found’ when Sioned comes in and asks if he wasnt some breakfast.

Ed has lost his appetite

“Toast, egg on toast, bagels?” she says, but he does not fancy anything.

"I want this photo put up!"

Then she orders, “I want this wedding photo put up today – I thought things were sorted.”

Britt is under some pressure

Britt is flustered, as Aaron is ill and Madge has not turned up; Tyler asks if she would consider Colin living with her in the flat.

"We wnat out own home, just the two of us"

“We’re about to get married, and want our own home, just the two of us.”

"I must think about that"

This takes Britt by surprise, and she cannot make any quick decision, but must think about it and consult the children.

Hard graft at Awyr Iach

Dol and Vicky are looking at photos on a mobile, when Diane comes in and orders Dol to answer the phone, which is ringing.

"Do I have to do everything?"

“Do I have to do everything?” she rages, “I’m trying to run a business here! I don’t want to see you using a mobile phone during working hours –

She issues strict instructions

“you’re here to work, not mess around!”

"Happy birthday, Dol!"

Jason comes in with a birthday cake for Dol, which makes her go all emotional, and she kisses him.

"I take it Awyr Iach bought that cake?"

“I take it that Awyr Iach bought that cake?” Diane complains, “They’re taking advantage of you, slacking instead of working – and you buy a cake!”

"A happy worker is a productive worker"

Jason argues that a happy worker is a more productive worker, and that he knows what he is doing.

"Are you listening to me, Ed?"

Sioned returns to find Ed still sitting at the table; “I want that photo up today – by the time I come back – are you listening? I’ve been asking for days, and it’s still not done!”

She is somewhat taken aback . . .

In a foul temper, Ed jumps up and shouts, “Right, I’ll do it now right in front of you! Where do you want it, here, or over there?

. . . when he flies into a rage

“I’ve had enough of you going on about the blinking photo! No-one wants to see it anyway!

"Just go, will you?"

“Just go, will you?”

"Won't it be nice, being on our own?"

At number 7, Tyler is looking forward to them having the house to themselves, but Iolo points out a snag; “You’re forgetting something – what if Colin doesn’t want to?”

Colin hears some unwelcome news

Colin overhears and asks what they are talking about. “We’ve been thinking about you and us – and somewhere for you to live.” Colin protests that he has somewhere to live.

"We live here too"

Tyler takes over; “We live here too, and we’re getting married soon!”

"So you're throwing me out?"

Colin realises that they want to throw him out of the house, without discussing it with him first.

“When were you going to tell me?” he demands, “Or would I come home to find my stuff in the street and the locks changed?”

"We've talked to Britt"

Iolo replies that they have asked Britt to let him move in with her.

"What if I don't want to move?"

“What if I don’t want to move?” asks Colin, and Iolo explains that she will be talking to the children about it tonight.

“And if they say no, I’ll be out in the gutter then – thanks a lot, boys!” says Colin. mournfully.

"You're supposed to be relaxing"

Diane sees Sara in the street and admonishes her for not taking it easy at home, but Sara argues that she needed some fresh air. Diane moans at length,

"Jason is too soft on them"

“It’s Jason – he’s too soft on them – they treat him like a fool, and that Dol is a bad influence on Vicky!”

"I'll go and have a word"

Sara says that she will go and speak to them, but is told that she should go and rest; “I shall sort it out!” resolves Diane.

At least, the photo is now on the wall

In the shop flat, Sioned is pleased to see that, although Ed is not there, the photo is at last on the wall, but then she sees on the table the Western Post article

Gwyneth's CnocCnoc page

and Gwyneth’s CnocCnoc page on the laptop;

Sioned comes to the dreadful realisation . . .

she comes to a conclusion, and when Ed comes in,

"You attacked Gwyneth!"

she turns to him and says, “You attacked Gwyneth, didn’t you?”

"It was an accident"

“It was an accident,” Ed replies, and Sioned remarks that is what he said about Dewi. He tries to justify himself;

"I was so angry!"

“I panicked – I tried to stop myself, but I couldn’t, and it just happened. I was so angry!”

"Gwern could have lost his mother!"

Sioned snarls, “Gwern could have lost his mother, but you don’t give a damn, do you? Like when you hit Dewi and killed him.” He argues that did not want to hurt her, so Sioned demands,

"Who did you want to hurt?"

“Who did you want to hurt?” He maintains he wanted to punish himself, and she agrees that he deserves to be punished.

"I'm sorry, Colin"

Colin accepts the news, commenting, “There’s nothing to be sorry about – it was bound to happen, wasn’t it?

"Who wants a middle-aged man living with them?"

“Who wants a middle-aged man living with them? It will be a bit odd, mind – this is my home and I’m used to the old place – I know where everything is.

"Time for Colin to grow up a bit"

“Maybe it’s time for a change – for Colin to grow up a bit.” Iolo hugs him.

Britt comes in the back door of the chippy and sets Aaron and Catrin to work, cleaning the windows.

Britt is employing child labour

Colin calls in and is told that Aaron is supposed to be ill, and Catrin is home as the heating at Ysgol y Mynach has broken down.

"I know the boys have talked to you"

“I wanted a word, to be honest, begins Colin, “I know the boys have talked to you about me moving in.”

"I'll see you later about it, Col"

Britt tells him she has not had time to think about it, and she will see him later.

Colin sees homelessness staring him in the face

He leaves, looking anxious.

Britt asks for the children's reaction

Britt turns to the children and enquires, “You like Colin, don’t you? How would you like it if . . . um . . . I asked him to come and live with us?”

Aaron is keen on this, saying that Colin is funny,

"You always do what you want!"

but Catrin has reservations; “Do what you want – you usually do, anyway!” she scowls.

"Remember that time, Phyl, when we had to hide in the toilets?"

At Awyr Iach, Dol is still scoffing cake, and chatting at length to her friend Phyllis from Ponty.

"I can hear you cackling out the back!"

Diane struts in and shouts, “I can hear you cackling out the back!”

"It's my old friend Phyllis, who is ill"

When Dol explains that it is her dear old friend, who is ill, Diane suggests,

"You should go and see her – and stay there!"

“You should go to see her – you could stay there then! Right, I’ve decided we are going to change a couple of things – we will have a tea and coffee rota, and from now on, taking advantage of Jason will stop! Now I’m taking the post –

"No contravention of the rules!"

“remember no personal calls and no mobiles while I’m gone!” As soon as Diane is out of the door, Dol resumes her chat with Phyllis.

Britt is concerned that Catrin thinks she does not consult the children first.

"If you did, you'd still be with Siôn!"

“If you did, you’d still be with Siôn!” Catrin informs her, rather pointedly, “I want us all to be a family again – can’t you give him another chance?”

"People fall out of love"

Britt tries to explain that people grow apart and fall out of love; that she and Siôn have gone their separate ways and moved on. She maintains that Colin is a decent bloke, but is told, “He’s not Siôn, is he?” Britt assures Catrin that Colin will not take the place of Siôn, and that he will not move in unless she is happy about it.

"Well, you don't shout at us so much"

“He makes you laugh – and you don’t shout at us as often as you used to,” concedes Catrin, “If he comes to live with us, he won’t leave like Siôn did, will he?”

But she does not look 100% convinced

Britt confirms that her children will always come first.

Ed is in desperate straits . . .

Ed sits on the sofa, looking desperate; he begs Sioned, I’ll do anything – please help me!”

. . . but Sioned does not seem terribly interested

but she stands, looking at him in her usual deprecating way.

Jason comes in with the 'workers'

In the Deri, Colin is looking in the accommodation section of the Western Post; Sara asks if he is moving, and he replies that it appears that way. Jason comes in with Dol and Vicky, and buys them a drink from Dan behind the bar.

"I saw Diane at lunchtime"

Sara tells him, “I saw Diane at lunchtime, and she said things are not as they should be.”

Jason knows what is coming next;

"And I know exactly what she said!"

“Yeah, she says Dol and Vicky are taking advantage of me, I’m a fool and they’re walking all over me! And now I’ve let them finish work early – that won’t help, will it?

"Shes a dragon!"

Sara asks where Diane is, Dol replies ascerbically, “I don’t give a damn! I know she’s your Mam and all, but we’re not happy working for her – she’s a dragon!” Nevertheless, they all wish Dol a happy birthday.

Colin looks very envious of their celebration

Colin sits, watching them; when Britt comes in,

"I don't want to hear the excuses"

he tells her, “If you’re here with some excuse, I don’t want to know. I feel pathetic enough as it is. Obviously nobody wants to live with me!”

"You must consider the children"

“I thought you were going to say you didn’t want to live with us,” she says. He admits that he would love to, but understands she must consider the children.

"If it feels right, then it is right!"

“But Colin, I’m not saying no!” she emphasises, “If someone said that you, Colin Evans, would show up and save my life, I never would have believed them! Some things don’t work out as you expect, but if it feels right, it is right!”

. . . and his whole demeanour changes

Colin feels much better after hearing this. Britt informs him that Aaron is thrilled, Catrin is happy and Chester cannot wait to hear more of Colin’s bad jokes.