Cwmderi Diary 2016: November 2016

"Any scandals lately?"

In the café, Anita asks Kelly if there are any scandals she has heard about;

"What – in Cwmdeadly?"

“What – in Cwmdeadly?” she replies. Anita insists that it is not as bad as that – they have a wedding coming up shortly – that of Cadno and DJ. Kelly sarcastically remarks, “To contain our excitement, let’s go to the Deri later.”

"Just when I think it can't get any worse!"

Then she receives a text; “Just when I think it can’t get any worse!” she exclaims. It is from her mother, Amanda, Anita’s sister,

Anita is open-mouthed with excitement . . .

who wants them both to go on an all-expenses-paid holiday in Bali over Christmas. “The holiday sounds lush – but Mam is a serial liability, as you know,” says Kelly, “And where did she find the cash to splash out on us?”

. . . and tries to persuade Kelly

Anita suspects there is probably a ‘sugar daddy’ in the mix somewhere, but is sure that she and Kelly can have a nice time, as they deserve a break, and eventually

"I think I can slum it in Bali!"

Kelly agrees that she can manage to, “Slum it in Bali!”

Dani is trying to eat her breakfast at the same time

Britt bursts in on Dani, who is preparing to open the Deri; she wails, “I need to know that Chester is all right – you promised to get in touch with him!

She phones the prison . . .

Dani makes the call,

. . . while Britt waits with bated breath

and despite stressing that there are people here very concerned about him,

"He doesn't want to see anyone?"

she is told that Chester does not want to see anyone.

"There's nothing we can do, Britt!"

“I’m sure he’s being bullied!” Britt shouts, but Colin points out that there is nothing they can do. “Well, I’m determined to do something!” she announces, telling Dani,

"You'll have to cover my shift!"

“You’ll have to cover my shift – what would you do in my stuation?”

"You hardly knew her!"

Mathew arrives at Eifion’s house, ostensibly to offer his condolences about Courtney; “Well, you should start with her family,” answers Eifion, “You’re going to an awful lot of trouble, considering you hardly knew her. You only went out for a few days.”

"She was a nice girl, who will be missed"

Mathew says she was a nice girl, who will be missed; he will be staying for a couple of days, and offers to make Eifion a cup of tea.

Dani is rushed off her feet . . .

Dani is rushing around in the Deri, trying to run the place on her own; she tells Gaynor, “I’m like a Tasmanian Devil while Garry is saving the world and Britt has a day off!”

. . . and does not need a visit from Megan

Then to try her patience even further, Megan comes in and wants to talk to her; It’s going to take time to restore Bethania, and we can’t stage the Nativity play there this year.”

"It will be the same as every year"

Dani jokingly suggests that it will not matter, as it is the same every year.

“Except last year!” Megan corrects her, “But we don’t talk about that.

"Would it be possible to stage it here?"

“Would it be possible to stage it here?”

"I thought you were a woman of principle!"

At this point, Gaynor interrupts, recalling she has heard Megan preaching against such an idea in the past, and being under the impression that Megan was a woman of principle.

Dani thinks it might be financially favourable

“They won’t come here, will they?” begins Dani, but then rapidly changes her mind, as it might be good for business. “It would be good to do something for the village,” she says, and rushes off.

Anita picks up the post . . .

Anita and Kelly arrive home, and as Kelly goes on about her mother’s track record with men, Anita opens a letter which she picked up.

. . . and one letter concerns her

She looks concerned as she reads it, then puts it in a drawer.

"They want the wedding in the chapel"

Megan finds Ffion in the café; “Did you know that Cadno and DJ were getting married in the next month? They want the wedding in the chapel,” she says.

"Well, that won't happen!"

Ffion replies, “Well, that won’t happen – the insurance money still hasn’t paid out.

"How about the money that's already been raised?"

Megan suggests that the money already raised could be used to restore the building in time for the wedding.

As Dani continues her frantic pace,

"A pint please, Dani!"

Mathew comes to the bar and asks for, “A pint please, Dani!”

"Do I know you?"

She does not know him, but he explains, “I’m Mathew, and my uncle lives next door, and keeps me up to date with who’s who.

"Maybe we can get to know each other better"

“Maybe we can get to know each other better.” Dani informs him that she is married.

"Can't you see I'm busy, Colin?"

Over on the leather sofa, Britt is busy with her laptop; “What do you want, Colin?” she snaps, “Can’t you see I’m busy? I’m writing a letter of complaint to the prison authorities – not that it will help!

"It's not right that I can't see my own son"

“It’s not right that I can’t see my own son.”

Mathew makes himself useful

Eifion comes in for a pint, and sees that already Mathew is collecting up empty glasses and generally assisting Dani.

Gethin arrives, and is told that Mathew used to work behind a bar at Aberystwyth;

"What's going on, Dani?"

Britt wants to know what is going on, and Dani tells her,

"I don't have any other help!"

“Eifion’s nephew is helping out – as I don’t have any other help!”

Megan comes in once more, this time informing Dani that she has given up the idea of the Nativity play in the pub.

Nativity plays have unfortunate connotations for Britt

“We don’t want another one of them, after last year!” exclaims Britt.

"All the children's cute faces"

After Megan has gone, Dani admits, “I thought it would be good for business – and I was looking forward to seeing the children’s cute faces.”

Britt announces that she will not be back until she gets to see her son;

Dani appears to be getting fed up

“I’m going to phone the prison, and it that doesn’t work, I’ll contact my MP!” she threatens.

Colin tells his troubles to Gaynor

Colin has gone to see Gaynor, who has heard about Britt’s worry concerning Chester; “It’s way past worry now,” laments Colin, “It’s affecting our relationship.

"We'll split up before he gets out"

“At this rate, we’ll split up before he gets out, and I don’t know what to do.”

Gaynor asks if he has considered phoning the prison; “Yes, but Chester doesn’t like me!” answers Colin.

Gaynor explains her foolproof plan . . .

She suggests that, in that case, he has nothing to lose, and that he could impress Britt by showing that he is making an effort – and he will not have to visit as Chester would never agree to it.

. . . while Colin looks gormless

“She describes it as a ‘win-win’ situation.

Dani has ideas of starting a new tradition in the village, and Gethin comments, “We’re off to Dani-land again!”

"It's enough of a pantomime here already!"

Mathew asks what is the point, as there is enough of a pantomime going on already.

"That's it! Pantomime!"

“That’s it! We’ll do a pantomime!” shouts Dani. When she mentions this to Britt,

"You're off your head!"

the reply is that she is off her head, and Britt enquires who will look after the Deri while she is organising it.

Mathew reckons he could run the Deri

Mathew speaks up, “I could – I’m a safe pair of hands, and understand the job! The other staff are not as good as me!”

Kelly has been buying 'holiday togs'

Kelly has been out shopping for holiday togs and describes the sales as amazing; “You want to get your backside down there!” she urges Anita,

Anita's thoughts are elsewhere

who is not enthusiastic, and looks preoccupied.

"Yes, that's right, Chester Monk. Oh, I see!"

Colin phones the prison, but is told that Chester does not want a visit from anyone.

"You're a very special man, Colin Evans!"

Britt is very touched that Colin made the effort to help; “You’re a very special man, Colin Evans! I want you to know that I appreciate it – there are not many men as thoughtful as you!”

Britt is very grateful

She hugs him.

Dani says she is compiling a list for the pantomime,

They do not wish to be in the pantomime

but neither Ffion nor Gaynor want to take part. “What if I said that Siôn White is going to write it?” she demands,

"We'd think you were going doolally!'

and Ffion replies that they would think she was going doolally.

Dani makes a phone call, or at least pretends to, saying, “Yes, OK, Siôn – I’ll phone you!”

"Now I know you were kicked out of your welding apprenticeship"

Eifion is washing up when Mathew returns to the house; “I phoned your father – I’m glad I did. Now I know you were kicked out of your welding apprenticeship – no wonder you came to ‘sympathise’. You’ve lost your job and thrown away your future! There’s nothing in Cwmderi for you.”