Cwmderi Diary 2016: 14 November 2016

"Don't eat them all at once!"

Dai comes to number 9 to bring Sara some chocolates; when he leaves, Jason remarks that Dai is really excited,

"I was tempted to tell him"

and Sara admits she was tempted to tell him.

"I'm glad you didn't"

Jason is glad that she did not.

"Don't you want people to know?"

“Don’t you want people to know that I’m carrying a baby with Downs?” she asks, and Jason replies that they should tell people when they know for certain.

"We should try that"

He gets the letter and points to the section about Chorionic Villus Sampling, maintaining that they should try that.

Sara is not sure about this, as there is a risk of losing the baby, and she does not want to endanger the baby in any way.

"You didn't want a baby for years!"

“You didn’t want a baby for years – and now . . .” Jason begins, “You were always against having a normal baby!” Sara demands what is a ‘normal’ baby, and,

"This is a miracle"

as she cries, adds that this is a miracle and something to treasure.

"We're not the only ones grieving"

Eileen has been thinking over the weekend, and tells Jim that they are not the only ones grieving over Courtney – the whole of the village is too, which is shown by the flowers in the street, and the messages.

Jim does not look receptive to her suggestions

She suggests, “Maybe we should reconsider the funeral arrangements. A public service would give people the chance to say goodbye to her.”

"No!"

Jim is adamant, “No! If I make it public, it would open the door for Eifion to be there – and I don’t want him anywhere near the place!”

The wedding photos have arrived . . .

Tyler is looking at the wedding photos

. . . but Siôn does not get a chance to look at them

when Siôn visits; Iolo grabs the album and advises, “We’re not ready to celebrate yet – not in the circumstances.”

"I've got a job for you, up at Maes-y-Deri"

Siôn has a plumbing job for him, up at Maes-y-Deri, where a new radiator is to be fitted. Iolo says he will do it when he starts working again.

"I promised it would be done"

Siôn tells him that it is rather awkward, as he has agreed that it will be done, so Iolo proposes that he could do it himself, cash in hand.

"Yes, that's an idea! Why not?"

Siôn rather likes this idea.

"Jim has been so stubborn"

Colin meets Eileen by the chip shop, just as the coroner has informed her by phone that Courtney was indeed pregnant. She tells Colin, “Jim has been so stubborn about the funeral arrangements, and has banned Eifion from being there. The last thing I want is to make Eifion suffer even more, but what can I do?”

"I'll try to think of a way to help"

Colin agrees that she is in a difficult position, but will try to think of a way to help.

"You don't buy me chocolates!"

At APD, Diane complains that Dai never buys her chocolates,

"We ought to take a card to Eileen and Jim"

and considers that they ought to take a sympathy card to Eileen and Jim. Dai advises against this;

"Jim says they're having a private funeral"

“Jim says they want to be left alone, and they are having a private funeral.” Diane thinks this strange, but says it is more of a reason to take a sympathy card.

"I know you're angry with me"

Jason knows that Sara is angry with him, but insists, “I don’t want you to make a decision you regret. I’m concerned about where all this strength stems from, all of a sudden.”

"It's mother's instinct, Jason!"

Sara answers that it is a mother’s instinct, but he fears that it may be guilt; “For not having children until now – have you left it too late? You’re blaming yourself, so you’re rushing in without thinking about it.”

"I'm absolutely sure!"

She tells him, “Since I got the news, I’ve done nothing but think about it – I am absolutely sure, Jason! I’m not trying to make up for the past, or blaming myself – I know what I’m doing!”

Siôn drains the rather disreputable radiator

Siôn is draining the radiator at Maes-y-Deri

"Mam's been grumbling about it"

as Vicky says, “At least it will shut Mam up – she’s been grumbling about it since she moved back in.” Siôn agrees that it is terribly rusty,

"I hope you know what you're doing"

and assures Vicky that he knows what he is doing, following internet instructions on his tablet.

Ricky is smiling at Siôn,

A jet of black water catches Siôn

and when a jet of black water from the radiator hits Siôn in the face,

Nicky finds this quite amusing

he claps his hands in delight.

"I'm not as strong as you, Sara"

Jason apologises that he is not as strong as Sara,

"I'm frightened too"

but she reminds him, “I’m frightened too. We’d both be scared even it there were no problems!” Jason realises that he should be supportive and not selfish, but he is trying to hold on to a glimmer of hope.

"All right – I will have the test"

Sara decides, “OK, I will have the CVS test. If seeing it in black and white will help you come to terms with things, I’ll do it!”

"Would you do that for me?"

Jason seems surprised that she would do this for him, but she is determined; “I want us both to love this baby – and that’s what this is all about – love! I’m going to have this baby, whatever the result!”

Flowers in memory of Courtney

The number of floral tributes has now grown,

Jim reads some of the cards

and Jim reads some of the cards, while Colin says, “She was so popular – there’s so much grief all over Cwmderi. People just don’t understand.”

Standing up, Jim demands, “Are you trying to wangle your way into this funeral as well?

"No, she didn't send me!"

“Eileen sent you, didn’t she? She’d let every Tom, Dick and Harry poke their nose in!”

"What would be wrong with giving people a chance to say goodbye?"

Iolo has joined Colin, who asks, “What would be wrong in giving the people of Cwmderi a chance to say goodbye to Courtney?”

"I don't want the funeral to be hijacked"

Jim looks at Iolo and says, “I don’t understand you lads – you just got married and have your whole life ahead of you – Courtney will never get that opportunity.” As he breaks down in tears, he adds, “Try to understand – I don’t want the funeral to be hijacked, I don’t want a show – even Angela is not coming. It will just be a very simple service – the four of us –

He resumes looking at the tributes

“and I’d be grateful if you would respect my wishes.”

"Madame – one new radiator for you!"

Siôn announces, “Madame – one new radiator for you!” Vicky has been looking on his tablet and tells him that he can help her with another problem in the bathroom.

How to attach a toilet seat

“It says here, ‘how to attach a toilet seat correctly’. Mark bought a cheap suite, and I don’t think the seat is fitted right.

Graphic demonstration of 'The Jones Wobble'

“It slides around – we call it ‘The Jones Wobble’!”

Long spirals of cucumber emerge from the Spiralizer

When Tyler gets home, Iolo is preparing their meal, using the Spiralizer, one of their wedding presents, and tells Tyler, “Although the day was spoilt, there’s a lot we can look forward to, so we can celebrate that!”

"Does this mean you're going to start working again?"

Tyler deduces that this means he will go back to work again. Iolo is looking forward to them having some time together.

Siôn has successfully eliminated all signs of wobble

Siôn has made some alterations and demonstrates that the toilet seat is now quite secure, with no wobble at all.

"It's good to see you so enthusiastic!

Vicky is impressed to see someone so enthusiastic about their work.

Colin comes visiting

Iolo is demonstrating the Spiralizer to Tyler when Colin comes visiting; “I just dropped in to see you, like the old days!” he says,

He has a look at the wedding photos

looking at the wedding photos.

The sympathy card is delivered

Dai and Diane arrive at the shop flat and give Jim the sympathy card; Dai asks if the funeral will be strictly private, and Diane says, “It’s a good job we came then, to . . . it’s hard to know what to say!”

"Nothing can bring her back!"

“That’s the point – there is nothing that anyone can say!” responds Jim, “Nothing can bring her back! Words are no good to man or beast.

"You have no idea what we've been through"

“You Ashursts have no idea what we’ve been through – losing a young girl, before her life had really started!”

"You should be grateful for the years you had"

Dai advises he should be grateful for the years they had with her.

"If your scaffolding had been secure!"

“That’s nothing – and if your scaffolding had been secure, she might still be here!” Jim rages.

"Your responsibility – you were in the car!"

Dai loses his temper; “It was nothing to do with my scaffolding! He should point the finger at himself – he was in the car – it was his responsibility!”

"This is not appropriate"

Eileen has been attracted by the shouting; she maintains that it is not appropriate in the circumstances. Dai protests that Jim started it, by touching a nerve.