Cwmderi Diary 2018: 12 January 2018

"You're very quiet, Ricky"

Walking along the street, Kath tells Ricky that he is very quiet; she immediately sees through his explanation that he is thinking about universities. She wonders what Dyff would have made of it;

"Having a solicitor in the family!"

“Having a solicitor in the family! I’m proud of you. You’re a hard worker.

"What else is bothering you?"

“But come on then – what else is bothering you?

"I've got a special radar"

“You can’t fool me – I’ve got a special radar.”

He admits that he is worried about his father;

"Dad's cancelled the operation!"

“I think we’re too late – Dad’s cancelled the operation!”

Kath immediately heads back to Maes-y-Deri

Kath is very concerned about this, and is adamant that she is returning to Maes-y-Deri, with Ricky running behind her.

The party preparations are in full swing

In the Deri, Garry maintains that there is nothing like a party to cheer people up; Britt does not share his enthusiasm.

Mathew has produced a banner

Mathew has made a banner, ‘Welcome to the world, Carol!’ which he is hanging above the bar;

He wants to make the party a success

he says that he wants to make sure the party is a success.

Garry apologises to Britt for yesterday,

"Mathew is making more of an effort than some people!"

and then comments, “Mathew is making more of an effort than some members of Carol’s own family!”

Mark has a rude awakening

Kath and Ricky arrive home, and she goes to wake Mark, who is dozing on the sofa. He is not pleased to be woken,

"Have you phoned to cancel the operation?"

but his mother demands, “Have you phoned the hospital to cancel the operation?” He replies that it is his business, but she insists that it affects all of them.

"I've only postponed it"

He points out that he has only postponed it, so that Non can finish her course.

“How can you be so stupid? Phone now and say it was a mistake!” Kath shouts,

"The hospital is phoning me today"

but he tells her the hospital is phoning him today to inform him one way or the other, and that Non does not know anything about this. “Well, Ricky knows, and he’s worried sick – just like me!” Kath roars.

When he says that he is only putting off the operation for a few months, she yells, “A few months?

"You might not be here in a few months!"

“You might not be here in a few months! I have to be blunt with you – to knock some sense into that head!”

Ricky listens in to the proceedings

Ricky, who had been told to go to his room, is listening at the foot of the stairs.

DJ and Dai have a crafty drink

DJ and Dai are watching the television, and drinking cans of lager;

"It tastes nicer if you're not supposed to have it!"

DJ remarks, “This tastes even better when you’re not supposed to have it! I’d love to see your face, if Diane caught you drinking beer here!”

"Diane doesn't frighten me!"

Dai answers that Diane does not frighten him.

When DJ receives a text from Sara,

"Everyone has a right to finish early on a Friday"

Dai emphasises that everyone has a right to finish early on a Friday.

"Have you got any mints?"

However, DJ is worried, and asks if Dai has any mints. “Who would have thought that you were afraid of Sara?” Dai mocks him.

Is that a replacement parking patrol officer?

Britt is becoming frustrated, as Catrin is on the phone, trying to avoid going to the party.

Gethin checks that no-one is watching

Gethin emerges from the alley and creeps into the salon;

"You're too late for a haircut"

Sheryl tells him he is too late for a haircut.

A haircut is the last thing on Gethin's mind

He pulls down the blind and tells her that he has been thinking. Sheryl is closing early because she and Hywel are taking Esther to the party.

"Pretending to play happy families?"

“Is this how it is going to be – pretending to play happy families?” he goes on, “I’ve been thinking about it – this is something between you and me –

"Nobody has to get hurt"

“nobody has to find out, and nobody has to get hurt.” She does not want to talk about this any more.

"You said we should live for the moment"

“You said that we should live for the moment,” he reminds her, and kisses her.

The lager appears to have cheered them up

Dai and DJ walk along the street, in quite a jovial humour, and bump into Britt, as she leaves the shop.

"Nefi wen – look where you're going!"

“Nefi wen, Britt – look where you’re going!” Dai moans,

The unmistakeable aroma of alcohol

and she can quite clearly detect the smell of alcohol.

The party has begun

In the Deri, the party has begun, with Nicky and Gwern drawing pictures;

The youth section of the party

Sheryl leaves Esther with Gwyneth and goes to get some drinks.

Hywel is celebrating

By the bar Hywel is celebrating their engagement, and also wishes every happiness to Gethin and Ffion.

"I'm on a Dry January, Colin"

Dai is making a great show of drinking coffee, and explains to Colin that he is on a Dry January;

"Not trying to sober up, then?"

“So you’re not trying to sober up, then?” Colin enquires.
Then he goes to Britt and tells her, “That would explain why they were in the shop buying mints earlier.”

Britt is planning a big showdown

Britt replies that they must bide their time patiently; “We can show up the Ashursts, APD and that photo in the paper! Family business indeed!”

"We might get to see that mystery baby . . ."

Gwyneth sarcastically remarks that Gwern should be seeing that mystery baby; “It’s a bit weird, isn’t it – none of us have seen her.

". . . does she have horns?"

“Does she have horns?” Garry snarls at her that she is the only one round here with horns,

"Sometimes it's very hard with a little baby!"

and Mathew weighs in with his comment that it is very hard sometimes with a little baby.

"What do you know about it, Math?"

Garry demands what he knows about it, as he does not have a house full of kids.

With fear and trepidation, Dani appears – briefly . . .

At last, Dani comes downstairs, and is greeted by shouts and cheers.

. . . but the sight of them all – one in particular – is too much

She looks very apprehensive, then rapidly disappears back upstairs. Gethin volunteers to go up and talk to her, while Garry tries to give the impression that everything is fine;

Garry is worried

Mathew knows that this is not the case.

"Of course I'm not OK!"

Upstairs, Dani paces up and down in the flat; Gethin asks if she is OK, and she says that of course she is not OK. “Why didn’t you tell me about this nonsense?” she demands,

"My head has been somewhere else this week"

and he admits that his head has been somewhere else this week. He points out that Garry is only trying to spoil her and Carol.

"Both of them are there – in front of everyone!"

“Both of them are there, in front of everyone,” she begins, “And I’m waiting for results through the post.”

"If Garry's the father, your problems are over"

He is very relieved that she has done the test, stressing that if it proves that Garry is the father, then her problems are over.

"But what if Mathew is the father?"

“But what if Mathew is the father?” is her reply, “I’m so worried that I can’t sleep at night. The results should be back next week – I feel so guilty. I keep Garry away from Carol, in case he’s not her father – it’s terrible, I know that.

"What kind of person does that?"

“I’m even pretending to suffer Post-natal Depression – what kind of person does that? It's unforgivable!”

Gethin encourages her to take Carol downstairs

He recommends that she should go downstairs, with Carol, as there is a chance that Garry is the father, and she does not want to miss out on this time. “If Garry is the father, neither you nor him will get these days back – you won’t get the chance to have a party like this again, will you?”

She protests that Mathew will be there,

"Don't ruin Garry's chance to feel proud of you"

but he tells her to ignore him, and do it for Carol. “And if she is Garry’s daughter, don’t ruin his chance to feel proud of both of you.”

Tyler has phoned Garry to apologise for his absence, and is told that he and Iolo have not not missed anything.

"I know – you told me so!"

Garry sees Britt’s disapproving look; she tells him that all these people are enough to frighten anyone; he maintains that it shows she is popular. “I hope she brings the little one down, or it will fall flat,” Britt says.

Dani reappears, with Carol

At that very moment, Dani appears at the bottom of the stairs, complete with Carol;

"She's beautiful, Dani"

they all gather round, telling her how beautiful the baby is. Dani does seem rather hesitant.

"And the baby is quite pretty, too!"

Colin comments, “She’s as pretty as a picture – and the baby is quite pretty too!” Dani glances briefly at Mathew, who is, as usual, scowling at her.

Bad news for Mark . . .

The hospital has phoned Mark, to tell him that it is not possible to postpone the operation; “Yes, I appreciate that – thank you very much,” he says,

. . . the operation cannot be postponed

and appears very disappointed.

Gwern is entranced by Carol

Encouraged by his mother, Gwern kisses his little sister;

"Thank you all for coming"

then Garry begins his speech. “Thank you all for coming, especially Dani my wife, and Carol, our little baby. The fact that you’re all here shows how much you think of Dani.”

Dani finds it very offputting . . .

Dani cannot avoid looking at Mathew,

. . . having to look at that (very understandable)

who is right behind Garry, and she looks increasingly uncomfortable as Garry continues, “But you’re all here to welcome Carol to the world, and to the community of Cwmderi.

"It has been a challenge"

“I admit that the last fortnight has been a challenge, as it would be with any new baby, but we, as a family, have already had a lot of fun with Carol, and we look forward to more in the months and years ahead.”

Mathew continues to look disapproving,

Dani feels more uncomfortable

and it is getting too much for Dani;

"I can't do this"

“I can’t do this,” she mutters, and hurries back upstairs,

Gethin keeps a beady eye . . .

much to the concern of all those present,

. . . on Mathew

while Mathew’s expression becomes even more forbidding.

Kath asks Non, “Did you know he was going to cancel the operations?”

"I haven't cancelled it!"

and he points out to them that he has not.

“I don’t deny that I tried, but there’s no way of changing the date,” he explains, “The hospital phoned back, saying that I have to prioritise the operation. I wanted to give you more time, Non.”

"You may not have more time, Dad!"

Ricky stresses that he may not have more time, and Kath summarises that they are they are scared;

Kath tries to look on the bright side

it is not easy to go into a major operation like this, but she is confident that everything will be all right. They are all here to support each other. She asks Ricky to help her with the food.

"You don't have to worry about me, Mark"

“You don’t have to worry about me, honestly,” Non tells Mark, and he replies that she was shocked when she heard about the date and and he was worried;

"You don't have to do this, Non!"

he emphasises that she does not have to do this. “We shall be all right, Mark – we need to look forward now,” she says.

"Stupid idea when Dani is ill"

As the party begins to break up, Britt remarks that it was a stupid idea to have a party while Dani is ill;

"We think she's suffering from baby blues"

“We think she is suffering from baby blues.”

All the sausage rolls are being consumed by Dai

Dai has a large plate of sausage rolls in front of him,

"Sure you've got enough?"

and Colin enquires if he has enough food. “I hate to see food go to waste,” Dai tells him, “As Mam used to say, food gives you staying power.” Colin predicts that he will be like a camel after eating that lot, and wonders if he is so hungry as a result of too much coffee.