Cwmderi Diary 2018: 3 May 2018

Diane drops in on Anita

Diane calls on Anita, who she has not seen for some time; “I have been planting onions on the allotment for this competition –

"How are things between you?"

“it’s funny that Siôn has not roped you in. How are things between you?”

"We had a bit of a quarrel"

Anita informs her that they have had a bit of a quarrel, or at least, she thinks so; “He’s not answering his phone or sending any texts – I think I’ve scared him off.

"Meic froze his sperm . . ."

“There’s only one way to tell you this – Meic froze his sperm years ago,

". . . and I want to have his baby"

“and I am considering having IVF treatment to have his baby.”

Diane is staggered by this news

Diane looks at her uncomprehendingly, and considers that she needs something stronger than tea.

"I've been cooking chilli all morning"

Sioned meets DJ outside the café; she has been cooking at Bryntirion all morning. “It’s for dinner, but there’s plenty there for lunch too – it’s chilli,

"I have to get something from the shop"

“but I have to get something from the shop first.”

"What's going on between those two?"

Non has been watching them from inside the café, and Kelly asks her exactly what is going on between those two;

"Rescuing her off the street"

“Rescuing her off the street – giving her a home – I mean!”

Gwen has had her hair done

Non points out that she did something very similar with Ed; “I suppose, but we’re an item now, aren’t we?” Kelly replies,

"You should warn him about Sioned"

“Perhaps you should have a word with him – warn him about Sioned. It’s obvious what’s going on – arrange to go for a drink with him, Non.”

"I'm no good at things like that"

She says she is no good at things like that, but does have some good news about the teaching assistant’s job. Kelly says that is a good excuse for a celebration;

"How about if I go for a drink, and invite both of you?"

“How about I go for a drink, and invite both of you? The Deri, tonight after work, yes?” Non seems to be in favour of this idea.

It looks as if it was bad news

Eileen comes out of the surgery looking very downhearted; she stands for some minutes, gazing into space,

Eileen tries to compose herself

then wipes away a tear.

Sioned needs a jar of cinnamon

In the shop, Sioned has selected a jar of cinnamon, and asks her mother how she is;

"You taught me to put cinnamon in a chilli"

“You taught me to put cinnamon in a chilli at Penrhewl,” she says, “Some of this, and it will be perfect – we often used to cook together, and I loved it. I was spoiled – with the organic veg and a Mam who was a chef.”

"Don't refer to me as 'Mam'!"

Eileen reprimands her and insists that it would help them both if Sioned did not refer to her as ‘Mam’.

"But you are my mother"

Sioned protests that she is her mother, and as Eileen dissolves into tears, she thinks it is time to leave.

Siôn is optimistic about his onions

In the garden at Y Felin, Siôn is looking forward to a good crop of onions, but tells Ed that Anita will not be competing, as she has her eye on growing something else.

"How do you feel about Anita's position?"

Ed replies that Kelly has asked him to find out how Siôn feels about it. “I haven’t responded, because I don’t know how to,” says Siôn,

"If only she'd talked to me first"

“If only she’d talked to me about it first – what about her health – and our relationship?”

"Avoiding her won't give you any answers"

Ed reminds him that avoiding Anita will not give him any answers.

"I have no choice but be supportive"

In the café, Diane tells Kelly that she has no choice but to be supportive towards Anita, but has not quite got her head around it.

"I don't think Anita has got her head around it"

Kelly is quite sure that Anita is in the same confused position.

"I've arleady sent him three texts"

Anita has already sent three texts to Siôn, so there is no point in sending another. Diane suggests that perhaps Siôn does not know what to say,

Then Siôn comes in

and at that moment he walks in, wanting a word with Anita.

"I don't think you've considered it properly"

Diane goes to sit elsewhere, and Siôn begins, “I might be wrong, but I don’t think you’ve considered it properly. You haven’t thought it through – I’m not judging you, but you have to admit it’s a bit weird – especially at your age!

Anita is not impressed by his attitude

“I would have liked to have discussed it with you first, and helped you reach a decision.

"It will affect our relationship"

“Having a baby will affect me too, and our relationship.”

"I hoped you would be more supportive"

Anita gets up, takes her coat and leaves, commenting that she had hoped he would be more supportive, and she tells Diane and Kelly, “I know you were talking about me behind my back!”

"That smells lovely"

At Bryntirion, DJ is looking forward to his lunch, and Dai arrives home unexpectedly, very complementary about the aroma of the chilli,

"Does that mouth of yours have an off switch?"

at least until he learns that Sioned made it. DJ demands, “Does that mouth of yours have an off switch? Why are you home anyway?”

"I live here – this is my house!"

His father replies that he lives here – this is his house. Sioned decide to go for a walk, and Dai says he is only here to see if Diane is back from the allotment.

"I don't like seeing her take advantage of you"

“I don’t like seeing her taking advantage of you,” he adds,

"So doing the cooking is taking advantage?"

but DJ does not think that doing the cooking and putting out the washing is taking advantage.

"She was nice to Ed at first!"

“She was nice to Ed at first – but we know how that turned out!” stresses Dai. DJ is insistent that he does not want anyone constantly looking over his shoulder.

“Perhaps it would be better if we looked for somewhere else to live,” DJ says, which causes Dai a degree of alarm.

Eileen is still looking at photos

Eileen is looking at photos of Penrhewl, and she comments, “There is so much potential there.”

"I thought we'd agreed on a motorhome"

Jim thought they had agreed to get a motorhome, and enjoy themselves. She goes on, “Living on a farm is so enjoyable – there is so much space.

"I was always happy at Penrhewl"

“I was always happy at Penrhewl.”

"I can't avoid Dai for ever!"

Jim decides he is going to see Dai; “I can’t avoid him for ever.”

"She must have some hold over DJ"

At APD, Dai is certain that Sioned must have some kind of hold over DJ, but supposes that the best thing to do is to leave her alone, and perhaps she will take the hint and leave of her own accord.

"I don't understand this world any more"

Diane sighs, “I don’t understand this world any more – it’s as if everything is turned upside down. Anita has got a bee in her bonnet now –

"She wants to have a baby!"

“she wants to use Meic’s frozen sperm – she wants to use it to have a baby!”

"Crikey Moses – you're not serious?"

“Crikey Moses!” Dai exclaims, “You’re not serious?”

"I've just had a big lunch with Sioned"

DJ calls at the café for a takeaway coffee, but he refuses the two for one offer on doughnuts, having had a big lunch with Sioned.

"Chosen her next victim, has she?"

“Oh, she’s chosen her next victim, has she?” Kelly enquires. “Do you know what? I always think a drink after work helps. As it happens, Ed and I are going to the Deri after work –

DJ thinks he will join them at the Deri

“do you fancy joining us, about 5:30pm?”

Anita speaks to Diane on the phone

Anita is on the phone to Diane, in an apologetic mood, but has to end the call, as someone is at the door.

An effort at reconciliation

It is Siôn, to whom she apologises for walking out of the café like that; “I want you to understand how much this means to me,” she emphasises,

"I don't want this to spoil our relationship"

“But I don’t want it to spoil our relationship either. I see this as an opportunity – it was not a decision I could make with anyone else – I had to make up my own mind,

"It could be an exciting time for us"

“but I really do apologise if I’ve hurt you. I want to do this – it could be an exciting time – for us. Don’t you think so?”

It appears that Siôn does not think so

Siôn’s expression seems to indicate that he does not agree, but he leans forward and kisses her,

"Who wants an easy life, anyway?"

asking, “Who wants an easy life, anyway? I need to understand everything from the beginning. Why don’t we open a bottle, and you can tell me what the next steps are.”

"There's no wine left"

Anita does not think she has any wine, so Siôn will go to the Deri to get some.

Kelly's matchmaking is working

In the Deri, the conversation around the table is rather stilted; Kelly admits that Ed is not coming; “It’s lucky that Non is here, or DJ and I would be on a date!”

She quickly finishes her drink . . .

She finishes her drink, and suggests playing a game, I Spy; the first object begins with G,

. . . and leaves them to it

and she soon reveals it is, “Gooseberry – get on with it, boys – life is too short,” leaving DJ and Non looking rather nonplussed at each other.

"I'm glad you're being so supportive"

Kelly meets Siôn, who has come to get some wine, and informs her that they have sorted a few things out. “I’m really glad that you are being so supportive,” Kelly tells him,

"If she's going to do this, she needs support"

“Because if Auntie Anita is going to do this, she will need support.” He reveals that he is also picking up a curry from Cwm Delhi, and will be glad of Kelly’s company at number 10.

Eileen continues reminiscing . . .

Eileen continues to look at photographs taken at Penrhewl,

. . . and becomes emotional

and tears begin to stream down her face.

"Two good reasons for being a teacher"

“I can tell you two good reasons for being a teacher,” says DJ, “July and August –

"I could never do it"

“I could never do it, it’s too much responsibility, guiding a young person down the right path.”

"I learn so much from the pupils"

Non replies that she learns so much from the pupils. He maintains that teaching little children can be confusing –

"Teach them to talk, then tell them to keep quiet"

you teach them to talk, then spend all your time telling them to be quiet.

“We should do this again, properly this time – without some Stupid Cupid trying to set us up.”

Non is in favour of meeting again

Non seems quite happy about this.

"Siôn thinks the world of you"

At number 10, Kelly says that it is obvious that Siôn thinks the world of Anita, and she is glad that they could clear the air. Anita replies, “But you’re still not happy about the idea, are you?”