Cwmderi Diary 2018: 25 December 2018 (1st)

Garry checks his phone

On Christmas morning, Garry shows off his festive jumper to Dani; seeing him looking at his phone, she tells him to forget about Britt. “If she wants to be selfish and miss Seren’s christening, fine –

"I gave up trying to understand Britt ages ago"

“I gave up trying to understand Britt ages ago.” They drink a toast, “To us!”

“Who would have thought – this time last year,” she ponders,

They reaffirm their love

and they reaffirm their love for each other.

At Bryntirion, Diane shouts to Dai that he should have his breakfast;

"You've gone over the top here, Diane!"

he comes in, dressed in regal attire, and thinks that Diane has gone over the top, but she assures him that the wise men had crowns.

Sara and Jason arrive with Ifan

Sara and Jason come in with Ifan, singing, “We wish you a merry Christmas,”

Ifan does not seem comfortable with Dai

and Dai takes Ifan, which he does not seem too happy about.

“DJ didn’t come home last night, “Diane reports, and Jason suspects he might well have stayed with Gwyneth.

"I've warned him about her!"

Dai finds this very unsatisfactory, but Diane reminds him that DJ is not a little boy any more. Sara and Jason have brought their costumes for the procession in a bag.

"Who are you then? Herod?"

Sara asks Dai, “Who are you, then? Herod?” She is wearing the new jumper which Jason gave her, and Sara is surprised that Dai already knew about the present.

"I gave him a Christmas bonus"

“Well, yes – I gave Jason a Christmas bonus, we saw it online and then we went to Llanelli to pick it up.”

Jason hands over the heavy ham

Jason hands over the cooked ham, which is becoming rather heavy;

"Santa's brought you a present"

Dai announces to Ifan that Santa has been to Bryntirion, and there is a present for him.

Angela has spent the night on Hywel's sofa

Angela is asleep on Hywel’s sofa when he comes downstairs with Esther;

"Someone wanted to open her stocking at five o'clock"

“Someone wanted to open her stocking at five o’clock,” he reports.

Angela is feeling the after-effects of all the wine and port she has consumed,

"I'll make you some coffee"

so Hywel will make her some coffee and breakfast.

"I'm not so sure about being godmother"

“I’m not so sure about being godmother,” Angela groans, “I haven’t heard anything from Mam.” Hywel tell her not to worry, as it is Huwi’s first Christmas, and he is sure that her mother has forgiven her,

"Eileen will want all her family around her"

and will want all her family around her today.

"You're a good friend, Hywel"

Angela says that he is a good friend,

Esther gets on with some colouring

and Hywel leaves Esther to do some colouring.

"Santa Claus has been!"

DJ is asleep on Gwyneth’s sofa, until Gwern wakes him up with the information, “Santa Claus has been!” Gwyneth enquires about the condition of DJ’s head,

"My head is like a bucket!"

which is, apparently, like a bucket.

"Lego Avengers!"

Gwern is a very pleased to have received Lego Avengers, but Gwyneth says she has not seen a present for him from DJ.

"You haven't shown any gratitude"

“You haven’t shown any gratitude for sleeping on our sofa!” she complains,

Gwern is given a £20 note

so Gwern is given a £20 note, which he is very pleased with, and DJ comments that there is nothing like a guilt trip first thing in the morning.

Kelly takes Ed's present from its box . . .

Kelly, dressed up for the procession, looks at the present she is to give to Ed;

. . . a watch, engraved on the back . . .

a watch, engraved on the back, “K & E – today, tomorrow, for ever.”

. . . and then quickly hides it

Then she hurriedly hides it as he comes in,

"Merry Christmas, elf!"

and wishes her, “Merry Christmas, elf!”

She responds with, “Merry Christmas, safety!” which he takes a few seconds to appreciate – elf and safety –

They kiss

and they kiss.

"Bo Peep's a shepherd"

Iolo is in the Deri, giving Dani a present for Seren; she tells Garry, “It will be perfect with her Little Bo Peep costume. There were shepherds at the nativity, and Bo Peep’s a shepherd.”

"There's no sign of Britt and the costumes"

Megan and Anita come in, complaining that it is not a merry time for them; “There’s no sign of Britt and the costumes for the procession,” complains Megan, but Garry assures her that

Dani informs her it is all under control

Dani has sorted everything out. “Britt’s behaviour has been strange for a while,” Megan observes.

"Britt?"

Colin goes to the chip shop flat, but finds it deserted,

"Catrin? Aaron?"

and sees that everything is in disarray; he puts down the presents, and starts a little tidying up,

He finds Aaron's Christmas list . . .

but then comes across Aaron’s Christmas list, which makes him despair.

. . . and confirmation of the booking . . .

Then he notices, attached to the fridge, a printed confirmation of Britt’s booking at the holiday cottage;

. . . and is even more concerned

he is even more concerned.

The Joneses have arrived . . .

Meanwhile, the Joneses have just arrived at their holiday cottage, where the hot tub is bubbling invitingly;

. . . and are very impressed

they are very impressed.

"Britt Monk, is it?"

The proprietor, Rebecca Morgan, welcomes them, adding, “Britt Monk, is it?”

"Yes, that's right!"

Kath confirms that is who she is, and the keys are handed over;

"Not a word, Iori, all right?"

warns Iori not to say a word, and is looking forward to the luxury hamper and hot tub.

"At least we know where she is"

Colin has taken the cottage confirmation to the Deri, and Garry points out that at least now they know where Britt is. “Aren’t you worried?” demands Colin, and Garry describes his feelings as disappointment more than anything.

"Going away with that prat, Neville!"

“She’s missing Seren’s christening to go away with that prat, Neville!” Garry snarls, and

They start furniture-moving

Colin suspects that it was his idea; he helps Garry with moving some tables and reports that Gaynor is away staying with a friend. Garry sets him to work, bringing stuff in from the kitchen.

The interior is no less impressive

The Joneses are even more impressed with the interior of the cottage, and Ricky comments, “I’d rather be with my friends – but this is all right, I suppose.”

"Look what's in this hamper!"

Debbie looks into the luxury hamper, and Mark finds turkey and fizz in the fridge;

Ricky inspects the oven

“Turn on the oven, Ricky – you’re the chef today,” he says.

Debbie challenges them, “The last one into the hot tub stuffs the turkey!”

Gwern is in his sheep costume

Gwyneth dresses Gwern in his sheep costume for the procession, and DJ says that she looks nice in her costume. She is sure that they can find something in which DJ can dress up.

"I didn't get the present I really wanted"

Gwern complains that he did not get the present he really wanted,

"Well, look – here's one to Gwern, from Mam"

but then his mother very conveniently finds another present,

We saw that drone a week or so ago

and when he opens it, he finds that it is a drone, remarkably similar to one of the gifts she stole from Megan.

She warns Gwern not to tell anyone about it, as no-one else will have one; “It’s our secret, OK?”

Angela is sneaking round again . . .

Angela sneaks into Penrhewl, and checks that no-one is around;

. . . and hides behind the table

she hears Jim coming, so hides behind the table. Jim brings in Huwi in his car seat,

"Are you going to be a good boy for Dadi?"

and asks, “Are you going to be a good boy for Dadi?”

Eileen has had a message from Sioned, wishing them well; “I miss her, Jim, I’d give anything for her to be here today.”

"I can't stop thinking about Courtney"

Jim cannot stop thinking of Courtney, who would have been so proud of her little brother.

Eileen goes on, “There has been a lot of coming and going through that door – so many people who should be here –

Not what Angela wanted to hear

“I don’t mean her!

"Sioned and John, Courtney, Cadno and the boys – even Marian"

“Sioned and John, Courtney, Cadno and the boys – Auntie Marian, even.”

"Oh, I haven't got my bracelet"

Then she remembers she does not have the bracelet which was her mother’s, and thinks it may be on top of the wardrobe, so they go upstairs to find it, leaving the baby unattended;

Angela emerges . . .

this of course, is the opportunity Angela was waiting for.

. . . takes Huwi and the 4x4 keys . . .

She picks up the car seat, complete with Huwi, grabs the keys of the 4x4, and makes a hasty exit.

. . . and puts him in the car

Assuring Huwi that everything is going to be all right, and that they are going to see Courtney, as she is waiting for them,

He appears very unconcerned by all this . . .

she straps him in,

. . . and is driven away

and drives out of the farmyard.

As Mark and Ricky bring in their luggage . . .

As the Joneses bring their cases into the holiday cottage,

. . . they see some familiar faces

they see Britt, Neville and the children arriving. They did not know that they would have company,

"You're in the other cottage"

and Kath initally looks concerned, but points out that they are in the other cottage.

"Smile, Catrin!"

Neville urges Catrin to smile, but she is understandably reluctant.

"There's something wrong with Aaron and Catrin"

Ricky suspects that something is wrong with Catrin and Aaron, as they do not look very happy.

"Huwi?"

Jim comes back downstairs and says, “Right, Huwi, we’re ready at last!” but then realises that the child has gone. He asks if Eileen took him upstairs, and points out that Eifion is not around.

Eileen is in a full-scale panic

Eileen begins to panic, and they run outside.

A turkey wrapped in foil . . .

In the village, the inhabitants are dressed in a variety of weird costumes, including Mathew, who is impersonating a turkey, wrapped in foil.

. . . a snowman and two kings

Jason is one of the three kings, and Sara a snowman;

"Keep your giblets out of sight, Mathew!"

Dai warns Mathew, “Keep your giblets out of sight!”

More people join the procession

Another contingent are walking from the direction of the surgery,

"We have some spare costumes, just in case"

and Dani emerges from the Deri, advising that they have some spare costumes just in case. Kelly looks around, and is disturbed to see that Auntie Anita is nowhere to be seen.

"Anita has gone to Eira's grave at the cemetery"

Megan advises her that Anita has gone to the cemetery, where her daughter Eira is buried.

"I'm intending to ask Ed to marry me"

Kelly is very perturbed, but insists that nothing is wrong; she tells Siôn , in confidence, that she is intending to ask Ed today to marry her, and really wanted Anita to be there.

"The theme is supposed to be the Nativity!"

Megan is complaining that the theme was supposed to be the Mativity; “What on earth is this?”

It is now more than two years since Courtney's death

Angela, with Huwi, has arrived at the cemetery,

Angela has taken Huwi there . . .

and kneels at Courtney’s grave;

. . . and places a toy rabbit by the headstone

she places a toy rabbit by the floral tribute left by Jim and Eileen,

She weeps

and she is reduced to tears.

In the Deri, Colin is filling glasses, as instructed by Garry,

"I've got chicken drumsticks in the oven"

but says he is not going to wear a fancy costume; “I’ve got chicken drumsticks in the oven, and pigs in blankets!”

“Wear them, Colin, or I won’t hear the last of it!” Garry tells him;

An unconventional christening robe

Dani comes in, and apparently Seren is to be christened while wearing a rugby shirt. “I was expecting bows and frills and everything!” he says, “But this is perfect.”

"You're not taking this seriously"

She reminds Garry that he has not yet seen what he is wearing, and he protests that she is not taking this seriously.

"Do you want her to think you're boring?"

“What would Seren prefer – to see photos of you in a boring suit – or dressed up?” she demands, “Do you want her to think you’re boring?”

"There's no food here!"

Britt is complaining that the Joneses have a hot tub and everything; “There’s no food here – there was supposed to be a luxury hamper – I don’t understand it!”

"We would have food if we were at home!"

Catrin and Aaron protest that they would have food if they were at home, and blame their mother,

Britt is going to complain . . .

so she is about to complain to the management

. . . but Neville says it is all sorted

when Neville announces that it is all sorted.

“The lads are coming to help – my mates – they’re great!” he says,

"You're wonderful, Neville!"

and they drink a can while they are waiting;

They have definitely had enough

Catrin and Aaron look at each other.

A specially-staged show to anger Dai

In the street, Dai is not impressed by DJ, dressed as a shepherd and Gwyneth as an angel, but is restrained by Jason. He is rather put out when Gwyneth also suggests that he is Herod;

"I've had enough of this!"

he pulls off the crown, grumbling that he has had enough of this.

"You're planning something naughty"

Iolo tells Kelly, “You’ve got that look on your face – you’re planning something naughty, and you can’t stop yourself!” She swears him to secrecy, but reveals that she intends to ask Ed to marry her.

"Jim and Eileen are still not here!"

Ed is concerned that Jim and Eileen are not there, although their son is due to be christened.

Megan says that if they do not arrive soon, the procession will have to set off without them.

With Garry Monk as 'God'

Then Garry, dressed in gold and white, with luxuriant white curls, comes out of the Deri with Dani and Seren, who is not happy;

Dai leads the community singing

Dai, now in the more humble garb of a shepherd, begins to sing, “O come all ye faithful,” and as everyone joins in, the procession begins.

"What are you doing here, Angela?"

Meanwhile, within earshot of the singing, in the cemetery, Anita comes across Angela, holding the baby and sobbing by Courtney’s grave; “What are you doing here, love?” she asks.