Cwmderi Diary 2015: 26 November 2015

Good news about the liver scan

Ffion has received the results of her scan; she tells Gethin, “There’s nothing to worry about! The liver has rather coarse echotexture, but there are no focal lesions within it. There is some cirrhosis – that won’t recover, but there’s enough healthy liver to do its job!”

"It's up to us"

Gethin warns her, “It’s up to you to keep it that way,” but then adds, “No, it’s up to us, I am with you!” The buzzer sounds; on hearing Natalie’s voice, Ffion confirms she is ready to face her.

Natalie says she wants to settle the matter

Natalie announces that she is ready to reconsider, and that Daniel wants his father to join them for Christmas and New Year. “It’s better that we came to settle the matter. I want to talk with Ffion in private – take Daniel for a walk.” Gethin goes with him to kick the football around.

Anita, proud of her new leaflets

Siôn comments to Anita that Jim’s face will be a picture when he hears that she has replaced the shredded leaflets. He asks her who paid for them; “Meic – his Memorial Fund was just enough,” she replies, and Siôn looks concerned.

Siôn is disapproving

“You and I were supposed to manage that fund together,” he tells her, and, from bitter experience, warns her, “You have to be careful with other people’s money – we’re administering that fund on behalf of Cwmderi’s residents.”

"I know what Meic would want!"

Anita is quite adamant; “I know better than anyone what Meic would want! And I ordered something else.”

Anita seeks to score a point on Debbie

With Kelly, she displays a banner, reading, ‘No more new houses.’ “That,” she stresses, “Makes Debbie’s sign look like a post-it note!”

"Don't tell anyone where the money came from!"

Siôn warns her that she should not reveal where the money came from, or it could cause bad feeling in the village. Anita hurries off with her publicity materials; Siôn and Kelly look at each other with incredulity.

"That's one hell of a mistake!"

“She’s really messed up! That’s one hell of a mistake, if you ask me!” comments Kelly.

"Sign this and get a free coffee"

When Angela and Eifion enter the café, Debbie promises them a free coffee if they sign her pro-development petition;

But Angela stands by her principles

Angela points out her opposition to the housing, as it will bring hundreds of people to the area with no matching increase in funding for the elderly or for sick children.

Cadno does not mince her words

Eifion, on the other hand, signs and claims his free drink, boasting that the rugby club stands to make thousands. Then Cadno comes in, sees what he is doing and calls him, “You swine!”

Angela signs the other petition

She produces her counter-petition, which Angela signs.

Kelly's article in the Western Post

In the Deri, Siôn looks at the Western Post article, as Kelly remarks that Diane is using this to draw attention to herself. Siôn fears that the village is divided, and then notices a grey-haired man with a briefcase who has come in.

Kelly points out Larry Gee

Kelly points out that it is Larry Gee, the Chief Executive of the housing company. Kelly dissuades Siôn from confronting him, and goes over herself.

Kelly introduces herself

At the beginning of an exclusively English conversation, she introduces herself, saying that she has been following the debate about the development.

He is gauging the local mood

He tells her that he is trying to meet the local people, so as to hear the “mood music.” There are three sites under consideration.

“Cwmderi could do with a bit of good news, as it hasn’t had the best press lately,” Kelly says, and he is eager to hear the details.

"Gethin's not going to be happy with you!"

Ffion makes a cup of coffee, and Natalie tells her, “Gethin’s not going to be happy here with you – it’s not a healthy situation for him.”

"Being with a crazy alcoholic woman?"

“Being with a crazy alcoholic woman?” enquires Ffion, “You may as well say what’s on your mind!”

Natalie continues, “I know you’ve stopped – for now, but this is not a stable environment. It doesn’t take much to knock Gethin sideways; he had a terrible upbringing, our marriage failed, he turned his back on his son, and lived a double life. He’s a fantasist and can’t accept reality – and alcoholism is the same – you put Gethin at risk. Why not do what’s best for him? Let him be a normal happy father to Daniel!”

"You want him to come and live with you?"

“What else?” demands Ffion, “Come back and live with you?” Natalie replies that if that is what Gethin wants, she should not stand in his way.

"He would have come back to me like a shot!"

She accuses Ffion; “You’ve got control over him, and if he hadn’t been dragged into your problems, he would have come back to me like a shot!”

"This is where he wants to be – with me and Arwen!"

Ffion is becoming angry as she explains, “We’ve been close for over a year now. This is where he wants to be – with me and Arwen! You don’t have to believe that, but it’s the truth!”

Natalie is not to be put off, and argues, “An alcoholic is more than one person – who knows what you’ll be in six months or a year?” She holds up Ffion’s scan result, adding, “The harm is already done, and how much psychological harm?”

"I'm getting there!"

Ffion grabs the paper from her; “Gethin and I have both been on a long journey, with demons to face. He’s conquered his, and I’m getting there!

"You've picked the wrong battle!"

We’ve found happiness together and deserve what we’ve got. You’ve picked the wrong battle – there’s no chance I’ll let you win!”

Kelly mentions the steroids scandal

Kelly remarks to Larry Gee, “I’ve heard that Elgee Homes might sponsor the rugby club. It could do with a bit of luck – you know what I said about the place getting bad press.
“The rugby club was one reason – there was a scandal with steroids a couple of years ago, and they nearly lost their place in the league.”

"Anything else I should know?"

He replies to her, “Anything else I should know about? Since you’re happy to dish the dirt on your fellow villagers?”

Kelly casually mentions prostitution

Kelly casually adds, “Prostitution and vice rings are hardly scandals in this day and age, are they?”

Larry has realised what is going on

Larry has seen though Kelly, and announces, “I heard that the local radio station was openly against us, and that a local journalist was as well – that will be you! I won’t be taking your gossip to the board meeting tomorrow.

"Good attempt – but too obvious!"

“Good attempt – but too obvious! Good luck with your next crusade!”

I'm off to the Deri for a pint

Eifion arrives home from work, and decides to have a pint at the Deri before Courtney comes home; Angela is busy compiling next week’s rotas.

Angela slumps into unconsciousness

As soon as she has left, she feels faint and keels over on the sofa.

"How did you get the day off school?"

As he kicks a football in the alley with Daniel, Gethin asks how he got the day off school;

Daniel relates what his mother told him to do

“Mam said I should come and tell you that we want you to come and live with us, and how it would be brilliant.”

"Look, I love being your father"

Gethin explains that he loves being Daniel’s father, and Daniel assures him that he understands the situation. They head back to Cysgod y Glyn.

An unmissable slogan

Siôn is stopped in his tracks when he sees the banner displayed above Megan’s shop. Debbie’s opinion of it is outspoken;

"What a stupid thing to put up!"

“Ridiculous! What a stupid thing to put up in the village! It’s sure to annoy people – and Jim or Dai will want an even bigger one outside APD!”

Anita comes out of Megan's shop

Anita reveals that it was paid for by Meic’s memorial fund, and Debbie objects; “I donated to that, and nobody asked me!”

"I know where Meic's loyalty would lie!"

Anita’s answer is that she knows how Meic felt and where his loyalty would lie. Debbie furiously promises her, “When the people of Cwmderi find out, they’ll be baying for your blood!”

Angela does some research (as a nurse, surely she ought to know)

By the time Eifion returns from the Deri, Angela has regained consciousness and is looking up “What causes fainting” on the laptop.

"Sorry, I failed with Larry Gee!"

Kelly advises Siôn and Anita that her attempt to put Larry off the project have failed.

"You let the cat out of the bag!"

Siôn complains to Anita, “You let the cat out of the bag about the fund. Wait until Debbie spreads it round the village!” Kelly agrees that the flak will be horrendous.

Anita will not accept she has done anything wrong

Anita rants, “Why are you being so nasty? I wanted to show Debbie which of us knew Meic best – I was his wife – what right does anyone have to use his name? Or to tell me how to use his money? He was my husband – my best friend! No-one has the right to take that away from me!”

"He was desperate to move back here"

Ffion informs Natalie, “You’re fooling yourself – he was desperate to move back here, and he treats Arwen like his own.” When Natalie replies that Gethin did not mention that to her, Ffion continues, “Of course not – he wants to be part of Daniel’s life too. I’m happy for him to do both – but you’re not.”

"You'll spoil your son's life!"

Natalie is adamant, “He knew the condition – he has to choose!” but Ffion warns that if she sticks to that, she will spoil her son’s life.

"You were putting pressure on me!"

Gethin and Daniel come in, and Gethin asks Natalie, “Why did you bring Daniel today? To put pressure on me! What are you trying to do?” She answers that they have to reach a decision about their future, and not just Christmas.

"Dad wants to stay here – and he loves Ffion"

Daniel adds, “I want dad to come – but I also know he wants to stay here, and he loves Ffion.” As Natalie insists that he must choose between them and Ffion, Daniel suggests, “He can live here and visit me.” When his mother rules that out, he tries, “I can come and visit him here sometimes.”