Cwmderi Diary 2014: 25 December 2014

A special breakfast for Anita . . .

When Anita comes downstairs, Meic has prepared her favourite breakfast, and remarks that dinner will be late, if Dai is cooking it. Anita apologises for the awkward situation with Darren last night.

. . . and a present . . .

Inside the butter dish, Anita finds a present, a gold locket, containing two photos;

. . . a locket containing their photographs

“To remind you of when we were younger,” says Meic.

Darren's mind is on other things . . .

At Sheryl’s, as Wil and Alys open their presents, Darren looks moodily out of the window,

. . . but Katie tells him to join in

and Katie encourages him to join in with the children. Sheryl has a box containing expensive perfume, and tells Katie that it is from her mother.

"Only a man buys something like that!"

“Only a man buys something like that – don’t be shy, you can tell me!” cajoles Katie, but Sheryl says nothing.

"Can I go and thank Dad?"

Gwern opens his presents, and asks Gwyneth, “Can I go and thank Dad?” but she tells him Dad is busy, and will see him on Sunday.

"For heaven's sake, I ran the Bull for years!"

At Bryntirion, DJ is worried about Dai’s cooking, but Dai replies, “I’ve cooked more Christmas dinners that you’ve had birthdays. For heaven’s sake, I ran the Bull for years!”

DJ hears the news about Meic

Diane tells DJ she wants it perfect for Meic, and when he asks why, she reveals that Meic has cancer. Then all the visitors arrive.

"Don't forget Dad and I are vegetarians"

As Gaynor checks on the turkey, Lois reminds her that both she and Colin have turned vegetarian. Gaynor says that she may have some veggie burgers in the freezer, “But you can’t have them for Christmas dinner!” Lois insists, “I promised him I wouldn’t eat meat!”

"Hello, Rhys," says Hywel . . .

When Colin arrives, Hywel tells him he is going to ring Rhys, but it does not take much imagination to work out who he actually calls.

. . . and at the other end, "Hello, Rhiannon"

At the other end, Sheryl pretends to be talking to her sister, Rhiannon. “Do you like the present?” Hywel asks her.

Katie invites Meic and Anita to Canada in the summer,

Darren is scathing about his father . . .

but Darren interrupts, “I’m not sure you’d be welcome, after all the lies you’ve told! I’m not going to keep quiet just because its Christmas!”

. . . and DJ urges him to show some respect

DJ rebukes him, “You should appreciate your father!” and then most of them sit around the table.

Some sit at the table . . .

The meal is rather a quiet affair, with compliments to Dai on his cooking,

. . . DJ and Sheryl think the turkey tastes different

although both DJ and Sheryl think the turkey tastes different. Darren tells Katie she had better not eat it, in that case, and Diane asks, “Have you two got anything to tell us?”

Katie admits that she is pregnant

Katie replies that yes, she is pregnant, and, “It will be the perfect opportunity for grandma and grandad to spend the summer in Canada.”

Supposed vegetarian Colin is tempted by turkey

Colin visits the kitchen for another bottle of wine, and sees slices of tempting chicken on a plate; he snaffles one, but has to return it to the plate when Gaynor comes in.

Colin and Lois cast envious glances at that turkey

During the meal, both Colin and Lois pretend they are enjoying their vegetarian quiche. “What happened to that poor bird makes us feel sick, doesn’t it, Lois?” Hywel and Gaynor agree that the Penrhewl turkey is the best they have tasted,

A text from Rhys? Oh, yes

then Hywel receives a text, not as he says, from Rhys.

"What if Dad's been lying all these years?"

Darren goes outside after the meal; Katie follows and asks him why he has such a problem with Gabriella. “What if Dad’s been lying all these years?” he replies. Katie tells him there is no point in holding a grudge, as he is spoiling Christmas for Alys and Wil; “Talk to your father for their sake,” she urges him.

Garry and the flat are rather dishevelled

Garry is far from festive in his flat, with cans, bottles and cold pizza strewn around, when the buzzer sounds; expecting Britt to be attempting to contact him again, he shouts into the handset,

"Go away, Britt, I don't want to see you!"

“Go away, Britt, I don’t want to see you!” His attitude changes when he hears it is Gwyneth, – with Gwern.

"Merry Christmas, Dad," says Gwern

He manages a little cursory tidying before they arrive, and Gwern announces, “Merry Christmas, Dad!”

Clearing up after dinner, Dai insists, “Of course it was turkey!” but is forced to change his tune when DJ discovers a chicken carcass in the bin. Then Dai says that the turkey was not large enough to go round.

Darren makes peace with his father

Darren comes back inside and apologises for being awkward with his father; “I’ve got no right to point the finger, after the mistakes I’ve made,” he admits.

DJ reveals that he knows about Meic

When DJ takes the bag of rubbish out, he finds Anita, and tells her that it must have been a shock; when she says she is looking forward to being a grandmother again, he explains that he meant about Meic’s illness. “Who told you?” asks Anita.

Sheryl uses a headache as an excuse . . .

Then Sheryl leaves, with the excuse that she has a headache, but Anita launches into a tirade about some people being a lot worse off than her,

. . . and Anita says she is not paying attention to Wil

and how she has not paid much attention to Wil.

"I don't think I will ever hear from Dani again!"

Gwyneth asks Garry if he has heard from Dani, and he answers, “I don’t think I will ever hear from her again; she’s better off without me – I don’t deserve her!” Gwyneth says that no-one should be alone on Christmas day – even him.

First Sheryl, now Gwyneth – yes, his head is "all over the place"!

He tries to kiss her, but she pushes him away, and says it is time they left.

Gwyneth is under the impression her plan is working

As she goes she has a self-satisfied smirk on her face.

Hywel is about to "get some exercise"

Hywel arrives at the salon again, saying that he told Gaynor he was going to “get some exercise.” He tells Sheryl that the perfume suits her, and they start embracing again.

Gaynor calls the bluff of the so-called vegetarians

Gaynor gives Lois and Colin a turkey sandwich each, and can tell that they have been lying; she also saw Colin trying to steal a slice of turkey.

“Why didn’t you say?” he asks, “Then I wouldn’t have to pretend to enjoy that cardboard quiche!”

There is nothing like a succulent slice of meat

With great relief, they both devour their turkey sandwiches.

After one "exercise" session, it appears Hywel wants another

Hywel arrives back from his “exercise” and tells Gaynor he wants Lois and Colin out of the way, “So we have the house to ourselves!”

"I can see straight through you!"

Back at the flat, Katie quizzes Sheryl about going for a walk to clear her head; “You didn’t see anyone? Not even Hywel Llywelyn? You can fool everyone else, but I can see straight through you. You spent the afternoon with him rather than with your son.