28 November 2014

Garry is rather lost for words

Garry feels rather uneasy when he visits Hywel;  after an awkward silence, he says, “You and me go back a few years.   Right back to when I first dated Sheryl.   To tell you the truth, I want to ask a favour – I want you to be my best man.”

"What – me?"

“What – me?” Hywel responds, incredulously, and Garry assures him he will not have to do much, and he cannot think of anyone better.   He is very relieved when Hywel agrees;  

Garry is pleased to have solved his problem

“Great, great!” he says.

Anita's peace in Bethania . . .

Anita is sitting quietly in Bethania when Siôn and Gabriela come in, 

. . . is shattered, so she makes a hasty exit

so she quickly hurries out.   Siôn shows Gabriela around the chapel.

DJ proposes his Christmas Grotto idea

At Penrhewl, DJ has an idea which he puts to the others;  a Christmas Grotto, in one of the farm sheds.   

It is generally thought to be a good idea . . .

“With Santa and all that?” asks Jim, and is initially doubtful, but Eileen and Cadno are in favour, thinking of the produce they will be able to sell to the parents of the children.

. . . but Jim does not relish having to compete for the part of Santa

Jim enquires who will take the part of Santa (or Siôn Corn as he is known in Welsh), as he fancies doing it, but DJ is also keen.   Eileen says in that case, they will each have to demonstrate their talents, and Jim is keen to get the appropriate costume.

Garry and Hywel have a celebratory drink . . .

Garry takes Hywel to the Deri for a drink, and announces to Britt that he has found a best man, 

. . . but Britt looks less than happy about it

but she is obviously not in favour of the idea.   Garry recalls what a laugh they had, running the bookie’s, “Until I messed up,” he adds.   He also mentions “Cic Mul”, apparently an alcoholic beverage with a kick like a mule, which they brewed.

Anita buys bread at the shop, while Colin extols the benefits of seeded bread;  “Birds eat seeds, and you rarely see a fat bird, so there must be something in it.”   

Anita rapidly disappears from the shop

When Siôn and Gabriela come in, Anita quickly makes her exit, Gabriela remarking on Anita’s rudeness, and Colin agreeing with her;  

"She's always been like that!"

“She’s always been like that, and I should know – I used to go out with her!”

"Here's another rude one!"

When Sioned arrives, Gabriela comments, “Here’s another rude one!”   Sioned replies, “I see enough of her at home – I’ll come back later!”

Dani tells Garry a "best man" no longer has to be a man

In the Deri, Dani complains to Garry that she should have been told about the best man before, and tells him that a “best man” no longer has to be a man.   

"Britt is acting strangely"

Garry says that Britt is acting strangely, as if he has upset her.   

They drink a toast

By this time Gethin has arrived, and they all sit at the bar and drink a toast, while Britt scowls in the background.

Santa Jim fails to console little crying Catherine

Jim, in a costume, borrowed from the rugby club, has his audition for the Santa job, with Cadno playing the part of a little girl, who wants a water-pistol for Christmas;  when she bursts into tears, Jim goes to pieces, not knowing what to say.

"Do you want to be best man?" Hywel asks

Britt takes Hywel to one side and asks him if he is comfortable, being best man.   “It’s a big responsibility, filling Brandon’s shoes,” she reminds him, and taking that into consideration, he reconsiders, asking Britt, “Do you want to be best man?”

Garry changes his mind

Garry then makes the announcement that these days best men do not have to be male, and that he has decided to ask Britt, as she is the closest thing to Brandon, which pleases her no end.

DJ's Grotto audition is more successful

DJ takes his turn with Cadno, and when she begins to cry, he talks comfortingly to her.   The two judges award Jim 15 out of 20, but DJ gets 18 out of 20.   

Predictably, Jim declares the result, "A fix!"

After protesting that the result is “a fix!”, Jim seeks an assurance that it will be his turn next year.

Cadno congratulates Jim on the fact that the turkeys are selling really well, thanks to his marketing ideas.

Apparently the Cwrw Castan was not selling at the Deri

Colin who has acquired Siôn’s barrel of Cwrw Castan, (Chestnut Beer) is at home with Gabriela, and she says, “You know a lot about local people.”   He confirms he knows “everything about everybody”, and she asks if Anita was formerly married to Meic Pierce.

Colin admits he was partly responsible for the marriage break-up

Colin admits that he was partly to blame for the break-up of their marriage, then asks Gabriela why she is really there, “Not this photography business.   Are you looking for a husband, a real Welshman?”

She denies this, shattering Colin’s hopes, and continues quizzing him about Anita.   

Gethin harbours suspicions about Colin and Gabriela 

When Gethin comes home, Gabriela leaves, and Gethin looks at Colin in a questioning manner.

Siôn goes to talk to Anita . . .

Siôn goes to see Anita, who apologises for her behaviour, but he understands the stress she is under.   

. . . who is understandably very worried about Meic

She confides in him that she hopes that Meic will be able to bear the pain of his illness.

Despite Gabriela's efforts to make peace . . .

Upstairs in the Deri, Gabriela tries to make peace with Sioned;  “I’m going to be here for a few weeks,” and Sioned tells her that is the trouble.   Gabriela continues, “I don’t want to fight.   I hope we can at least get on, and perhaps even be friends one day.”

. . . Sioned rules out any friendship

Sioned has other ideas;  “Get on, maybe.   Friends – never!   Let’s have less of the puppy-dog eyes – I can see through you – there’s something fake about you!   You’re not being honest about why you’re here!”

"I don't believe you!"

When Gabriela again protests that she is only studying Welsh culture, Sioned’s response is, “I don’t believe you!”