0:00:02 > 0:00:072012 saw the results of the latest Welsh national census,
0:00:07 > 0:00:10but that's just a set of dry statistics.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13- It's not flesh and bones.- Amazing.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16It doesn't show us how we really live, or who we really are.
0:00:19 > 0:00:24- Our hopes...- Oh!- Our fears... - I don't want her to die in a hospital environment.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Our dreams...
0:00:30 > 0:00:31Throughout 2012,
0:00:31 > 0:00:35we followed eight very different families from all walks of life, and
0:00:35 > 0:00:41from all over the country, to reveal the real Wales behind the numbers.
0:00:41 > 0:00:48- See you.- The result is Wales In A Year, a unique and unfolding
0:00:48 > 0:00:53insight into the incredible daily dramas of all our lives.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54Hooray!
0:00:56 > 0:00:58And tonight, there's a christening.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02I baptise you in the name of the father.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06- A wedding...- I, Anita.- I, Anita.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08..and an engagement.
0:01:08 > 0:01:09Got it at last!
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Wales 2012.
0:01:21 > 0:01:26A land of 3.1 million people, and every year for every one of us,
0:01:26 > 0:01:30there's at least one momentous moment.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35In 2012, there were approximately 35,000 births in Wales,
0:01:35 > 0:01:3931,000 deaths, and 12,000 marriages.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45And in Bala, North Wales, there are just two days to go
0:01:45 > 0:01:49before the marriage of local girl Anita Jones to Freddie Hickish,
0:01:49 > 0:01:5524-year-old son of English incomers Toby and Stephanie Hickish.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58That was quite something, wasn't it?
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Toby and Stephanie run the Bala Leisure Centre cafe,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04as well as a busy catering company from their farmhouse.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08So the next is one Thai curry and one what's this? Green?
0:02:08 > 0:02:10- Tea.- Oh.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13The Hickishes have lived in this Welsh heartland
0:02:13 > 0:02:15area for 17 years.
0:02:15 > 0:02:16Freddie, who is English-born,
0:02:16 > 0:02:20but attended a Welsh-medium school and is a fluent Welsh speaker,
0:02:20 > 0:02:25is marrying into a local family whose first language is Welsh.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Good job I'm strong, isn't it, Fred?
0:02:29 > 0:02:32There are just 48 hours left before the big day,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35and it's all hands on deck at the Hickish family home.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Do you want me to cut anything back?
0:02:38 > 0:02:42With the average wedding costing around £16,000, Toby
0:02:42 > 0:02:45and Steph have volunteered to help slash the expenses by hosting
0:02:45 > 0:02:48and catering for the whole event.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50We always said we'd cater it, really.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Then everybody thought that perhaps we'd get professionals in.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57But we're too tight to pay for professional caterers!
0:03:01 > 0:03:03I did think I was professional, actually!
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Bride-to-be Anita is on hand to help with the arrangements,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13but she's been running into some relative difficulties!
0:03:17 > 0:03:19We're moving house after the wedding,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21so I'd gone and moved, you know,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24moved a car-load of things over to the new house in Whitchurch,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27about an hour and a half away, enjoying myself,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30cooking a sausage casserole, sitting down, having a nice time,
0:03:30 > 0:03:35when a car turns up in the yard, and my family all pile out,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38move into the house like a bunch of locusts,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41eating all my bananas and biscuits and everything.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45And then produce this list, and say, "Right, Anita. Sit down.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47"Have you organised...?"
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Oh, I don't know... Like how people are getting from the church
0:03:50 > 0:03:56up to the house, decorations, and food, and canapes and wine,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59and favours. I don't get the idea of favours.
0:03:59 > 0:04:06I should I, or why should we, have to pay for little presents for everyone, you know...
0:04:06 > 0:04:09You know, it's our wedding - why should they get presents?
0:04:09 > 0:04:12LAUGHTER
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Away from the hubbub of the wedding preparations,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25Toby makes time to do some work on Rory's circle.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30A dearly missed son and brother,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Rory was born with muscular dystrophy.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36He passed away five years ago at the age of 14.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41This is well, we call it Rory's circle.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43It's actually our son Rory.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47We've placed him in a little spot over there.
0:04:48 > 0:04:54And it was here long before he died...
0:04:54 > 0:04:56..as a funny little quiet retreat,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00and it just seemed the obvious place to place him.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07We rather like this dripping urn thing. Yes, a quiet little retreat.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12I think whenever there's a family gathering, we tend to think about
0:05:12 > 0:05:16him, and I dare say my parents will wander up here at some stage.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22You know, it's our second son to get married. He was our third.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27So... but we have fond memories.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34You try it. I think the yeast has gone a bit funny.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- Oh, really?- A bit salty, I'd say.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40I didn't put any salt in.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46- I don't know.- It's not going to kill anyone, is it? It's just a bit yeasty.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49- It doesn't taste of yeast particularly.- No.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Put some smoked salmon on it and some cream cheese.
0:05:53 > 0:05:54It will be lovely.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58I don't want to eat any more though.
0:05:58 > 0:05:59SHE LAUGHS
0:06:04 > 0:06:07We'll be back in Bala for the big day later in the programme.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14Whilst the Hickish family prepare for a happy celebration,
0:06:14 > 0:06:20in Merthyr, another one of our families are facing a major concern.
0:06:20 > 0:06:242012 has been a particularly hard year for the Foley family.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28Dad Jason has been unable to work due to his chronic epilepsy,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31and teenage daughters Savannah
0:06:31 > 0:06:34and Lowri are being forced to grow up fast in the house
0:06:34 > 0:06:37where their mum Suzanne has had to give up work to become
0:06:37 > 0:06:43a full-time carer for her own mother, 77-year-old Gertie Sage.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44Gertie has Alzheimer's,
0:06:44 > 0:06:48a disease that has been slowly destroying her memory.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- Have I had my breakfast?- Eh?
0:06:54 > 0:06:57- Have I had my breakfast? - Yeah, you had Shredded Wheat.- Right.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03A wonderful character full of life and fun,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Gertie began 2012 in good heart.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Did you used to go to dances with dad?
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- Your father couldn't dance.- I know, but he used to go, didn't he?
0:07:12 > 0:07:15He used to come with me and he would hold the bar up
0:07:15 > 0:07:18and he'd fetch me a drink every half-hour!
0:07:21 > 0:07:24But over the course of the year, her disease has progressively
0:07:24 > 0:07:28taken away her joy and changed her personality.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30She just said she hopes you die a horrible death.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Yes, she told me that.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36She's getting really nasty. It's not her.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Like she said to Savannah, "I hope you go blind."
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Sometimes I can, you know, cope, and then another day then,
0:07:44 > 0:07:46I don't even know where I am.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55- You can't remember what you're saying, can you, mam?- Eh?- You can't remember what you're saying.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57What do you mean?
0:07:57 > 0:08:00When you do have your funny moments and shout at everybody.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04No, I don't shout at people!
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Yeah, you do!
0:08:06 > 0:08:08I don't, do I? Do I?
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Who d'you upset this week?
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Oh, God. Don't tell me. Who else have I upset?
0:08:14 > 0:08:16- Oh, everybody this week, Mam. - Have I?- Yeah.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- Oh. Well, I'm sorry. - Don't worry about it.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27I can't help it. I don't do it on purpose.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31It's just that the words come out, and I don't know what they are.
0:08:31 > 0:08:32They're all jumbled up.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39In August, Gertie had a fall which left her with a broken shoulder,
0:08:39 > 0:08:41severe bruising, and infections.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Three weeks later, she remains in hospital,
0:08:45 > 0:08:49and the family remain uncertain of Gertie's future.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51It's a waiting game, now, isn't it?
0:08:51 > 0:08:54That's all it is now make sure she gets better.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59It's going to be a while before she comes home, because she's not eating.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04She's telling the nurses loads of fibs that she's vegetarian she's never been vegetarian.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09So they've got a real struggle to get her to eat.
0:09:09 > 0:09:14But I just want her to start eating, take her medication, and get a bit better.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18You know, get her back nearly as good as what she was before she went in.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22I hope to get her home. It's a big hope.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29We'll return to see if Gertie can come home later in the programme.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35In New Tredegar, after an up-and-down start to the year,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38things are finally looking good for James Mellor,
0:09:38 > 0:09:43owner of AJM Sewing, Wales's last underwear factory.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Business has been very good throughout the year, and the future,
0:09:46 > 0:09:48the next couple of months, is very good.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51After months of hard slog,
0:09:51 > 0:09:55James and his team are about to deliver on their biggest-ever order,
0:09:55 > 0:09:59for risque lingerie label Agent Provocateur.
0:09:59 > 0:10:05The product itself has been very challenging from all aspects.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09But fortunately the team here all stuck together and like I said,
0:10:09 > 0:10:13we've pulled it off, and it's been financially worth it for the business.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17It's the biggest order we've ever done as a company.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21In total it's near enough 7,000 garments, and the feedback that we've
0:10:21 > 0:10:25had already from the company - because this is very high profile for
0:10:25 > 0:10:31them - is that there's a repeat order on the back of this on its way to us.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34With more orders on the way, and with a run-in with the VAT
0:10:34 > 0:10:39man now behind him, James has found yet another cause to celebrate.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43He's finally got engaged to long-term girlfriend Rachel.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46I finally plucked up the courage to propose to Rachel.
0:10:46 > 0:10:52It was in January. And she...well, we finally picked the ring last week.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55We was a little bit delayed because unfortunately
0:10:55 > 0:10:59we had a little bit of a VAT bill to pay, and the dreaded VAT man comes first.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Something we never thought either of us would ever do again,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05but, you know, it's very nice.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12And what better way to celebrate than a trip to Paris?
0:11:13 > 0:11:16The city of romance,
0:11:16 > 0:11:18thrills,
0:11:19 > 0:11:21and frills.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31Interfiliere Paris is the world's premier lingerie convention.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35It's a panoply of pants, a veritable United Nations of underwear,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39and a glittering stage for James to tout for business,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42if he can overcome his nerves, that is!
0:11:42 > 0:11:46I couldn't be further from my world, at the moment, you know.
0:11:46 > 0:11:52This is all alien to me. To say I've got nerves is an understatement.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54The first time I came with James, I said,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57"You've got to give all your business cards out to everybody in the UK."
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Well, you wouldn't do it first of all, would you?
0:12:00 > 0:12:01Oh! It was dreadful, you know.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03I'd just walk up and down, walking around,
0:12:03 > 0:12:07I'd walk past the stand ten times before I could even think about...
0:12:07 > 0:12:09And she's going, you know, pushing me in.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13But if you're not used to do it, and you haven't got the confidence to do it,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16it's something you got to learn, and get through.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21So James heads first for a familiar face.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25Designer Fleur Turner is one of his most loyal clients.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28And AJM made the majority of the designs on her stall.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34It's interesting for us because we've got customers all over the world now,
0:12:34 > 0:12:39which is fantastic, and we've got customers in China, which is a growing market,
0:12:39 > 0:12:43especially for the luxury market, and they're actually asking
0:12:43 > 0:12:46only for the products that are made in the UK, which is full circle. It's gone full circle.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50That's right. D'you know, the Chinese now have got so much wealth, why would they want
0:12:50 > 0:12:54a garment that's supposedly made in England, which is made in China?
0:12:54 > 0:12:55It's false economy, isn't it?
0:12:55 > 0:12:59They want something to take back and say, "Look what I can afford to buy," isn't it, you know?
0:12:59 > 0:13:02It's good at the moment. Long may it continue.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06Encouraged by Fleur's reports of an upturn in the Chinese lingerie
0:13:06 > 0:13:11market, James moves into card-wielding, flesh-pressing mode.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15Can I just leave two business cards with yourself? It's James Mellor, it is, of AGM Sewing.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18I'd just like to leave two business cards with you.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22Hello. James of AJM Sewing. How are you?
0:13:22 > 0:13:25James - James Mellor. AJM Sewing.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28- Oh, hello. How are you?- Not too bad.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31How's it going? Sit down.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Ice broken, and a pair of pants in his hands,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37James is suddenly in his element.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40You can always tell from my point of view, if you have a nice small
0:13:40 > 0:13:44stitch on the elasticating, it gives it a little bit more quality.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48The bigger the stitch, the faster it goes through the machine.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50You are supplying the fabrics, the trims?
0:13:50 > 0:13:53I am supplying fabrics, trim, and everything else.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55And what feathers are they?
0:13:55 > 0:13:59Raven. I know. It's a very Emo bra, isn't it?
0:14:01 > 0:14:03The production rate starts at 35p a minute.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06The UK is extortionate for prints.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10It's a shame something like that can't command a price.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14Who says it can't? At the end of the day, if you've got an idea of volumes, you know,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17we can have a look at it, and see if there's something I can do.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21- Amazing. Let's talk. OK?- OK then. Well, thank you very much for your time.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24- Thank you for yours.- Thank you very much.- Pleasure to meet you.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27- Thank you. Speak to you very soon. - James, it's so nice to meet you.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- A pleasure to meet you as well. - Thank you so much.- Thank you.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33There's countries on the board that I've never even heard of.
0:14:33 > 0:14:39After years of bumping along the bottom, James's trip to Paris has renewed his hopes for AJM Sewing
0:14:39 > 0:14:42and the British lingerie industry.
0:14:42 > 0:14:48From what I gather, there's going to be a return to UK manufacturing.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51The Chinese market, the affluent market, the people who've got the money,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54you know, they want to take it home and show their friends.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58"I've got a £100 pair of knickers that were made in the UK."
0:14:58 > 0:15:00So from that, you know, sense,
0:15:00 > 0:15:04I think it's going to be a very good couple of years coming up.
0:15:16 > 0:15:22Church weddings in Wales are in steady decline.
0:15:22 > 0:15:28Civil ceremonies now account for around 70% of all weddings.
0:15:28 > 0:15:34Overall, the numbers of marriages in Wales are at their lowest in 150 years.
0:15:37 > 0:15:43But in Bala, today is a beautiful day for a white wedding.
0:15:43 > 0:15:49The marquee's in situ, groom-to-be Freddie, is taking mum, Steph,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52through the last of the seating arrangements.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Dad, Toby, is checking his alfresco kitchen.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59The last-minute food prep appears to be in safe hands..
0:15:59 > 0:16:01..probably!
0:16:01 > 0:16:06And the best man's having a last-minute panic.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09All is as it should be.
0:16:09 > 0:16:16- We'll be down at a quarter past one and the service sheets are there already.- Time to get to the church.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Freddie and Anita are getting married in a bilingual ceremony
0:16:22 > 0:16:26at Eglwys Crist y Bala. Christ Church, Bala.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31Along with Anglesey, Gwynedd is now one of only two areas in Wales
0:16:31 > 0:16:36where Welsh is spoken by over half the population.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Wel, ga i groesawu chi gyd yma i Eglwys Crist heddiw
0:16:40 > 0:16:43ar gyfer achlysur pwysig iawn, iawn, iawn ac arbennig.
0:16:43 > 0:16:49May I extend a very warm welcome to you to this church, Christ Church in Bala today
0:16:49 > 0:16:52for this very important and very, very special occasion.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57- Fred, derbyn y fodrwy hon. - Fred, derbyn y fodrwy hon.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Yyn arwydd o'm cariad a'm ffyddlondeb.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Yyn arwydd o'm cariad a'm ffyddolondeb.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06- Anita, yr wyf yn derbyn y fodrwy hon. - Yn arwydd o gariad.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- Yn arwydd o gariad. - A ffyddlondeb.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11- A ffyddlondeb. - Rhyngom ni'n dau.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15Rhyngom ni'n dau.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19Felix, they are husband and wife. Mr and Mrs Hickish.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23I think this is the appropriate time that they kiss each other.
0:17:23 > 0:17:28Their very, very first kiss as a married couple and there will be many more,
0:17:28 > 0:17:32so don't have too long a kiss but have a nice kiss.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37APPLAUSE
0:17:42 > 0:17:46As the happy couple make a leisurely return to their wedding reception,
0:17:46 > 0:17:52- Steph and Toby hotfoot it back to get the ovens fired up. - I thought we'd done all the teas
0:17:52 > 0:17:56but there is another wave of teas to go out. I've got sausages which won't go brown,
0:17:56 > 0:18:02but they will because I've told them to. Erm, yes, we're getting there, really.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07Actually, it really has been great. Without thinking about what the actual party was going to be like,
0:18:07 > 0:18:11I was just fussing about everything coming together. Everything does, it has.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14I think we've all had a thoroughly enjoyable day.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18- I think it went really well.- It was excellent, I really enjoyed it.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23I was this close to crying all the way through which would have been horrific.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27There was a couple of times when both of us had that.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30A lot of work goes into weddings.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33When done professionally, it can be a nightmare.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37I think we've pulled this one off, just about!
0:18:52 > 0:18:55In Merthyr Tydfil,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59the Foley family's worst fears have been realised.
0:18:59 > 0:19:04On Sunday, September 23, 2012, after a six-week battle,
0:19:04 > 0:19:08Gertie passed away peacefully at Mountain Ash Hospital.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10She was 77 years old.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18MUSIC
0:19:24 > 0:19:31Three days after the funeral, the family are sorting through Gertie's possessions.
0:19:34 > 0:19:40Just going through some of my mother's stuff, doing it slowly.
0:19:40 > 0:19:45I wish I could keep it all in here like a shrine to her.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50All her worldly possessions and everything has got to go.
0:19:50 > 0:19:55Stuff that she struggled to get all her life.
0:19:55 > 0:20:02- She had a lovely send-off, didn't she?- Yeah, it was really nice. - She had a really good one.
0:20:02 > 0:20:07Savannah stood up in church and said a little bit for her nan with Lowri by the side of her.
0:20:11 > 0:20:17Then, they played Songbird. Savannah sang Songbird, which was lovely.
0:20:17 > 0:20:22I think Savannah sorted nearly everything out in my mother's funeral
0:20:22 > 0:20:25because my head wasn't in it.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Savannah more or less arranged everything,
0:20:31 > 0:20:39what the minister was going to say, the songs in the church, the hymns, the flowers.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46- She has had to grow up in the last couple of weeks, haven't you?- Yup.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53My mother always tells me if we get upset or start crying,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57she just says, "Come on, she wouldn't want you to think of her like that."
0:20:57 > 0:21:00That one Christmas Eve when she was with us,
0:21:00 > 0:21:02she only had a glass of sherry and she was like,
0:21:02 > 0:21:05"Oh, that's lovely and warm, can I have another glass?"
0:21:05 > 0:21:08We gave her another glass and two minutes later
0:21:08 > 0:21:12she was flat out on the settee sleeping and we had to carry her in here.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16But, I don't know.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20When my mother passed away,
0:21:20 > 0:21:25I thought I was going to have the service from the chapel
0:21:25 > 0:21:27but then Savannah said she should come home,
0:21:27 > 0:21:31so she came home the night before she got buried
0:21:31 > 0:21:37and the amount of people that came here, it was lovely.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40I dreaded her coming home but when she did, it was lovely.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43We were all sitting here.
0:21:43 > 0:21:48My mother was by there in the coffin and we were all sat by her, out the kitchen, it was lovely.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52We were all talking about her and what she meant to different people.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57It was lovely. We slept in here with her, didn't we Savannah?
0:21:57 > 0:22:01She was lovely, I know she had this thing with dementia,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04she lost her temper sometimes but that wasn't her.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08She had her moments where she went got back to the way she was.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11She was lovely. One in a million.
0:22:24 > 0:22:3010 years ago, 72% of people in Wales described themselves as Christians.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35Today, that number is down to just 57%.
0:22:35 > 0:22:41Almost a third of the Welsh population, 983,000 of us, have no religious beliefs.
0:22:41 > 0:22:48But places of worship are still where many of us go to celebrate the great events of our lives.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52In Newport, Gwent, 27-year-old Charlene Christensen
0:22:52 > 0:22:58and 25-year-old Sean Lonegan are preparing for the christening of two of their three children.
0:22:58 > 0:23:05Three-year-old Alleysha Bullock, who was born with cerebral palsy and severe brain damage,
0:23:05 > 0:23:09- and newborn Chealey-Jay Lonegan. - Oh, bless you!
0:23:09 > 0:23:12But before the ceremony,
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Charlene and Sean are preparing for a big post-christening party.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19They are getting christened today down St Stephen's Church.
0:23:19 > 0:23:25We were up for hours doing all the preparation.
0:23:25 > 0:23:32- Right, where do you think I should put them?- What?- The plates. - Either end.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35With 140 guests invited to the joint christening,
0:23:35 > 0:23:40it's going to be an expensive day for Charlene and Sean.
0:23:40 > 0:23:46About two grand for everything. I don't know, she's got expensive taste.
0:23:46 > 0:23:53The hall and the food was 750 I think, or 700.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58Then, we had to pay for a bouncer which is standard procedure.
0:23:58 > 0:24:05We had to pay £75 for the bouncer, the girls' dresses, the cake, the DJ.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07One DJ let us down last minute
0:24:07 > 0:24:15so we had to pay £300 for a DJ. Hell of a rip. All in all, about two grand.
0:24:15 > 0:24:21I had to buy a suit, obviously, Charlene had to buy about ten dresses!
0:24:25 > 0:24:31Whilst it is a costly occasion, for Charlene it is not a religious one.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36I don't go to church or nothing like that.
0:24:36 > 0:24:42But erm, I think it is nice to have them christened.
0:24:42 > 0:24:50I was christened when I was younger, Elleyah was christened when she was first born as well.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53So I thought they all had to get christened.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57I think it is nice to get them christened.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01MUSIC: The arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel.
0:25:01 > 0:25:06Chealey and Alleysha will be amongst an estimated 21,000 babies,
0:25:06 > 0:25:10children and adults to be baptised in Wales this year.
0:25:16 > 0:25:23Sanctify this water, that your servants were to be washed in it
0:25:23 > 0:25:27may be made one with Christ, cleansed and delivered from all sin.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord
0:25:32 > 0:25:39- who lives and dreams you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever, Amen.- Amen!
0:25:39 > 0:25:45Alleysha, I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son
0:25:45 > 0:25:47and of the Holy Spirit.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Good girl. Good girl.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55Chealey-Jae, I baptise you in the name of the Father
0:25:55 > 0:25:59and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03Good girl. Are you OK?
0:26:03 > 0:26:08For the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will set you free from sin.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12Giving you new birth by water of the Holy Spirit and welcomes you into his Church.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15He now anoints you with the oil of salvation.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19In the name of Christ, the anointed Priest, Prophet and King,
0:26:19 > 0:26:23may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27- Amen.- Amen.
0:26:28 > 0:26:34After the ceremony, the party, and in the absence of spiritual guidance,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37is there any secular advise that family and friends would give
0:26:37 > 0:26:44- the two newly christened girls in this godless world? - Don't be judgemental.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49Always be polite. Be courteous to others, respect other people.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52With Chealey, I am not a pushy parent.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55If she wants to go to uni, that's entirely up to her, if she doesn't want to...
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Go to uni and be successful really.
0:26:58 > 0:27:04Knuckle down at school because it's hard to get a job when you're older.
0:27:04 > 0:27:11The two of them are going to pull through. They have got a lot of love and support, especially for Alleysha.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15She will be fine, today is her wedding day.
0:27:15 > 0:27:23For Alleysha, just that she sees her teenage years I suppose, really.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Just be happy and enjoy your life, that's it.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Whatever comes your way, take it on the chin.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40In the final special edition of Wales In A Year,
0:27:40 > 0:27:44we visit all eight families to discover if their hopes and fears for 2012
0:27:44 > 0:27:48actually came to pass.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51The highlight of the year is now looking back on what we've achieved.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53I never want to go through anything like that.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57It is quite a change, quite a change.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00We join them for the festive season.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02I just want you to know how much I love you.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06And look forward to 2013, the good -
0:28:06 > 0:28:11- She has just been accepted to go to Ty Hafan.- And the bad.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Next time I get a good offer for the ships, I might take it and say, "Bye, Wales."
0:28:14 > 0:28:18And beyond all of that, we get out the crystal ball
0:28:18 > 0:28:21and make some predictions about how our families and Wales
0:28:21 > 0:28:26will appear in the year 2023.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Subtitles by Red Bee Media.