Competent Scooby is a bit of a rough rider

* The new Subaru XV.

... and the cab.

Subaru XV road test by Steve Rogers

My old pal Elwyn posted on Facebook... "I must be getting old. Had a lift in a top of the range Subaru. It may well have been a NASA spacecraft for all I knew."

Ex-journo is Elwyn so he has a way with words. He drives his trusty but ageing Land Rover Freelander so Subaru's new compact crossover, the XV, with its futuristic touchscreen facia does have a spaceship look about it.

The conversation took the usual course with test cars and the next question was 'Is it any good'? to which I replied 'yes, but I am disappointed with the harsh ride.'

Hadn't noticed said Elwyn, which was hardly surprising as the XV is smooth enough on well tarred roads.

It got me wondering whether people like me, who drive different cars every week for a living, are too picky. Even my wife, who drives all the test cars, was happy with the Scooby until I mentioned it but conceded the ride was a bit hard after another trip behind the wheel.

The car we had driven before XV was the new Skoda Karoq, another compact SUV and a rival to the Subaru. That is always comfortable whether driving smooth motorways, bumpy B roads or cracked country lanes.

Was I right to put a dampener on Subaru's brightest newcomer? Absolutely. By today's standards the ride is below par, you pick up suspension thump over potholes, feel surface blemishes that should be smoothed over, and put up with more road noise than is the norm.

Some of this will be down to the suspension needs of the permanent four wheel drive system. Most of the new breed of SUVs have an 'on demand' system which is front wheel drive until a computer senses a loss of traction and sends a message to the back wheels to lend a hand. It is a lightweight, more fuel efficient system and useful in slippery conditions but will struggle with some of the tougher jobs the XV can take on.

Subaru has built its foundations on four wheel drive know-how and its sophisticated symmetrical system is the bees knees. You will find the same technology in Forester, Subaru's accomplished go anywhere, tackle anything SUV, so XV comes from good stock.

The compact crossover is a tough old world - Karoq, Toyota CR-V, Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V are just a handful of the bright new stars so Subaru had to pull out all the stops with XV.

It is roughly the same size as the old model, apart from being a smidgen longer which gives it a smidgen more boot space, and loading has been made easier with a wider opening. Styling is sharp and is a car that will certainly turn more heads than the slightly bland Karoq.

There is nothing much wrong with the handling either which has a grippy, sporty edge to it, no doubt helped by that stiff suspension (sorry to mention that again) and is backed up by a lively 2-litre petrol engine. It is a bit of a screamer with the revs piled on and progresses smoothly through a six speed automatic gearbox. Steering wheel paddle shifters add to the fun if you want to switch to manual changes. There is a new 1.6 litre petrol available in both trim levels which brings the cost of the car down.

Hats off to Subaru for going the extra mile on safety. Its EyeSight system is about as good as it gets and uses two windscreen mounted cameras to distinguish objects whether they be vehicles, motorbikes, cycles or lane markings and will emergency brake the car if the driver fails to react. I've tried it in controlled conditions in a Forester and is highly effective.

XV's safety screen, the off road credentials and generous spec are the trio of features Subaru hopes will drawer punters to the new model. The top SE Premium wants for nothing with full leather, navigation, heated front seats and automatic dipping headlights stand out features in a very long list. Against its rivals the XV is damn good value but in this company it has to be.

Fast facts

XV SE Premium Lineartronic

2-litre petrol; 153bhp

0-62mpg 10.4seccs; 120mph

40.9mpg combined

Emissions: 155g/km.

First year road tax £500

Insurance group 16

Price: £29,060

Vegan festival to be at the Pavilion this summer

A special event to be staged in Llangollen this summer aims to showcase the best in vegan cuisine, confectionery, cosmetics and gifts.

Exhibitors from across North Wales and the rest of the UK will be on hand at the Naturally Pure, Health & Well Being Festival at the Pavilion over the weekend of June 1 and 2.

An event spokesperson said: "We will feature some of the most experienced holistic therapists, professional psychic readers and handmade vegan gift stalls.

"We will be holding many wellness workshops including meditations, mediumship, yoga, dance and healing sessions during this fabulous event. In addition there will be live entertainment, a chill-out zone and fun for the kids.

"We do believe that there is something for everybody and this is an ideal opportunity to join other like-minded people to experience a more holistic and healthy approach to health and well-being."

The spokesperson added: "You can follow us on Facebook for updates on this event and many others being added to our 2018-2019 diary.

"We also have 50 free tickets available. Advance day tickets are £4 per day plus fees. On the door these will be £6. Advance weekend tickets are £8 plus fees, and on the door £12."

* To book a stall, email: janmichelle.events@gmail.com.

To get tickets for the festival, go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/naturally-pure-vegan-health-…

Easter clothes swap shop opens in Oak Street

Cancer Research UK is inviting locals and visitors to an Easter Clothes Swap in their first ever pop up shop in Oak Street, Llangollen, this weekend.

The shop will be open this coming Saturday and Sunday, from 10am - 4pm.

Organisers will be setting up today (Thursday) and tomorrow and accepting donations of people's pre-loved clothes. 

The only rules are that they should be clean and in good condition.  There will also be a teenager rail and children’s rail.  

The idea came about to make use of the empty former book shop in Oak Street whilst it is currently being marketed for letting by kind permission of the landlords.

Chair of Cancer Research UK’s Llangollen branch Suzanne Evans said: “If you have been looking for an excuse for a spring clear out now is your chance and you get to donate to a great cause at the same time. 

"We thought it would be great to use the empty shop during one of the busiest visitor weekends of the year. As we are only open for a short time it would be great if as many people as possible can support us and spread the word either face to face or via social media.

“We look forward to welcoming as many people there as possible over the two days we are open.” 

Cruise liner group steams out of Llan station

* Passengers from the The Costa Mediterranea visited Llangollen station.

The first visiting cruise liner of the 2019 season berthed at Liverpool Liner Terminal last Friday and provided a boost for passenger numbers at Llangollen Railway

The Costa Mediterranea, gross tonnage 85,600 with room for over 2,600 passengers, was making its first visit to Liverpool and among the passengers taking advantage of local excursions was a coach load which headed for north-east Wales.

Visitors were brought over the hills to Carrog for a steam train trip on the heritage railway through to Llangollen.

As seen in the River Mersey the 12 decker cruise ship made and impressive sight and is due to return again as part of a series of cruises around the British Isles.

The cruise liner programme for 2019 involves visits by 57 day cruise ships with many offering excursions into North Wales.

Railway spokesman George Jones said: "The inclusion of Llangollen Railway in the itinerary for a day excursion into North Wales makes a valuable contribution to the railway and the wider economy. 

"After visiting Llangollen the party moved on to Chirk Castle before heading back to Liverpool in time for the evening sailing when the ship headed for Belfast."

Local author explores a lady's wicked ways

Was Catherine, wife of legendary Wrexham philanthropist Elihu Yale, wicked?

Whether she was or was not will never be established either way as there are no precise historical records to tell us.

For although she is referred to as such in her famous husband's will, he adds nothing to back up his scathing description of his spouse.

So her character must remain a tantalising matter for conjecture and it is precisely this conjecture which forms the foundation for a fascinating new novel by local author David Ebsworth.

He already has a formidable reputation as the spinner of compelling historical fiction on topics such  as the Zulu and Spanish Civil wars.

The Doubtful Diaries of the Wicked Mistress Yale is his seventh novel and is woven around the few facts that are known about the lady's early adult years as the wife of an East India Company official in Madras in the final decades of the 17th century.

Her action-packed story is told through the diaries which the author painstakingly constructs for her.

During this tumultuous period of empire she undergoes everything from the shattering loss of her first husband and two young children to disease right through to an attack by bloodthirsty pirates.

Her later marriage to Yale, a man she actively despises according to the author, comes out of the necessity for a woman left alone with small children in a far-away country to find a protector and provider, two roles for which the man who was eventually to be buried in St Giles' churchyard is perfectly qualified as a rising star of the company.

Many intrigues and plot twists ensue and all are presented in immaculate style by Ebsworth whose evocation of the era, right down to its flowery language, and the overheated, exotic atmosphere of
India is faultless.

As the story comes to a close we find Catherine sailing back home to England after a couple of misdemeanours of her own.

Whether so far she has been worthy of the wickedness ascribed to her by Yale is for the reader to decide.

But if they need further evidence of her character they can catch up with Catherine in the second part of the trilogy which Ebsworth has already started to create and is teased in this book.

* There are a number of buying to explore at: http://www.davidebsworth.com/doubtful-diaries-wicked-mistress-yale

List of Easter church services

llanblogger launches regular Citizens Advice column

From today llanblogger is pleased to be publishing a monthly question-and-answer column provided by Citizens Advice Denbighshire ...

Q: I’m 3 months pregnant and just beginning to show, so last week I thought I’d sit down with my manager and let them know before any speculation could take place. My manager was really happy for me, but this week I’ve been pulled aside and told they’re letting me go due to poor performance. I’ve worked here for 2 years and never had any negative feedback so I don’t understand. Could they be sacking me just for being pregnant? Is this legal?

A: It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been working for your employer, being fired because of pregnancy, or pregnancy-related issues, is automatically classed as unfair dismissal.

Although your employer said you were being sacked for poor performance, you’re right to be suspicious as this only came to light after you told your manager about your pregnancy. If your employer says your dismissal has nothing to do with you having a baby, you will need to prove that it was. You can ask your employer to send you written reasons for your dismissal.

As you have been employed for two years, your employer can only dismiss you for specified fair reasons, such as gross misconduct or persistent poor performance. Except in the most serious cases of gross misconduct, your employer will be expected to follow a fair process and show the dismissal was for a fair reason.

If you want to challenge the dismissal, you can take your case to an employment tribunal. You should first raise a grievance with your employer and contact the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service about Early Conciliation. Be sure to act quickly as time limits in employment tribunals are short.

To prepare for the tribunal, gather as much evidence as possible. This includes emails with your employer about your pregnancy, previous performance appraisals, and correspondence about you being dismissed. The new Citizens Advice Discrimination Toolkit, found on their website, can help you with this.