As far as care homes go, this one's pretty good. My sister's worked here for a couple of years now…read moreand I've popped in for a cup of tea and a chat on a few occasions. Living up to its name, Brightbow Lodge is cheerfully decorated, and the kitchen/lounge area is lovely and spacious. There is a definite brightness to the place, despite the unfortunate circumstances of many of the residents. Although it is a relatively small care home, there's plenty of room for residents to manoeuver about the place and it's by no means overcrowded. There's also a huge yard peppered with plants, perfect for lunching in in the summer. Staff here seem friendly and I've witnessed some great repartee between staff and residents. If you're looking for care work, there are usually jobs going at Brightbow Lodge - rate of pay is typically poor, however.

I like to support Marie Curie Nurses, and hope they can keep up the good work…read more I missed their Great Daffodil Appeal this year, and hope they can go ahead with it next year.

This is like no other charity shop I've ever visited. Wandering inside to shelter from heavy…read morerainfall over Gloucester Road, I expected the usual racks of clothes, the usual shelf of books, the usual array of odd trinkets and tea pots. But as I stood in the doorway shaking off my umbrella, I gradually realised I had walked into a wonderland of old furniture, and big, good quality, useful furniture at that: wardrobes, shelving units, a rocking chair, a set of wicker chairs, cabinets, tables. The stock here is really amazing, and it's a huge shop, with everything displayed very well. I recommend coming to have a good rummage in this shop just for the furniture. The clothes and books and stuff - well, I can take them or leave them; they're probably better stocked in the huge Cancer Research shop just over the road. But, really, come here and see if you can't find some great piece of original old furniture to have in your home. More fun than Ikea, that's for sure!

I use Gifford's home care to care for my disabled husband, weekly and on adhoc occasions when I'm…read moreaway for weekends etc. They are aboloutley brill and I would recommend them to anyone. we get a really personal friendly service and the flexibiltliy offered is unbeatable, no one else would meet our needs as well. Mel who runs it is thorough and professional at all times and life is easier for having them there.

This centre is modern, very spacious and has a very calm atmosphere. The small library is based on…read morethe ground floor as is the halal café which offers breakfasts and main meals to eat in or take away at very reasonable prices. They also have a crèche which offers a story time for kids programme in the library. There is a total of 3 floors housing large and small meeting rooms, training rooms, art rooms, a photography room and a music technology room. Courses run there include pottery, jewellery making, stained glass, dance, and samba reggae. The building is bright, warm and spotlessly clean although I would like to see more artwork on the walls to bring some more character to the place.

I have used this doctors practice and health centre with my three children for fourteen years.It…read morehas been refurbished in this time and is a lovely facility.There is a car park to the side and great access for wheel chair users,buggies,mobility scooters etc.It has a first floor with lifts and stairs.There is a treatment room staffed by great nurses and reception staff.I have no problem getting an appointment and there is an emergency sit and wait facility most days.There are lots of doctors both male and female and they specialize in differnt areas of medicine[you can check website for more details].There are midwives and a baby clinic on site.

Esporta is a Health Club located just off Avondale Road in Cwmbran. It used to be Club Indigo, but…read morechanged to Esporta a few years back. It features a full modern gym, swimming pool, aerobics room, cafe and children's creche, and as part fo the building there is a health and beauty section, where you can get your hair cut, nails done, waxing and other beauty treatments. I used to be a member at this gym, and the facilities are of a high quality, the staff are very friendly and make a point of saying your name when you enter and it is a great place to relax after work or on weekends. The gym does get quite busy at 5 pm though.

This is a nice modern medical centre with big glass doors and an entrance with an electronic screen…read morewhere you make your presence known by popping in your gender and date of birth. I personally feel its a little impersonal but it does speed your arrival up and you don't have to queue at the reception desk. There is a customer toilet if needed and a large waiting area where there is a small play area for the children, some (usually fairly outdated) magazines for you to read to pass the time and background music plays. There is a separate seating area to wait for the nurses for bloods etc to be taken. The Drs themselves have all been fantastic. There are two minus points from me for the surgery, the first is the level of difficulty to make an appointment, and the second are the evere reception staff who do nothing to welcome you.

On Gloucester Rd one can always find places to shop, drink, eat and meet. And many of these places…read moreare relaxing. But to truly relax, to relax into the sort of deep sleep level usually only obtained several weeks into summer holidays? That sometimes takes a little finding. Tucked seemingly out of notice Osna (A Gaelic word meaning 'to sigh') is such a provider of deep relaxation. The work here focuses largely on everyday tension and emotional instability, working to interrupt the cycle of stress. Open till 8pm most people should be able to find a time slot to enjoy either a full body massage, some reflexology or a tailor made treatment specific to your needs. A very enjoyable place to retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.