I moved here from Birmingham when I was nine. I was excited at first because I was little, but as I became a teenager and realised there wasn't that much to do, I began to hate it. But I think city teenagers would say they haven't got much to do either.

I know it's hard when you're a teenager. I can drive, or go out to the pub with friends now, but when you're 14 or 15 you need money to travel and you get to the point where you hate this place and you end up hanging about bus shelters!

The worst thing is when people start taking drugs - I never did, but it does happen in small communities when people say they've got nothing better to do. But then it happens everywhere for the same reason.

As you get older, you realise how much potential a place like Barmouth has got. People know and care about each other and want to look after you. I go back to Birmingham and have to watch my back. I hate it. It's great to have more amenities there, but I had to lock my car in case it got broken in to. I never lock my car here because I know it's quite safe.

Living a bit out of the way gives you a nice excuse to travel, too. We do have small cinemas locally, but I like a drive over to Llandudno Junction's big cinema for a treat.

I'm going to study teaching, but I hope to come back to Barmouth to work. Perhaps my Welsh isn't good enough for Gwynedd, so I might have to get a job in Powys. I have basic Welsh after going to school here - it's great to know a new language.

I'm really glad my family came here. I could have been a far different person if I'd stayed in the city. Also, I don't know if I would have done so well in school because even my old primary school had more pupils than Ysgol Ardudwy! We definitely got much more attention from the teachers here than they do in big city schools.

It's such a pretty place too. I can't believe the Rough Guide said it was a blot on the landscape. Everywhere can have its problems and it is a bit messy at times, but they are improving things. We've had a Blue Flag on our beach for years and that says something. It's lovely having a beach opposite your house - you can jump in the sea when it's roasting, and you know that it's clean. It really is a lovely place to live.