I grew up in Hong Kong and came over here when I was 19. I didn't really think about my future, I had no idea what would happen, I just went with the flow. Then I click my fingers, and 35 years have gone by.

My husband and his brother came to Butlin's holiday camp to help run a Chinese restaurant there. We lived in York first, but we thought Pwllheli was a nice place and came here, first for just a few years, to open a takeaway. But soon we'd put in the investment and couldn't get out, so I'm still here 35 years on. I love the fresh air and the friendly people. When I go back to England they don't say anything to you.

My children all went to school here. My two eldest went to Rydal because someone told us it would be good to have them educated at a boarding school, so we saved up all our money and sent them there. But I decided I needed to keep my two youngest closer to me (I needed them more than they needed me probably!) So they went to school in Pwllheli and can speak Welsh.

They've all done well. One's a graphic designer, one's a psychologist in London, another is a pharmacist and the youngest is a mechanical engineer. So the younger generation aren't interested in catering - the hours are too long and there's always a string tying you to the takeaway.

But the first generation who came over here have mostly worked in the catering business and now that generation is getting older and it's difficult, especially for the women.

When we were young, we needed to help our husbands, look after the kids, run the business. By the time we've reached our 50s, the kids have grown up and left home, we're close to retiring with nowhere to go. Many Chinese women aren't used to going out and socialising, speaking English, enjoying life in the community, so they stay at home, thinking they're not good enough and losing confidence. Then illness will come and that's a problem because often they don't understand exactly what the doctor is saying to them.

The Chinese population is split up all over North Wales, so we need a centre to be able to meet up, talk and gain confidence. But there was never anyone to represent us with people like the council, to help us get funding for a community centre, which we really need.

I'm quite lucky, I'm trusted in the community. Chinese women are very shy, don't tell anyone about family problems, but they do share with me, and I can help because I've built up my confidence to be able to ask places like Gwynedd County Council and the Black Environmental Network for help to fund a community centre.

The centre would also be great to help the young people follow our culture - learn the lion dance, Chinese writing and drawing. It will also be a place for us older people to do T'ai Chi and learn more about our health.

We'd also love some land, because Chinese women love gardening. I'm concerned that they should have a hobby, do things they used to like doing when they were young.