"Non, je ne regrette rien," "Vraiment? C'est possible?"

Actually, I don't know about regrets. I don't want to regret anything that I did academically, because I worked as hard as possible, so I really do hope that I achieve the results that I (along with my teachers) want. If I do, I'll have no regrets in terms of school.

As for regrets in other areas of life, I've never really done anything serious that's worthy or regret. Through what is essentially my own doing, my life has been sheltered, so I've had no opportunity to make some of the stupid mistakes that youths are supposed to make, according to newspapers, anyway.

But, on a more indulgent note, I think my parents and I regret the fact that we haven't been on more holidays abroad together. We've visited France, Belgium, Spain, Monaco (which is so small that it barely qualifies as a country - the country equivalent to Pluto, perhaps) and Ireland. Of course, we're lucky to have experienced these trips, as there are many families who can't afford any holiday at all, let alone one outside the UK.

However, yesterday my mother and I were thinking about our holiday past, and we realised that we should do more. We can get away with the environmental impact - we're recycling vegetarians without a car who fly no more than once a year, if that - and my parents are good with money so we'd have enough to do something nice.

One of the main problems is my aversion to heat. I just can't take it, and I burn so easily that I'd probably spend most of the time applying sun cream. Inevitably, this limits out holiday options. At some point I'll probably brave a hot country, but I'd need to build up my resistance - starting with an activity as simple as spending a few hours in the sun (well protected, of course), or visiting the beach for the first time in around four years

Call me controversial...

But is wearing swim wear, even a one piece, much less risky and dangerous than posting provocative and revealing pictures on social networking profiles?

Obviously, a sports swimming costume offers much more coverage than a skimpy bandeau bikini, however we still must consider the fast that at the bare minimum the entire leg area is out and much more can be shown when venturing into the fashion swimsuit territory.

It's not that I hate my body, it's just that I ask myself these questions: would I go out in public wearing my underwear? No. Would I post pictures of myself in my underwear on social networking sites? No. So why would I feel comfortable when I'm wearing the same amount of material in front of however many swimmers at a swimming pool or beach? We all have the picture of old, perverse men glued to their computer screens ogling teenage girls' profiles on Myspace or Facebook, but really what's to stop these men taking themselves out to public locations where it's customary to wear very little? And who can stop them looking? Nothing and no one.

I love swimming and I'd never really considered this comparison before, but sometimes I do wish that swimming costumes were made in the shape of actual clothes that I feel completely comfortable in. Even something dress-like. Just not the bare minimum. And no, I don't want a tan either.