"She gave birth to most of us in the room above the door. We called it the Boudoir."

To writer Tamara Pollock, growing up as one of 8 children wasn't anything special. Never mind the 24 Italian students that came to live with them, or the strangers who sometimes appeared at their dinner table. It was only later she came to see that all her mother had done for the family. 

Tamara celebrates her mother's daring, distinctive style, quirky personality and small acts of kindness in this charming addition to the 100 voices for 100 years project. 

"I'm running out of excuses, maybe running out of time...."

Branwen was never very good at admitting what she wanted, even to herself. Until she was brave enough to speak up.  

"Armed with lever-arch files and chafe-proof underwear I was embarking on my first operational tour of duty..."

Writer Sarah Armstrong tells her story of how she signed up to be an army doctor.  Her imagined life as a real-life Lara Croft was quickly forgotten when the fitness challenges left her retching at the side of the running track. It took several months but she got stronger.

Was she strong enough for Afghanistan? 

Lissa Berry is good at doing voices... except maybe her own.

"Sometimes I just counted my steps, doggedly putting one blistered foot in front of the other."

Jo Goodbody, blogger and trainer, talks about how after a tough period in her life, a walking challenge with her colleagues helped her move in the right direction. 

"I was ginger. Before it was cool."

Carys Jones, playwright talks about the time she dared to speak up.

"I like to write about the darker side"

Poet, journalist and mother Victoria talks about the highs and lows of being both a mother