“Having children just puts the whole world into perspective. Everything else just disappears.”

Many roads to take some to joy some to heart ache

Life is short, and it is here to be lived.

I do think it’s important for young women to know that magazine covers are retouched. People don’t really look like that.

I look like people that walk down the street. I don’t have perfect boobs, I don’t have zero cellulite – of course I don’t – and I’m curvy. If that is something that makes women feel empowered in any way, that’s great.

I don’t have parts of my body that I hate or would like to trade for somebody else’s or wish I could surgically adjust into some fantasy version of what they are.

I am insecure. If you ask me, everybody is.

I still don’t believe this craziness for being skinny, but I eat sensibly and I don’t stuff down chocolate biscuits.

I was the kid who never won the races. I never jumped the highest. I wasn’t on the list of the high-achieving.

I accept my body. I accept how I am and make the best of what I am given.

Mum and dad were very much friends, and up to life. There was no anxiety for anything when I was growing up, they just taught me to be me.

I’m often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don’t think I’ve actually cried watching myself.

There are moments to indulge and enjoy, but I always know when it’s time to go home and wash my knickers.

Of course I believe in marriage. Commitment to one other person in life is glorious.

Regret isn’t good. Every decision one makes in life is made for a reason or another. Whenever something bad happens, I go, ‘This is happening for a reason’, or, ‘This is going to teach me something’.

I feel very strongly that curves are natural, womanly and real. I shall continue to hope that women are able to believe in themselves for who they are inside, and not feel under such incredible pressure to be unnaturally thin.

If you don’t try at anything, you can’t fail.

The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation.

Question for parents: do you want to make your children safe, or strong?

I liked myths. They weren’t adult stories and they weren’t children’s stories. They were better than that. They just were.

It’s important to give a better country to your children, but it is more important to give better children to your country.

You need to listen to us, us who cannot vote. You need to vote for us, for your children and grandchildren. What we are doing now can soon no longer be undone.

We’re Children, Teenagers, Women. We aren’t flames, but we have fire in us.

I let my mind wander and it always finds its way back to you. like a sweet-toothed child in search of a cookie jar.

Hidden in the ashes, of a fallen building lays a child’s family photo, with whom he could never unite in life.