It may be a cliché, but as Linda Hart discovers, Sonia Rolt's life as a canal boatwoman, interior decorator, librarian, author and doughty campaigner for the preservation of historical buildings and inland waterways, fulfils the description perfectly. 

Imagine how you'd feel if you came across a notebook written by your great-grandmother, describing her life and times and her contemporaries. It would be like finding pure gold! 

Want to try something new, face your fears or make a difference? Columba Colivet finds inspiration in these women who threw caution to the wind to reach their personal goal. 

Alma Williams goes in search of a public convenience and flushes out the story of its sad decline in the UK since the glory of Victorian days. 

Rural life in Australia is very different from the UK - for a start, the distances between neighbours and extended families can be huge. Betty Pascoe, who lives in Western Australia, finds out about the role of the Country Women's Association. 

Dogs play an increasingly important and integral part of our emergency services. Anna Milford investigates.