Diane Hoy is the author of The Scullery, a recently released book that looks at recipes from the Ulster-Scots heritage. She is also a regular contributor to the Ulster-Scots magazine Oot an Aboot and a part-time clerical officer at Queen’s University. She will be signing copies of her book at Newtownbreda Library on November 10.
I was born in…Belfast
I grew up in…the Saintfield Road
I now live…on the Saintfield Road still
I was educated at... Methodist College Belfast
My earliest memory is...throwing up over the breakfast table at a bed and breakfast in Portrush
When I was a child I wanted to be…a cleaner as I loved to watch the floors being mopped in primary school
I actually became…a librarian
Worst job you've ever had…a receptionist in a company where no-one wanted to take the calls
Best job you've ever had…development officer for the Ulster-Scots Heritage Council
The bravest thing I’ve ever done…squashed two of those enormous spiders in one night
The stupidest thing I've ever done was... to advise my dad, who was teaching me to drive, that the reason why I couldn’t turn off the main road into a side street was that I couldn’t find the steering wheel. Cue frantic clawing at the passenger door to get out
The biggest thing I've yet to do is... find a husband
The person/people who inspired me most is/are…my parents who taught me the value of principles and morals; to stand up for what is right and to ignore those who do you wrong
The most important thing in the world is... my family and true friendship
I'm very bad at…maths
I'm very good at…organising, due to obsessive compulsive behaviour
I'm most proud of…getting my first book, The Scullery published
My best friend would say I…never shut up
I like to relax by…reading with a box of chocolate truffles to dip into
My favourite saying/quote is…”It’s not that I’m afraid of dying – I just don’t want to be there when it happens” - Woody Allen
The last book I read was….Play to the End by Robert Goddard
My favourite movie is...The Wild Geese with my favourite actor Richard Burton
The actor that would play me in a movie of my life would be...Caroline Quentin
The song that makes me dance is... Ride on Time by Black Box
The song I would have played at my funeral would be…Dark Island played by the Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band
The best place I've ever been…the Lake District in Cumbria – it’s where Heaven touches earth
The place I have to visit before I die is…New England, USA in the autumn to see the glorious colours of the leaves
The last person I talked to on the phone was…Scott from South Belfast News
The last text message I received was from…my mum who has just learned to text and is now polluting the family every few hours
If I was a politician I would… need so much therapy
If I won the lottery I would... buy a barn in the country and do it up as a coffee shop and a new/used bookstore. Food and books – perfect
If I could describe myself in five words they would be…curvaceous chocaholic, and sensitive bookworm
If I could invite five people (living or dead) to a dinner party they would be... the Queen because she would bring graciousness and dignity; Craig Revel-Horwood because he would bring much hilarity; Sir Chris Hoy, because he could turn out to be a long-lost cousin; Bodie from The Professionals (Lewis Collins) because he was my perfect man and Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) because she could cook and let me have a rest
If I could change one thing about South Belfast it would be…that one day I would actually own one of the houses in the area
My favourite thing about South Belfast is... all my family live here