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