We are continuing our ‘Five minutes with…’ summer series, where we slow the pace down to celebrate some of the people who make our district tick.

We’ve put the same five questions to a range of residents to find out a bit more about who they are and get their unique take on life in our region.

Today, we catch up with The Central App’s own Dorothy Boyd, who swapped dentistry in Dunedin for Central Otago life.

1. What was one of your very first jobs, and what did it teach you?

Dorothy: My first job was potato picking in the North East of Scotland. We had school holidays in October called the "tattie picking holidays".

The kids were picked up in a cattle truck outside the local police station before the sun was up - not very health and safely conscious back then! The mornings were bitterly cold, but the day warmed up when the sun rose.

I liked the smell of the soil and the tractor engine. In the breaks for morning tea and lunch we could ease our sore backs by stretching out across the drills - probably quite ergonomic! Once when it rained the farmer put all us kids in the barn and turned on the grain driers. Then when we were dry we went back out.

I learnt that a bit of slog was worth it, because at the end of the two weeks (I was paid eight pounds a day) I bought the road bike that I had my eye on.

2. When the holiday crowds arrive, where is your secret spot to escape the heat?

Dorothy: That's easy - just my verandah, where we have some old lounge chairs and a sofa. Roses and wisteria tumble at the edges, and make it a secret space. I love to spend an hour or two reading with a mug of good strong tea.

And I love to swim in the Blue Lake later in the day when the crowds have gone home for dinner.

3. It’s peak stone fruit season: Cherries, apricots, peaches or nectarines - you can only pick one. Which is it and what's your favourite way to eat it?

Dorothy: Cherries. I like to eat them just as they are, warm in the sunshine. 

4. What is a hidden talent or weird party trick that nobody expects from you?

Dorothy: Hmmm...I can hula hoop, does that count? Or maybe a better one is making my own haggis from scratch.

I found I couldn't buy the crumbly oatie textured haggis that I know and love, so I started to make my own. It is based on the recipe from the Great British Chefs. I make a wee tweak every batch and write it down. It's close to perfect now!

5. Complete this sentence: "You know you’re a local in Central Otago when..."

Dorothy: Oh my goodness - I don't think I can call myself a local and get away with it - not with this accent, and with a place in Central for just 19 years!