About the Author
The Early Years
Born in 1952 on a farm in Somerset, England, I grew up in a world where human connection wasn't optional—it was essential. In a home without television until I left at 17 for Jamaica, evenings meant gathered around the hearth sharing stories with family.
Each photo on my Instagram account includes a four-hundred word narrative in the caption.
The Archive of Connection
What you see here is the physical manifestation of a lifetime of connections—letters and mementos from decades of travel across continents. Each envelope contains not just paper, but encounters that changed my perspective. These living archives formed the foundation for my two published books and continue to inspire the Hello Stranger Project today.
Lessons from the Road
My journey taught me that the trust required in hitchhiking, the resilience needed as a foreign resident in the Middle East for a quarter century, and the thousands of unmediated conversations worldwide all share a common thread: genuine human connection creates a magic that no technology-mediated experience can replicate
Connection as Climate Action
As my understanding of human connection deepened, so did my awareness of our collective disconnection from each other and the natural world. Now at 73, I feel a particular urgency to this work. Our world faces unprecedented environmental challenges that require collective action, yet we've never been more isolated from one another. This conviction has led me to put my body on the line—sitting in streets with Extinction Rebellion climate actions, willing to be arrested to draw attention to the environmental emergency that threatens us all.
The Way Forward
With the wisdom that comes from seven decades of living, I see clearly that heartfelt dialogue isn't just about personal fulfillment—it's essential for creating the solidarity needed to protect our shared home. Back in Melbourne in 2025, I'm more convinced than ever of connection's transformative power. Through this project, I share cultural insights and real-life stories that demonstrate how these small moments ripple outward, creating community where isolation once existed, and building bridges that enable us to address our common challenges.
Join me in rediscovering the simple yet profound art of saying hello—for ourselves, for each other, and for the planet we all call home.
My Books
The stories and wisdom gathered through these decades of conversations have been distilled into two books that explore how fleeting encounters can profoundly shape our lives. "A Hitchhiker's Guide to Life" and "When Asia was Wide" both grew from the letters you see in the archive above—documenting how brief exchanges with momentary friends can shift our perspective and sometimes alter our life's direction entirely. Find them in the Books section of this site.