Memories Are Made of This: 51 Short Stories That Will Make You Laugh, Cry, and See Life Differently by Gregory Mark Haynes
Three Continents. Three Cultures. One Man.
51 Deeply Personal, Provocative, and Intriguing Stories.
Gregory Mark Haynes invites you on a truthful, humble, and engaging journey through 51 selected experiences from his life, each offering a fresh perspective and a sense of wonder. Whether it’s surviving a severe tropical storm aboard an ocean liner as a boy, hiking the dramatic Fish River Canyon in Namibia, or embarking on a self-made tour of Paris, each chapter is a no-frills, upbeat, and authentic account.
These true-to-life stories span a wide range of unforgettable moments and adventures, such as parasailing, ostrich riding, sailing, hiking, skydiving, wildlife encounters in South Africa, and so much more, all on a modest budget and driven by a fearless, fun-loving spirit.
Born in Australia and shaped by life in South Africa and the UK, Greg blends humour, resilience, curiosity, and a deep love of life into each experience. His tales offer insight into the choices, risks, and values that shaped his character, while reflecting on how our unique paths help define who we become.
If you’re curious about how others live, what people do with their lives, and how life’s journey transforms them, then this book is for you.
Each chapter is enhanced by an online companion featuring maps, photographs, and detailed links. Look out for the dagger symbol (†) throughout the book as each one points you to further resources and media to deepen your experience. The Webpage Companion offers over 1,600 curated links, organised chapter by chapter, to provide historical, geographical, and cultural context to every story.
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Author Bio:
Gregory Mark Haynes lives in England, UK, in his sixties. Born in Sydney Australia, he moved to South Africa at 8 years old and then to the UK in 2001 where he lives to this day. He worked as the Climate Change Officer for the Local County Council until an unfortunate heart attack in June, 2025.
Previous occupations: Corporate Geographical Information Systems Manager for a Council in London, assistant to the Financial director at Microsoft RSA, director of a software company in Johannesburg, project manager for a gold mining company in Johannesburg, senior programming analyst for a steel company in Witbank, RSA, National Serviceman for two years, Civil Engineering technician for a couple of civil engineering companies.
Education: Greg finished school in 1981. He completed a double major BSc degree in computer science and geography and a postgraduate degree in business leadership. In 2021, he also completed two courses in webpage design and JavaScript.
Greg’s pastimes include playing guitar, piano, singing, music production and recording, playing chess against bots, backgammon, and learning about AI and its practical uses. He enjoys learning history and how to be healthier.