My own memories of events ancient and / or traumatic are fragmentary. I certainly do not recall details of words said or any of the minutiae. I am always skeptical when I come upon anyone who gives a too detailed account of an event. It is either an invention or they have embellished and elaborated their story over the years.

However, recently I came upon a young man with a most extraordinary memory for detail, all of it front of mind and available for immediate recall including: the opening hours of a butcher in a town he had never visited, what food was in my pantry, the location of books in my collection and everything else. He was taking in and retaining so much stuff I am concerned his brain will become filled.