Peter McKechnie contacted us through the Home Truths message board - "What's the big deal about synaesthesia?" he said, "I'm a human compass." That got our attention. We asked him to tell us more ...
"I noticed years ago that if someone stopped me in the street to give me directions, I had to sort of gyrate around which made them confused. As I sit talking to you, I’m facing north north east. If I try and visualise the lounge at home, if I were facing nor nor east, I’d be able to see out of the window - what I can’t do is see the door which is opposite the window because it’s not north north east. If I turn completely I’ll be able to see the door, not the window any longer.. The memory is tied to the same direction I’m facing at the moment. Everything I’ve ever remembered has got a compass direction that goes with it. I know it’s absurd…
If I visualise myself on my last trip to the pictures I’m facing north north east now, I’d be looking slightly to the right of where the screen was. But if I turned slightly left, I’d be able to see the screen. Everything else is sort of greyed out - which is why if someone asks me for directions in the street, I have to start spinning around which is a bit confusing for people.. I just assumed other people did exactly the same thing … when I do .. they tend to shuffle away a bit. If I try and force myself to think of say something south - now - I almost spin on my access- I have a terrible inclination to turn, otherwise I can’t actually remember it properly.
The weather affects me, and that’s where I think all this must originate from. If it’s sunny or if I can see stars, I think I automatically register where the sun and the north star are ... It can be the only way I know directions.. If I’ve got a memory from a cloudy day, it’s difficult to visualise it, it’s nowhere near as clear. It’s the difference between a black and white and a colour photo.
My children don’t have this, although one has synaesthesia...I’ve searched on the internet, but haven't found anything yet - If I did, we could rotate together or something…"
