Thanks, that link is fascinating. Yes, like you my memory of distant past events is almost non-existant. And I do have trouble recognizing the same character in movies (I generally don't even try). Although I am good with mechanical (its the muscle memory thing I think), I'm completely hopeless at spatial (can not estimate a distance at all).

On the offchance you read this (sorry - this is several days later), and want to chat more with me about it, I have an account with the same name on the Australian isp TPG.

I know exactly what you mean. I have the same problem, except I don't even get mental images in dreams - my memory works more along the lines of remembering the actions (I learn very well by doing). I do think that it's fairly uncommon though - I had a specialist freak out a little over it when I mentioned it during an unrelated health issue (as if there was actually something wrong with me).
This makes a technique such as this completely useless to people like me, since I can't store the picture in my memory.