Allow me to introduce, Buttons The Wonder Dog!
18 September 2008 | L'Aber Wrac'h, France 18th September
Sarah
A few hours kip after our arrival at L' Aber Wrac'h we decide to find out where the nearest supermarket is so we can restock provisions for our next trip - The Big One! - the jump across the Bay of Biscay...no landfall for 3 days...aarggh! I am feeling a bit ill just thinking about it. Luckily Pete comes up trumps with what French he remembers from his time in Algeria. I am impressed! We discover the supermarket is a 20 minute walk up a hill to the nearest town.
Par de problem! Off we go. The weather is lovely and warm but with a breeze and the most wonderful scent of flora. The views are stunning as we look back. We pass fields and rustic looking houses with wonderful gardens. As we near the town centre it's all so peaceful we almost feel as if we are intruding upon this solace.
You may have already guessed...of course we arrive at 12:30 and the supermarket doors are shut. It closes for lunch from 12:15 until 15:00. Back down the hill we go! We will have to do this walk again later.
As we get back to the marina, we bump into an English family, walking their little black dog (I think he is a terrier cross - apologies if I am wrong). The family are: Colin and Jane and their two sons, Sam (23) and Tom (19). They have also decided to take time out to sail for the next few years, wherever the winds may take them, on their 39ft Oyster, "Hydaway". We exchange sailing banter on the pontoon and they kindly invite us for a drink onboard before we leave.
We arrive at their boat at 6 o'clock. (We only intend to stay a short while because we are still hoping to leave port later that evening). However, we are chatting and laughing, having such a pleasant time, we do not say goodbye for a good few hours! But I absolutely must tell you about their wonderful little black dog called, Buttons. He is a canine mathematical genius!
As we sit watching, Colin has three dog biscuits in his hand. Buttons sits at his feet, waiting expectantly but patiently.
Colins says to Buttons, "This is number one," as he places the first biscuit on his right foot.
"This is number two," he continues, placing the second biscuit on his left foot.
And finally, "This is number three," Colin finishes, placing the last biscuit on the cushion beside me.
"10 minus 8"? asks Colin.
With but a moments thought, Buttons eats biscuit number two and it is replaced with a new biscuit.
"The square root of 9"?
Biscuit number three is eaten.
Lots more questions are asked and Buttons eats the correct numbered biscuit with no real pattern
emerging.
"Now careful, this is a trick question," Colin advises Buttons. "The square root of 1"?
Still with 3 biscuits to choose from, Buttons eats biscuit number 1!!!
Hoorah for Buttons! I tell you, I have no idea how he does it. I just believe he really is, "Buttons the Wonder Dog", canine mathematical genius!
However, should fate have our paths cross again much later...we will of course expect Buttons to be reading short novels or at least doing calculus!!!!
If you happen to read this (Hydaway crew), we would love a picure of Buttons to post on this site next to the story.