Blob Thing Walks Tall Above The Wansbeck Valley

It was a couple of months ago and Blob Thing was only just getting used to the idea of getting out and seeing the world.  Blob's person, for her part, was only just starting to get used to the idea of taking Blob out with her.  They were both learning how interesting the world is when it's shared by a small pink blob and a slightly strange woman who is slowly discovering freedom.

On this particular day Blob's person carefully scrutinised the weather forecast.  It predicted rain, but not too much of it so she decided that she would walk and that Blob could come too.  So they got the bus to Morpeth and set off along the Wansbeck valley.  It's a very, very pretty walk as far as Bothal Mill.  Blob's person enjoyed herself greatly.

But she made a mistake.  A big, unhappy mistake.  She forgot about Blob Thing!  Oh no!  Blob could only sit himself in his person's rucksack and feel a little sad as she oohed and aahed at all the prettiness.  She loved the water and the trees.  She loved discovering the ruins of a chapel.  And she loved the way an old viaduct crossed the valley.  But Blob missed all that and could only look at the pictures afterwards.

Blob's person reached Bothal Mill and started to walk up the steep lane away from the river to the next footpath.  She suddenly felt hot.  Walking up a steep hill in the sunshine is a lot warmer than walking through the woods by a river - especially when that walk had involved hailstones.  She opened her rucksack to put her jacket away and Blob shouted to her at the top of his little voice.  "What about me?"

Well, Blob's person was ever so apologetic.  She wished that Blob had been able to experience the river with her and she promised that one day she would take him with her to see other rivers.  At the time of writing this, two months later, Blob has seen quite a few rivers.  He's even been able to cross a couple of them in the most fantastic boats a Blob Thing has ever ridden.

Blob calmed down and the smile returned to his face.  He was going to be able to experience the rest of the walk.  Blob's person said that they were only half way through the day and she hoped that he would be able to enjoy himself for the remainder.  Smiling more happily now, Blob set off along the footpath, passing some llamas, and out into the fields.

This was wonderful.  The sky was beautiful.  The sun shone and Blob breathed deep breaths of the clear air.  It's a great mystery as to how a creature with no nose and a mouth that doesn't open was able to take such deep breaths.  Especially as, at least to the best of anyone's knowledge, he hasn't got any lungs.  Only his creator would know about the insides of Blob, and she hasn't imparted such information to anyone, even Blob.  But he was able to breathe and let out a contented sigh.

As they walked, Blob felt energetic and climbed a tree.  He must have enjoyed it.  He's climbed lots of trees since.

And then he relaxed in the field and thought the shapes of the clouds to be miraculous.  They're not just water in the sky.  That's a miracle enough.  They are stunningly beautiful.  They are powerful.  In the good times they are a picture of kindness and the giving of life.  And sometimes they are capricious and destructive.  Some clouds are enough to bring great fear.

The path then descended back into the woods and Blob sat for a while and rested, wondering what he might find there.  The day had started very badly for him but now was turning into a day worth living.  Blob was exhilarated.

[650 words]