not quite in the right sequence, but could apply be titled the return to the Big Banana

Zep finds a friend at Harrietville scrapbooking happening

Donna and Zep

Tiggy and Andrea

Vanessa's newest arrival

WITH FELLOW GLOBE TROTTERS MATT AND CARLA

Sugar; Chef and teacher extrodinaire @ time for lime www.timeforlime.net

Beer and the little people

kho Lanta, Thailand

Zep on the Charles street Bridge in Prague perrhaps known best to movie buffs as the brigde from mission impossible, bourne identity

havinga budweisser in Budojivochky

Have you seen this boy?

Where is Zep off to next?

The Amazing Zep should be travelling to Bangkock Thailand, next to joining onto a diving expedition expoling the upper Andaman sea. For those James Bond fans among you, that is in the area where the man with the golden gun was filmed.

GNOME FOUND BOUND AND GAGGED IN BONDI

Last Sunday marked “Clean up Australia day” where young and old alike fanned out through the countryside cleaning up this beautiful country of ours. Zep was disturbed by the whole this as one of the unusual objects found was a garden gnome, found bound and gagged in the Sydney area. His present whereabouts are not known, although he appeared grateful for the release. Who knows how many other abductees could be out there? Are there perhaps millions of them working in underground sweatshops in Syndey? If so, what are they making?

Could this be another investigation for the GNLA? (garden gnome liberation army) What are your thoughts... How could we bring these perpetrators to justice?

Zep and Irish comedian Ray Andrews

The Wagga Crew

Zep is being closely inspected by a native Bush turkey, note the bright colours

Zep visits "the Dish" near Parkes, star of the movie by the same name.

At considerable danger to life and limb this picture was taken

Youth Hostel Coffs harbour and fellow travellers from the Netherlands

Big Banana, Coffs harbour

Zep visits the markets in Bellingen, a place where the sixties is still very prevalent, here there were all sorts of new agey stuff.

Dangar Falls near Dorrigo

World Heritage site Dorrigo National Park is the ideal opportunity for a weary traveller to take a shower.

Zep visits the Anglo-Australian Telescope near the Warrumbungles National Park

In the next few days Zep will be visiting the north coast of new South Wales, Coffs Harbour and Sawtell. While the weather has not been the best for photography, Zep has made the most of his time by attending the Abiding life conference.

Zep has always felt it important that the little people get a fair go. Here he is at Parliament House in Canberra to personally discuss Australian Gnome Immigration Policy with Prime Minister John Howard and controvertial democrat senator Natasha Spock-Destroyer.

Zep visits Canberra's Parliament House

The two materials, ceramic and terracotta fight it out. Vastly outnumbered by terracotta warriors, Zep plays his final card, and readies himself for a defiant stand

The Great Wall of China meets Zep

Resting on his little shovel after a long walk up a very long flight of stairs for such a vertically challenged individual, Zep is glad for some respite during his visitto the great Wall of China

Zep with official plaque commemorating his historic vivit to the great wall of China, where he was so overcome with emotion that he was at a loss for words.

Zep in Tianamen Square, China, as part of the Asian Leg of his Globetrotting, Photograph care of B

A little known fact about gnomes is that we have them to thank for teaching hobbits to dance on tables.

Don't let their size fool you, gnomes are voracious eaters, their appetite only matched by their gourmet taste.

NAtional Acoustic Laboratories head of Research, Mr Harvey Dillon, and his pet owl Hedgewig, meet Zep in Perth at the Annual Conference of the Audiological society of Australia

Ronald Macdonald and the world famous Zep exchange notes on inanimate life. Two ceramic freinds, sitting on the park bench like bookends.

Lynne Tinnely, Western Australian Artiste extrordinaire meets the Famous Zep, art critic, raconteur and all around good guy, Zep

Auslan course: Zep dilligently watches two Pro's the Smoother Princess and Terry in Action.

Zep and Nicole in Auslan (Australian Sign Language) class, hard at work.

Zep plays his favourite Game "tourist" in Western Australias Capital

Perths Queens park and Botanical gardens - even knomes like to picnic on occassion

Zep and naval training ship Esmeralda in Perth

Li Cunxin, author of Mao's Last dancer meets the famous Zep in Perth

This is a reminder to all and sundry, Today is International BYOG day. "Bring your own gnome". TAke your gnome to work and hide it in places (such as the fridge or in the sink) to surprise and infuriate your colleagues.

Would you buy coffee from this girl?

Gnome and the queens baton relay

Zep in the courtyard of the infamous Colditz Castle, aka Stalag Luft IV 

London at sunset 

Zep and London Bridge 

Le Louvre - Zep playing Architectural super sleuth  

Gendarmes provide close personal protection during Zeps visit to quell the Paris riots. 

Zep and His parents Smootherprince and Smootherprincess in Praha 

"Sheesh, this is as close to a wild african Elephant as a gnome would want to get". Olifantdrinkgat - Kruger National Park 

L'tour de Eiffel meets the illustrious Zep 

Prague - Zep and an ornate window on the way to Wenceslas Castle, note hat is still intact at this point. Zep is unaware of the danger awaiting him. 

Czeck Palace Guard who never smiled and who chipped my hat. He has been reported to S.P.E.W. Society for the protection of elvish welfare. 

Zeppity Do Dah, Zeppity day..

Zep has seen some action in his time. He recalls a visit to the former communist Czeck republic. Here he stayed at Conviksta St, in the former KGB headquarters and made aquaintance with the local beer, Budijivocky.

The next day after travling more than 6km on foot he had an experience of a lifetime. We are listening to his rendition of the story in one of the underground pubs in Prague"

" Well my friends, what a day I 've had. You've wondered I'm sure, about the new chip off the old hat. It happend like this. I visited Prague Castle, to meet King Wenceslas - of course. Unfortunately they told me I'd arrived a few centuries too late, but instead, I could catch up with the chefs to the heads of state if I wanted to, by going to a different part of the castle- so off I went... Unfotunately due to my compact size I was mistaken for a soccer ball by one of the never smiling guards of the Castle..."

A murmur went throught the crowd..

"Down came the butt of his gun and out came his boot _ and I went flying! I was sure I was a gonner - as did my poor "parents" who had visions of spending the night in the slammer for distutrbing the guards. Anyway I'm lucky, I'm made of sterner stuff- otherwise I would have been in a smithereen pieces."

Zep visits his Alma Mater in Oxford, Just round the corner from Hogwarts

Buckingham Palace and Zep awaiting Tea with the Queen 

Tin shed church in Africa, the famous Zep makes a flying visit 

Gnomes generally fall into two varieties- those which are settled, and those who travel. Which one do you think Zep is? 

Happy little vegemite in Europe  

San Rock Art - Zep using his Art appreciation skills after a long trek up int the hills 

Community work in an African Playschool - Botsabelo, Orange Free State 

Moulin Rouge - Night life in Paris 

Resting under the Eiffel Tower 

Sydney Harbour Bridge - home at last 

Where will Zep pop up next - Spotted at Wagga Wagga Airport 

Lisa leads Zep into the den of drinking and gambling. 

Professional model debut  

Touristy happy snap, P&O in the background 

Under the auctioneers hammer 

Island Style Gnome 

Zep brings in 2006 with a bang and steers a cruiseliner home

Zep left his parents and usual travelling companions Smoother Prince and Princess at home and went on his summer holidays on the South Seas.

Calling P&O's Pacific Sun his home for two weeks Zep found stowing away was not necessary. Zep's ticket included his very own cabin steward, personalised waiter and he enjoyed his first professional photographic session as a model. His drinks of choice were pina coladas and fruit tingles (which he later discovered were alcoholic), however New Years saw him dive headfirst into a glass of chardonnay and hit the Moet with his new friends, especially his ladies of choice, Lisa (Canberra) and Abby (Perth).

Zep had a chance to play hero when Lisa narrowly escaped being bitten by a deadly sea snake off shore New Caledonia. He saved several local children in the process from an untimely end to their school holidays. Hurrah!

Zep had his ultimate moment of recognition though when arriving at his first art auction onboard Pacific Sun. Paired with an original Picasso, he cunningly avoided being lotted together in the purchase price. Daniello, the Italian art director consented to a private appraisal, noting that Zep was "a late 1990's sculpture of popular choice, distinct in colour and emanating a modern vibe and personality in an archetypal form". Zep was modestly thrilled at his formal recognition and agreed to pose under the auctioneer's hammer, but just for the papparazii.

Working on his tan and his sea legs aboard Pacific Sun after partying all night, New Years day 2006  

Divine Island, New Caledonia plays host to the infamous Zep 

Boabab tree in Venda, Zep here learns a new language of Tree called Venda. According to gnomelore, Gnomes were one of the first creatures to talk to trees 

Zebra's and Zep, Kruger National Park. These are Burchells Zebra, which you can tell by their shadow stripe.  

Cannon poses with Zep 

Gnome visits Kruger National Park, South Africa 

A german gnome in Africa feeling very homesick 

Zep visits the fortress of Konigstein near Dresden 

Zep and family at Albrech Durers House in Nurmberg 

Zep on Amelie's Steps, walking in the footsteps of his boyhood hero 

Going where no gnome has gone before?

Where does Zep get the chutzpah to do the things he does? Was he born with such an adventurous spirit, or was it something else that turned this shy halfling into the household name he is today?

Being from Bavaria makes Zep unique. Bavarians are the fat jolly germans from the South, rather than the more one click germans in the north. He enjoys Lebkuchen from Nurnberg, a spicy biscuit made with Cinnamon and Gluewein. Bavarians are a little like hobbits in that they love to tell stories about adventures, but avoid getting into any.

Zeps life was completely changed when two things happened, firstly he saw a French movie called Amelie, which told of a gnmome that visited places all around the world. "My goodness," he thought, " We can't let those frenchies get the better of us." and so he was off. He decided to visit his freinds in another part of Germany. "No point in travelling too far from home, you never know when you may need a bratwurst." So off he went to Dresden, which is in the heart of Saxony, and formerly part of East Germany. There the locals were very freindly, but incomprehensible. Zep found that he had to brush up on his Saxon, luckily the Wagners gave him a dictionary.

Zep in a scene during his role in Le Misrables 

Zep entertains one of Paris' fashionista's Madmoiselle Weisser  

Zep sets Paris Ablaze

Not since the storming of the Bastille has Paris been in such an uproar. The city played host to the famous Zep, art critic and miniture raconteur supreme. While he was partial to escargo, he even availed himself for a round of Paris hopscotch.

Zep is hydrophilic - he loves water 

Who the heck is Zep

This blog is dedicated to the adventures of a gnome called Zep. He is a very well traveled gnome, (as most of the little people are) and has entertained crowds around the world. Zep, what a strange name you may ask... and the explanation is that Zep is German. Well, why not Hans or Gunther or Klaus? You see Zep is a Bavarian gnome. Zep is short for Joseph, and his name according to linguistics expert Erika Scheinhast is "Tipish beirish" as beirish as "beirishen kooe". Hailing from the south of Germany, as close to the Austrian Border as you can get. He was liberated not by the Garden Gnome Liberation Army, as many suppose, but by a couple of Australian tourists who thought Zep would find warmer climates more condusive to a decent suntan. Sadly, his complexion is much the same.

Zep seems to enjoy his life in Australia, as he never seems to stop smiling. Despite now living in suburban Wagga Wagga, a country town in South Western New South Wales, Zep still hankers after adventure. He recently took a cruise on a liner to the Islands of New Caledonia and Vanuatu in the South Pacific. You never know when he may visit your hometown, so be sure to be on the lookout for him.