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.