John Ranger's prodigal gnome is back home after a nine-month trip to Vietnam.At 6am yesterday, the Austinmer grandfather found his missing gnome on his doorstep.It had not changed, except for a photo album - full of pictures from its trip to Vietnam. The gnome wore a Vietnamese hat as a memento from his journey.
SLIDESHOW: Knobby's 'Nam holiday snapshotsMr Ranger was dumbfounded upon seeing the gnome and photo album and couldn't believe the places his ceramic friend had been."Someone has written 'Gnome's Vietnam Adventure' on the album," he said."There are pictures of him on a yacht, at a temple ... he's got his little smile, with different Vietnamese landscapes behind him."About nine months ago, Mr Ranger noticed one gnome missing from the 30 in his garden."We forgot about it because it didn't come back," he said.Mr Ranger said he was attached to all his gnomes, but liked this one especially because it had a chipped head."I felt sorry for him because part of his head (was) missing," he said. "That's why we called him Knobby."Mr Ranger was amazed someone put in so much effort to take the gnome on this adventure."He's pretty heavy, easily two kilos," Mr Ranger said."I can't understand why you would want to carry that around with you."Mr Ranger said Knobby suffered no injuries from the journey and his travel companions looked after him well."He's the same as when I painted him," he said.Mr Ranger had no idea who took the gnome but found a few clues in the photo album."There are no faces, only what looks liked a girl's hand with a black band around her wrist," he said.Mr Ranger said he wasn't angry, just a little bewildered.He said if travellers wanted to share their adventures with one of his gnomes they should simply ask him."If you want to take them on a trip, just knock on the door," he said.He has high hopes for Knobby's next destination."If I leave him where he is, they might take him to Disneyland next," he said.
