Travelling gnome is back home

By Tania Martin
A KALLISTA couple is celebrating the return of their errant garden gnome who left home for almost five years.
Noel the garden gnome disappeared at Christmas time in 2001, leaving only a note for his owners Maureen and Bill Quinton.
The note read: “I’ve always wanted to travel, so I jumped on Santa’s sleigh to travel the world.”
Since then the Quintons have received a postcard from the travelling gnome every Christmas telling them of his exciting adventures.
The story of the errant garden gnome was put in the spotlight in December last year when the couple told the Mail they would offer a reward for the gnome’s return.
In May, Noel came home to the couple’s garden in Ocean View Crescent, just in time for Mother’s Day and carrying a note about his travels.
He returned with a note that read: “I’ve had a great trip and it feels like I’ve been around the world – and to a lot of places I have been!! I have grown a bit and so have my family.”
Mrs Quinton said she didn’t expect to see Noel again because she thought he would have hopped off Santa’s sleigh at the North Pole and stayed there.
But the couple are now holding a welcome home celebration for the gnome on Saturday.
Mr Quinton said it’s great to have Noel home for Christmas.