HENDERSON GNOME CUSTODY BATTLE ENTERS THIRD WEEK, KEITH REMAINS NEUTRAL
Two families, one fishing rod, one Facebook post that should've been left alone.
A garden gnome named Keith is at the centre of a fence-line dispute between two Henderson families, with both sides claiming ownership and neither willing to back down.
The Patel-Wickham household on Sturges Road say Keith has lived under their hydrangea for years. The Coughlans, three doors down, say Keith went missing from their letterbox in 2019 and they spotted him in a community Facebook post last month.
"He's got a chip on his left boot from when my brother kicked him off the deck," said Siobhan Coughlan, 34. "That's our chip. I don't care how many hydrangeas he's been under since."
Meera Patel-Wickham said the Coughlans were having a laugh. She produced a 2021 Christmas card with Keith in it, wearing a small tinsel scarf. The Coughlans countered that the scarf was "clearly not consensual" and demanded a receipt.
A neighbour, Rangi from across the road, told The Daily Yarn the whole street was over it. "Someone nicked my actual letterbox in August. Not a peep then. Now it's gnome court." Police confirmed they were called once, declined to attend, and suggested mediation "or honestly, just buy another gnome."
Keith is being held at a third neighbour's place pending a meeting on Sunday. That neighbour has started charging board.
The Patel-Wickham household on Sturges Road say Keith has lived under their hydrangea for years. The Coughlans, three doors down, say Keith went missing from their letterbox in 2019 and they spotted him in a community Facebook post last month.
"He's got a chip on his left boot from when my brother kicked him off the deck," said Siobhan Coughlan, 34. "That's our chip. I don't care how many hydrangeas he's been under since."
Meera Patel-Wickham said the Coughlans were having a laugh. She produced a 2021 Christmas card with Keith in it, wearing a small tinsel scarf. The Coughlans countered that the scarf was "clearly not consensual" and demanded a receipt.
A neighbour, Rangi from across the road, told The Daily Yarn the whole street was over it. "Someone nicked my actual letterbox in August. Not a peep then. Now it's gnome court." Police confirmed they were called once, declined to attend, and suggested mediation "or honestly, just buy another gnome."
Keith is being held at a third neighbour's place pending a meeting on Sunday. That neighbour has started charging board.