Sad day today.

That must have been sad for you, Frank. I have to say, though, that I think most of our garden ornaments are well over 20 years old...they're like the garden, a bit battered and weathered but our own!

I still have a stone duck which was in my grandparents garden long before I was born. It was an important part of my childhood and I shall be very sad if any of the current grandchildre break it.

Oh dear! I expect you felt a twinge of sadness Frank. Sentimental memories attached to things like that.

I have a stone gnome (no colours!) called Knolly after the nursery where I bought him for my dad..he rally was not keen on garden ornaments and it was a sort of ironic gift! When he died iI took it for my garden and it has moved a few times and is now under the philadelphus in the garden here. I would be sad to lose him!

I have quite a few concrete garden gnomes that were in my parent's garden they must be well over 30 years old, they just sit amongs the flower beds here I am not bothered if they are tatty, you can always paint them as well

Frank You should have restored and repainted them.

Here I am, been up since 3.30 and not a soul about. I am not preparing to go for a run, merely trying to walk off restless leg.

When my youngest lad was 12, he wanted a garden gnome for his birthday, plus his own plot for marigolds. He got both, though the gnome is faded and forgotten now, nearly 20 years later!! Where these ideas came from I have no idea - he was always a typical lad, full of fun and mischief.

I have a gnome it is a was a squeaky one we couldn't find a stone one, he is 44yeasr old and still going strong His name is Mr Squeak

Why did you 'have to' - you could have happily accepted as they were, or found them a special corner, or restore them to their former glory. Or not replace them with more (gnomes were they?).