Sentry

He stands as tall as I do, but until he is pointed out, I do not see him. In fact, when I finally accept his presence, I am amazed that I could have missed him at all. With an outstretched arm, I could have gently stroked his unkempt coat.

He doesn’t so much stare, as consider me. Bravely and diligently, this diminutive hero acts as sentry for his community and their month-old pups. His posture, as he watches, has the characteristic uprightness of the meerkat.

How could I have missed so rare an opportunity to encounter this personality so close?

I had been watching an animal of completely different stature. My lens had been firmly fixed on the heads of giraffes, picking selectively off high branches with their purple tongues. The photo I sought was for my future sister-in-law and my attention was solely focused on its composition.

 But my furry friend was undeterred and willingly held his pose so that I could take this shot before I returned to the less accommodating giraffes. I am grateful for his co-operation.

Audrey Wilkinson

For late on a Saturday morning in Spring, the day is bleak. A grey, featureless sky keeps the temperature low.

Inside the cars, no one seems to notice. There is laughter, idle gossip and the warmth of friendship.

By the time they reach their third winery, there is already a glow in the cheeks of the drinkers. And while they sample the flavours of the Hunter Valley, their laconic, good humour becomes contagious.

A young couple, not attached to the group, is caught in a sentimental kiss. Promptly, they are loudly teased by the cellar door staff. All attention shifts to the pair and their embarrassment. Soft giggling peters out as patrons return to their conversations but the mood remains lighter for the distraction.

Outside, the sky becomes more leaden. Rain looms and the lone tree that supervises the manicured lawns of the vineyard sullenly watches it approach, jealous of the merriment it can hear.

Oblivious to the advancing front, the company delights in its good fortune and forgets the stresses left behind at the end of the working week.

Indefatigably

She is almost impossible to deny. Her golden curls and entrancing smile light up any room she enters. A casual glance is all it takes to make my heart stumble and fall whenever we share a room.

Her selfless heart and passionate soul are tempered with intelligence and wisdom beyond her years. I could never have conceived that my attention could be so easily stolen.

It is not hard to gush about the woman of my dreams. She is more compelling that the polar caps I have explored. She is more alluring than the twilight landscapes I have captured. She completes me.

Platinum and diamonds, green garnet and braille: it is a humble token of my adoration. I am so proud that she is mine.