‘I’m not prudish,’ I rebuke, while at the same time feeling less than enthusiastic about getting my naked body out into the open. ‘But what if someone sees us?’

‘You said it yourself: this is a little hidden spot, and no one ever comes down here.’ Putting down her backpack, she sits on the grass and starts pulling off her trainers and socks. ‘Come on.’

‘What? Now?’ I look around, somewhat alarmed.

‘Why not? No time like the present.’ She looks across at Ellie, who’s playing with Harry on the small stretch of pebble beach alongside the banks of the river. ‘What do you say, Ellie?’

Without further ado, Naomi strips off and jumps in, accompanied by Ellie, who is as daring as her mother. Barking gleefully at this sudden exciting turn of events, Harry needs no persuasion and follows them.

‘It’s not bad, once you get in – it’s really refreshing,’ Naomi calls out, to the sound of shrieks of laughter and splashing.

I take off my clothes but keep on my underwear, then hesitate on the riverbank. Memories of being a child, and of Josie jumping straight in the deep bit while I would remain paddling sensibly in the rockpools, flood back. I remember saying I was fine, I didn’t want to swim; but now, looking back, I wonder if I mixed up being sensible with being scared.

I strip off naked and jump in.

My breath feels like it’s being sucked out of my body. It is freezing.

‘Yay, you’re in!’ grins Naomi, as I swim, splashing and gasping, towards her. ‘Isn’t it fab?’

I can’t answer, as my voice seems to have disappeared along with my breath, but as I start to splash around I feel the strangest of sensations. My body begins to rapidly acclimatize, the shock quickly disappears and I’m suddenly filled with exhilaration at how amazing it feels to be swimming around in nature, surrounded by nothing but blue skies and green fields. And it strikes me that while I might have moved physically, it’s as if I’ve still been stuck in my emotions, unable to move forward properly.

‘Woo-hoo.’ Splashing around with Naomi and Ellie and Harry, I whoop and laugh. Because now I suddenly feel free.

After about fifteen minutes Naomi reluctantly reminds us of the train they have to catch back to London and swims to the riverbank with Ellie, to dry off and get dressed. Further upstream, I take a few more minutes and am just about to start clambering out across the slippery rocks when a figure suddenly happens upon us.

‘I thought I heard a commotion.’

He’s immediately recognizable in his flannel shirt and jeans. Ben. What’s he doing here? I plunge back into the water.

‘Oh, hi.’ I try to wave casually, only I probably look like I’m drowning, as he hurries off the footpath and down to the bank.

‘Livvie! You all right?’

‘Yes, fine,’ I bluster, trying to remain fully submerged while willing him to stay back. ‘I’m wild swimming.’