Maria-Anna takes me to the Chisley Stones on Staups Moor, having been pulled there herself a few months ago, from her window all the way in Old Town, intrigued by the distant bands of colour.

The autumn light is intense and I feel excited. Relieved by the lack of rain for today. I have to keep interrupting our conversation to say wow or “please can you stand in the road!?” when I can’t ignore how things look against the sky.

I walked along and uphill to meet Kat in the strange light last Saturday. It was bright but faded, hazy. I was all sweat and we were both feeling nervous. I hadn’t photographed anyone for a few weeks. She knew that she’d be asking a lot of herself to show up in front of the camera.

“What’s the best way to walk?” Amy asked her daughter Rose after they met me off a very, very, alarmingly sweaty bus journey to Otley. It made me smile, that I was being taken to new places and also for the grownup not to automatically be in charge.

It was a significant time for them both as Rose had just finished her first day at high school. She was happy and full of energy! Quite amazing, especially considering that she’d had to wear a blazer and tights in this heat.

I was sitting gratefully in the willow shade by the river yesterday, when I remembered something Marie said that really struck me. She told me that despite swimming outside most days, in all seasons, for a number of years now, she still feels scared every time. Every time! We talked about the way practising being afraid and then being ok, surviving, can bring us a lot.

I have heard people talk about the benefits of cold water immersion in this light: how good it is to safely practise transitioning between states, allowing our nervous system to adjust, dealing with change.