Checking the donated torches

Text: an original contemporary personal account-style practice extract.

Our walking group received a crate of donated torches before its winter evening event. Before testing each torch, I fitted a fresh set of batteries. Some switches moved smoothly, while others needed to be pressed twice. I labelled the torches that worked reliably and placed the remaining ones in a separate tray for further checks.

Testing them in daylight told us very little about the strength of their beams, so we returned after sunset. One small torch lit the path more evenly than a larger one. I noted how long each torch remained bright, because appearance alone was not a useful guide to its performance.