Text A: an original contemporary practice extract.

The chair had one loose rung and a wobble that made it seem more dramatic than it was. At the community repair workshop, I was given a small tool and shown where to look. I had brought the chair because I liked it, not because replacing it would have been difficult. Still, I felt oddly pleased when the wobble stopped.

The repair took less time than choosing a new chair would have. I could see what had changed: the rung sat firmly in place, and the chair held steady when I tested it. Around me, people were working on lamps, bags and a clock with a stubborn hand. Nobody needed to make the afternoon into a grand lesson. I had learnt one useful thing, and the chair was ready to go home.

I would return if another small repair needed doing. I would not expect every object to be worth saving, or every visit to feel like an achievement. This time, it was enough to leave with the chair I had brought in.

Text B: an original contemporary practice extract.

I arrived at the repair workshop carrying a desk lamp that had stopped working. The volunteer asked what I had tried already, and I was relieved to have someone take the problem seriously. I had watched a short demonstration, but I had not wanted to start taking the lamp apart by myself.

The volunteer checked it carefully and explained what they were doing as they went. I liked learning how the parts fitted together, but I liked having somebody beside me just as much. A repair can look simple from across a room; it feels different when you are responsible for the small pieces on the table. When the lamp worked again, we both laughed at how ordinary the light looked.

I would bring another object if it needed attention. I might try a simple job on my own next time, but I would still value the people at the workshop. The lamp came home working, and I came home with a better idea of what I could learn with help.