How to use the online alarm clock
Breaking away from the job in hand at 5:17 pm gives you time to check the sheep before the fog thickens. Set the alarm for that exact time so the current task does not quietly run on towards 6:00 pm. The alert marks a clear stopping point: tools can be put down, outdoor clothing collected and the flock reached while familiar field details are still visible.
Because this alert is meant to interrupt ongoing work, its reliability depends on the phone or laptop remaining active until it sounds. Keep this page open, leave the sound audible and connect the charger if the battery is low. The sheep check could be missed if the page is closed or the phone or laptop goes to sleep before the alarm fires. A separate alarm on another clock is sensible when losing track of the time would leave the flock unchecked.
Fog can flatten the remaining afternoon light surprisingly quickly around fields, tracks and gateways. Before returning to the current job, place a charged torch or head torch beside the coat you will wear, rather than searching for it after 5:17 pm. Check that the route to the field gate is clear, and keep a brighter light ready for reading tags or inspecting fencing. Reflective outerwear also makes movement near a farm lane easier for drivers to notice as daylight fades.
Common questions
Can I change the sound?
Yes, there is a short list of tones to pick from before you press Start. Softer sounds are easy to sleep through, so a firmer bell tends to be the safer choice for anything early in the morning.
Will it still be right when the clocks change?
Yes. It reads your device's local clock, so the move between GMT and BST at the end of March and October is picked up automatically, as long as the computer's date, time and time zone are set correctly.
Can I use this on a phone?
It works in a mobile browser, but phones lock the screen and suspend background tabs far more readily than a laptop does, which can stop the alarm sounding. For anything important, a desktop or a plugged-in laptop is the steadier option.
Does the alarm still work if I close the tab?
No. Everything runs inside this page, so closing the tab — or quitting the browser altogether — ends the countdown there and then. Leaving it open in the background is all it asks, and switching to another tab makes no difference.
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