How to use the online alarm clock
As you hand the constituency surgery visit over to a colleague, setting an alarm for 5:58 pm gives them a clear cue to wrap up and prepare to meet the MP. The timing sits just before 6:00 pm, so it can mark the changeover without interrupting the conversation too early. Pass on what has already been discussed, along with any papers or notes they will need.
Because the alarm is meant to support a handover, check its sound before the appointment rather than discovering a problem when the cue is due. Set a brief test alarm, confirm that the volume is audible in the room, then return the time to 5:58 pm. The alarm depends on the browser page remaining active and the phone or computer staying awake; otherwise the MP visit may continue without the planned signal for your colleague to take over.
When the surgery finishes near the end of the afternoon, the light outside can differ sharply between summer and winter in the UK. Before handing over, check whether your colleague will leave after dusk and place a coat, keys and any documents somewhere easy to see. If the room is already dim, switch on a nearby lamp before 5:58 pm so nothing is missed during the changeover.
Common questions
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.
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 5:58 pm?
The tab sleeps along with it and the alarm will not sound on time, if at all. If you are relying on it, change the power settings so the machine stays awake, or keep a phone alarm running as well.
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