How to use the online alarm clock
Once the barge has cleared and the bridge is back down, the 7:18 am alarm marks the moment to finish the log, secure the controls and leave the canal. That gives the bridge keeper a clear stopping point instead of letting small closing jobs drift towards 8:00 am. Keys, radio and any handwritten notes can be gathered before walking away.
A quiet canal-side cabin may suit a gentle alarm tone, especially when sudden noise would be distracting, while an outdoor control point or a noisy mechanism calls for something more persistent. The browser alarm can be set for 7:18 am and kept visible while the final checks are completed. It should not be the only signal for this job: if the browser ceases running, the barge departure could be delayed because no sound will play. A separate clock or radio alert provides sensible backup.
Leaving the canal early can mean meeting commuter traffic just as local roads begin to fill. Allowing for the walk from the bridge, locking the gate and reaching the vehicle gives a more realistic departure estimate than treating 7:18 am as the driving time. A route that crosses a town centre, school approach or busy roundabout may take longer now than it did before the morning rush, so a modest journey buffer can protect the rest of the schedule.
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 7:18 am?
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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