How to use the online alarm clock
Break away from packing your bucket, net and spare socks when the 7:52 am alarm sounds, so you can leave for the start of your rock-pool hunt. With 8:00 am approaching, those final minutes are enough to zip the bag, check the tide notes and gather everyone by the door without drifting into another job.
Your rock-pool departure could be missed if the browser is no longer running or the computer has gone to sleep, because the alarm cannot sound then. Also check where the audio will play before carrying on with your preparations: headphones may still be connected and receive the alert without anyone else hearing it. A quick test sound reveals whether the alarm will come through the room speaker, and setting a suitable volume makes it easier to notice while fastening boots or filling water bottles.
As you step away from the last bit of kit at this early hour, look at the light outside rather than assuming the shore will already be bright. At 7:52 am, conditions vary sharply across Britain and through the seasons. Put a torch beside the packed bag before the alarm, especially for an overcast morning or a walk down unlit steps; if daylight is strong, keep sunglasses within reach for glare off wet sand and shallow water.
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 7:52 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.
Cookie policy