How to use the online alarm clock
Preparing the fireplace at 8:20 pm leaves the evening calm before the cold settles in. Set the alarm as a prompt to clear the hearth, bring in dry logs and check the fireguard while there is still time to sort out anything missing. The forty minutes before 9:00 pm give you a useful margin, so the fire can be ready before you actually want its warmth.
Fireplace preparation can involve crackling wood, conversation, television or trips to the log store, all of which may mask a quiet alert. Choose a volume you can hear from the room where you will be working, then test it against the likely background noise rather than judging it in silence. Keep this page active and the computer awake until 8:20 pm. If the browser is no longer running, the alarm will not sound, leaving the fireplace task without its reminder.
Once the hearth is arranged for the evening, reduce the glare from the screen instead of repeatedly checking the time. At 8:20 pm, a bright display can feel stark against a softly lit sitting room, so lower its brightness, use a warmer colour setting if available and place it away from direct sight. The audible signal can then do the timekeeping while your eyes remain adjusted to the room.
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 8:20 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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