How to use the online alarm clock
Pause halfway along the terrace at 8:53 am when the alarm sounds, then finish delivering the newspapers already in your hand before moving to the next doorway. That gives you a clear break in the round as 9:00 am approaches, without relying on memory while you are checking letterboxes, gates and unfamiliar house numbers.
Before setting off, schedule the alarm and run a quick test with the volume you intend to use outside. A signal that seems obvious in a quiet kitchen may disappear beneath traffic or sound faint from a coat pocket. Keep the browser active and the phone awake: if either is shut down, the alarm may not sound, leaving the newspapers on the terrace route to take longer than planned.
Near the end of an early delivery round, the street may be noticeably louder than it was at first light. Commuter cars, school traffic and bins being moved can mask a brief tone by 8:53 am, especially on a long row of closely spaced homes. Put the phone in an accessible outer pocket and choose a distinct sound rather than one resembling a message alert, so the cue is easier to recognise without disturbing residents with excessive volume.
Common questions
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 8:53 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.
Do I need an account or an app?
Neither. Choose a time and a sound, press Start, and it runs in this browser tab. Nothing is downloaded, nothing is registered, and closing the page leaves nothing behind on the device.
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.
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