It is encouraging to see recently that despite the rise of 'phone time', i.e. random digital displays on every gadget, that analogue displays are still a 'thing'. Luckily this extends across the generations too, with youth music icon, Taylor Swift, releasing an entire album with a clock dial focus.

Available in vinyl limited editions there are four different back covers that when arranged together create a complete clock dial. Quite right too. Not only that but a wall clock can be purchased on eBay from iPod200 that allows fans to make proper use of them on the wall.

Clocks dont have to be 'officially' antique to be historically significant and hugely satisfying. We had the pleasure of a lovely ‘timeslip' recently when we restored the works dial clock of heritage Jaguar dealer, Quinn Lyons, formerly R A Creamer. The clock had originally been commissioned by the first dealer principal, Sydney Creamer, in the 1940's, and has always hung on the wall overlooking operations.

What a meal we make of clock changing time! What misinformation and nonsense gets spouted too! There is a wall of commentary about jet lag equivalents, apparently as if we had flown to Reykjavik (some chance), and about people's psychological states and the damage that putting the clocks back can cause.

In fact there are few facts about any of it, but it gives a chance for an expert to add their comments in the hope of some coverage. So, yes why not, let's look at it and add more comment to the soup.

Central London brings a mass of sights for the horologist but fewer now than of old. It was great to have the chance to try some long exposure night time photography in the City. Thank you @grantcsmith for the tuition. However it is sad that the eastern City has all but got rid of its public clocks. Modern commercial office towers somehow don't have the room for a clock dial, and in any case the current generation of office workers are so busy looking at their phones that they wouldn't notice anyway.

Clocks are perennially puzzling. I was delighted to be presented with this characterful relic the other day when visiting a clock customer. First impressions are of an Act of Parliament tavern clock and the dial is made from diagonal wooden planks with painted finish including the numbers and 'Tempus fugit'; but in fact it is a long, thin and free-standing long case……….

Southern Clocks doesnt spend much time watching breakfast television. Well, no time at all. Luckily as it turns out. Apparently two people called Dan Walker and Louise Minchin have struggled to cope with their onscreen clock malfunctioning so ended up with clocks between them on the sofa and an argument over whether to go with an analogue dial or a digital display.

What a pleasure it is to work on an orrery! What is an orrery? Named after the Earl of Orrery, who commissioned the first one in 1704, it is a model representation of some part of the solar system that shows where and how the planets interact. They are lovely things and just a short time spent with one helps to ground one’s feelings about life, the universe and everything.

Southern Clocks has failed dismally to turn a terrible clock into a fully functioning runner and striker, and learnt a lesson in the process. The clock had been bought by the customer sight unseen on a well-known online auction site.

As with any antique, a clock can often be an open window to the cultural attitudes of its day. A clear example of this came into the workshop recently. An eight day longcase, made by Atkinson of Rawtenstall, was in for servicing and it was quickly dubbed the ‘porno’ clock by the Southern Clocks team when the painted dial was examined closely.

I had the honour of riding as a passenger on the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run last year. I was delighted to receive an invitation to join Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust patron and DNA Jaguar personality Michael Quinn as one of his passengers in the Trust’s 1901 Lanchester.

Time governs our activities, whether it is catching a train or turning up for a scheduled meeting. When we are out and about we are usually rushing between events. Knowing the time is vital so that we don’t pile stress on ourselves by worrying that we may be late, or indeed be rude to our friends or contacts if we are.

I organised a motorcycle ride last Autumn to get out and enjoy the roads before the clocks went back. I had planned a route of interesting country roads so that we could enjoy the changing seasons. With motorcycling one experiences the road and the weather first hand, not insulated by hermetically sealed wall-to-wall in-car-entertainment and ‘is my phone working?’

I encourage clients to value the passage of time just as they value their palates by drinking fine wine; or their enjoyment of the open road by driving character cars and motorcycles. It requires mindful effort to appreciate the passing of time, all the while using an analogue clock or watch where the changing positions of the hands can be noted.