Thank you for your reply.
@timer
-- is this documented somewhere?
Edit: found it: https://www.cockos.com/oscii-bot/oscii-bot-doc.html
--the syntax looks like eel/JS FX but I could not get a loop to work; what should it look like
-- a time function sounds better
oscii-bot icon
-- disappears from the Notification Area after about 30 seconds,
-- but is just hidden; I can pop up the hidden icons and double-click it there to restore the window.