Ah yes ! the days of the loud bangs to call out the lifeboat are gone. When I first moved here I got such a shock.... I thought the political troubles had followed me!! One quiet afternoon here on the languid seafront, there was an almighty bang which nearly knocked my teeth out...and then just as I was recovering from the first bang, it happened again.
The seagulls took to the wing with much yelping ..I didnt know what was going on. Nobody forewarned me about a damn thing. Jeeez...
After I gathered my wits about me I thought it must be some bizarre tribal custom indulged in by locals.
Of course over time I eventually twigged.