30/07/23

[Maik]

Kef fire risk 30/07/23: High

Today’s bank rates:
1 €UR = £0.8846 GBP
1 €UR = $1.1459 USD
£1 GBP = 1.1305 €UR
$1 USD = 0.8727 €UR

Based on Alpha Bank exchange rates, these are widely used by exchange agencies in Greece.
Other banks likely to offer a different rate which may be marginally higher or lower.
Banks and foreign exchange offices normally charge standard 2% commission.
You may get a better rate changing your holiday money in advance at e.g the Post Office.
NB: some f-ex agencies advertise "No Commission".
Invariably, they deduct commission before they (don't) advertise the rate.
Foreign exchange offices are businesses, not charities.

Ten day weather forecast for Kefalonia:
This is an overall forecast, due to the mountainous terrain the weather can be very localised.
Updated forecast @ weather.com

Day, Date   Hi°/Lo°   Wind sp   Wet   Forecast
Sun 30/07   32°/23°   21 km/h   03%   Sunny
Mon 31/07   33°/22°   23 km/h   08%   Sunny
Tue 01/08   32°/21°   15 km/h   10%   Sunny
Wed 02/08   31°/21°   13 km/h   10%   Sunny
Thu 03/08   31°/22°   13 km/h   10%   Sunny
Fri 04/08   31°/23°   14 km/h   10%   Sunny
Sat 05/08   31°/22°   18 km/h   21%   Sunny
Sun 06/08   28°/20°   27 km/h   22%   Sunny
Mon 07/08   28°/21°   26 km/h   05%   Sunny
Tue 08/08   29°/21°   24 km/h   03%   Sunny

[Maik]

Body of an unidentified male, aged around 70 y-o, recovered midday Friday from the sea off Skala Potamia, Thasos

Body of an 81 y-o Greek male recovered yesterday morning from Schoinia beach,  Livanates, Fthiotida

Body of a 74 y-o Greek female recovered yesterday morning from Lefkantios beach, Halkida, Evia

Body of an unidentified male in an advanced stage of decomposition recovered midday yesterday from the sea off Cape Ginas, Rhodes

[Maik]

Second death at sea off Kef in a couple of days: yesterday afternoon a 78 y-o male swimming from a boat off Kamari beach lost consciousness and was recovered to the beach by relatives. He was transported by boat to Agia Kyriaki beach and then by ambulance to Manzavinato hospital, Palliki, where he was pronounced dead.

[Maik]

Very high risk of bush fire on Kef tomorrow according to civilprotection.gov.gr

[Maik]

The ‘healthy’ foods that are actually bad for you

Replacement foods like oat milk and plant-based protein are becoming increasingly trendy, but are they better for us?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/nutrition/diet/the-healthy-foods-that-are-actually-bad-for-you/

[Maik]

Doctors fear for life of boy, 7, sick after filthy sewage water flooded home for years

A seven-year-old boy has been repeatedly hospitalised with severe stomach infections that a doctor warned could be life-threatening after filthy sewage flooded their London council home for seven years.

Zeeshan Hashem developed Crohn's disease and constant stomach problems after dirty water contaminated with animal faeces, thought to be from a damaged pipe in the floors above them, repeatedly poured into the family’s two-bedroom Leytonstone flat since the first Christmas they spent there in 2016.

His younger brother Imran, 4, has suffered from breathing issues since 2021 – a condition that doctors say has likely been exacerbated by the damp, mould and cold in the home, documents seen by The Independent show.

Despite repeated complaints to Waltham Forest Council, dating back to 2017, and letters from the boys’ doctors urging the council to immediately address the hygiene issues, it took six years for the family to be moved.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sewage-water-housing-london-health-issues-b2373082.html

[Maik]

Tourists to be offered extreme heat insurance in wake of Greece wildfires
Sensible Weather, a US firm, may compensate travellers for full cost of their trip if temperatures reach 40C

A travel insurance company is preparing to offer British holidaymakers protection against heatwaves and extreme temperatures.

‌Sensible Weather, a US firm established in 2019, already offers policies against extreme rainfall to UK customers and is writing an equivalent for heat.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/30/extreme-heat-insurance-policy-greece-wildfires/