14/07/23

[Maik]

Kef fire risk 14/07/23: High

Today’s bank rates:
1 €UR = £0.8812 GBP
1 €UR = $1.1518 USD
£1 GBP = 1.1348 €UR
$1 USD = 0.8682 €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
Fri 14/07   31°/25°   21 km/h   01%   Sunny
Sat 15/07   34°/24°   23 km/h   03%   Sunny
Sun 16/07   34°/25°   17 km/h   05%   Sunny
Mon 17/07   34°/25°   19 km/h   03%   Sunny
Tue 18/07   34°/26°   21 km/h   03%   Sunny
Wed 19/07   35°/25°   17 km/h   03%   Sunny
Thu 20/07   34°/25°   17 km/h   03%   Sunny
Fri 21/07   34°/25°   14 km/h   05%   Sunny
Sat 22/07   33°/25°   17 km/h   03%   Sunny
Sun 23/07   33°/24°   22 km/h   03%   Sunny

[Maik]

Body of an 83 y-o Greek male recovered midday yesterday from the sea off Thines beach, Vartholomio, near Kyllini.

Body of a 75 y-o foreign male recovered midday yesterday from the sea off Katerini beach, Central Macedonia.

Body of a 73 y-o Greek male recovered midday yesterday from the sea off Epanomi beach, Thessaloniki.

Body of a 71 y-o Greek female recovered midday yesterday from the sea at Kameni Vourlon, Fthiotida.

Body of an 87 y-o Greek male recovered yesterday afternoon from Sotiritsa beach, Municipality of Agia, Larisa.

Body of an 84 y-o Greek male recovered yesteray afternoon from the sea at Soutsini, Kymi, Evia.

Body of a 75 y-o Greek female recovered yesterday afternoon from the sea at Lakkopetra, Achaia.

Time for an upper age limit on sea swimming in Greece?

Does seem to be even more casualties than previous years and certainly makes me wary of over exerting myself in the sea.

[Maik]

Hospital announces death of 12-year-old found unconscious while swimming

A 12-year-old boy that was pulled out of the water after he was found unconscious on Sunday on the island of Crete died on Thursday. The boy had been intubated at the PAGNI Hospital intensive care unit in Iraklio.

https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1215365/hospital-announces-death-of-12-year-old-found-unconscious-while-swimming/

[Maik]

Late night accident tn Skala, or rather an early morning accident - just after midnight a car and motorcycle collided, rider taken to hospital for treatment.

[expat]

It looks like the Easyjet flight from Manchester to Kef this morning was cancelled at the last minute due to technical problems, so they have also cancelled the flight from Kef to Manchester later today, cos their aint no plane coming in ! lots of unhappy bunnies!

[Maik]

lots of unhappy bunnies!

Especially in Manchester!?!

[Maik]

Gatwick Airport to be hit by strikes over summer holidays

Nearly a thousand workers are set to take eight days of strike action at Gatwick Airport over the summer holidays in a row over pay, the Unite union has said.

The strike could cause some disruption during what could be the busiest summer period since the pandemic.

The workers, at four firms, include baggage handlers and ground staff.

They will strike from Friday 28 July to Tuesday 1 August, and then again from Friday 4 August to Tuesday 8 August.

Airlines that will be affected include British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair, Tui, Westjet and Wizz, the union said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66199180

Unhappy bunnies at Gatwick, too 

[Maik]

The UK airport with the worst crime rate (and it isn’t Heathrow)

Luton Airport was the major UK airport with the highest number of reported crimes per passenger in 2022, according to a new study.

The airports with the lowest crime rates per passenger were Leeds Bradford Airport (0.2 crimes per 100,000 passengers)...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-truths/uk-airport-with-worst-crime-rate-luton/

Thiefrow not the worst and LBA the best, bye 'eck!!

[Maik]

Rural doctor service available between 10:00-13:00 on Monday, 17 July, in Karavados. Face masks and social distancing likely still required.

[Maik]

London at risk of major measles outbreak, UK Health Security Agency warns
Thousands could be hospitalised and dozens die if MMR vaccine take-up doesn’t rise, say immunologists

Without an improvement in MMR vaccination rates, the capital could experience an outbreak of between 40,000 and 160,0000 cases, fresh analysis by the UKHSA suggests. Experts said an outbreak of this scale could lead to dozens of deaths and thousands of people hospitalised.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/14/measles-outbreak-risk-london-uk-health-security-agency-mmr-vaccine-take-up

[Maik]

Municipality of Argostoli has signed an agreement with ΕΤΑΔ (ETAD, the Public Properties Company) regarding Platys Yialos beach, it should be fully operational in the very near future.

[Maik]

Motorists should only fill up after sunset, Environment Ministry says

Motorists have been advised to only fill up their vehicles after sunset due to the “Kleon” heat wave.

The Ministry of Environment and Energy has also urged motorists to cut down on the use of their cars in favour of public transport as the heat leads to the accumulation of pollutants in the air.

https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1215483/motorists-should-only-fill-up-after-sunset-environment-ministry-says/