Mum's the word

It is no wonder then, that the word "mother" evokes the strongest sentiment. We have had amazing tributes to mothers since time immemorial.

Best Letter
The article How I Met Your Mother (March 18) was lovely; wonderful to see spouses pay tribute to the foundation stones of a family - the wife and mother. As we celebrate Mother's day every year in March (as well as May), it's easy to get lost in the commercial aspect of it all, buying flowers and cards and gifts and forgetting about it all until the next one comes along. Yet, the daily rigmarole for these amazing women goes on. A mother works tirelessly for the best for her family, not once counting the cost to herself.
It is no wonder then, that the word "mother" evokes the strongest sentiment. We have had amazing tributes to mothers since time immemorial. Washington Irving puts it aptly, "A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."
And so, this Mother's Day, I pay tribute to you, Mom; for "to the world, you may be one person, but to me, you are the world!" You are my rock, my shoulder to cry on, my inspiration, my buddy. Salute!
 Congratulations on your winning entry, valiny rodrigues! We will BE IN TOUCH with you shortly.
A complete package
The best thing about Fridays is waking up in the morning to a cup of tea in one hand and wknd. magazine in the other. From the unconditional love stories in How I Met Your Mother, to the yummy Roasted Vegetable Galette recipe in Kitchen Classics, or Dr Azad Moopen's inspiring tale (Doctor Do Big), this wknd. issue (March 18) had it all.  The full-fledged package of entertainment, news, fashion, love, food and much more will definitely make this Mother's day special for my mom, not to mention the chocolate orange mousse I'll be making for her, recipe courtesy wknd. again. Thank you!
Rashida Mukhtiyar, Ajman
My Friday mornings are always kickstarted by reading wknd. magazine. This week's feature on Dr Azad Moopen (Doctor Do Big, March 18) was inspirational, showing that great deter-mination, hard work and team work are the qualities needed to reach great heights.
Chris Charly, by email
 Phenomenal persona
It is not possible for everyone to don many hats and perform varied roles impeccably. But some can accomplish several roles with aplomb and panache, and yet remain humble and grounded. Dr Azad Moppen is one such person (Doctor Do Big, March 18).
With a modest beginning in 1987, his healthcare centres have grown into a large conglomerate of hospitals, diagnostic centres, polyclinics and pharmacies operating in the UAE, India and several other countries. Dr Moopen and his dedicated team believe in quality, accessibility and affordability, offering the utmost care to patients. His firm belief in "Healthy individuals make healthy societies" and "When good health comes first, everything else follows" is what has  made his healthcare empire successful, and it is important to note that he is still striving to bring advanced healthcare services and products within easy reach of the people.
Besides providing state-of-the-art treatment facilities by harnessing the latest medical innovations, Dr Moopen also recognises the important role that a human touch plays in the healthcare industry. His work in the field of education and his philanthropic, social and charitable initiatives are truly laudable, and his commendable work is an excellent reminder that health and wealth can indeed work together in positive ways.
Jayashree Kulkarni, Abu Dhabi
It was very nice to meet Dr Azad Moopen once again, although not directly, but through the article in wknd.. He was my doctor in the 90s, when I was living in Bur Dubai as a bachelor. I have experienced his caring approach and goodness firsthand, along with his medical treatment. Now, through this article, I understand his philosophy and where it stems from. His growth to his current position, running a medical empire, is the result of his untiring hard work, right planning and golden attitude. Thank you, Dr Moopen.
John Thomas, Dubai
 Living out a culture context
What happens if you were born and brought up in a different country, where the prevailing ethos is somewhat/vastly dissimilar to your "alleged" roots? Would you adopt the culture you were born into? Or would you swear allegiance to your "origins"? Or, would you eventually create your own comfort zone, borrowing bits from the "global village"? It's a confusing situation, right? I've heard countless stories about bouts of anxiety parents grapple with as they fear their kids might "turn out different" (deviating from the set of values mom and pop were brought up on). The kids, at times, couldn't care less about said professed roots and do exactly what they want. The parents, at times, try and realign their own thinking; many times, they can't. What ensues is a fascinating sociological conundrum, which we try and explore this week.
Konstantina Sakellariou was a corporate high-flyer, till she decided to tread the path less trodden and do something she always wanted to do: climb mountains. She has returned to Dubai after a hiatus, with an armful of exciting stories of her adventures. Meet this rather exceptional woman.
When I go grocery shopping, I look for expiry dates. I'm fanatical about getting, say, milk or bread, packaged the same day; even a day-old tag isn't good enough. I guess I am "label conscious". But I also tend to miss out on other info labels provide: ingredients, preservatives used (or not), calorific value (okay, that I do check occasionally) and so on. Read about the intricate "truths" of food labels. In Bollywood, be filled with nostalgia for 'tragedy queen' Meena Kumari, and in Travel, have a 'furry' encounter in Phillip Island, Australia. All this and much more.
Enjoy reading wknd. and have a great weekend!