Just improve the taste of falafel

Readers say Just Falafel needs to improve on its taste. Other topics: teaching, flight safety, driving, Land Rover

Readers say Just Falafel needs to improve on its taste to stay in the market. Sarah Dea / The National

There is no doubt that Just Falafel has grown in terms of operations and outlets (Just Falafel rebrands to JF Street Food, January 14). However, it should work on improving the taste rather than anything else. Their falafels may be healthy, but in terms of taste they are far from being authentic Arabic. The items on offer are also overpriced.

The company will grow in terms of revenues if these two aspects are taken care of.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

They could have stayed in the market if they could just figure out how to make decent falafel and stop messing around with the basic concept of good Arabic vegetarian food.

Sohan Dsouza, Dubai

Alertness key to averting accidents

In the article Beware of your child behind car (January 12), the emphasis on the duty of parents and nannies implied that the responsibility was theirs alone. This is not correct. Clearly, parents and nannies should do their best to know where the children under their care are, but it is always the responsibility of the driver to avoid an accident, particularly that easily avoidable one: running over a young child at home.

While parking a vehicle, most accidents occur when reversing out, not when reversing in. So the correct practise is to approach the parking space to ensure that the space is clear, turn away from the space and reverse in. If there are any cardboard boxes, blankets, etc, the driver needs to stop and clear them before parking. That’s because toddlers can climb into very small spaces. When leaving, the driver simply needs to look in front of the vehicle and carefully drive out.

It is good to do this whenever you park, because even if you do not have young children there might be one visiting when you return home, or just as you start to reverse out of a space at shops one might walk behind your vehicle unseen.

Unfortunately, this simple driving technique is not part of most standard driver training courses.

Stephen Goldie, Al Ain

Can Al Ameri be a role model?

If all that is required is role models for humanitarian acts, then why is this world in such a mess (Al Ameri's story should inspire all, January 7)? Giving up one's free time to give something back to the country that gave you everything to begin with is commendable, but making it sound as though anyone can walk into a teaching job and be successful is illogical.

Mr Al Ameri may be fit for the job, however. His profile projects him as one who has received good education. He seems to value what education stands for and realises that knowledge is a powerful tool to be used in a good way only.

Role models are great for society if utilised in a productive way. Anyone can share information, but to do it in a lively way and support learning and teaching environment where mistakes are viewed as part of the process and the learner feels inspired to carry on this good work based on their educational experiences takes a very special person.

Mr Al Ameri could be it and let’s hope he is. Some of the best teachers in the world are “accidental” teachers.

Name withheld by request

My Land Rover is irreplaceable

I am sad that the majestic Land Rover is making an exit (Farewell to the king of the off-road, the Land Rover, January 1). It leaks, it's noisy, it's cramped, it's got an "agricultural" gearbox and it's slow, but I wouldn't swap it for anything. I love mine.

Chris Wood, UK

Focus more on flight safety

It's great relief to know that the fuselage and black boxes of the ill-fated AirAsia plane have been found (Singapore finds AirAsia jet's main body, January 15). With an increasing number of flights operating across the world to cater to a growing market of travellers, it is important to ensure that safety training and pilot competences are maintained at the highest levels.

Rajendra K Aneja, Dubai