BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

HEALTH AND FITNESS - EXERCISE PART FOUR Mountain climber : A mountain climber is a person who engages in the sport or activity of climbing mountains, usually for recreational or professional purposes. They use various techniques and equipment to ascend and descend mountains. Pant (noun) : A pant refers to a garment worn on the lower body, typically covering each leg separately. It is commonly used...

ABOUT THE POEM : This poem LOVER OF THE LITTORAL LAND is a translated version of a poem from Tamil Literature that expresses a sense of solitude and melancholy of a girl. It describes the birds finding their roost, the flowers closing and the desolate woods by the shore. The sky is portrayed as dizzy, mirroring the girl’s own state of mind. As the day fades and darkness takes over, the speaker lon...

HEALTH AND FITNESS - EXERCISE PART THREE Health spa : A health spa is a facility that offers various treatments, therapies and activities aimed at improving and promoting physical health and well-being. It often includes amenities such as saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, massages and fitness classes. Interval : An interval refers to a specific period of time or a space between two events or points....

ABOUT THE POEM : The poem conveys the idea that the words and virtues of the speaker's beloved are incredibly delightful, like sweet nectar. However, the speaker recognizes that love, despite its allure, can also bring about frustration on separation. Therefore, the speaker advises those who possess some wisdom to avoid getting entangled in the complexities of love. The essence of the poem lie...

HEALTH AND FITNESS - EXERCISE PART TWO Circuit training : A form of exercise that involves performing a series of different exercises in a specific order, typically targeting different muscle groups, with minimal rest between each exercise. It is designed to improve strength, endurance and overall fitness. CrossFit ™: CrossFit™ is a branded fitness regimen created by Greg Glassman. It combines ele...

ABOUT THE POEM : The poem titled MYSTERIES OF LOVE is a translated version of a poem from Tamil literature. This poem reflects upon a change in perception and love between two individuals. In the past, the speaker's friend offered her loved one bitter neem fruit but the lover saw it as a sweet lump of sugar, symbolizing their positive interpretation of even unpleasant gestures. However, in the...

HEALTH AND FITNESS - EXERCISE - PART ONE a breath of (fresh) air : This phrase is often used figuratively to describe something or someone that brings a refreshing change or new perspective. It refers to encountering something invigorating or different, much like taking a deep breath of fresh air. activity tracker : An activity tracker is a device or application that monitors and records various p...

ABOUT THE POEM :  The poem titled FIERY YEARNING is a translated version of a poem from Tamil literature. The poem describes how the girl's friend explains to her sweetheart on her insistence that her friend has become pale and lost her beauty due to the actions of her lover. She complains that her arms have grown thin and frail causing her bangles to slip off. The girl's friend informs he...

HOBBIES - ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS - PART SIX stamp collecting - a hobby of collecting and studying postage stamps, covers and other related materials. sudoku - a puzzle game that involves filling a grid of squares with numbers in a way that each row, column and region contains all of the numbers from 1 to 9. track - a prepared course or path for running, racing, or other athletic activities. trai...

ABOUT THE POEM: The poem titled WILL HE MAKE ME HAPPY?  is a translated version of a poem from Tamil literature that describes with great lucidity the anguish of a woman with tearful eyes that resemble dark blue water lilies after her lover left her. The speaker hopes that he will return to wipe away her tears. The lover had gone through a difficult journey through a sun-beaten, arid wilderness wh...

HOBBIES - ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS - PART FIVE reading - the act of looking at and understanding written or printed words relax - to become less tense, anxious or  to rest or take things easy reserve - to set aside or keep for a particular purpose or person; a supply of something that is kept for future use riding - the act of sitting on and controlling the movement of an animal or vehicle, such a...

SHOPPING - ONLINE SHOPPING - PART ONE back order (noun): a request for a product that is out of stock and will be delivered later when it becomes available. back-order (verb): to place an order for a product that is currently out of stock and will be delivered later. Bid (noun) an offer to buy or sell a product or service, usually in an auction or competitive bidding environment. bid (verb)to make...

ABOUT THE POEM: This is a translated version of a fascinating poem from Tamil literature "MONSOON'S FURY: A LOVE STRANDED". It is a serious complaint made by a girl to her friend about her husband who left her in the lurch and went to a distant land. The monsoon terrifies her to the core and genuinely wants to know that the monsoon’s tempestuous pour and the loud thunderous roar threaten him too....

SHOPPING - DEPARTMENTS IN STORES - PART TWO Gadget : a small device or tool that has a specific practical use, often one that is novel or innovative. Game : an activity that one engages in for amusement or recreation, typically involving a contest or competition. Gift : something given to someone voluntarily without payment in return, often to mark a special occasion or to show appreciation and se...

ABOUT THE POEM: This is a translated version of a mesmerizing poem from Tamil literature "THE PRANKSTER PARAMOUR" . It is about what a girl complained to her friend about the wayward nature of her lover. He was actually a bully of the past and on one occasion he came asking for a beverage of water so cool and her innocent mother asked her to pour water from the cup of gold. However, at that point,...

SHOPPING - DEPARTMENTS IN STORES - PART ONE In today’s Podcat a lexicon belonging to the field of -Shopping - Departments In Stores - Part One will be introduced so as to enable the listeners to enhance their  Vocabulary. In language learning, vocabulary is an essential aspect, as building a robust vocabulary is crucial to being able to communicate effectively and accurately. The size of one'...

ABOUT THE POEM: This is a translated version of a fascinating poem from Tamil literature "YEARNING FOR LOVE - A WIFE'S LAMENT”. It is about what the wife said to her friend yearning for her husband’s companionship and expressing her displeasure about his intention to seek wealth greedily. The beautiful wife, in the first part of the poem talks about the lovely Spring season in its full grandeur. S...

SHOPPING - PAYING FOR SHOPPING - PART THREE price : the amount of money asked for or charged for a product or service profit margin: the difference between the cost of a product and its selling price, expressed as a percentage purchase : the act of buying something rate : the amount of a particular charge or payment expressed as a percentage of a particular sum of money receipt : a written or prin...

ABOUT THE POEM: This is a translated version of a bewitching poem from Tamil literature LOVE AND MELANCHOLY-A DUALITY. It is about what the servants told the husband, their master on the successful completion of his mission and his flag flying high after a great combat with enemies. The servants in the first part of the poem talk about the retreat from war and how the elephants are still in their...

SHOPPING - PAYING FOR SHOPPING - PART TWO currency : A medium of exchange for goods and services, used universally within a country or a specific economic system. debit card : A payment card that deducts money directly from a consumer's account to pay for a purchase. debt : Money owed by one party to another. denomination : A specific value assigned to a coin, bill or monetary unit of a currency....

ABOUT THE POEM: This is a translated version of an overwhelmingly impressive poem from Tamil literature “ The best journey takes you home ” .It is about what the husband said to his friend on the successful completion of his mission. He fondly recalls the anxiety of his wife after hearing the news of his coming back home after accomplishing his task. In the course of the poem, his imagination runs...

SHOPPING - PAYING FOR SHOPPING - PART ONE account a licensing agreement that someone has with a bank to keep cash intact and withdraw at times of necessity afford to acquire adequate resources or funds to carry out an action or purchase banknote a bill in hard copy barcode a design that appears on products purchased and consists of thick and thin lines. It has data that a computer can decode bill...

ABOUT THE POEM: This is a translated version of an overwhelmingly impressive poem from Tamil literature, A TRUANT LOVER . It is about what the girl’s friend said to the lover asking him not to make the girl fret and fume over his truancy and condemns unequivocally his fancy to keep her in a permanent state of anxiety about the safety of her lover. In the course of the poem, the girl’s companion el...

TRANSPORT BY AIR - PLANE TRAVEL - PART SIX soar to ascend effortlessly into the air quickly sonic boom a sound mimicking an explosion  that is generated when a plane flies faster than the velocity of sound stack multiple aircraft hovering above an airport and  waiting for their turn to land standby a reserved ticket for a flight that cannot be purchased beforehand and is only available f...

ABOUT THE POEM: This is a translated version of a mind-blowing poem from Tamil literature, “ LOVE: A TEMPORARY INSANITY…. ” It is about what a girl told her lover worrying about the safety of her lover. In the course of the poem she attests to his bravery but at the same time, she could not but worry about the treacherous jungle with its in-built dangers. The title of the poem is an inspiration fr...