Been working the past 2 weeks at a local hospital near my house as a clerk for a flu vaccination drive. The pay may not be much but at least it keeps me busy, connected and I get paid.

Plus I do get benefits thru staff discount at all outlets here and I got free flu vaccination and health screening, both of which I had never done before. Hai...for someone who is afraid of needles, getting pricked TWICE can be potentially traumatic but grit my teeth I did and went thru with everything. After all free what, I'm Singaporean plus it's my last day today so must get everything done.

Free stuff + Singaporean = Must Do! Must Try! Must GET!

As with any new job, I started with a bit of nervousness although looking back, I had nothing to worry about. There are 2 general groups among us namely the nurses (aunties) and the clerks (youngsters on vacation except me! ). And since there are 3 stations, we are all divided up into 3 teams made up of 2 nurses and 2 clerks.

I must say that I was very very lucky to have my team. The nurses are very relaxed and easy going and my fellow partner and I get along very well. We spent the past 2 weeks literally just hanging out cos we have fun chatting with each other that it doesn't feel that much like work. And since I am a good 7 years older than my partner (waaah!!), he seems to look upon me as a big sister and likes to listen to me talk. He actually seems genuinely interested ahd enthusiastic which makes it a joy to work with him.

And since we are both just as enthusiastic, cheerful and talkative, we get along very well. He keeps mentioning about how he had been very nervous about being stuck with someone who is cynical or aloof. So I guess lucky for us both.

The only thing about working here is actually the aunties from the other 2 teams. Each of the 2 other teams have 1 auntie that is nice and another that is what I call a little power hungry. And when all the aunties come together at the end of the day to count vaccines and finish up whatever admin thing we have to do, that is when it gets noisy. Be it quarreling or just chatting, aunties in general can be very noisy. And that is when the rest of us clerks start squirming cos we're fast approaching our decibel count limit. And when they finally tell us that we can go, we all literally run out in relief. hee hee...

Speaking of RELIEF...I was on a bus yesterday on my way home when I saw another bus passing by. As the bus disappeared down the road, I caught a glimpse of the ad on it's back and I couldn't help but be amused.

A lot of times, ads are provocative, thoughtful, makes you wonder and therefore interested which makes it an effective campaign.

But there are times when one encounters an ad that epitomizes simplicity, succintness and sends out a message that is acutely direct and unbendingly clear. The bus ad I saw had such a poster pasted on the back. Even the product name gives a clear, concise summary of what it can do for you.

This was what I saw next to a picture of an innocent looking long necked bottle:-

LAXTUS :  Sweet Relief from CONSTIPATION.

And the word 'constipation' was really in bold red capital letters. I think no other explanation is necessary in this case. Do you?