Happiness

is when at first you worry that your luggage weighs more than 20kg,
but it isn't after you've weighed it :)

Goodies!

A gift for being nice...

I can't help but gush about Benefit's lip gloss. Once applied, it gives a tingly minty feeling! I've been using it for four years now :)

Elizabeth Arden's goodies.........allows a female to play make-up...




Cosmetics changes looks



The Elizabeth Arden goodie bag given to me by my colleague

Definitely a day worth smiling for!

American Idiot

Below is a fav performance by American Idiot. Phenomenal!

Heading to Bristol again :):)
South West England is the best place to be everrr!

Elderly

I might think I know the world, yet, there is an entirely different part of life I see here. Back home, I've done charity for the hospice children, children with HIV, abused children and orphans. To think that the sufferings of children was the worst thing ever, I was wrong.
BEING OLD is the worst thing ever.
Being old AND lonely is as good as death.

You know what I see on a daily basis?
The elderly on their disable machines, some with jittery hands trying their best to grip the pen to sign their prescription, some with Parkisons, some with dementia, some with poor eye sight..... and so much more.

- A 63 year old male patient with back pain in need of a heat rub:
"Sir, do you have anyone to apply the ointment onto your back?"
"No, I live alone." He already uses two walking sticks to walk.

- An elderly man with hearing disability wanting to collect his Rx:
"Sir, may I have your surname please?"
"WHAT! I don't want any cream!"
He yells at me and gets a burst of laughter from the other customers behind him who did not see his hearing aid.

- Yesterday, I had an interesting encounter. A lady in her sixties came to the pharmacy to collect her Rx. After that, my colleague told me to walk her to Mark's and Spencers which was situated opposite my pharmacy. It usually takes a couple of minutes to get to M & S, but with this lady, it took a good 10 minutes.

Every step she made, she paused suddenly when she sensed someone else was nearby.
"Hold onto me, dear and don't let go. Other people walk too fast and I am afraid they will knock me down"

One time, there was a slide bump on the street and she panicked.
"No, No, I am very afraid to walk on it" And she pulls me to a dustbin, puts just one finger on it and say, "There, you see, I just need to put one finger here for balance, and I am fine to cross."

I had a chance to have a little chat with her while on this 'trip'.
"Do you have family here, maam?"
"No, I live alone here. That's why I go to M&S because they know me and will take care of me until my taxi arrives to go home." She continues, "I have friends in Weston, but it is not nice to bother them."

After the past 5 weeks of working, I just feel that the elderly were definitely more fragile than the unfortunate children. Also, two is better than one. Your partner may have jittery hands or stutter when he speaks, but at least he knows there is always someone standing next to him to help.

I must say, What an experience!

Welcome to Weston-Super-Mare!

The juggler

What does a 9-6 job, five days a week do to me?
It makes me too tired to do anything afer that because:
- The feet hurts from standing too much. So all I wanna do is sit.
- After all the dispensing and mind boggling problems to solve, I just want to be brainless after work.
- I couldn't be bothered about what I have been eating. So, adding more kg.
- Question myself when I get home: Did I give the correct drug to the patient? I hope so *prays*

On my days off, I just want to rot at home and do minimal walking.

Thats why there seems to be a lack of photos.
I haven't brought out my camera once to take pictures of this place eventhough I have been here for a month already.

On a brighter note,
Pictures will start popping real soon...like in two weeks time....
The job needs stamina, but its really like being in heaven, working with angels to shoot arrows at the earthlings to give them life... well, at least a longer life to live XD

Im only a student. Looking at the real pharmacist working, time will never be enough to finish everything daily because the pharmacist is needed at the front counter, the dispensary, the admin work, the shop floor, the private consultations, the services, CD reg, stock check.... n so on...

In conclusion, the right answer to this question will be:
Why do you want to be a pharmacist?

Because I am a professional multitasker :)

The Twang

My tutor, the pharmacist tells me, "You occasionally have a Scottish twang when you speak."

I must say, my accent is completely Rojak now.. A little bit American due to the months spent there, Malaysian, Scottish and now, British - the west side.
Jumbled indeed!

First week at Boots was an eye-opening experience. It was definitely a lifetime opportunity to work with them and to learn things I would never learn if I were return to my homeland. A bonus for me would be the two pharmacist in charge, the dispensers and healthcare assistants, who were really dedicated to their job and passionate about helping others.

One thing though:
I used to work in a restaurant 7 days a week and I swore I would never want to be a waitress ever again as I don't see myself standing on my feet for the entire day FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. Lol behold, I am entering a profession where standing is the only way to get the job done!

The four modules to qualify as a home carer

The cert I received from passing the test

Maybe one week is too early to say much, but so far I AM SATISFIED :)

Whats up next week:
The first e-test, Having to read up on all the inhalers as I'm going to counsel patients on how to use it,  and more dispensing.

I'm living the dream

The end of the first week in WSM, Somerset. I'm loving it.

Today marks the first day I am a Boots employee. I travelled two hours to reach the Boots Divisional Office in Bristol. It was a 10am till 4pm training session. We get paid for attending training! My division had two very enthusiastic male staff, giving us training tips n introducing us to the world of Boots! Aim: To make us Legendary Pharmacists!

I was told it was boring. But, NO, it was FANTASTIC! I learned so much that I look forward to start work and can't wait for the 8th week to meet up with my fellow West division people again. In addition to that, there was free flow of hot chocolate, coffee and tea and there were brunch, lunch and tea breaks which allowed us time to mingle with the other West division students. Majority of them were from Bath Uni. We also had plenty of group discussions and presentations during the day.

S.T.E.Ps to impress:

• Smile
• Tone of voice
• Eye contact
• Posture

Smiling has not been a problem of late. Everyone around me has been helpful from the bus driver to the train ticket counter lady to the passengers to the housemates and even to the people on the streets. I love it MUCH more than Glasgow.

Day one at the pharmacy begins tomorrow. The staff and my tutor were lovely when I dropped by to say hi.