Lift Ignorance

In July 2005, I wrote about a lift confusion. This time it is lift ignorance.

It was the first time I visited the Specialist Center and the first time using their lift. I got so used to pressing the button of the floors I wanted, and walking out of the same doors that I went into. This afternoon, the doors that I walked into remained shut upon reaching the in-patients' floor. I pressed the ‘open door’ button – the doors remained shut. I pressed ‘G’ floor – the doors remained shut also.

Being alone in the lift, I was getting panicky. What is wrong? Before I got to press the ‘Emergency’ button. I heard ladies voices inside the lift. Looked up the walls on my right, my left and in front, but there wasn't any video cameras. Where are the voices from? I could not make out what they were saying until a few minutes have passed when I realised that they were saying “behind, behind”.

It was then I turned around to the back and realised that I was supposed to go out of the doors opposite to the doors I came in. Nobody was using the lift, except for me, for that few minutes and the doors had remained wide open, waiting for me to get out! I noticed there were no control panel board on this side of the wall.

When I walked in, I should have just walk straight and wait at the other side and not turn around and wait at the same side I came from!! Lesson learnt - next time, look to the back if nothing happens in front.

There were 2 female nurses & 2 other female hospital assistants behind & in front of the reception counter all looking at me and smiling. I can’t help laughing at myself for being so naive to lifts!