How come I have become a senior Expat. and My Rep power is 7.. hehhe.. how is this calculated??

Time for a question, rather a series of them

1. Police Clearance.. Here in India Police Clearance means a lot of money in the entire Hierarchy. But what exactly one has to do with it. Go to the area Police station and get the form signed or what???

2. Medicals.. I checked on the website, a list of docs whose tests and reports are considered, now, I need to get my Lipid profile and other tests done on a regular basis, yesterday I went to the Doc(who did my banding surgery), (good news is I am down 4 more KGS, from 47 kgs down, I am now 51 kgs down..cant put my hapiness in words), just to check how my body is reacting to eating so less he has asked me to get all tests done, the Lipid profile, B12, Blood Count, Protein count etc, all these do cost a lot, and I was wondering if I should get them done form the same doc, if they are valid for 6 months, then I can skip a few tests when I am asked to get them done, and incase I am late with our application I will get them done again anyways...
My question is, are the tests valid for 6 months? and does it make sense to get these done form the same doc or should i go to my regular doc who I am sure will be cheaper.

3. How difficult is it to pick medicines from the shelf in OZ? here in India we take any medicine, say the ones for common cold or flu or stomach infection off the shelf, no one asks for any prescription. I just pick my vitamins, anti acidic tablets, digestive syrups etc, and all the while I was wondering, anj babe, get used to showing a prescription for medicines. We both have no medical issues, Except for my banding, and the doc told me yesterday that you have a phobia bot you are not dependant on docs becasue of the band..

4. This one is off the previous questions, but I have just started painting again, oil on canvas, this is something that I always wanted to do but stopped painting a decade back.. what is the scope of paintings there and can it be taken as a profession?

I might act funny today, I am on cloud nine(rather 10) because of my weight loss. . Excuse me if I am over-reacting.

Anj