There used to be a small patch of grassy land next to my apartment block, about the size of two soccer fields or so by my estimate. Some time last year we saw an HDB sign go up announcing the land was being tendered for condominium development. In the last few months, Sim Lian began the development work and the sound of piling and construction work has filled the air.

My sister isn’t too happy with this, but I find myself rather blasé about the whole thing. I was never particularly fond of the field in the first place; I hated the stupid football idiots who littered the whole place every Sunday, I hated the Hokkien auctions and operas blaring over their microphones late into the night. I often looked out at the field like my sister, but usually with a frown on my face, and often only because I was closing my windows at the same time.

So I’m quite happy that it’s gone. I’m not concerned about the noise; I’m not usually around in the day anyway, and as a sleeper I’m rather impervious to noise; it’s light that makes it hard for me to sleep. I’ve hardly noticed any dust either.

Of course, my room doesn’t face the field, so I’m largely shielded from that… by my sisters’ rooms.