I was in the lift alone at first. At level 10 a man and a woman entered saying loud goodbyes to the crowd outside. Their conversation suddenly dropped to a low voice. The man asked when is retirement for her. By then their voices turn to a whisper. I was in the lift hearing my ears straining at every word. She said, when I can buy an apartment for my son. There was a pause. He looked at her. She barked a short laugh and explained it is a Chinese culture.

The lift door opened at ground floor. They exited and went out of the turnstile, biding farewell in booming cheery voices.

If I am rich at incredibly stupid levels – in that I mean when I look at my bank account my intelligence drops by double digit points yet sales people still fawn on me and laugh at my jokes – I still won’t buy a property in Singapore as part of my portfolio.

I love real estate but the burden of having to clean and upkeep one, to have it trashed by tenants, to have rules changed suddenly and implemented overnight is a major deterrent.