When I was four

I came across this pop-up store recently, and was fascinated by their cute ware. I’ve seen their products on Instagram and other online platforms, but never in the flesh. 

So much eye candy in one place, that brings back good childhood memories. They were having a 15% sale too, so I figured it was a good time to buy!

The postcards below now adorn my wall… brings back such good memories, especially the 10 cent ice popsicles from the neighbourhood void deck shop that my mum never let me buy because it was full of colouring. Which is true I guess!

I remember feeling most deprived that I couldn’t have that stick of icy goodness that all the other kids seemed to have everyday. But I suppose I would not let my kids eat it everyday too! How we have totally become our mothers!

The photo below is another shot of my haul.  Every item reminds me of a personal story.

The bus tickets are from the CCS buses that used to bring me to my grandma’s home. The bus conductor would have these tickets on a slab, priced between 10 cents to 70 cents maybe, and I’d always purchase the 20 or 30 cent one for my 15 minute bus ride. She’d have this huge pouch to contain coins, from which large bells jangled.

When we told her the ticket, she’d punch a hole in the requisite box, to show which stop we got up. It used to amaze me that no matter how many people got on or left the bus, leaving different people in the seats, she’d always know who had not paid yet, even if she took more than one stop to get to the new folk.

The tickets were very thin, and about a quarter of the size as the postcards I bought. Friends who are more than 10 years younger than me say they have never seen these bus tickets. Truly from a forgone era, then!

I couldn’t resist getting the Kaka Chicken Snack hair tie, because it was yet another snack that I was strictly rationed. My maternal grandmother’s shophouse was next to a provision shop, full of such temptations for kids (including Panini sticker albums and sticker packs!).

Kaka had too much unhealthy flavouring, said my mum, so usually I bought chewing gum (those 3 tiny balls in a small box – they still sell them today!). Kaka usually had a tiny plastic toy inside, smeared with bits of very oily chicken snack crumbs.  I forget what some of those toys are, do any of you remember?

I also got the pin above, to remind me of my duty as a citizen! Haha. Pinned it on a handmade tote bag by my church friends. The little pin reminds me of simpler days, when picking up litter was model student behaviour, to be widely lauded. Where the world, to an eight year old girl, seemed so much less complicated…

The items are not very cheap, but guess I’m at the age where I don’t mind spending a bit on locally designed stuff. Anyway, you can’t really put a price on nostalgia right?  

Was also very pleased with When I was Four’s customer service. I bought three necklaces, and when two broke near the clasp (might have been due to rough handling), I sent an email to the address on their website, and they were kind enough to respond, and agree to help me repair them at no charge if I could bring the items to them!

Definitely a local outfit that I’m more than happy to support. So if any of you are keen on a trip down memory lane, you can check out their online shop, or visit their pop up stores (they were at Public Garden at 111 Somerset a couple of weeks ago).

They have tee shirts, tote bags, a cute ‘paper boat’ pencil case, and cushion covers in the shape of magnolia milk pyramid packs… I think it makes great gifts for those friends who ‘have everything’!