Permanence. Permanence. Unfortunately saying it twice won't make it linger much longer. Once the word is read; once it has left my lips when spoken; once it is written, it is already over. Faster than an SMS affair. On a night of melancholy wandering not too long ago I stopped by this crappy petrol station near where I live. I went in and bought a stale, crappy hot dog and sat outside contentedly snacking. Why did this meal and this place give me such comfort? Why did the nauseating food in my belly and the glow of the neon lights overhead warm my soul? Because THIS petrol station and THESE crappy hot dogs have been there longer than the others. Unlike all the other petrol stations THIS one has not been shut down, moved or even renovated. The hot dog rotissary warmer has been turning between the chips aisle and the ice-cream fridge since primary school grade seven. It's not even a particularly charming or "rustic" place. It has a dull, clean, conventional look. There are much better meals to be had in the gleaming new super-service-centres in the surrounds. There is comfortable seating and pleasant relaxing musak just about anywhere else. They probably even have the same brand of stale hot dogs. But anywhere else they taste crap.

What a strange thing to find comfort in. It's not like the petrol station is some sort if independant oddity with a charming old couple called Bill and Sheryl fighting on in the face of international-petrol-station-chain-pressure. Its just a Caltex that seems to be stuck in time -though it seems to define no era. I guess I like it because it has just quietly stayed rather than pretending it is old or making a big heritage-listed fuss over itself. Makes you think. New "Retro-Look" Cars designed to fall apart after 6 years. 2 day zen workshops. Spray-on paint jobs for concrete, made to look like "weathered stone brick". Traditional Irish pubs opening up everywhere (except Ireland where they're closing down). Pre-industrial era role-playing video games. 70s haircuts (isn't that an oxymoron?). It's amazing how much people want things to stay or to come back, yet aren't willing to let them "loiter". Let it ferment you fools, it will become wine...or at least cheap goon! I feel like a hot dog.