These Infinite Spaces

Some time early in 1989, we got a gig at the Blue Marlin Inn at Ulladulla. This little coastal town was about 3 hours drive south of Engadine, and so we planned to stay there overnight. The Inn offerred us $300 for the gig (which was more than we'd ever been paid before) and threw in a few rooms for free. We were excited - it sounded like a fun adventure.

I drove down myself in the Charger, and had a good trip. I seem to recall it was rainy down at Ulladulla, but I might be wrong. We unpacked, set up, and played the gig. It was another rough room, similar to the Forest Inn. After every song a bloke in the small crowd yelled out, "You guys couldn't play George Thorogood if you tried!" The audience generally look bored, though after the gig one or two guys came up and said we were great. But we were away from home and felt excited. We went back to someone's room and stayed up late, drinking beer and talking about the sort of things teenage boys talk about on their own.

We packed up the next day and started driving home. The weather was good and I remember enjoying the trip north very much. About an hour north of Ulladulla I turned off the road to Basin View, where my paternal grandparents lived. I'd never really known them that well, and my memories of Grandfather were of a distant and rather grumpy fellow. But at age 17 I was trying to tidy my life up a bit, and I wanted to get to know my grandparents.

They were surprised, but pleased when I knocked on the door. We sat down for a cuppa, and I explained where I'd been. I asked how they were doing. Grandfather said, "I've had a bit of a pain in my side, which I'm going to go checked out. But mostly I've been fine." He didn't seem concerned, so nor was I.

We sat there for about an hour, chatting about I don't know what. I was surprised at how well I got on with Grandfather - it was the first time we'd ever really spoken as adults, and I found he reminded me of Dad in a way that I liked. I finally said I had to go, climbed into my Charger and headed north. As I drove, I made plans to visit my grandparents regularly. I felt good, I felt happy.

It was the last time I ever spoke to them.

Turns out that Grandfather's pain in the side was more serious than he thought. Next thing I knew he was in hospital, and then he had passed away. Grandmother followed soon after, as often happens with long-married couples. It all happened with frightening speed. I was shocked when Dad told me and I cried, just a little and in private. And since then, I can never think about the Ulladulla gig without thinking of my grandparents, and how little I knew them.

One more shock awaited me - our band was about to break up.