Neil Gits Back To The Future

I had an email this week from O2 informing me that they are switching off 3G this year, starting in Durham – so not immediately a concern for me as someone who rarely leaves Essex these days ! In any case, as a renowned technophobic Old Git, I am not even sure what 3G actually is / does, but I suspect it is something to do with getting internet on your phone, which is something my old one allegedly was capable of doing but more often than not without any great success …

That old phone, which I bought in a panic in 2016 and is now obsolete, used to occasionally display “3G” in tiny text in a corner of the screen, but a few weeks ago wouldn’t even let me make / take a phone call and was delivering texts up to 24 hours after I’d been sent them, so it was clearly time for us to go our separate ways and find a replacement. I was mortified when I looked into buying an equivalent new model – they were talking about twice my current monthly income for a so-called “smart” phone !!!

I only need a mobile that will do calls & texts, nothing more. If I want to take photos I have my much treasured digital camera, if I want to play music I put a CD on in the car, to tell the time I look at my watch, to work out my weekly shopping budget I use a calculator … and I only ever use the internet on my PC at home or the one in Studio 1 at Gateway on Mondays. Do you see where I am coming from ?

I was also getting quite fed up with constant weird bleeping noises when out & about and irrelevant endless ‘notifications’ so it became the norm for me to have my phone turned off rather than on ! Possibly not the best tactic, especially as like many people, I no longer have a landline. Luckily, Argos came to my rescue after a friend told me they sold classic old style mobiles – just like the very first one I had back in the late 90s !

I now own a Nokia 105 and it is wonderful, just like going back to those wild exciting days around 30 years ago when texting became a thing, but it is also the way forward for someone who is constantly bemused by the modern world and all its wizardry. The thing that really made me laugh about my email from O2 was their “special offer” of £100 off “4G Compatible” phones (nope, no idea either !) – their ‘saving’ was FIVE TIMES MORE than what my new Nokia cost !

You don’t have to worry about finance when it comes to hearing my soul show – there’s no subscription fee needed, no licence required, just turn on your radio or listen online to enjoy two hours of cracking music from the good old days and beyond, live every Monday at 7pm or repeated today (Saturday) at 5pm. Check out these top tracks played this week :

The Tunes – Monday 31st March 2025

Brass Construction – Partyline
George McCrae – I Ain’t Lying
Shaun LaBelle ft Maysa & Bobby Lyle – Mon Cher Amour
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes ft David Ebo – Prayin’
Carl Carlton – She’s A Bad Mama Jama
Leon Haywood – I Want’a Do Something Freaky To You
Billy Ocean – Taking Chances
Kinsman Dazz Band ft Gina Sedman -There
Jermaine Jackson – You Got To Hurry Girl
Kool & The Gang – Too Hot
Phylis St James – Candlelight Afternoon
Sonny Rollins – Harlem Boys
Dan-I – Monkey Chop
Instant Funk – Float Like A Butterfly
Marcos Valle – The Crickets Sing For Anamaria
Voyage – Let’s Fly Away
Devon Howard – Treat You Right (T Groove Remix)
Eddie Cornelius – That’s Love Making In Your Eyes
Raquel Rodriguez – Sweet Side
Gloria Gaynor – Goin’ Out Of My Head
Cherelle & Alexander O’Neal – Saturday Love
Sharon Redd – Never Give You Up
Dunn & Bruce Street – Shout For Joy

Feel free to get in touch with your soulful request or just for a mention on the show – put a post on “The Old Gits Soul Show” page on Facebook, text (01268)833978 or message me via e-mail : [email protected].

The Old Gits Soul Show is broadcast LIVE from 7pm–9pm every Monday, repeated on Saturday evening from 5pm–7pm, on Gateway 97.8FM in Basildon & East Thurrock, across South Essex on DAB and available nationally via the Radio Player on your TV as well as online via www.gateway978.com You can listen on your smart speaker or your phone too … plus you can hear it again anytime you like via the “Listen Again” button on the Gateway website – just search “Cool Soul” !