Neil Gits Haggis For Burns Night !

First off, let me say, that to the best of my knowledge, I don’t have a drop of Scottish blood in my body ! All my relatives that I am aware of are, or were originally, from the North-West around the Manchester area on my late mum’s side, with my dad being an only child and very little being known about his Sussex roots. However, over the past 20 years via various trips North of the Border, I have developed quite an affinity for Scotland. I am fascinated by it’s history, it’s culture, it’s beautiful landscapes and of course it’s quirky little football teams and their quaint grounds too !!

On one visit to Edinburgh in March 2018, A13 Annie & I found refuge from some utterly dreadful bitterly cold, soaking wet weather on the Royal Mile at the Arcade Haggis & Whisky House where we adventurously tried some of Scotland’s most famous delicacy. Despite knowing what actually goes inside a haggis, we found it surprisingly tasty and I’ve been longing to try it again, but not venturing further north than Yorkshire in the last 5 years, that has not been possible…

Fast forward, to January 2023 and I am in the big Tesco at Mayflower Retail Park and low and behold, there on the shelf is a section full of “Simon Howie’s Haggis – The UK’s No: 1 ” – and it was reduced in price too ! “Aha ! Burns Night is around the corner” I thought “Let’s do this !” So after following the cooking instructions to the letter, albeit out of my comfort zone in Ann’s kitchen instead of mine, I produced two plates of perfect looking and, most importantly, delicious tasting HAGGIS on Scotland’s National Day, despite being a complete and utter SAASSENACH – “Och Aye The Noo!” (with apologies to genuine Scots reading this ….)

Almost as tasty are the 23 wonderful soul, jazz & disco tunes on my playlist this week, which you can experience by catching the “Repeat Play” of my show at 5pm tomorrow or hunting down ‘Cool Soul’ on the “Listen Again” section of this website.

The Tunes – Monday 23rd January 2023

Archie Bell & The Drells – Don’t Let Love Get You Down

Loose Ends – Slow Down

Incognito – Positivity

Johnnie Taylor – Disco Lady

Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove

Crutchfield Jones – Toast To Mr & Mrs Jones

Anita Baker – Angel

Izzi Dunn – Nothing But Love

Real Thing – Lady I Love You All The Time

Change – Let’s Go Together

Billy Paul – Let’s Make A Baby (Extended Original Version)

The System – This Is For You

Duane Parnham – My Turn

Soul Sisters – Good Time Tonight

Mtume – Prime Time

Johnny Bristol – Man Up In The Sky

Frankie Valli – You’re Ready Now

Beverley Knight – Round & Round

Rodney Sith – Heaven’s Door

George Benson – Greatest Love Of All

Kashif – So Emotional

Nu Shooz – I Can’t Wait

TW Funk Masters – Love Money

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 and available nationally via the Radio Player at Sky 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” !