Neil Gits Off Lightly

I thought I was in big trouble last week. An issue with my car that raised it’s head on the way back from a football trip two weeks ago finally got looked at by my regular garage, just ahead of the weekend. After stroking their chins and scratching their heads all day Thursday, they decided that it needed somewhere else with specialist equipment and more staff to remedy, suggesting that the problem might possibly be related to … gulp … the head gasket !! And anyone who owns a much loved and well used car will tell that could be VERY expensive to put right. Cue worried frown ….

Having asked around a bit and done some research online, I decided to try a chap who operates quite close by, also within walking distance should the diagonsis be grim, and who comes highly recommended for tricky jobs. So on Monday I steeled myself, popped round to his unit, driving very cautiously, where he kindly looked under the bonnet and prodded and squeezed a few bits. While he accepted that from what I’d told him, the dreaded head gasket could be the problem, his instincts were that it might actually just be down to the cap for the coolant tank and immediately ordered one to be delivered within a couple of hours so we could try that out first.

The new cap turned up right on time as promised, he fitted it straight away and told me to go away and drive the car for at least half an hour, which I did – and my car has been totally fine ever since !! Bearing in my mind that the last time I had a car with a faulty head gasket about 14 years ago, it needed a new engine and in the end got written off, this was quite a result – and the total bill came to just £20 too ! Off I went home and then into Basildon to do my show (with my standby chauffeur relieved!) and thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing two hours playing smashing soul, jazz-funk & disco tunes for my listener, which sounded very much like these ones :

The Tunes – Monday 23rd October 2023

Lillo Thomas – Sexy Girl
Live Band – A Chance For Hope
Joss Stone – Super Duper Love
T Connection – Do What You Wanna Do
T Connection – Saturday Night
Kim Tibbs – Stargazing
Isley Brothers – Between The Sheets
Vesta – Just Fine
Hi Tension – Searchin’
Evelyn King – Love Come Down
Gilberto Gil – Toda Menina Baina
Shakatak – On Nights Like Tonight
Maria Mulduar – Midnight At The Oasis
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – Forget Me Not
Carl Anderson – Buttercup
Haywoode – Roses
Helder Sufiano – Sicilian Love
Output Input – Love Of Another Guy
Diana Ross – I Thought It Took A Little Time (But Today I Fell In Love)
Ola Onabule feat Flade – Better Man
Carrie Lucas – Show Me Where You’re Coming From
Imperials – Who’s Gonna Love Me
Rob Scott & Leee John – Gotta get Over You (Wade Teo Remix)

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” !