Neil Gits On A Bus

It is well documented how I love driving all around the UK, whether it’s in the Yorskhire Dales, the Scottish Highlands, the Welsh Valleys or even just popping round and about good old Essex. Taking public transport is therefore always a novelty, planes & ferries are obviously a necessity when leaving Great Britain and train trips are a big part of some of my adventures, even if I could drive to my destination more easily !

But what about buses ? I’ve used them in Edinburgh, Amsterdam and Berlin in the past to get around those cities and the trams in Krakow on our recent Polish break were something of an experience for sure ! However, using the local road transport options to get from one town to another isn’t something I’d considered until this year. I am quite a fan of the Park & Ride service into Chelmsford and will usually take that for £2.50 if spending a day there, rather than pay around £5+ to park, although obviously you have to drive to Sandon first to pick up that bus. Then in January, Nathan told me were getting the bus from Basildon to Stansted at the start of our Poland trip … and that the fare was just £2 !!

OK, it took about two hours (!) but he takes after his dad when it comes to saving money and I learnt that you can in fact go almost anywhere in our neck of the woods for a £4 return ticket, quite probably cheaper than the fuel I’d use even just going to Chelmsford and back. So last week, for the very first time in 34 years of living in my house, I got on a bus just down the road from my home into the epicentre of Essex and quite enjoyed it. The seats were unexpectedly comfortable, it ran on time both ways and the drivers were friendly & helpful to this novice. Best of all the “entertainment” was top notch – the conversation being loudly enjoyed by the couple sitting behind me was akin to the script of an epic episode of “Eastenders” and much more enthralling than most interviews I might sometimes hear on the radio !!

There’s very little chat on my show on a Monday – unless you include the bits where I talk to myself and let you eavesdrop ! It’s just me, you and bucket loads of fab music, check out the latest playlist below and tune in to the ‘Repeat Play’ at 5pm today (Saturday) or go to “Listen Again” …

The Tunes – Monday 2nd September 2024

Lenny Williams – Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh
Evelyn King – If You Want My Loving
MS1 Project – She Likes To Music
Dennis Edwards – Don’t Look Any Further
Brand New Heavies – Sometimes
Dee C Lee – Anything
Smokey Robinson – Cruisin’
Vince Broomfield – I Love Her
David Ruffin – Let’s Get Into Something
Jackson 5 – The Love You Save
Janet Jackson – When I Think Of You (Groovefunkel Mix)
Love Unlimited – My Sweet Summer Suite
Sylvers – Hot Line
Four Tops – Put It On The News
Donald Byrd – Dominoes
Dina Carroll – Express
Full Flava ft Angela Johnson – I Wanna Be Loved By You
Syl Johnson – They Can’t See Your Good Side
Incognito – Reconcile The Pieces
Active Force – Gimme Your Love
Miquel Brown – Close To Perfection
Maze – Too Many Games
Gwen Guthrie – Hopscotch

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” !