Neil Gits That Sinking Feeling

You have to make the most of a ‘good weather day’ when it comes along in this country, so when I got out of bed on Thursday morning, I just knew I had to load up the “Neil-Mobile” and make a rare trip outside of Essex for the day. I stretched the petrol budget to breaking point and headed for the Kent/Surrey border, just south of the M25 where I have a couple of friends who were due a visit from me …

My usual route for this drive, once over the Dartford Crossing, is to leave the motorway at the junction after Clackett Lane Services on the A22 towards Eastbourne, then head west on the scenic A25 through some lovely old villages that look even lovelier on a beautiful sunny day such as this one. However, I was abruptly stopped in my tracks as I headed into Godstone – the road ahead was closed ! “No Through Traffic – Follow Diversion” !

Although the recommended alternative route didn’t take me too far out of my way, I was shocked to later on find out the reason for this closure. Not your usual essential gasworks or telecommunications ugrading … but a blooming great sinkhole in the midle of the village High Street !! That must have been pretty scary for the local residents and as I’ve found out since, the road will be closed for quite some time, a bit inconvenient for a ‘tourist’ like me, but an absolute nightmare for anyone living or working in the immediate area. Beware if you should go there …

Anyway, I had a smashing day out, enjoying a right good chat with my friends, and as they know me from a completely different area of my life from the one which leads me to writing this blog every week, they didn’t even know I used to be a DJ and present a radio show every Monday night. We might just have a couple of new listeners joining us sharing two hours of super soul, jazz-funk & disco tracks this week. Here’s what I played last time out – you can hear this show repeated today (Saturday) at 5pm …

The Tunes – Monday 21st April 2025

Heatwave – The Groove Line
Melba Moore – Standing Right Here
Rockie Robbins – Let’s Groove
Luther Vandross – I’ll Let You Slide
Beverley Skeete – Warm
Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings/Beverley Skeete – Groovin’
Patti Austin – That’s Enough For Me
Stevie Wonder – Ngiculela Es Una Historia I Am Singing
Kool & The Gang – Straight Ahead
Greg Henderson – Dreaming
Labelle – Lady Marmalade (Disco Purrfection Mix)
Lisa Stansfield – Live Together
Soul Messengers – Make Sure It’s The Right One
Kenny G – Hi How Ya Doin’
Don-E – Love makes The World Go Round
Vicky D – This Beat Is Mine
Georgie B & The Groove Association – Upside Down
Sasss ft Grover Washington Jr – I Didn’t Mean It At All
Maze – The Look In Your Eyes
Trammps – I Know That Feeling
Phyrework – Take Me Away
Sheila B Devotion – Spacer
Tristan – Frou Frou

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” !