Update: Monday December 26th, 2011: BT bedlam visits my bedsit (and current UK Poetpourri House headquarters).

Below are details of an unfortunate argument that is developing between myself and British telecommunications giant BT.

I recently warned a BT call centre representative based in New Delhi that I will be publishing details of the scant shabby way his company is treating me, and he apparently chose to take no otice of my warning.

So today on my Allvoices.com blog I published some details of that treatment in the first instalment of a 2011 retrospective series of articles. Employing what I call a "poetpourri" pattern of analysis, I present BT's "too busy" dismissal of a modest request I made as a new customer of the company as a gross oversight that is syptomatic of the chaos being wreaked on British businesses and consumers by questionable, seemingly "half-baked" government policies.

Among other things, I note that BT Chairman Sir Michael Rake is one of British Prime Minister David Cameron's business advisors.

Here now are further details of how my disagreement with BT has come about.

Some time ago I moved into a Norfolk bedsit in a home where the elderly landlady previously saw no need for an internet connection. For years she had had a relatively simple relationship with British Telecom, based simply on her use of their telephone service.

I on the other hand need an internet connection almost like I need air.

So one day I called BT and initiated the process to have an internet connection established at my new Norwich "Poetpourri House" base.

Naturally, I was careful to seek and secure my widowed landlady's permission to do this.

Mrs. X, a frail soul, was hesitant when I proposed the change. But having been sold by a mutual, trusted Christian friend on my honesty, trustworthiness and therefore desirability as a tenant, she acceded to my request.

I got the impression that having had some problem tenants in the past, she reasoned that a good tenant was worth the inconvenience of having her home's capacity for connection to the modern world updated.

My undertaking and assurance that I would pay for the cost of the enhanced service and a promise that I would "never do anything to create a hardship for her as long as I was her tenant" probably went some way to sealing the deal too.

The first sign of the bedlam to come came when having successfully navigated BT's recorded messaging service, I spoke to a BT representative.

As I said to my former partner, from whose home I made the call, I thought it curious that the youthful sounding male rep did not require some evidence of Mrs. X's approval of the change of contract I was initiating.

He merely sought confirmation of her name, address, and telephone number, as I recall. But surely anyone - including persons with malicious, mischievous or otherwise questionable intent - could acquire that information from a telephone directory.

As my conversation with the BT rep progressed, I repeatedly drew my concern to his attention. I suggested that he call Mrs. X, and I even asked him if he could send her something in writing explaining the changes I had made to her contract - changes including the addition of an "free anytime calls" plan.

I chose that plan because Mrs.X had asked that I only use her phone line to receive calls. I felt that that limitation would seriously limit my capacity to pursue my Intelek International business interests.

I also added a discounted overseas call plan to the contract, something that I felt would not just benefit me, but also Mrs. X, who is Bulgarian.

The next serious sign of trouble came with Mrs. X's next BT bill. It included a line rental charge that Mrs. X found unfamiliar and unusual.

She apparently raised this issue with our mutual acquaintance - the lady who had recommended me as a trustworthy tenant - and it was decided that this seemingly "new" charge should be passed on to me.

It was in an effort to have BT explain that I should not bear the charge entirely - if at all - that I again called BT and spoke with Joseph, their man in New Delhi

The saga continues. I will keep Intelek friends and supporters updated.

Update: Friday December 16th, 2011: Poetpourri House "Dine and discourse" in Norfolk.

The launch of the Intelek International and Baseline Cafe Poetourri House "Food For Thought" event has now been postponed until early next year.

My thanks to the panelists, Anglican Lay Minister Andrew Dickie and international management and development specialist Dr. Batuuro Soori whose support for this project has been very encouraging.

Special thanks also to Baseline Cafe manager and chef Jan Roger and the Future Projects personnel (especially Future Radio's Kate Roma and the station's Community Chest programme staff) for their support for the project.

This postponement allows for a greater fine-tuning or refinement of our preparatons, which should lead to a more rewarding event next year.

One very good thing that has come out of this venture so far is the manner in which it has focused my thoughts around the work of Future Projects and ways in which Intelek can engage with Future, for our two enterprises' mutual benefit and the benefit of all in Norfolk who may use our goods or services.

I wrote and published a few thoughts on that kind of collaboration in my previous update here.

Update: Thursday December 15th, 2011: Poetpourri House "Dine and discourse" in Norfolk.

In keeping with the spirit of the Christmas season, it may help to think of the Baseline Center in Norfolk as a kind of "Christ child": an offshoot of the award winning Future Projects (also including Future Radio), pioneered by the energetic, visionary and inspirational Dawn Jackson, the Center's work is in essence, an enterprise in "salvation".

This is not to suggest that I have ever detected anything like a "messianic complex" in the woman who was awarded an MBE for services to Norwich and Norfolk in 2010. Having met her myself and conversed on a number of issues, I came away with the impression that it is the prospect of others' ability to help themselves that inspires her. She seems excited mainly by the idea of others' potential, not her own.

This is evident in the presence of Jan Roger (of Jan's Roti fame at least in Norfolk) as the Manager and chef of the Baseline Cafe. Jackson apparently saw and believed in the potential of Roger - another "people person" to connect with the people of Knowland Grove and the surrounding Marlpit area where the Cafe is located.

Roger, a Muslim, and one of the most down-to-earth people I have ever met has a way of putting you at ease in her presence. She is always equipped with a ready smile, a witty (or wicked) quip or a friendly joke - a tribute, perhaps, to her Trini (Trinidadian) origins.

And the creator of exotic Caribbean concoctions is entirely open to the kind of crazy business ideas that now attract the trendy "social enterprise" label: the kind of business idea I first took to her some months ago.

Now, as Jan and I complete the final preparations for the first Baseline Cafe/Intelek International hosted "Poetpouri 'House Food For Thought'" and launch of my book, "The Bible: Beauty and Terror Reconciled", I reflect on how appropriate the venue is for Intelek's reformational, rehabilitative work.

So, ten years from now, after I've sold 10,000,000 copies of the book (I can dream can't I?!) and another bright-eyed admirer seeking my autograph (still dreaming) asks me why I chose to launch my distinguished, scholarly tome (fair dos: that bits closer to the truth) in the arguably depressed, economically marginalized NR5 (Larkman-Marlpit) area, I will point them to the story of Jesus' birth.

The story of the baby King for whom there was "no room in the inn", and who therefore had to be born in a stable, and cradled in a manger, may still inspire us all.

Update: Saturday December 10th, 2011: Poetpourri House "Dine and discourse" in Norfolk.

I'll be launching my book "The Bible: Beauty and Terror Reconciled" in Norfolk on Friday, December 16th. Guest speakers will be Andrew Dickie, a Lay Reader in the Anlican Church and political activist and Dr. Batuuro Soori, a Ghanaian graduate from the University of East Anglia and specialist on international development and management issues.

This will be the first of a weekly "food for thought" event, combining critical reflection (compliments Intelek) and Caribbean cuisine (compliments Jan Roger of "Jan's Roti").

Andrew will do a review of the book and field questions about it with me.