MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone. I hope you are all enjoying the festivities. Here we have a house full of relatives from all across the island, many blind & toothless like me but all very much in the Christmas mood. Sorry if I've caused any upset of late by being so quiet on here - there are two reasons, one good, one not so nice. I was very proud to get fantastic A+ grades on most of my assignments my university, and therefore I am still on course to achieve my ambition of a first class degree if I can get everything completed okay over the next year & a half. The upsetting news is that my healthy took a big hit back in the spring around nine months ago - I needed a breathing tube inserted in my neck cos now I need a ventilator to do my breathing all the time, & as a result I have lost the ability to speak. I did stutter badly, so it's not all bad but ''blink speak'' using my eyelids is slow & awkward & my computer voice can speak my words but I have to type them in or find the right pre-written responses already written there. I also got a feeding tube up my nose & down my throat, so I get continuous nutrition & medications, but I cannot taste food or drink in my mouth any more. I'm getting used to my new reality & it seems I'm well & each week the hospital is pleased with me, so that's why it's harder than ever for me to devote time on here, sorry my dear friends. Merry xmas, love & kisses, always & forever, love from Shontelleiya xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx