knots and cross

Well,I gave in. After taking hours combing them painstakingly out, buying several ridiculously expensive (by my standards) conditioners,brushing,grooming an generally pissing about I have come to the conclusion that my hair was much happier in 'locs.So now Im rockin the hedgehog look (thank you rather diverse bloodline for thick black coarse dry hair)my scalp is singing hallelujah....and the bloody louse letter has just come home from the school...crap! Fortunately,kiddo SEEMS to have escaped thus far,but I put rosemary oil in her conditioner,and bugs dont like that,so heres hoping...poor kids getting used to me hovering over her with a comb and a ruthless expression at the first sign of a scratch!Ive been on a baking bonanza-vegan cupcakes with hello kitty iced onto them (at bloody MIDNIGHT I hasten to add-yet another one of kiddos 'oh mum,I forgot,I need cupcakes for a bake sale by tomorrow,and I kinda told my friends Id do hello kitty' theme...)a huge pound cake for boyfriends birthday (NOT iced with hello kitty!) and flapjacks-cranberry and dark choccy chunks of heaven. Ive also been-in no particular order-jobhunting (easier to hunt dinosaurs than good jobs round here) yoga-ing,music downloading (legally,people,I use iTunes,so dont sue me) and the usual walking,washing,cooking,cleaning etc that makes up the bulk of my days. Ive managed to get freakishly obsessed with the Wire(Bones is on hiatus) and as my entire close family packed up and went on holiday together leaving me sans babysitter,Ive been dropping kiddo at school,going straight back on the train and straight to work,working four hours til 2,and then leaving and going straight back to the school to pick her up and finally taking the train back home. Thats a lot of train time,and a LOT of faith in the rail service to run on time,as one delay anywhere results in being either late for work,school,or picking up Cai. None of these is acceptable.So far,only one (£15!!!) taxi ride needed,and a fair few flat out runs. That said,its great to actually get to pick Cai up from school.Speaking of school,last year kiddo was supposed to take a residential trip costing £160 .The morning of said trip,she threw up everywhere on a packed commuter train to school,and we had to turn round and head for home.(Not easy,as she continued to throw up the whole way.Good job I had a plastic bag.) Now,this year,there is another trip that costs £260.Once again,I forked out,but asked if there was any way the money from the last trip,or even some of it could be used as credit. Nope. Nada. Big fat zip. Thats £160 I will never see again. Now,Im a single mother whos only source of income is my paycheck (retail,part time) and a small tax credit subsidy. No maintenance/benefits/child support etc. Its all me. Therefore,Im a little pissed about losing so much money,but I guess I have to take it on the chin and move on.Overall,the outlook is relatively cool-can (almost) afford the divorce-he wont pay any as he 'doesnt need it' and we are all healthy and going on well. Ive read some great books,listened to some cool music,and gotten a lot of exercise.The whole 'running and walking in shoes designed to feel like barefeet' thing has actually made a real difference to my back too,Ive been wearing 5fingers and a pair of nikefrees I found in oxfam,and my posture is better and I dont have the nagging backache that Ive come to associate with 3 past back injuries.Kudos indeed.