Yes, when we moved to france we wanted to have a more relaxed lifestyle. Problem is though that things are a little too relaxed. Strike after strike is causing endless disruptions in our lives. I am an auto-entrepeneur and so only get paid if I work, however when all the school teachers go on strike (which is currently about once a week), I have to cancel lessons (english teaching), if it's not the teachers then it's the people I'm teaching....we have expensive electric, telephone and building material bills, how are we supposed to be pay them if we keep having to cancel days at work! Another thing, I contacted CAF for child benefit and they keep saying that the application is being processed, but NOTHINI G HAPPENS, they've conveniently not given me any contact details, so we're sat here waiting for a response, even if it is "send us another bit of paper" at least we would know that the claim was being delat with. The English auths stopped our Child benefit over a year ago and we haven't had a penny since. We've always worked, we are European citizens, so why do I feel like another unwelcome gypsy? Any advice gladly welcomed. p.s. could you imagine the teachers going on strike in England, the parents would be in uproar- here they just take it on the chin.