The second, and I’m sure much anticipated, tale from lycee. …either my daughter has mastered the art of subtle overstatement that I aim for, or things are rather worrying. It appears that the ‘we all work very hard at school’ post will have to wait until next week.

The ‘blocus’ referred to is a blockade – where the entry to the school is blockaded to prevent teachers entering, and things get a bit high-tempered…you did know the French like barricades, I suppose?…

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Another surprising thing about life at lycée is the 'blocus' , where the pupils demonstrate against something. Most of the time not many people seem to know the reason for the blocus, but it is a good way to get out of lessons.

Unfortunately for the weaker pupils or those who want to stay out of trouble it isn't that simple. The tougher older guys from outside the school run in to the school and pick up the people trying to hide inside and carry them outside to the fight, the mini-bombs, the noise and the violence.

Obviously this means that person also ends up in detention for leaving the school, whether he had the choice or not.

So basically we have the choice - trying to hide and getting beaten up, or just calmly going out when possible and getting in big trouble with school for not respecting the rules.

Quite a hard choice if you want my opinion, knowing that detention for reasons of violence like this will follow pupils all their life because it gets written in their 'dossier'.

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So that will have put your mind at rest then.

Daughter had a few sleepness nights before this blockade, and eventually called a meeting of school delegates for the day before the planned action (she is class delegate). She expected only the other class delegates to attend, but was startled to find it was actually a large room filled with parents, teachers, and various other dignitaries who had taken the morning off work to attend the important meeting that had been summoned.

Apparently it was rather daunting! She then had to address her concerns to the meeting in the ‘approved manner’ eg it is necessary to start every address with ‘Cher camarades’.

You will be pleased to hear that the anticipated action was calmed down a bit on this occasion, and all ended happily.