I replied to say yes as neighbours we always appreciated their commitment to good dustbin etiquette and I would be sure to remind the Mayor of that in the meeting.

He wrote back with a smiling face emoji and a thumbs up.

I texted our Mayor with their comments on putting their bins out. He replied,

"l'élimination des déchets est importante"

Maybe this will be the clincher ?

Update. His Eurostar train was cancelled but he never checked so when he turned up at St Pancras there was a row and he's now been thrown out of the station. He said "them in Brussels" cancelled the train on purpose to stop him coming over.

He's also lost his shoes.

He has a new ticket for a later train.

He's been bitten by a dog - I'm not sure what's happening

OK somewhat confusing for a while as our connection was bad and there was a lot of shouts but it seems the dog was owned by a tramp, he got into a fight with the tramp, the dog bit him and now the Police are there

He's asking if I can speak to the police to "explain everything"

OK just spoke with the police, they seemed friendly enough if a little bewildered. He had told them I was his "special legal adviser in France". They basically told the tramp to sod off and our friend to be on his way.

The police wished me "good luck" for when he arrives.

So he will be on the 12:24 train that arrives in Paris at 15:47. I can't see him making the connection to the TGV but ho hum.

I have had another message from his mother asking for me to look after him. I'm beginning to understand why people keep saying that.