Notre ami Thibaut

If you’ve been a student at Lingua Franca for a few years, it is likely you’ve come across Thibaut Guigues. Thibaut was kind enough to appear in a series of videos where we asked local French friends to respond to a series of questions about their lives.

Thibaut fielded beginner questions such as ‘comment vous appelez-vous*?’ and ‘vous avez des enfants*?’ all the way through to those requiring much more reflection such as ‘quel livre a le plus marqué votre vie et pourquoi*?’ and ‘si vous étiez votre animal domestique, que feriez-vous de vos journées*?’

At the time Thibaut was 34 years old, the owner of Le Comptoir Français (a business he set up importing classic French clothing brands into Australia) and he and his wife Kate had just had a baby, the delightful (and noisy!) Arthur.

Our students have very fond memories of him, even though they’ve never actually met him. Until now, that is…

Last weekend at the inaugural French Christmas Market in West End, Thibaut was spotted by one of our students and she couldn’t resist the chance to ask for an update on sa vie*.

PS: The affection goes both ways. Thibaut has very kindly offered Lingua Franca readers a 15% discount across his whole range, just in time for Christmas!

LF: Tu peux te présenter, s’il te plaît?

TG: Bonjour, je m’appelle toujours Thibaut mais j’ai maintenant presque 39 ans. Je suis Franco-Australien. J’ai mon propre business qui s’appelle Le Comptoir Français et je suis marié à une australienne.

LF: Tu as combien d’enfants maintenant?

TG: La famille s’est agrandie, en plus d’Arthur (qui a maintenant 6 ans), nous avons une fille qui s’appelle Margaux (comme le vin).

LF: Tu habites où?

TG: Nous avons déménagé et nous habitons maintenant à Toowoomba.

LF: Tu as un animal domestique?

TG: Nous avons un chat qui s’appelle Pomme (comme le fruit) 

LF: Comment vont tes sœurs?

TG: Mes sœurs vont très bien. Une habite en Bretagne et l’autre près de Paris.

LF: Et ton papa? Il joue toujours au golf?

TG: Mon père pratique toujours le golf et le bridge, toutes les activités d’un bon retraité. Il a hâte que les frontières ouvrent pour pouvoir venir nous rendre visite.

LF: Comment va ton business?

TG: Le business continue à grandir car en plus de mon site internet je suis en charge de la distribution pour la marque Saint James pour toute la région Australie/Nouvelle-Zélande. Je trouve de nouveau magasins et je présente les nouvelles collections deux fois par an.

LF: Finalement, tout le monde veut savoir si Arthur crie toujours en se réveillant?

TG: Arthur ne crie plus le matin. Il est passé directement de bébé à adolescent et aime bien faire la grasse matinée.

LF: Can you introduce yourself, please?

TG: Hello, I am still called Thibaut but I am now nearly 39 years old. I have my own business called Le Comptoir Français and I am married to an Australian woman.

LF: How many children do you have now?

TG: The family has grown, in addition to Arthur (who is now 6 years old), we have a little girl called Margaux (like the wine).

LF: Where do you live?

TG: We’ve moved and we now live in Toowoomba.

LF: Do you have a pet?

TG: We have a cat called Apple (like the fruit).

LF: How are your sisters going?

TG: My sisters are going really well. One lives in Brittany and the other close to Paris.

LF: And your Dad? Is he still playing golf?

TG: My father still pays golf and bridge, all the activities of a good retiree. He is keen for the borders to open so he can come and visit us.

LF: How is your business going?

TG: The business continues to grow because in addition to my website I am in charge of the distribution for the Saint James brand for the whole of the Australia/New Zealand region. I’m finding new boutiques and I present new collections twice a year.

LF: Finally, everyone wants to know if Arthur still wakes up crying?

TG: Arthur no longer cries in the morning. He has gone straight from being a baby into adolescence and loves having big sleep-ins.

*what is your name? | *do you have any children? | *which is the book that has most affected you and why? | if you were your pet, what would you do with your days? | *his life