The Bond Bubble

My Lockdown with the Bonds in Wellington

What was meant to be a short visit to Wellington turned into a lockdown adventure with Jo and David Bond. One week stretched into who-knows-how-many days, filled with green smoothies, birdwatching (Jo had a personal vendetta against the tui bird), and daily “Jacinda sermons” as we religiously tuned into the prime minister’s updates.

David would occasionally dust off the old piano, giving the house a soundtrack as if we were in some sort of indie film. Meanwhile, I whipped up empanadas and soups like I was starring in MasterChef: Lockdown Edition.

This illustration, The Bond Bubble, is my way of capturing the magic and quirks of that time—a little “thank you” to New Zealand for keeping me sane (and well-fed).