Shoutout Sunday #6: The Lovely Lilly Simpson

(ALL NAMES CHANGED FOR PERSONAL REASONS, AND ALL PICS OF PERSON REMOVED)

I've known the lovely Lilly Simpson for absolutely years now, so much so that it wasn't that easy to retrace the steps back to the time when we very first chatted, because the conversation started on a Facebook profile of hers that doesn't exist anymore. But a search through my Facebook message history digs up the old messages, which date all the way back to the 9th of November 2011, and my life has certainly been better since for having this warm-hearted, compassionate, and phenomenal human being in it.

The reason we were Facebook friends in the first place is mainly down to a British rock band that we both absolutely adore, Elliot Minor (to find out how much I love this band, and to read about the day I saw them live for possibly the last time ever - due to the fact that they're not really an active band anymore - please go check out this blog piece, "Elliot Minor: One More Time?"), but she also loves My Chemical Romance, too. She was one of my earliest Facebook friends outside of my "real" friends and family (and definitely my first Elliot Minor friend), and it didn't take long for us to get on very well, as, for me, it always seems easy to bond with people over something you're both passionate about, and I actually find it easier to get to know people from behind a computer screen, without the awkwardness that comes from me being in social situations! We both love the same type of music, and chatted about Elliot Minor and MCR, of course, but also about brilliant bands like We Are The In Crowd and Every Avenue (3 out of 4 of those bands are not currently together - come back, I miss you all!). Lilly has been to see MCR - in Cardiff in 2011 with her mum - which is something I never got around to doing, due to their sad split, and I've always kicked myself ever since; which is why I've always since tried my damnedest to get tickets to see all my favourite bands before it's possibly too late. She's seen We Are The In Crowd live, too, which is another reason to currently be jealous of her! We became very close, becoming amazing friends to a point where you knew that we will never go our separate ways (cheeky Elliot Minor reference for you, Lilly!), and, whilst I know I say this quite often about my online friends, she's genuinely like a sibling to me. My music-loving Facebook friends really are like a second family to me. Due to both living in the UK - Lilly from Cardiff in Wales, me from Reading in England - it meant we got the opportunity to text, too, so we really did get to know each other very well, and that's why I'm able to write these words about just how amazing she is!

Above: Lilly's gecko, Violet.

Above: Lilly's albino ferret, Mitch.

Above: Lilly's bearded dragon, Bulbasaur (awesome name, by the way!)

One of the things I love about Lilly is her adoration for pets and animals. I've seriously lost count of all the pets of hers or her families that I've seen on Facebook, but I must talk specifically about her family's horses. Just recently she was talking to me about how passionate she is about these beautiful animals, and how her family keep them in fields (not stables); don't put any horseshoes on them, or bits in their mouths; give them rugs and extra food in the winter, etc. She actually apologised at the time for "ranting" about the whole thing, but I actually think it's wonderful to hear of animals being treated like this - the way they should be, like an extra member of the family. She has a gorgeous white pony named Powder, who is now 13, and Lilly has had him since he was about 1; so, if her figures and my maths are correct, she has owned Powder since around the age of 6 (she's 18)! I've included a few pictures of her pets up above, and you can see a couple of her stunning horses at the bottom of this piece.

I'll probably get a bit emotional talking about this, but Lilly has been there for me when I've been depressed, as well as on the occasions when my past relationships have gone down the drain and I've been in pieces. She often always knows the right things to say - hell, if somebody even takes the time to ask you how you are, then that's lovely - and has helped me in so many ways. There really aren't many more caring and sympathetic people on this planet than her! Like I said before, I get the idea (and I hope she does, too?) that this is a relationship that can't be broken, and I believe that we will always be in each other's corners if needs be. We will meet in the near future, no doubt, it's literally one train ride away, and that will be a fantastic experience (I've been lucky enough to meet a few of my Elliot Minor friends at one of their concerts, so here's hoping they do more, meaning we could meet at it!). I love you, Lilly, you amazing individual! ^-^ <3

Lilly's mum's horse, Khaz, who is 15hh!