Today’s birthday girl is Sophia Jex Blake. 1840-1912.

Sophia was one of the first women to qualify as a medical doctor in the UK, despite every attempt to prevent her. She was an ardent feminist who lived with and became a life long friend of Lucy Sewell.

I am so impressed with Sophia that I nearly called a cat after her (Jex, not Sophia, by the way – or to be more exact Jex-to-be, a stray who turned out to have a home really.) This is similar to the can-she-come-to-tea test. Would I name a cat for her? Sophia passes both with flying colours, and is welcome to share gateaux any time she pleases.

I believe I love women too much to ever love a man.