Operation Mincemeat

I have defrosted the freezer and emptied my food cupboards and done a proper audit. Only couple of things were significantly past their date - why did I have a raspberry jelly from 2022? And I've put things away tidily, labelling things which ought to be used up next. I found a large jar of Sainsbury's Mincemeat. I had thought to make mince pies in December. But didn't.

I used this recipe from my Cranks Cookbook, to make three Belgian Cakes. One for this week, [Rosie's arriving tomorrow] and two for the freezer. 

Meanwhile I've been reading Ben McIntyre's book, a non-fiction best seller about an amazing event in WW2. It is over half a century since I watched the 1956 film "The Man Who Never Was" starting Clifton Webb. In an audacious plot to deceive Hitler and about the Allies military action in the Mediterranean, false plans were delivered into German hands, by Major William Martin of the Royal Marines. 

His body [documents in a briefcase chained to his wrist] was washed up on a beach in Spain. The Nazis believed the plans, moved their forces to apprehend the impending assault on Greece - and thus the US and UK troops landed in Sicily nobody was properly prepared to resist them. 

But Willie Martin was a totally fictitious character - gifted spooks, Ewen Montagu and Charles Cholmondley, used the body of a Welshman who had recently died in a London hospital. They created a persona - career, family, fiancée, and put letters, receipts, ticket stubs in his pockets. He was taken to the Spanish coast, in a submarine, under great secrecy and his body left to float to shore as if he'd been in a plane crash. The original film was made while many details were still concealed, due to the Official Secrets Act - but over 60 years later, much more is known if the story. I really, really enjoyed the book. ***** I kept reading interesting bits out to Bob. 

So we splashed out £3.99 to watch the film on Prime. Great acting - Colin Firth and Matthew McFadyen as Ewen and Charles, supported by a superb cast. Simon Russell Beale was a convincing Churchill, and lovely Paul Ritter as coroner Bentley Purchase. Paul died just after filming, and the picture is dedicated to his memory. Lots of references to Bletchley Park. The film was good but I'm only giving it **** I appreciate some details have to be omitted, or tweaked, to make the film work. But one plot device was just a bit too contrived for me. 

That said, if you're at all interested in spooks, or WW2 stories, give the book or film a go. Or just make a Belgian Cake and enjoy a slice with your afternoon tea!