This one was certainly not that difficult, and I started fairly quickly, and then got to biffing answers, hoping for a good time. Unfortunately, my biffing skills suddenly failed me, and I had a hard time getting back into cryptic mode to clean up the extended SE.
Author: vinyl1
Mephisto 3324 – Catastrophe!
Ever since I signed myself up as a Mephisto blogger in 2020, I have completed Mephisto every week. Once in a while, I may have been off by a letter or two, but the grid has always been filled. The main reason I can do this is that I always have a few checking letters to get a foothold.
Times 28915 – What’s in a name?
I did not find this particularly difficult, although there were a few tricky bits and never-heard-of answers. I got enough of the across clues to get started, although the downs did not prove as helpful as they usually do.
Mephisto 3322 – Tilting at windmills?
I didn’t find this one particularly difficult, but since I was rather tired I quit for the evening with a couple unsolved. I finished them off in the morning.
Times 28903 – You know my name (Look up the number)!
This puzzle gave me considerable difficulty. I tried to start in the top, but since I was making little progress, I shifted to the bottom, where I was able to get a few crossing letters and was able to write in some longer answers.
Mephisto 3320 – Buck Mulligan’s Ninja Turtle
I started off as I usually start off in Mephisto, despairing of getting a single answer, only to be reviewing a completed grid in less than 90 minutes. Mephisto is like that.
Times 28891 – οἶνοψ πόντος? Nope.
Not your average Monday puzzle, I would have to say. Lots of novel constructions, and answers, made this a bit of a challenge. I had a hard time getting started, but once I had a few checking letters I was able to finish in a decent time, a bit below my average according to the SNITCH. I did find the puzzle very enjoyable.
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Mephisto 3318 – As a matter of fact, I can!
I don’t usually find the Paul McKenna puzzles too difficult, and I got through this one in about 90 minutes.
Times 28879 – A cure for stemmaticism?
I ran into a bit of trouble, expecting a normal Monday puzzle. However, when I couldn’t see any answers in my initial scan, I had to step up my game, and use the experienced solvers tricks to get going.