This puzzle was rather an odd duck. There are some good clues, but some of the clues, and some of the answers, are a bit on the strange side. But here at TfTT, we solve ’em all.
Author: vinyl1
Mephisto 3310 – You and me and the porter’s daughters
I didn’t find this one particularly difficult – there are a lot of common words in the answers, even thought some of the clues are a bit obscure. As I recall, I knocked it off in one sitting, taking about 80 minutes.
Times 28831 – What’s it all about…..
I found this puzzle…..interesting. I had a hard time getting started, and I ended up biffing most of the answers. I suspect inexperienced solvers would find it very difficult, lacking both the general knowledge and the tricks of the veterans.
Mephisto 3308 – Now that I’d like to see
I solved this pretty easily – two of the long ones around the edge were pretty easy to crack, giving me lots of beginning letters.
Times 28819 – The best-laid schemes….
Here’s a perfectly simple Monday puzzle for your enjoyment. Yes, there were some things I didn’t see as I solved, or didn’t know, but that didn’t stop me from writing in the correct answers.
Mephisto 3306 – No pictures, please
I found this a relatively approachable Mephisto, and finished it in one sitting.
Times 28807 – On to Constance…..
This should have been a very easy puzzle, and I did race through most of it. Most of the across clues went in on the first go-round, and I had plenty of crossing letters for the downs.
In Memoriam Jeff Marshall, TheRotter, 1951-2023
I am very sad to have to announce that Jeff Marshall, who blogged on TfTT as TheRotter, passed away suddenly on December 13, 2023.
Year in Review News Cryptic 2023
Sometimes themed puzzles are more difficult because of the problem of getting the theme words in. However, in the case of this puzzle, most of the theme was in the clues, not the answers. In fact, it would have been entirely possible to clue this puzzle without any reference to current events.
Mephisto 3304 – Shift logical right – don’t fall into the bit bucket!
This was a moderate Mephisto, and I mostly did pretty well with it, but I ended up struggling in the NE. It’s pretty easy to get stuck when you know how a clue must work, but can’t manage to get all the right pieces in the right place.