Category: Mephisto

Solving time: not taken, but completed without books. Well, nearly – I had PERANE at 29A. Across1 UNS=sun*,HIP=fruit, as in rose-hip5 STI(G)ME – stime = to peer, in Scots, and stigme = a dot used … Read more “Mephisto 2478 – Chris Feetenby”

I solved this on Tuesday, when it was still not available from the Crossword Club pages but could be found using the Search facility from the main Times website. Actually I sent in a complaint … Read more “Mephisto 2477”

Solving time: about 1hr 30m                                  Tough puzzle.  This took me 3 sittings to complete, and after sittings 1 and 2 I had gone away scratching my head over a few things – also hindered by what I … Read more “Mephisto 2476 – Mike Laws – THAT problem!”

Most of this fell rather readily, I had to check a few spellings. I like this style of Mephisto where the obscure words have fair wordplay and enough checking letters to give someone of my … Read more “Mephisto 2475 – Chris Feetenby”

Solving time – 37:44 This was probably one of Mike Laws’ easier offerings, as I normally find him the hardest of the three Mephisto setters. Across 1 TWAS – TWA (ceased operating in 2001 when … Read more “Mephisto 2473”

Apologies for the lateness of this report. This was a fairly tough Mephisto from Mike Laws, taking me about 70 minutes. Across 1 SELF – 2 meanings 10 URAL-ALTAIC – (call it aura)* – wasted … Read more “Mephisto 2470 – at last”

Solving time: 37:22                                   I usually manage to find a few things to quibble about in a Chris Feetenby puzzle, but not much in this one!  I found it a little harder than the average CF, with … Read more “Mephisto 2472 – Chris Feetenby”

This one was a fast start and a very very slow finish. One of the words was well-hidden, not only in the clue, but in the wordplay as well. This puzzle did include a clue … Read more “Mephisto 2471 – Tim Moorey”

I found this one a very rewarding slog, took three sittings to complete and the last one was an extensive cross-referencing of Chambers to sort out the NE corner. As usual with the Mephisto, a … Read more “Mephisto 2467 – Mike Laws”

Solving time 33:14 I had a marathon solving session the other night, finishing last week’s Times Jumbo, Azed, Spectator and Mephisto one after the other, starting just after midnight and finally going to bed at … Read more “Mephisto 2465”