Was there a prompt: No.

How long did I wait? At least five minutes to the best of my memory.

daemon.log from the earliest log entry for today:

Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]:
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: PLEASE REMEMBER TO SET A PASSWORD FOR THE MySQL root US
ER !
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: To do so, start the server, then issue the following co
mmands:
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]:
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: /usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root password 'new-password'
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: /usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root -h  password 'new-password'
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]:
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: Alternatively you can run:
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: /usr/bin/mysql_secure_installation
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]:
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: which will also give you the option of removing the tes
t
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: databases and anonymous user created by default.  This
is
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: strongly recommended for production servers.
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]:
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: See the manual for more instructions.
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]:
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: Please report any problems with the /usr/scripts/mysqlbug script!
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]:
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: The latest information about MySQL is available at http://www.mysql.com/
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]: Support MySQL by buying support/licenses from http://shop.mysql.com/
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton mysqld[3694]:
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton init: mysql main process (3786) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:14:11 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:14:41 sutton init: mysql post-start process (3787) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:14:42 sutton init: mysql main process (3860) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:14:42 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:15:12 sutton init: mysql post-start process (3861) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:15:12 sutton init: mysql main process (3934) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:15:12 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:15:42 sutton init: mysql post-start process (3935) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:15:42 sutton init: mysql main process (4008) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:15:42 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:16:12 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4009) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:16:13 sutton init: mysql main process (4084) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:16:13 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:16:43 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4085) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:16:43 sutton init: mysql main process (4189) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:16:43 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:17:13 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4190) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:17:13 sutton init: mysql main process (4266) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:17:13 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:17:43 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4267) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:17:43 sutton init: mysql main process (4340) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:17:43 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:18:13 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4341) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:18:14 sutton init: mysql main process (4415) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:18:14 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:18:44 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4416) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:18:44 sutton init: mysql main process (4489) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:18:44 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:19:14 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4490) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:19:14 sutton init: mysql main process (4566) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:19:14 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:19:44 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4567) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:19:45 sutton init: mysql main process (4640) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:19:45 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:20:15 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4641) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:20:15 sutton init: mysql main process (4714) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:20:15 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:20:45 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4715) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:20:45 sutton init: mysql main process (4788) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:20:45 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:21:15 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4789) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:21:15 sutton init: mysql main process (4864) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:21:15 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:21:45 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4865) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:21:46 sutton init: mysql main process (4938) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:21:46 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:22:16 sutton init: mysql post-start process (4939) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:22:16 sutton init: mysql main process (5012) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:22:16 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:22:46 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5013) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:22:46 sutton init: mysql main process (5086) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:22:46 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:23:16 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5087) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:23:16 sutton init: mysql main process (5160) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:23:16 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:23:47 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5161) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:23:47 sutton init: mysql main process (5234) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:23:47 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:24:17 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5235) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:24:17 sutton init: mysql main process (5308) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:24:17 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:24:47 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5309) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:24:47 sutton init: mysql main process (5382) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:24:47 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:25:17 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5383) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:25:18 sutton init: mysql main process (5456) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:25:18 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:25:48 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5457) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:25:48 sutton init: mysql main process (5530) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:25:48 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:26:18 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5531) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:26:18 sutton init: mysql main process (5604) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:26:18 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:26:48 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5605) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:26:48 sutton init: mysql main process (5678) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:26:48 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:27:19 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5679) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:27:19 sutton init: mysql main process (5753) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:27:19 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:27:49 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5754) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:27:49 sutton init: mysql main process (5827) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:27:49 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:28:19 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5828) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:28:19 sutton init: mysql main process (5901) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:28:19 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:28:49 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5902) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:28:50 sutton init: mysql main process (5977) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:28:50 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:29:20 sutton init: mysql post-start process (5978) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:29:20 sutton init: mysql main process (6051) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:29:20 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:29:50 sutton init: mysql post-start process (6052) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:29:50 sutton init: mysql main process (6125) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:29:50 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:30:20 sutton init: mysql post-start process (6126) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:30:20 sutton init: mysql main process (6199) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:30:20 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:30:50 sutton init: mysql post-start process (6200) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:30:51 sutton init: mysql main process (6273) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:30:51 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:31:21 sutton init: mysql post-start process (6274) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:31:21 sutton init: mysql main process (7710) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:31:21 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
[ Entries from open-vpn client ]
Aug 10 14:31:51 sutton init: mysql post-start process (7711) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:31:51 sutton init: mysql main process (7870) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:31:51 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:32:21 sutton init: mysql post-start process (7871) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:32:22 sutton init: mysql main process (7944) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:32:22 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:32:52 sutton init: mysql post-start process (7945) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:32:52 sutton init: mysql main process (8018) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:32:52 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:33:22 sutton init: mysql post-start process (8019) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:33:22 sutton init: mysql main process (8092) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:33:22 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:33:52 sutton init: mysql post-start process (8093) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:33:52 sutton init: mysql main process (8166) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:33:52 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:34:23 sutton init: mysql post-start process (8167) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:34:23 sutton init: mysql main process (8240) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:34:23 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:34:53 sutton init: mysql post-start process (8241) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:34:53 sutton init: mysql main process (8367) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:34:53 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:35:23 sutton init: mysql post-start process (8368) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:35:23 sutton init: mysql main process (9644) terminated with status 1
Aug 10 14:35:23 sutton init: mysql main process ended, respawning
Aug 10 14:35:53 sutton init: mysql post-start process (9645) terminated with status 1
[ Presume here I kill -9 the pid stuck - no further information until... ]
Aug 10 14:42:57 sutton /etc/mysql/debian-start[10091]: Upgrading MySQL tables if necessary.
Aug 10 14:42:57 sutton /etc/mysql/debian-start[10094]: /usr/bin/mysql_upgrade: the '--basedir' option is always ignored
Aug 10 14:42:57 sutton /etc/mysql/debian-start[10094]: Looking for 'mysql' as: /usr/bin/mysql
Aug 10 14:42:57 sutton /etc/mysql/debian-start[10094]: Looking for 'mysqlcheck' as: /usr/bin/mysqlcheck
Aug 10 14:42:57 sutton /etc/mysql/debian-start[10094]: This installation of MySQL is already upgraded to 5.1.41, use --force if you still need to run mysql_upgrade
Aug 10 14:42:57 sutton /etc/mysql/debian-start[10101]: Checking for insecure root accounts.
Aug 10 14:42:57 sutton /etc/mysql/debian-start[10105]: Triggering myisam-recover for all MyISAM tables

I may well have used 'start mysql' to trigger timestamp Aug 10 14:42:57 onwards. I'm afraid while it would make perfect sequential sense I don't have a concrete memory of it.